A Presentation

One day like any other a paper came out of my newspaper. The local sellers used to lay the advertisements in between the newspaper for money. Every day there were some advertisements coming out of it. That ad was about money-making. It said that make money upto Rs 50,000 and above by working from home, no qualification needed, full/part time, and your own business, call Hari and then the phone no. was given 75029874**. I dialed the no. the phone ringed but no one attended. I thought that it must be fake, making money without any qualification and that also 50,000. But at evening the no. called. I attended it. He said “Yes you called me this morning”. I said yes and asked about the ad he had given if it’s true. He replied, “Yes all of it is true. I am myself doing the same work. My son is also doing the same work. It is very easy and enjoyable.” I asked what I will have to do to join. He said that on Wednesday they are conducting a presentation and he will message me the venue and I will get to know whatever is needed for the job there. And then he hanged the phone. I recieved the message. On Wednesday 12/05/13, at 2:00pm, at ********* bhavan, gol market, Delhi.

Sorry, I forgot to tell you about me. I am a student of class Xth passing to class XIth. I am a resident of dwarka, Delhi. At that time my summer holidays were going on. Now you may be thinking why on earth I called Hari and asked for job when I haven't even completed my XIIth class. Well, seriosly I myself don't know. I have always been interested in business stuff. Let it be we will talk about this later. So I just thought how about doing a job secretely at home itself. Now I was supposed to ask my parents about going to the presentation at gol market.

As always my mother said ask your father. My father came at night after a long days hard work. I waited for some time to let him settle and have breakfast and asked him that can I go to see a free presentation at gol market. He said no. But somehow I managed to convince him. The factors which helped me in the process were a lie, free word, convincing nature, holidays, and exposure to the world. When you live in Delhi then you are supposed to get the exposure somehow and I was like the one of the greatest you’ll ever find. Every day I travel a 90 minutes journey on bus to go to and come from my school that too public transport. So, I was able to go anywhere in Delhi.

On Wednesday, I got ready with a purse, a phone, a handkerchief and ofcourse my dress. I didn't knew which bus or buses I am supposed to get on. So I asked the people around about how to go to gol market. They guided me the way. I changed two buses. The first was green DTC as you'll see it is the most common here. The second bus was orange Delhi Transit, these buses have just started at that time, it was somewhat like public-private transport. It was of government's but was driven by private drivers. I got arrived at the bus stop of gol market and asked for the bhavan to a rikshawalah. He said that it is far away and he will drop me in just Rs.20. I refused and asked a shopkeeper nearby about the bhavan. He said that it is there on the right side of the road. He pointed the direction. I thought in my mind that I did right by not going on a rickshaw or he would have made a round and landed me just a few steps ahead from where I was. That’s what most of them do. The shopkeeper asked me if I am one of those job seekers who are attending. I replied yes. I was a bit early. I went into the bhavan. There were many people standing there. Most of them were college students. I asked one of them that when is it going to start. An uncle from the back replied that 25 minutes more are left. I went out because I didn't liked the chatering of people around and wanted some fresh air.

My lips were dry and started changing colors. I was thirsty. I went to the same shop and asked for water. He said 15 rupees. I paid and drank the water. I waited in the shade of a banyan tree. There were more trees as anywhere else you can find in Delhi. I waited and waited and thought how and about what the presentation will be about. And then again I went to the bhavan. Now there were two people sitting wearing coat and pant and a line of people have been created around them. They were like writing names of people who went in. I also stood in the line. When my turn came one of them asked about the message I received. It was like a proof that I am invited there you can call it an invitation card. I showed them the message and asked for Hari sir. He replied that he will meet me after the presentation and handed me a form and asked to fill it. I borrowed a pen and started filling the form. It asked for some general information and other about presentation which was supposed to be filled after the presentation. Then they took us to first floor of the building. We entered into a hall, a small one but big enough for all of us to sit. I settled down. Everything was already arranged.

The presentation started.

