The first was the video where I fly-tackled one of the Dufresne principals at that drinks party for the new joinees because he had taken my giant plastic swan. I had assumed that the swan video was out of my life forever. Apparently not. Prasad had never seen it before and watched it play on the projector screen with his mouth wide open.

The second was even more surprising. The bastard IT guys had posted the Dufresne corp. comm. film on YouTube as well.

The VP said that since I had been shown in the video as the Dufresne office boy it would be difficult for them to involve me on the project. Apparently it would undermine them in front of their investors if any of them saw the video. They said they wanted me replaced on the team.

Then they replayed the video till the very end and paused at the last frame with Jerry Kapoor flashing his thumbs at the screen. The VP asked us to look very carefully at the monitor of Jerry’s computer on the display.

Prasad’s jaw dropped. Mine too, a little. The screen clearly showed Jerry browsing through www.spankslaveparadise.com. And overlaid across the entire screen was the official caption of the video: ‘Dufresne Partners: Here we do it with passion!’

Had that IT bastard morphed that frame with Jerry? Conspiracy?

Prasad switched off the projector and assured them that both Jerry and I would have nothing at all to do with the project. He assured them that both videos would be taken down from YouTube as soon as possible. Prasad then asked me to leave and send Vineet in instead.

I believe I left most of my dignity in the room when I walked out. It was a demoralizing, terrible thing to happen. And that too for no fault of mine.

I am INNOCENT!

Vineet was in some meeting about that banking project and I told him to join Prasad and company in the conference room when he had the time.

I spent the rest of the day moping at my workstation. I waited till seven for Prasad to come out. And then I came home. Both Jignesh and Megha are out. And Gouri has a work conference to attend in Powai.

Worst day of my life so far. Perhaps it would be better for everyone if I just joined McKinsey and ended my misery at Dufresne.

Seven missed calls from Babykutty today. I am just not in a mood to make random conversation.

JHA has fired its CEO for purchase irregularities. I feel sad for the man and am surprised he would actually embezzle anything. On the plus side the six-foot statue of Hiphopper is being taken to Europe for a six-month series of exhibitions of industrial art.

22 December 2006

9.03 p.m.

Prasad has asked me to attend a review meeting with all the partners after the Christmas and New Year break on the fourth of next month. While ninety per cent of my mind tells me that I will probably be asked to leave, there is still a ten per cent chance that it could be for a promotion or for a foreign posting.