“He’s being sued.”
What?“Who’s suing him?”
“A group of students. Including my girlfriend’s mentor. The, um…article explains it, but they’re suing him for discrimination and some other things.”
Karthik found the article and couldn’t believe the headline:Award-Winning NYCU Medical Professor Accused of Discrimination, Harassment, and Unprofessional Conduct.He scanned the first paragraph, read it again, then leaned back in his chair.
Nine students, all women, had filed internal complaints about his father with the university. After a yearlong investigation, the university had sided with his father, and now the students were suing the school for failing to properly investigate and respond to their complaints.
Karthik continued skimming the article. There were allegations of sexist behavior, derogatory comments about women, preferential treatment for male students, and borderline sexual harassment. Karthik’s stomach turned as he read one student’s complaint that hisfather had rubbed her knee during office hours and commented on the length of her dress. Others complained that his father made frequent comments in class that women made excellent physicians…until they got married or had children. Numerous women said they had applied for research positions with his lab, but his father hired only male students.
Karthik closed his eyes. His father had always treated his mother badly. Karthik had even suspected at times that his father might have been cheating on her, but he’d never imagined anything like this.
“I’m sorry, man. I had no idea he was your dad. My girlfriend had actually mentioned him a bunch before. Her mentor was always complaining about him. She said it was kind of an open secret among the med students and they all talked about it, but I didn’t think anything of it until I saw his picture and…”
Paul’s voice faded to a dull buzz as Karthik’s thoughts turned inward. He didn’t feel an ounce of sympathy for his father. Only a perverse sort of joy that his father’s true nature had been exposed. That his precious career and reputation would be forever marred by his actions. But what was his mother going to do?
A wave of nausea rolled through Karthik’s body. She would be devastated. The community was small, and word would get around soon. They would ostracize his father and whisper about him behind his back. His father deserved their scorn, but the gossip would extend to his mother too. It was utterly unfair. Over the years, she’d endured his father’s neglect, his harsh words and taunts, and somehow, she had borne it all with dignity, even managing to spare Karthik from as much of it as possible. And now she would be subjected to ridicule. Karthik thought he might actually be sick.
“Hey. Karthik. Are you okay?” Karthik opened his eyes. Paul’s face was lined with worry. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up. I just thought that it was too much of a coincidence and…Dude, you do not look good. Can I get you some water?”
Karthik swallowed. “No, I’m fine. I’m okay.” He closed out of the article on his computer. The time in the corner of his screen spiked his body with adrenaline. He had only five minutes until his interview.
He stood up quickly, but swayed for a second, the ground suddenly seeming uneven.
“Hold on,” Paul said, jumping up and grabbing his arm. “You should sit back down. I’ll run and get some water….”
“No,” Karthik said. “I have to go. I’m late for something. Let me just…” Karthik tasted bile in his mouth and made a beeline to the restroom. He reached it just in time and promptly threw up. Afterward, he rinsed his mouth out with water, staring at his sweaty complexion in the mirror. He’d deal with all of this later. He grabbed a paper towel and dabbed at his face. Right now, he had an interview. He was probably only a few minutes late. He could still do this.
He walked deliberately out of the restroom to the elevator, breathing calmly and reciting in his head all the facts and figures he had studied so carefully. Somehow, he managed to get off on the right floor and entered the conference room, where the panel of interviewers was already seated.
“I’m sorry,” Karthik said, taking the open seat in front of the panel. “I know I’m running a little behind. I promise that’s not how I usually operate.”
Several of the interviewers smiled, and Jim Gray, the COO and Marianne’s former boss, chuckled. “We know that about you,” he said. “Marianne once said you were the most punctual person at the company.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Karthik said.
“Well, I trust her judgment. That’s why you’re sitting in front of us today.”
“And I’m glad to be here.” The air was so stuffy. And humid. They needed to fix the AC. Or open a window.
“We’ve all reviewed your résumé,” Jim said. “And we know all the great work you’ve done here, but tell me this. Why would aborn-and-raised New Yorker go out of the city for college?” Jim said the words with a smile and was clearly joking. Karthik’s pulse returned to normal. He was about to offer a lighthearted comment in return when Jim continued.
“Don’t worry. I know how it is,” he said in a teasing voice. “My daughter’s about to go to college and all she talks about is getting away from home. Her mother and I keep hoping she’ll change her mind and follow in our footsteps instead. We both went to NYCU. But I doubt we’ll be able to convince her. She has her heart set on the West Coast…”
Karthik’s stomach dropped. Just hearing the name of his father’s university brought up everything he had been working so hard to put out of his mind. His nausea returned. His hands were somehow both dry and clammy. But none of the panelists seemed to notice his discomfort.
“Anyway,” Jim said. “We’ve all read Marianne’s recommendation, we think your work is phenomenal, and we really just wanted to meet and hear from you today. So, what makes you interested in this position?”
“I…I was very fortunate to work under Marianne. I learned a lot from her.” Karthik swallowed. “I’ve led a number of teams during my time here and I’m ready to assume greater responsibility. I’m confident I can do the job.”
“That’s great.” Jim smiled warmly. “Truthfully, we all agree. We think you’re more than qualified for the position. But why do youwantthe job?”
Why did he want the job? Hadn’t Meghna asked him a similar question once? He closed his eyes and tried to remember what he’d said. Something about how this promotion was what he had been working for. How it was the next logical step for him. How it would advance his career dramatically. Those answers seemed woefully inadequate now. A fresh wave of nausea rolled through him.
“I don’t know,” Karthik said, his voice breaking. “I really don’t know.”
The other interviewers’ faces were a blur, but Jim’s was crystal clear. His eyebrows drawn together, mouth parted in shock.
