It was two years ago. A letter addressed to me arrived in my mail box. It was from the chairman of the interview committee for Technicians and Assistants. My organization has two managers and i report to one manager and this came from the other. The letter was to the point and asked me to sort the list of candidates based on marks, date of birth etc. A job that is completely clerical in nature, for which i am over qualified. I understand the concept of dignity of labor. The story of George Washington, I still remember. If it comes to that I shall definitely not hesitate to do any kind of job. But our organization has a big administrative office with lots of people who can easily do this particular job. To some it may seem like rationalization. But what a describe next is a form of self righteousness. I already have my share of mundane work. I am not a clerk and the job is not an emergency and there are people who are specifically recruited to do this job.
I earlier mentioned that i have two managers, the one i report to will be called henceforth Manager1 and the second one who alloted this task will henceforth called manager2.
After thinking for a while and also considering the possible ramifications, i jotted down a letter addressed to Manager2/Chairman stating, in fact requesting that i be removed form this particular committee. The committee was scheduled to meet at 1500. Since by that time i didn't receive any call from the manager's office, I came to the conclusion that my request had been accepted.
During those days I traveled to office by bus . The bus leaves sharp at quarter to six.
I got a call from the manager's office at 1720 hrs. The secretary informed me that my manager, manager1 wants to meet me immediately and the secretary advised me to get my bag along, which meant that i may have to go directly to the bus stand. I was full of trepidation, not because I had to meet my manager, but the possibility of missing my bus seemed high.
Our office is 19 km from the city and if you miss your bus, it'll take you 2-3 hours compared to the normal half hour to get home.
I went to his cabin. He seemed to be slightly upset. Sit down he said. Thank you I replied and sat. He looked at me and then asked me why i didn't want to do that job. In no other words i replied that it was insipid and clerical in nature. I could see his eye brows raise slightly. Not a good sign. He then remarked that he didn't expect this from me, to which i had nothing to say. He added that my seniors do this job on a regular basis, to which again I had nothing to say.
He then took the letter that i had given to manager2 and kept in front of me. I could see a handwritten ' manager1 please advise! ' on it.
He ran out of patience and asked me whether I would do it or not. I looked at his eyes for at least one minute and then asked him ' With all due respect, what if I don't' . He then told me that it would construed as indiscipline. no both of us were staring at each other for at least 3 minutes. I then suddenly remembered, I need to go to Mumbai for my own benefit every month and this guy authorizes it. So i said okay to this task. I was asked to apologize to Manager2 and i did so.
It looked at the watch, it was 1755hrs. I then hurried to the gate. On my way I saw the two managers over take me in their private vehicle and neither of them offered me a ride home, knowing well that i would have missed the bus.
I reached the gate to see that my bus had broken down and alternate arrangement was being made to drop a few people home. I joined them and reached home.
I was a bit distressed and sad, that i had consented to do this job. I couldn't think of anything else. I had to collect my dinner from a family nearby and go to a friend's house to have it along with him. I was very morose. Normally there are two of us having dinner, but that day there were 3. I couldn't stop thinking about that incident, i felt defeated. I asked my friend there to suggest an alcoholic respite. I was sad, he was happy, for he liked to consume liquor. It was my very first time here. I saw people drinking booze when depressed. So we went to a shop nearby and bought a lot of items, i think it was two bottles of white rum and a few bottles of a mild alcoholic drink. We had to mix them and have it.
I took the first gulp, it was strong and acrid. I didn't like it. But I didn't want to waste it. So i drank it. My head went for a spin. The third guy refrained from drinking. I was still sad, i reluctantly let the glass be filled again. My friend asked to consume it, as all that had to be finished. I think he must have had the lion's share as i didn't like it much and he loved it.
After that session, I was sad, depressed and intoxicated. My movements were wavering. The third guy dropped me home. I climbed the stairs and the next morning he picked me up and went to play football as we do every weekend. I was still sad, but alcohol didn't help.
I did the job. To my surprise, even after arguing with him , my manager graded me well for the year.
I earlier mentioned that i have two managers, the one i report to will be called henceforth Manager1 and the second one who alloted this task will henceforth called manager2.
After thinking for a while and also considering the possible ramifications, i jotted down a letter addressed to Manager2/Chairman stating, in fact requesting that i be removed form this particular committee. The committee was scheduled to meet at 1500. Since by that time i didn't receive any call from the manager's office, I came to the conclusion that my request had been accepted.
During those days I traveled to office by bus . The bus leaves sharp at quarter to six.
I got a call from the manager's office at 1720 hrs. The secretary informed me that my manager, manager1 wants to meet me immediately and the secretary advised me to get my bag along, which meant that i may have to go directly to the bus stand. I was full of trepidation, not because I had to meet my manager, but the possibility of missing my bus seemed high.
Our office is 19 km from the city and if you miss your bus, it'll take you 2-3 hours compared to the normal half hour to get home.
I went to his cabin. He seemed to be slightly upset. Sit down he said. Thank you I replied and sat. He looked at me and then asked me why i didn't want to do that job. In no other words i replied that it was insipid and clerical in nature. I could see his eye brows raise slightly. Not a good sign. He then remarked that he didn't expect this from me, to which i had nothing to say. He added that my seniors do this job on a regular basis, to which again I had nothing to say.
He then took the letter that i had given to manager2 and kept in front of me. I could see a handwritten ' manager1 please advise! ' on it.
He ran out of patience and asked me whether I would do it or not. I looked at his eyes for at least one minute and then asked him ' With all due respect, what if I don't' . He then told me that it would construed as indiscipline. no both of us were staring at each other for at least 3 minutes. I then suddenly remembered, I need to go to Mumbai for my own benefit every month and this guy authorizes it. So i said okay to this task. I was asked to apologize to Manager2 and i did so.
It looked at the watch, it was 1755hrs. I then hurried to the gate. On my way I saw the two managers over take me in their private vehicle and neither of them offered me a ride home, knowing well that i would have missed the bus.
I reached the gate to see that my bus had broken down and alternate arrangement was being made to drop a few people home. I joined them and reached home.
I was a bit distressed and sad, that i had consented to do this job. I couldn't think of anything else. I had to collect my dinner from a family nearby and go to a friend's house to have it along with him. I was very morose. Normally there are two of us having dinner, but that day there were 3. I couldn't stop thinking about that incident, i felt defeated. I asked my friend there to suggest an alcoholic respite. I was sad, he was happy, for he liked to consume liquor. It was my very first time here. I saw people drinking booze when depressed. So we went to a shop nearby and bought a lot of items, i think it was two bottles of white rum and a few bottles of a mild alcoholic drink. We had to mix them and have it.
I took the first gulp, it was strong and acrid. I didn't like it. But I didn't want to waste it. So i drank it. My head went for a spin. The third guy refrained from drinking. I was still sad, i reluctantly let the glass be filled again. My friend asked to consume it, as all that had to be finished. I think he must have had the lion's share as i didn't like it much and he loved it.
After that session, I was sad, depressed and intoxicated. My movements were wavering. The third guy dropped me home. I climbed the stairs and the next morning he picked me up and went to play football as we do every weekend. I was still sad, but alcohol didn't help.
I did the job. To my surprise, even after arguing with him , my manager graded me well for the year.
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