“Out of fifty students we interviewed, only two persons, Amol and Pradeep, can be eligible for the position. It’s really a bad situation.”

“But Pradeep lacks proactiveness. That is a crucial quality for a trainee manager,” said the other person. “The most suitable candidate, I think, is Amol.”

“Yes, Bhaskar. I agree with you,” the third person supported. “He has a spark in his personality. We can mould him into any way to suit our requirements.”

“Yeah, I too agree with both of you,” the first person said. “Amol has the ability to adapt to any new change. He seems to be a fast learner.”

In a few minutes the three persons, who had visited the college from a big MNC to conduct campus interviews for the positions of trainee managers, came out of the college conference room and announced the results of the interviews. Out of so many students, they selected only one person. That lucky student was Amol.

Then, the three representatives advised the college principal to make his students multitask-oriented. “Your students know only what you people taught them in classrooms. But we need people who can go ahead and see what they can learn more and how they can apply their learning experience in their jobs, careers and personal lives.”

While leaving, the trio reflected they had made a good decision in selecting one good candidate, who would contribute to their company’s growth.

***

One side was Rajesh; the other side was Amol. Pooja was in all confusion. she liked them both. The two looked attractive and fascinating and loved her equally though the way they show it might be different.

But what about her heart? Whom she liked most? These qustions were very difficult for Pooja to answer. She prefers Rajesh’s company; he was always jovial and kept her mood high. But Amol was a different person. He was cool and poised. Sometimes he seemed very intriguing, sometimes very boring.

One fact Pooja appreciated most about Amol was he had got a first-class job with a mindblowing salary before anybody in the college. This very fact had instilled into him enough courage to propose her for the third time, with an ultimatum. She could not escape this time without giving him an answer as she had done previously. Was it really a proposal or a threat? she wonderd.

Yesetrday, Amol had said, “You know, Pooja, how much I love you and for two years I have been waiting for you. Now I can’t wait for any longer. Time has come for me to move ahead in life, with you or without you. Say yes or no”.

And the time he had given her was two days.

There was always rivalry between Amol and Rajesh over impressing Pooja in the college. Amol was straightforward in his love; he expressed his heart to her in words every time they went out together. Although outward and outspoken by character, Rajesh had never told her those magic three words: I love you or I like you. But the way he stared at her, the way he talked to her and the way he tried to impress her would tell Pooja how much he loved her.

To be frank, for all these days she had basked in the attention of the two most sought-after guys in the college. ‘But now I can’t continue this anymore. I have to make a decision,’ Pooja muttered under her breath. Earlier she had thought it would be easy to make a decsion between them when the time came. Now, she realised it was not easy, but hard. She had spent hours trying to make a decision, for it was going to change her life forever.

‘I will list down what I will get if I marry each of them.’ Pooja got up from the bed and took a piece of paper and pen. After much effort she decided on seven important qualities she should look for in a guy and made the following table:

	Rajesh	Amol
Character	Outward, intelligent and sometimes careless	Cool, softminded, intelligent and emotional
Trustworthy	Yes, but sometimes he gives me surprises with his anger	Yes, no surprises. He is always cool.
Caring	Yes	Yes, but sometines he cares too much. Loads of unwanted advice.
Financial	Still no job, but capable of getting a good job. Belongs to a rich family.	Already has a good job. He will go far ahead in his career of all his classmates. Rich family.
Looks	Most attractive guy in the college.	Attractive, but scores less than Rajesh.
Family	Never met any of his family members.	Met his mom and sister. Very caring and loving.
Responsibility	Takes responsibility for all successes and blames others for all failures.	Always takes responsibility for good and bad.

Pooja went over her work repeatedly, trying to decide the best person for her. In whatever way she tried, Amol was emerging as the winner. She tried to give Rajesh more points than he deserved, but even then he was lagging behind.

Crumpling the paper into a ball, Pooja threw it into the dustbin. She lay back on the bed, tired and exhausted, undecided whether to listen to her heart or her mind. Her heart was saying she loved Rajesh more than Amol. Her mind suggested she would be more happy with Amol, for he loved her more than Rajesh.

