The pink slip

It was one of those Monday mornings when the alarm clock is ringing and you just like to think that it is one of those bad dreams you get after a long night of binge drinking. But, I knew it was not a dream, it was the morning siren which was the dreaded call from my trading desk. I took the pain of lifting my eyelids to see the blue ceiling. I unwillingly drew my hand from the bare back of Suzanne, afraid of disturbing the sleeping angel at 4:30 in the morning. I dragged my feet into the bathroom and switched on the shower. Cold water falling on my eyes pierced my drowsiness and I fitted myself into my prim blue suit with golden cuff links. I left a "I love you" note for Suzanne and hurriedly ran towards the underground station, it was already 5:10 am.

I picked up my regular copy of "The Metro" and "The Financial Times" and was just in time to catch the 5:30am metro. After going through half a dozen stations while I was immersed in the financial times, the metro halted at the canary wharf and emptied herself from the load of crazy i-bankers hungry to pounce upon the Bloomberg terminal. My book had been losing money for the past two months and the future too did not seem very bright. I was cursing myself for the couple of trades I booked for the new sexy sales associate; they had been devouring money from my account like termites attacking an old log of wood. In the meantime, my legs had been put on the escalator due to which I found myself standing outside the Canary wharf station. I moved a few paces and crossed the road to present myself at the doors of XX, Bank Street. I checked my wrist-watch which said 6:13 am, two minutes left to reach the desk. I hurriedly flashed my ID to the guard and entered the main gate.

I put the electronic id for the office entrance and ........ and........it screeched with a flashing red DANGER sign prohibiting entry. I thought there was some problem with the gate and I tried another one........with the same flustering result. This was enough to draw a security guard in my direction who requested me to join the queue in front of the security office. Hundreds of people forgetting their ids in their bed flock these queues every morning and here I was, at the end of them all. I knew this was going to kill my precious time of studying and preparing myself before the markets open. I muttered some curses and politely waited for my turn. When I reached the counter, I was prepared with a long speech narrating their security flaws and how it eats my valuable time, but restrained myself with a "Could you please look into my id, it is being rejected by the system?". The tall guy, gave me a forced smile and went to his computer to match my records. He looks at the screen, then at my face, moves to his cupboard and brings a big packet and a small envelope for me. He moves near me, his face is showing sings of false sympathy enough to bewilder me. And, then he breaks the golden words which break the virginity of any employee, "Mr. XXX, I am sorry to inform you that your services have been terminated with an immediate effect, please collect your belongings and formal letter".