There came a man. First of all of he welcomed us and then introduced himself. He said he is doing the same work for a very long time and was approached in the same way as we did. He then introduced us with the job. He said that there is a company named Herbalife who is providing people with healthy food and is also providing job opportunities both full time and part time. And then he said that they are now going to show a video by which we will have a better understanding of it. The video started, it explained the origin of Herbalife. The starter of the company was affected by the food that is normally eaten. The infected food, infected by pollution around us. His mother died because she didn't got the right food, the nutrients she needed. So one day he started this company so no other person can be affected. He made products which a human normally need and is tasty on the other hand.

Then the video explained the company and upto where it is spread. The company as said earlier is creating healthy food plus job opportunities. The company was spread in about 88 countries at that time and growing. Next part was about the work. We were supposed to meet people online and convince them about the benefits of the food and take the product. Just like people meet on facebook and interact. We will be having access to all the 88 country's peoples. If we succeeded in convincing them, Herbalife will itself provide the person with the food on their doorsteps. Our job was just to convince and report and we will be getting a percent of the profit. It looked easy and convincing, a company trying to sell its product and creating job opportunities sidewise.

Well, now they took the mike. Now a lady came and explained the work. She said "dont be like you're going to become a salesman who goes door to door to sell products. The job does not affect anybody's dignity and you're doing the work from home. What more can anyone expect from his or her job, sit in home and do the job. You'll also be able to give your family more time and there will be no boss to irritate you. You'll will be independent just choose your time of work and take holiday accordingly". Now she stopped for a little while and agaid started "now you'll be seeing who used the product and also are doing the job".

A line was made and one by one people came, introduced themselves, told the benefits of food, how it affected them and their family, and how much happy they are by doing the job. It was like you see the ads in the television in which they advertise a product to lose weight people and say "I was very fat before, I was not even able to move freely and one day my freind gave me this product, I used it and now you see I can run a mile without stopping, it’s a magic" and bla bla bla. Well it ended. Then she said to do the work we are supposed to have an ID which would cost 2000 something. They will give us the food free with it for one month so that we’ll be able to know the benefits ourselves. I thought 'what the'. My father would never give me the money at this age for this kind of thing. Whatever, I continued to sit.

And then another person came. He was given considerable respect by the people who presented and he greeted them back in a very pleasant manner. He was also one of the people who got benefit by using Herbalife and had come to Delhi recently as told by the lady. He had broad eyebrows and long nose, but he was nicely dressed and looked smart even though. He took the mike and started "Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I would not take much time as I know you have got bored listening to others stories. At first I had a second hand scooter, then a second hand car and now my own first hand wagonR. This is just a short description of my progress with herbalife. At present I am making around 50000. Anyway, I am here to invite you to a grand party where you'll get to learn more about the company. Those who are interested can submit Rs.500. The party is in the ball room of hilton hotel, janakpuri". At this a women interrupted "Rs.500 from 100 people. You get Rs.50, 000 for nothing and then you go away". Well everyone around were thinking the same if all of it is true and she made a point. On this the man gently replied "Mam, you may be thinking that all of this is fake. First of all I would like to tell that you can check the website of Herbalife right now and I will show you my account and the earnings I have made if you want. Secondly, mam if you didn't think that the experience is not worth Rs.500 then I will give you your Rs.500 back". The man was so confident, infact the most confident person I have ever seen in my whole life.

The lady once again came and said "now you can meet the person who called you here". And she started asking people the names and pointed to the person he or she was supposed to meet. I was pretty lucky that Hari was not there.

As soon as I got the opportunity I approached the exit. There a lady was standing she was asking people to submit the form. I forgot about the form I checked my pocket, it was still there. I opened it. But I was not in a position to submit it. There were two mans before me. One submitted the form and the other passed with him. When asked about the form he said he was with the other just to see the presentation. In between I managed to skip my turn. She saw me walking away but she didn't said anything she must have thought that I am also one of them. And somehow I was. I moved out of the door and left for home. This time I changed three buses and every bus was a green DTC.

Thank you for reading.