Small Story 269.

Small Story 269 "A Surprising Twist in the Final Interview" Shyam had just completed an interview for the position of Territory Manager at a leading tyre company. Feeling the need to relax, he headed to a nearby restaurant to have a cup of tea. Just as he settled in, he was pleasantly surprised to see his old friend Murthy walk in. The two friends, who hadn’t seen each other in five years, greeted each other warmly and sat down to catch up. They talked about their families and careers. Shyam mentioned that he had come for an interview at the tyre company and was thoroughly impressed by the professionalism of the interview process. “Even if I’m not selected,” he said, “I genuinely appreciate the way they conducted the interview.” Murthy shared that he had recently left his job at a company in Chennai and would soon be joining a new organization. He invited Shyam to visit his home and gave him his phone number. That evening, Shyam told his wife Sangeetha about the unexpected meeting with Murthy and how he had been invited to his friend’s home. Later, he visited Murthy's house, met his wife Nandhini and son Bharath, and spent some quality time reminiscing. A week later, Shyam received a message from the tyre company, calling him for a final interview with their Marketing Manager. On the scheduled day, Shyam arrived at the office, and an attendant guided him to the Marketing Manager’s cabin. As he stepped inside, Shyam froze in surprise. Sitting confidently behind the desk was none other than his friend Murthy. Murthy smiled and said, “Welcome, Mr. Shyam. Your earlier interview with our Branch Manager went very well. He appreciated your thoughtful responses. With your MBA in Marketing and your previous success in the confectionery industry, you’re a perfect fit for this role.” Murthy handed him an envelope and continued, “Here’s your appointment letter. When we met last week at the restaurant, I had just joined this company as the new Marketing Manager. I admired how you spoke about our interview process. I kept it a secret so I could surprise you today.” Overwhelmed and thrilled, Shyam accepted the offer letter and thanked Murthy — not just his old friend, but now his new boss. K.Ragavan 7-6-25