Farewell Shama !

Shama walked in one day, knocking over a pen stand !

She asked about vacancies... she looked imploringly at Tia and Jahnavi, "don't you guys want to leave?".......

She waited patiently till it was time for Tia to go... I gave her a call. She was excited, but painfully shy. After a few days of "Punishment corner" (in tnt, all newcomers have a mandatory week long stint in the kids corner, so that they learn about kids books first), Shama needed goading. One customer a day, she had to walk up to and talk !

Today, we have to ask her to shut up ! Shama started "People love us" .... This is one activity that all tntians do. Look out for that one or two customers who have made that special effort to get here ... from bby, from nasik ... or those who remark on why they love to shop for books at our store.... everyday we have our "wow" moments .... record them in our notes .... and then, "people love us"

Shama hated notes. And she hated me writing them. Boss was banned from writing notes ! Shama loved the extra attention that her hair got in the Store !

But most of all, Shama was a willing worker, excited, full of energy. Shama has been our "Star of the Month" on atleast 3 to 4 occasions, but has steadfastly refused to allow me to announce it to the world. She has chipped in time and again when we have been short staffed. And anything was too complicated, everything else was COOL

As Shama goes back home intially, and then maybe bby, for us, memories remain. Shama @ Infy -"I have packed and shifted boxes all my life", @ tnt - writing reminders in her hand, her jokes, some of them on a very tiring day ... like in the truck back from Hinjewadi - her jokes helping us release stress !, lip balm, with animals, and most of all, illegible handwriting !

Shama, that we are going to miss you is known. But maybe now, your friends and family will find you more acceptable, you won't talk about the Store all the time !