“Hey! You’re fired, old man! I don’t see you fit to work here anymore. Leave! NOW,” Nia said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. She was the new boss here, and it seemed like she could ruin anyone’s career with just one word.

Victor, the elderly janitor who had worked at the company for over thirty years, stood stunned. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the handle of his mop. He had always been a quiet, dedicated worker, keeping the building spotless and greeting everyone with a warm smile. But now, he was being dismissed without any warning or cause.

Realizing that nothing could change Nia’s mind, Victor quietly walked out, his shoulders slumped. All the staff watched him go, shocked, unable to hold back their tears. Victor had been a fixture in their daily lives, always there with a kind word or a helping hand.
Nia watched Victor leave, a smug expression on her face. She was proud of her power, relishing the control she had over the lives of her employees. She had been brought in to make the company more efficient, and to her, that meant getting rid of anyone she deemed unnecessary.
But the next day, karma did its work, avenging the old man and teaching this arrogant woman a good lesson.

When Nia arrived at the office, she found the building in chaos. Trash bins were overflowing, floors were sticky with spilled coffee, and the air was thick with the smell of unemptied garbage. The staff were frazzled and frustrated, struggling to keep up with their work in the unsanitary conditions.

Nia stormed into the office, furious. “What is going on here? Why is the place such a mess?” she demanded.

One of the employees, a young woman named Sarah, stepped forward. “Victor always took care of everything. He knew the building inside out, and he made sure it was spotless. Without him, we don’t know how to keep up.”

Nia scoffed. “He’s just a janitor. How hard can it be to clean up? Everyone, get back to work and sort this mess out.”

But as the day went on, things only got worse. Important documents went missing because they had been thrown out with the trash, clients complained about the state of the office, and the staff’s productivity plummeted. Nia found herself overwhelmed, trying to manage a building that was quickly descending into filth and disorder.

By the end of the day, Nia was exhausted and humiliated. She realized too late the value of Victor’s quiet, steady presence. She had dismissed him as an old man who was no longer useful, but in truth, he had been the backbone of the office.

Determined to make things right, Nia decided to visit Victor. She found him at his modest home, sitting on the porch and sipping tea. When he saw her, he didn’t look surprised.

“Victor,” Nia began, her voice trembling with genuine regret, “I made a terrible mistake. I underestimated your importance to our office. We need you back. I need you back.”

Victor looked at her for a long moment before speaking. “Nia, I dedicated my life to that company and its people. I took pride in my work, no matter how humble it seemed. You didn’t see that. You only saw an old man.”

Nia’s eyes filled with tears. “I was wrong, Victor. I see it now. Please, come back. We can’t manage without you.”

Victor sighed and nodded slowly. “I’ll come back, but only if things change. Respect and kindness are just as important as efficiency. You need to remember that.”

Nia agreed, promising to treat all employees with the respect they deserved. Victor returned to the office, and with his guidance, the building was soon back to its pristine condition.

From that day on, Nia became a better leader, one who valued every member of her team, understanding that everyone had an important role to play. And as for Victor, he continued his work with the same dedication, knowing that his efforts were finally truly appreciated