Where's the bonus?

My bonus is the main part of my compensation, get it? said my i-banker hubby, guzzling a diet pepsi as if it was his favorite whiskey.

This wrath was coming from my otherwise mild-natured husband whose boss (who sits in a posh HongKong office and draws a whopping salary of Rs 1 crore annually) that this year would be no change in India team's compensation packages. No hike in perks, or whatsoever. Not even a single extra rupee to show off!

If I wanted to live in poverty, I would of been a teacher or a bond trader or something. He spat out not realising that his mother is a teacher :) and is a proud professional. Our household expenses are up by 40% from last year. Hell, we even have to hire a driver this month. It's almost as bad as 2001, he whined.

A quick flashback. My husband, an electrical engineer was offered a cushy job from Infosys, post his engineering. But the 2000-01 slowdown, led the company to delay the campus placements by 6 months compelling him to look at options like studying further. The silver lining was that he managed to get into IIM-Kolkata, that probably did him more good than joining as a rookie project lead in Infosys.

Back to present. Some people act like I don't deserve my bonus, and to top it my boss (I think he called him a butthole, at this point) doesn't get that I work my ass off to clean up his act. Continued rant from you know who.

While, I generally prefer to be the one who is doing the talk in the house, it is on these rare occasions when I realize that others too have a story to tell!

Although my i-banker did not need a soothe-talker, I could not control myself. I confidently spoke my mind out to him. I think that i-bankers are way too important to not get their bonuses. (YEAH!) Companies can't do deals without you guys. You're the grease that makes their wheels spin. Without you, there's too much friction, so the wheels don't turn, and the cars just sit there revving their engines like morons. OK, so maybe some of you got a bit too greasy the last couple of years and the wheels kind of spun off the axels. But that doesn't mean that the grease shouldn't get bonuses. Kudos!

When I turned my head to my husband, I saw his tapping wildly in his blackberry. When i asked what was he writing when I am talking to him, his reply was -- I will tell this dialogue to my boss. I think this will kick in some sense.

A sad demise ... of peace

Imagine waking up at 6 am on a weekday, because your husband forgot to put his Blackberry on silent. It happened with me.

Lately, my i-banker of a husband has taken to sleeping with his Blackberry safely tucked underneath his pillow. ("Reason," he tells me, "I don't want to miss replying to any important mails sent from US or HongKong office.")

Now, I know this husband of mine has never treated the phone any better. There were days, believe me, the Blackberry was tossed carelessly inside the wardrobe and dutifully forgotten until morning. But now, ever since I have understood this credit crisis, it's the most important gadget that travels to bathrooms, sits in front of TV, and even goes for a walk with my husband. The connection and GPRS connectivity is checked when the emails don't pour in after three and a half minute. And I can go on.

Once awake, I had a freakish urge to shutdown the gadget but when I saw the mailbox flash a name that read 'Lehman brother's' I was clearly intrigued, even at 6 am in the morning. The mail (Yes, I checked it when I am not supposed to peep into other's emails) read that Lehman brothers was to file Chapter 11. Not only was this bit alien to me, it also irked me that some company filing a chapter 11 was so important that my poor hubby was being mailed to keep his eyes open at 6 am in the MORNING!

Ignorant me, realised the impact of the mail only when I was explained, By then, it was time to forget Lehman Brothers and save my job.