Shalini’s comments deeply hurt Nalini, especially since she had always considered Shalini to be a close friend. Nalini felt like declining the bonus, given her respect for and relationship with Shalini.
Which of the following reasons, if true, will BEST dissuade Nalini from declining the bonus?

Option A will best dissuade Nalini from declining the bonus. This option suggests that Shalini is known to make comments that can be perceived as insensitive, and this understanding could dissuade Nalini from declining the bonus because it frames Shalini’s comment as a characteristic of Shalini’s communication style rather than a personal critique of Nalini’s performance. Therefore, Nalini might see that the bonus is indeed a recognition of her hard work and not just a result of favouritism. 

Option B: This doesn’t provide a compelling reason for Nalini to accept the bonus. Shalini’s confrontational nature with her boss is unrelated to Nalini’s performance or the validity of the bonus.

Option C: This doesn’t directly address Shalini’s comment that the bonus is more about favouritism than performance. While it highlights Nalini’s achievement, it doesn’t counter Shalini’s claim and, thus, may not effectively dissuade Nalini from declining the bonus.

Option D: This could potentially make Nalini more inclined to decline the bonus, as it implies that the bonus is given to loyalists. However, it doesn’t directly address Nalini’s concerns about the fairness of the bonus distribution.

Option E: This is more about Shalini’s past and her relationship with her previous boss. It doesn’t provide a direct reason for Nalini to keep her bonus. It might make Nalini question Shalini’s judgement, but it doesn’t validate Nalini’s performance or the bonus she received.