It was my first month at
work while I was observing and experiencing a lot of stuff in my professional
life. MAK (Mohammad Ahmed Khan) was our agency’s Creative Director. Everyone
used to call him Ahmed Bhai.
I was on my way to meet him at his office. The
moment I entered his room with some routine work he shot me up with a question:
“How is it going?”
And in a microsecond
every single statement from different colleagues regarding Ahmed Bhai started
dancing in front of me. Well, the majority of the statements:
“I feel this small when
Ahmed Bhai is angry with me.”
“I only say Prayers when
Ahmed Bhai is around.”
“Ahmed Bhai is unlike
other bosses. I hate the rest.”
“He is just better than
the rest of the crew. Less Corrupt.”
“What you decide to
discuss with him, exactly the opposite happens after the discussion is over
with him.”
“I think Ahmed Bhai has a
Djinn………...he knows my secret that I never told anyone. He was asking me about
it.”
“You see this new entry
in our office, the Ahmed Bhai look-like, same beard but with a cap (They were
talking about ME). He is His (Ahmed Bhai’s) Spy and is here with a purpose…he
has the same (Ahmed Bhai’s) thinking, and I believe he is hired to convince all
of us to think His way (Ahmed Bhai’s). You know, to be on the same scale and
platform. Basically, to prove us wrong and get things done without a conflict.”
“If you want to discuss
anything with Ahmed Bhai, I suggest you should pen those things down on a paper and
take it along with you during the session. Otherwise you will forget your
points, right there at the right moment.”
“Are you understanding
everything around here?” Ahmed
Bhai put an end to the dancing statements in my mind.
“Let me tell you one
thing.” Ahmed
Bhai continued. “The kind of environment, the kind of atmosphere you get in my agency;
you will not get it anywhere else in Pakistan.”
I looked through Ahmed
Bhai’s shiny little eyes and wished if I could become a SPY.