The Handover

The handover meeting began at 6:52 AM.

As usual, nobody wanted responsibility.

Aditi 2 entered carrying a notebook.

Aditi 1 was already present.

Aditi 3 was staring out a window.

Aditi 2: Good morning.

Aditi 1: Debatable.

Aditi 2: Let’s begin.

Aditi 3: Look at this light.

Aditi 2: No.

Aditi 3: Just for one second.

Aditi 2: I don’t have time.

Aditi 3: That’s what you always say.

Aditi 2: Because it’s true.

Aditi 3: And yet the light remains beautiful.

Aditi 2: Please stop being a poet before breakfast.

She opened the notebook.

The notebook was never good news.

Aditi 1: What’s in the notebook?

Aditi 2: Outstanding items from yesterday.

Aditi 1: That sounds accusatory.

Aditi 2: It is.

Aditi 3: Proceed.

Aditi 2: Item one.

Why is there a partially completed business plan called “Operation Freedom” on the desktop?

Aditi 3: That’s mine.

Aditi 2: I know it’s yours.

Aditi 3: Then why ask?

Aditi 2: I was hoping there was another explanation.

Aditi 3: There isn’t.

Aditi 2: Wonderful.

She made a note.

Aditi 1 leaned over.

Aditi 1: Can I see?

Aditi 2: No.

Aditi 1: Why?

Aditi 2: Because every time you see the notebook you become defensive.

Aditi 1: That’s unfair.

Aditi 2: You became defensive before I even opened it.

Aditi 1: Fair.

Aditi 2: Item two.

Who spent twenty-seven minutes analyzing a text message?

Silence.

Aditi 2: Aditi 1.

Aditi 1: Allegedly.

Aditi 2: We have records.

Aditi 1: The records are biased.

Aditi 2: The records are screenshots.

Aditi 1: Exactly.

Aditi 2: I don’t know what that means.

Aditi 1: Neither do I.

Aditi 2 pinched the bridge of her nose.

Every morning she arrived determined to improve the organization.

Every morning the organization fought back.

Aditi 2: Moving on.

Item three.

Who ordered candle vessels at 11:43 PM?

Aditi 3 raised her hand.

Aditi 2: Of course.

Aditi 3: In my defense—

Aditi 2: No.

Aditi 3: You haven’t heard the defense.

Aditi 2: Historically that has not mattered.

Aditi 3: The vessels were beautiful.

Aditi 2: And?

Aditi 3: That’s the entire defense.

Aditi 2: I know.

Aditi 3: Strong case.

Aditi 2: Weak case.

Aditi 3: Agree to disagree.

The meeting paused briefly.

Outside, the world was beginning its day.

Inside, the board continued arguing.

Aditi 1: Can I ask a question?

Aditi 2: I fear that you can.

Aditi 1: Are we happy?

Aditi 2: That’s not on the agenda.

Aditi 1: I know.

Aditi 3: It’s a fair question.

The room became quiet.

Aditi 2 reviewed the evidence.

The dog.

The studio.

The flowers.

The friends.

The growing business.

The apartment.

The life they had built.

The life they were still building.

Aditi 2: I think we’re tired.

Aditi 1: That’s different.

Aditi 2: A little.

Aditi 3: Not entirely.

Aditi 2: No.

Aditi 3: But not the same thing.

Aditi 1 nodded.

That felt right.

Not unhappy.

Not finished.

Just somewhere in the middle.

Like a book still being written.

Aditi 2 closed the notebook.

Aditi 1: That’s it?

Aditi 2: That’s it.

Aditi 3: No action items?

Aditi 2: One.

Aditi 1: What’s the action item?

Aditi 2 stood up.

Aditi 3 waited.

Aditi 1 waited.

Aditi 2: Let’s try not to create problems for tomorrow.

The room considered this.

Aditi 1: Impossible.

Aditi 3: Impossible.

Aditi 2: That’s what I thought.

The meeting adjourned.

By 8:17 AM, there were already three new problems.

End of Chapter 2.