Last evening, during my usual commute from Koparkhairne to Thane, I overheard a conversation between two regular co-travellers in the local. One of them was a mid-level manager, and in just those twenty minutes, he unpacked what thousands of mid-career professionals silently go through every day. No loud complaints. No drama. Just raw truth layered in tired humour.
"Uparwale bolte result lao"
He spoke about how leadership wants outcomes. Big numbers, short timelines, stretched goals. But the teams are small, systems are half done, and clarity is a moving target. When things slow down, no one looks upward and asks why capacity is missing. The easiest place to assign responsibility is the middle.
"Neeche wale bolte seekhna hai"
Then he mentioned juniors. Fresh energy. Curiosity. Good intent. But they are still in the learning stage, not yet in the ownership stage. So the person in the middle becomes a trainer and executor at the same time.
The crack that exposed the pressure
A review meeting. Another set of unrealistic expectations. And for barely ten seconds, his patience slipped. Not shouting. Not rude. Just honest without polishing the words. The room went silent. He said "poora saal ka pressure kisi ko nahi dikhta… par woh 10 second sabko yaad rehte"
"Aur beech mein hum"
Not junior enough to be forgiven. Not senior enough to be protected. Just stuck with responsibility without full control. This is the invisible layer that keeps the system from falling apart. It is emotional strength disguised as "managing work." And yet, they keep showing up. Not because it is easy. But because if they don't, nothing moves.
As the train slowed at Thane, he got up quietly. No applause. No credit. Just another day of showing up.