The Universe is Talking to You - Listen

 

The soothing view from Sister Lisa’s waiting room.

Many with whom I have worked, will be surprised to hear that I am a certified hardcore introvert.

Its just that my profession has seen me morph into a more “outgoing” form, “as and when required”.

So oftentimes, I have found myself tongue tied.
Things like, meeting someone for the first time or meeting someone after a really long time, has always had me thinking “how do I open up the conversation without making it sound artificial”.

People say, “you will figure it out over time, as you get into a variety of situations”.

Though I subscribe to this view, I still find myself in a spot once a while.

And that’s exactly what happened to me when I was visiting Mission Hospital after a really long time.

It so happened that I had been my company's relationship manager for this Mission Hospital account since early days in my sales career. This long association meant I knew a lot of folks at this hospital, and they knew me too as their industry contact. However, as my responsibilities moved forward, I had to hand over the relationship management part to some more capable & terrific members in our team, so I could focus on my newer briefs.
Some friendships last a lifetime, longer than job briefs anyway...and so...

One day, Ray, who was now responsible for the relationship with Mission Hospital walked into my room ...
“Good Morning Sir! Need your help in closing a deal at Mission Hospital”…he continued…

“I've been working on this order for a couple of months now, and they are close to finalization. But every time I go there, their Director Sr.Lisa, asks me about you.”
"Yesterday she said “Ray, man, when are you getting My Good Old Friend to visit us, its been years now?...” Ray was imitating Sr.Lisa’s Malayalam flavoured English. delivered sweetly but with an unmistakable tone of authority.

Looking at me with his signature smile…he continued...

“I have to close this case latest tomorrow morning,

could you please join – we could go there early morning...  

I am counting on your “ I am always there for you” promise…”

Thus, there we were, first thing next morning, so early that their office waiting area was still dark. We decided to wait for the staff to arrive…and immersed ourselves into our mobile screens.

Back of my mind, I was starting to build my conversational approach, while waiting for Sr.Lisa to arrive (yes, I still do it today …even after 30 yrs!)…

Should I apologize for being out of sight for so long? Should I just ‘this’ or should I just ‘that’ (does it happen with you? Do Tell me dear introverts…)??

Fifteen minutes or so later, we heard Sr.Lisa’s very distinct voice slowly approaching the waiting area from outside, she was on the phone with someone, speaking in that musical Malayalam which is such a delight to the ears.
And then, suddenly the door to the waiting area flew open…and looking at us sitting there in the semi dark waiting room, she exclaimed
“ Aha…my friend, so happy to see you….”
Then looking over her shoulder to the office admin following her, bellowed
“ Diana dear, why is the waiting area so dark & hot …
please switch on the lights my dear and oh my god its so hot in here,
please switch on the fans full speed…my friends here are sweating in the dark!”…..

Then quickly signing off on the phone with what sounded like “ Let me call you back”, she addressed us…
“Gentlemen, please give me a minute or two to set my table …” and walked into her room.

Diana meanwhile, energised into “peak hospitality mode” had switched on all the ceiling fans and lights in the waiting area …and suddenly the room was filled with flying pieces of paper.

Apparently, someone doing a bible class or something had kept a loose set of pages from the bible, on the coffee table & they were now all flying around.
Like all gentlemen would, both of us helped “Diana dear” to gather the pages together.

“Oh, gentlemen, please come in ..” Sr.Lisa called from inside.

As we hurriedly picked up our bags and started walking to her room, I notice a single piece of paper lying right outside her door, that we had somehow missed.

I promptly picked it up…and as we do sometimes, for inexplicable reasons, turned it around to read what was written on it…and smiled. Its was a quote from the bible.

“Sister Lisa” I said shaking her hand with confidence

“...its written in the bible..” and read out aloud what was written on that piece of paper...

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
- Mark 10:45 ”

I followed thru…

“Sister, you might think your old friend came here to get the order,
But today he comes to serve you, and not asking to be served”

The “pin drop” silence that followed was broken by her exclamation 
"Ashim! " (I wish I could have captured her surprised expression in a picture!)

"Since when have you started studying the Bible!" ....

Needless to say, we warmed up like we had never lost touch ever.

My thoughts about ‘what I should or shouldn’t say’ dissolved with the cookies we dipped in the warm coffee served that morning in her room.

…need I tell you what happened with Ray’s order that day?

Just suffice to say…

“Look around, you will find answers, the universe is talking to you.”