Name: Corporate Atyaachaar
Author: Abhay Nagarajan
Genre: Comedy
The Scribbler's Dais rating: 3.5/5
The review
‘The comical journey of an office doormat’ is the tagline of the novel and perfectly describes it. The story takes us through the protagonist, Abhay’s viewpoint, and is seen struggling to settle in the new city of Bangalore and get accustomed to the new job of a Financial Advisor in the finance sector at WCA (Wealth Capital Advisors Pvt. Ltd.).
The novel is divided into two parts- Part I is before the market fall (March 2007-Mid Jan 08) and Part II is after the market fall (Jan 2008 and beyond). The story has everything-that the title offers- the typical boss who doesn’t let him take the responsibility at work, pesters him on and off, has a small team, a weird landlord. For those who are in college awaiting for a campus, recruitment will relate to this. But in fact, it offers more! It will leave you with a different kind of end and emotion that you expected. The pressure to perform well, to handle clients, to handle the client’s rational and irrational demands when a market falls and hits an all-time low, the appraisal verdict, a cold landlord and her sweet and beautiful daughter, a lonely corporate job-goer looking for some company.
Everything goes well in the story until the markets crashed in 2008. That is when things take a turn. Clients are upset and disappointed! His appraisal seems to be slipping away. He seems to be losing his calm and is way annoyed with this scratchy boss who always keeps on ordering him to work, never lets him take any responsibility or for him to be at the forefront, dumps work on him, bores him with his gyaan.
If you are the curious minds who wish to know how and when was this book written, then here is a hint- If you read the book with interest and attention, you might find the answer to the same! (wink wink).
The characters were well thought of. The pain in the everywhere boss, a cold landlady, a dash of spark and attraction by the landlady's daughter, the various types of clients, some flexible, some happy, some rude, and some illogical!
The only things which didn’t strike with me were that while the story will take you down the memory lane of the similar boss you have had, the financial technical terms would take you time or even a dictionary or Google baba’s help to understand because the common man might not know these terminologies. Also, I felt the story kind of going a bit boring in between but then I also feel it could be because it was in the finance sector perse and not a generic industry or the one with which I could relate to. I also wanted to sort of know more as to what happens after the appraisal verdict! How his journey goes ahead?
Will he get an appraisal? Will he continue to work or will he leave? Will there be a love streak between him and the landlady’s daughter?
I like this book because-
It indeed was a much-needed breather from the typical romantic sagas and motivational battles. It's a simple yet humorous account that will leave you light-hearted. You will enjoy it because you will find it relatable. It will add a dash of laughter to your boring and mundane days! Honestly, my lockdown days went well because of this book!
You can reach out to him at http://www.abhaynag.com/