The Exit Interview

Cold LED lights. Half-closed blinds. A desk lamp throws a hard circle of light on the interview table. The rest of the cabin feels like a pressure chamber.

PRIYA (44), formal wear, calm and unreadable, sits with a neatly stacked OFFICE FILE.

MIRA (60), elegant sari, composed, powerful, sits with her hands folded.

The chair opposite them waits.

SONIA (32) enters, business casuals, clutching a RESIGNATION LETTER. Her jaw is tight.

Please, Sonia. Baith jao.

Sonia sits. Keeps the letter in her lap.

Exit interview ke liye bulaya hai, na?

Haan. Routine hai.

We just want to understand your experience.

Mira watches Sonia without blinking.

Aur agar experience kharab tha,

toh bhi bol sakti ho.

Sonia gives a small, dry laugh.

Corporate mein “bol sakti ho” aur

“bolna chahiye” mein farq hota hai.

Priya almost smiles. Almost.

Fair. Chalo, basic question.

Why are you resigning?

Better opportunity.

Hmm.

Tumne letter mein kuch aur bhi likha hai.

Priya opens the letter. Reads silently.

Her eyes stop.

A beat.

Mira’s gaze sharpens.

“Main un cheezon ka hissa nahi ban sakti

jo Neelam ke saath hua.”

Sonia’s face hardens.

Padh liya?

Neelam kaun?

Seriously?

Aapko yaad nahi?

Priya closes the letter with one finger.

Sonia, calm down.

Just answer the question.

Neelam. Junior analyst.

Eight months ago.

Terrace. Late night review.

“Accident.”

Mira remains still.

That was an unfortunate incident.

Incident?

Uski body nikli thi, Mira ji.

Incident nahi hota.

Priya opens the OFFICE FILE. Pulls out a pen.

We are not here to debate language.

We are here for closure.

Closure kiski?

Company ki?

Ya family ki?

Priya ticks a box on a form.

Noted.

That calmness is more terrifying than anger.

Aapko dar nahi lagta?

Kis cheez se?

Sach se.

Mira slowly reaches for the glass water bottle, pours water into a glass, does not drink.

Tumne yeh line jaan-boojhkar likhi.

Haan.

Kyun?

Kyunki main dekhna chahti thi

kaun jhooth bolega.

Silence.

Priya opens a drawer, takes out an ID CARD.

She places it on the table.

It’s NEELAM’S ID CARD.

Sonia’s breath catches.

Yeh...

Tumne jo email dhunda tha,

uska draft version bhi mila tha.

Mira’s eyes don’t leave Sonia.

Aisa lag raha tha jaise tum

kisi ko protect kar rahi ho.

Main apni cousin ko protect kar rahi thi.

Priya and Mira exchange one quick look.

Neelam meri cousin thi.

Aur main is company mein isliye aayi

taaki proof mil sake.

Priya nods once. As if expected.

Good.

Sonia frowns.

Good?

Tum soch rahi thi hum tumhe expose

karenge.

But yeh interview tumhara test tha.

Test?

Priya turns the laptop toward Sonia.

On screen: A folder named NEELAM / AUDIT / LIVE.

Board ke kuch log Mira ko remove karna

chahte hain.

Unke paas ek fake whistleblower story hai.

Aur scapegoat ke liye tum perfect thi.

Sonia stares.

Toh exit interview...

Loyalty test tha.

Dekhna tha tum silence choose karti ho,

blackmail,

ya truth.

Sonia looks at the resignation letter in her hand.

Then tears it cleanly in half.

Main resign kar rahi hoon.

Par chup rehne ke liye nahi.

Mira’s lips curve into a faint, dangerous smile.

Good answer.

Priya slides the laptop closer.

Then let’s begin properly.

Sonia places her ID card on the table.

Then picks up the OFFICE FILE.

Phir interview khatam nahi hua.

Ab shuru hua hai.

The three women sit in a tense triangle of power.

Outside the glass, the office hums on like nothing happened.