Chapter 7: The Layoff List

I ignored them. The boss entered the meeting room, and all jokes died. Time for the real show to begin. Everyone rushed in while I finished organizing the layoff list, putting my colleague’s name back in bold—the one I’d just erased. Justice, in its own way, was being served.

Once everyone was seated, the boss began his speech. People clutched their tiffin boxes tighter, some whispering prayers under their breath as the boss spoke. "I’ll be straight with you. The economy’s rough. Headquarters ordered layoffs. Originally, fifty were to go, but you’re all like family to me. After my efforts, HQ agreed to just thirty. Aap sab mere bachche ho, dosto. Dil pe patthar rakh ke kar raha hoon."

I had to stifle a laugh—if only they knew the boss’s family included sixty names last night! But I played along, keeping a straight face. Sometimes, you have to play the game.

The energy in the room changed. My colleague blurted, "Sir, kab hoga yeh sab?"

"Today. Starting today, thirty colleagues will leave us. But even after you go, we’re still friends. I wish you all the best," the boss said, voice heavy with melodrama.

The room went silent. Someone’s pen fell, the only sound in the stillness.

"I know you’re all thinking of working extra hard now, but it’s too late. The investigation’s already done. We’ve been monitoring for a month. Today, a specialist will contact you to discuss severance. That’s all."

With that, the boss left—dropping the bomb and walking away. People rushed to HR, but HR was just as clueless. Even some HR staff were on the chopping block—India for you: sometimes even the chopper gets chopped.