Early mornings were Jim’s thing. A good nights sleep is a luxury indeed when one heads the customer care department of a reputed company. Jim Rodericks, 30 years old was the team leader of some forty customer care agents. During the day it sure was hectic but he looked forward to such schedules with delight and renewed energy. Jim was an early riser once he understood the meaning of life. He was not a naughty kid and his parents Shaun and Rachel thanked God for this whenever they could. His sister Jane did most of the mischief but after growing up into a fine young lady she was more of a blessing in disguise. The siblings were complete opposites as Jane preferred late mornings. 

Jane married the love of her life when she turned 30. Jim, 4 years elder to Jane, was busy in courtship as an office worker had blown away his mind. Jim and Jane’s parents from the very start never meddled in their choices.  They remained strong pillars of their lives but much was felt rather than worded. Communication was minimal as duties had taken priority. John and Rosy Rodericks gave discipline a lot of importance but they never tried to change the habits of their kids. It was a busy life and there was no room for criticism nor judgments. Rosy was a housewife and John loved being a carpenter. He worked in a furniture store and they paid him well. 

There were times when the company that excelled in air conditioners had calls round the clock. On such days Jim, like a good team player, gave his best and won hearts. He was a lanky fellow with exceptional skills that not only commanded respect but also made a difference by just being himself. Good looks take one far but he was an average looking boy with charming habits. His crew cut hairdo made him stand out among his peers. Tina, his girlfriend, worked in the sales section and lunch breaks were often together. The orientation program at the company initially had acted as a bridge between the two and the rest was history as both were in the same company for the past three years. 

Jim often missed talking to his parents on a deeper level. They ate together whenever they could, two Sundays in a month they attended church as a family and one Saturday just being home did magic. This meant the world to him as after Jane left post marriage he felt he was filling the pieces of his childhood by having his parents only for himself. He never said much but soaked it all whatever he sensed got lost once Jane made her entry into their worlds. Like a good big brother he was around for his sister and was there for errands when the entire family needed it. In this filling up he noticed his share was overshadowed by his sibling. 

At work, he did just the same. This cycle of being around for the world energized him to new heights. Sometimes he felt depleted but no one could notice. Even Tina never had an eye for this side of Jim’s. The dark tunnels of sadness never opened up to the love of his life too. The image he portrayed to the world and his family had a secret yearning. The feeling of being himself and a desire to get the sheltered existence which he gave others lurched somewhere within. Years rolled and this hankering grew into something unattainable. He felt God was biased here. He had everything to thank for but only this bit was just out of reach.  

Months kept passing, love bloomed, promotion happened, his parents’ hair became a little more grey and Jane became a mother. 2022 had started with a bang. Jim wore contact lenses now and this added to his dapper persona. The unit general manager he had to report to as a manager now was in his mid fifties. A broad-chested brown guy, tall and strong, with soft features gave Jatin a very handsome look. Jim’s introduction to him was short and sweet. They had shook hands when Jatin Khanna heard that Jim is the life of the workplace and aimed to outdo himself often. It was a solid handshake and Jim liked the very first meeting.

Mr. Khanna was a widower but grief never surfaced on his face. He was passionate about his work and it showed. Meetings, team building strategies and new ideas defined the man. His work and workplace came across as if they were his temple. Official announcements to boost the morale of his fellow workers was his style. Jim and Jatin interacted over work but most of the communication was one-sided. Jim was set to take orders from him and deliver whatever was asked. There was no air of authority or rudeness in Jatin’s association. The milieu was at ease in his presence. He had the skill to make the other feel comfortable. Jatin had an approachable personality.

Weeks were rolling, meeting deadlines was the mantra and work related chats trebled. A logical companionship forged on its own with not only Jim but with others too. Jatin’s emails gave vibes of something Jim always wanted, though it was all very formal. With his parents he never felt this way. Without any personal interaction Jim could sense the force that had no trumpets. A silent occupancy at a specific glass cabin where Jatin sat emitted positivity, balance, depth, understanding, and so much more. The scaffolding that he was for others had come face-to-face in the form of Jatin Khanna for himself and finally it seemed to Jim that God was not biased anymore.