“Dear Neha

How are you? Hope you and your family are in good health and
spirits. My work is fine, although of lately I have been feeling a bit
low, I mean from childhood our parents emphasized education and I
followed their advice blindly but now I am not so sure. Today I am at a
stage where I have a great job with generous pay but I lack the social
skills. At work other departments are always out having fun while the
IT Department is all busy with our programming and data testing. I am
tired of being called a nerd. I want a change, change in outlook,
change in my personality and looks.

 

Next week our Head of IT is retiring, Paul and I are both
candidates for this job but we all know that I will get the job since I
am better qualified than him. I just wish I could live on the wild side.

 

Sorry to have burdened you with my sorrows but I wanted to talk to someone.

 

Your Brother

 

Markand Tyagi (MT)”

 

MT “ Neha I apologize for this snafu, I meant to send the email to
my sister Neha but somehow it ended up going to you – Neha in Marketing”

 

Neha “That is ok Markand, I read that email and I do feel sorry
for you. You are a very nice and sensitive guy, any woman would be
lucky to have you”

 

MT “You are just saying that to make me feel good”

 

Neha “No I mean it, you just….just have to market yourself”

 

MT “I don’t know how to”

 

Neha “Ok Look I am in Marketing, we can market junk as gold, you
are gold so with some outward changes you will be popular in no time”

 

MT “I am not sure if I can do that, what do I do?”

 

Neha “First of all you need to follow my advice well WITHOUT getting offended, is that a promise?”

 

MT “Yes”

 

Neha “Ok then, you need to change your wardrobe first, these
clothes…I mean they would drive anyone away from you, lose the glasses
and get contact lens, get a new hairstyle. Style is the name of the
game here, wear sunglasses while you drive and for God’s sake get rid
of that old junk that you drive, when was it made in the 1950’s?”

 

MT “Actually my Toyota Camry was built in 1984, it has a dual engine”

 

Neha “There are some people who were born then who have died and
you are clinging on to that car? Get a new flashy car, a convertible
preferably”

 

MT “Actually I don’t like to haggle over prices”

 

Neha “Ok Fine. I will buy a sports car for you”

 

In a few days time

MT starts looking pretty stylish, he wears tight clothes with cool
colors, he has a new trendy hair style and has lost his thick glasses.
All this is working on his psyche and he feels confident. He is eagerly
waiting for his new car, Neha called him to say she will drop the car
off this evening.

 

Neha “Ok This is it, The Audi TT convertible. Now your
transformation is almost complete, tomorrow drive this with the top
down and go on an adventure, listen to your inner voice, forget about
your worries and work, just ride this like you are 007 going on a
mission”

 

MT “Should I familiarize myself with this car?”

 

Neha “NO!! The old boring Markand would do this. The cool new MT
would just sit in it and listen to his wild side and go on an adventure”

 

The next day MT couldn’t help but check the weather to see if it
is raining, fortunately it was a warm sunny day, with much fear he sits
in his car and loves the feel of the car, the new car smell all his
hormones going. He starts the car and the Turbo engine roars and that
makes MT feel in control. He zooms out of the parking lot in his
apartment and puts on cool shades. Like Neha mentioned he hears a
voice, a sweet one too and he follows that. The voice is leading him
away from work but he does not care. He looks at the traffic on the
other side and snickers “The Old Markand would be stuck in that traffic
in his old Toyota”, he speeds off away from the hustle and bustle of
the city and follows the inner voice.

 

Soon he is miles away from the concrete jungle, gentle breeze is
blowing and he puts on the radio station that plays Heavy Metal Bands,
no more classical music for him. Suddenly he feels as if he has arrived
somewhere, the destination is a bit of a letdown for him, it is in the
middle of nowhere and there are hundreds of cars lined up.

 

CEO “Congratulations Paul, you are the new Head of IT Department, that MT did not even show up for the interview”

 

A bit later

Paul “Neha thanks for all your help in keeping MT away on this
day, I can’t believe you were able to convince him to go on an
adventure while the most important promotion interview awaited him”

 

Neha “It was easy, I told him to listen to the voice – The voice
of Satellite Navigation system in his new car. The Car Dealer’s address
was programmed in the car and it took him back to the dealer who I made
sure way miles away from this city”

 

Paul “Thanks again”