Pooja made a lot of equations in her mind. She liked both of them, but only thing was she liked Rajesh a little bit more as he was jovial and entertaining. But, for a longterm relationship and a happy life, these qualities were not enough. I need security, trust, love etc. in my life. Amol could easily provide these things to me.

Pooja buried her face into the pillow as if it would take her away from the surroundings and show her the right path. Through her closed eyes, she began to envisage a beautiful future with Amol.

Pooja made a decision and she thought she made a wise a decision.

***

A state high-level meeting had just started in that room.

“Our future state minister for telecommunications should not be like the ousted one,” said the party president in his authoritative tone.

“Yes,” the finance minister said. “That fellow is so arrogant and proud he never listened to anybody. He always said he was doing this and that for the people. But what had he done for the party, nothing but damage its reputation. How dare he publicly said that our ministers need lessons in how to serve people.”

The party president nodded approvingly.

“He got what he deserved,” said the chief minister, trying to pacify the FM. “His ousting must have taught a real lesson to all our leaders.”

“It has sent a signal to everybody that party is first, then only public and all that humbug,” said the party president.

CM said, “Right, let us concentrate on the selection of the new minister. We had three MLAs expecting this ministry - Ramaswamy, Mohan and Satyanand.”

“Not Mohan, I don’t like his face.” It was the party president. CM and FM looked at him puzzled.

“What happened? You were very fond of him during the elections last year.”

“Mr. CM,” he said mockingly. “Of course, I supported him fully during elections as he was the only person who could counter that bastard, Pratap, expecting the party ticket.” Everybody knew Pratap belonged to Srinivas Rao’s group, which had been trying to dethrone the current party president. So the party president had checkmated Pratap by bringing in Mohan, who had huge following among youth in his assembly segment. “Mohan has got good name among public, but is still a kid in politics.”

“Ok, I am writing off Mohan’s name,” said CM. FM nodded his head.

“What about Ramaswamy,” party president proposed.

“If we give him ministry, other leaders would create problems,” Said CM. “We both belong to the same district and I am already occupying the top position.The rebels in our party would not agree to give another important position to my district.”

Party president and FM knew what was the real worry for the chief minister. He did not want anybody in his district to grow as a leader; it would endanger his position in the district as well as state politics.

“Then what about Satyanand?”

Finance Minister’s face gleamed at once. He remembered when Satyanand was a rural development minister last time, he had given him a two hundred crore’s worth project. More than fifty crore rupees went into his pocket. That was a huge profit in his life.

“He already became a minister for two times. I think we should give this opportunity to a new person,” said CM.

“Consider this as experience, CM.” Party president knew he would get a lot of personal benefits from Satyanand, for he was a complete corrupt but harmless politican.

“You are right, president. He was the right candidate for this ministry,” FM supported eagerly.

CM too had nothing against Satyanand. He was corrupt, but safe for him. He would never go in opposition to him.

A decision was made that Satyanand would be the new minister for telecommunications. People could only hope their CM had made a right decision.

***

“Hello beti, how are you?” Satyanand cried into the phone. “I have happy news for you.”

“I too have happy news for you, papa,” said Pooja. “But I will tell you only when you come back home.”

“Ok, I will wait for that; but I can’t wait to tell you this news. I was elected as telecommunication’s minister.”

“Oh, papa!” Pooja cried happily. “Congratulations! This is your third time as a minister.”

Satyanand laughed happily, full of pride. “Now cabinet minister, beti!” he said. “Tomorrow I am going to take the pledge. Hello…hello…Beti, are you able to hear me.”

“Yes, papa! But your voice is breaking…network problem.”

“Listen…You take flight tomorrow morning and come here for my pledging ceremony.”

“Ok papa,” Pooja said excitedly.

Satyanand cut the phone. ‘These service providers…they don’t maintain enough towers for strong signals,’ he muttered angrily. Then and there, he made a strong resolution that he would order all the mobile operators to double the number of towers in his assembly segment.

‘I would do it first thing after I take charge. Then I would not have any problem while talking to my daughter on phone.’