Page 100 of Not Safe for Work
to Varun, Rajat
cc:
Hi Varun, Hi Rajat,
I hope this email finds you as well as it can.
It would be wrong to start this letter with anything other than an unconditional apology, so I’d like to begin there. I’m truly sorry for my behaviour.
When I applied for this job, I fooled myself into thinking that a tiny white lie wouldn’t matter if I worked hard enough to earn my place in the company. That if I proved myself every single day, it would make my lie a little less inconsequential, a little less untrue. But I understand now that you can’t build something solid on a fractured foundation.
There are many things I wish I had handled differently in my time here, especially over the last few weeks. I know I’ve fallen short in ways big and small, and I’m not proud of any of it. Given all of this, I think it’s only right that I step aside. Please consider this my formal resignation, effective immediately. I’ll cooperate fully with anything you need from my end during the transition.
Jharokha has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, and I’m grateful for every opportunity the two of you have given me.
Yours sincerely,
Kavya
Sr. Graphic Designer
Jharokha
I hit send and sank back into the bed, fully prepared for the world to come crashing down around me. But instead, all I felt was overwhelming relief and the faintest feeling that maybe … I’d be okay after all.
twenty-three
The Next Station Is …
Myfirst thought when my phone jolted me awake the next morning was that maybe I’d forgotten to switch my alarm off. But it wasn’t even light outside, and the ringing sound was not my alarm tone.Why is someone calling me at this hour?My hand shot out towards the bedside table, heart thudding as I fumbled for the phone and started imagining worst-case scenarios.Are mom and dad okay? Keshav bhaiya?
And then I read the name on the phone screen: Rajat Arora—Jharokha. Every last trace of sleep evaporated instantly. For a second, I just stared at his name as my brain buffered. Why would the founder of my (ex) company be calling me at 5-something in the morning?Maybe it’s a butt dial? No, my boss’s boss would not accidentally butt-dial a random employee before sunrise.There was only one reason why Rajat, who had never called me in his life, would want to speak to me at this hour.
He’d seen the email.
I swallowed, a real effort considering how dry my throat was. My voice was going to come out sounding like a frog, but I didn’t exactly have time to brush my teeth and emotionally prepare. I brought the phone to my ear. ‘H-hello?’ I croaked.
‘Kavya!’ His voice boomed through the speaker, in sharp contrast to mine. I could hear a faint airline announcement in the background. ‘Good, you picked up.’
‘Uh … yes.’ I pushed myself upright against the headboard. My eyes were still struggling to focus. ‘Good morning.’
‘Well, itwasa good morning. I just landed from London after closing Jharokha’s first international deal … but when I switched on my phone I saw your resignation email in my inbox.’
