Eavesdropping ? !

I was looking after grievances of customers at the city office.We had some medical practitioners who would scrutinize the health related complaints & advise us on further action.One of the doctors whom we consulted on a weekly basis was already on the panel with our registered office.He used to come  to the Head Office on a daily basis one hour before closing time.He would also look up staff who were sick or do a routine check up if the staff went up to him.Generally,the files were carried by our peons & delivered to this doctor with a note requesting him to advise us on the grievances of the complainants.Sometimes, in rare instances,I would carry the files to meet the doctor face to face to explain the problems we were having in those  cases.This was so, as our peons opined that they had the right nah the license to carry  papers,files,folders etal & thereby earn taxi fare as conveyance.This was quite amusing as the staff knew that all went by walk but claimed taxi fare to augment their meagre  incomes.This is  understandable for the people at the bottom but even Managers & above also take this conveyance issue seriously - albeit  for pocket money !

Once,my boss asked me to meet this doctor to sort out some two to three long pending complaints.In Public sector,unless the matters assumes extreme urgency (that is  top executives or any Government agency,etc  starts pounding the office about any files ),files are forgotten or better still misplaced ! Thankfully,we had some order still in the department & we located the files .Relevant notes were prepared for the doctor to peruse & reply.I carried the files to the doctor at the end of the day, that is, almost towards the closing time.By the time ,I reached the Head Office,I saw a very senior Executive entering the doctor's consulting room.

I waited on the bench outside his room.I could hear  the doctor advising the executive.I was thinking, that, I was lucky, as nobody else was waiting.Just then,I saw another  senior Manager  of our Company walking towards me.I smiled at him & wished him.He asked me," Hello ! How are you ?" He meant, that despite the management's attitude towards people like you ,how come you can smile .I replied that I was fine .He remembered my reply & hence in a few days,I was transferred to another State !

He just knocked on the door & went in .I was shocked that he had no qualms about just going in when I was waiting sorry when someone is waiting.But then to expect any such  decency from the upper crust is a fallacy & that too for a person much below their ranks in the corporate ladder is a crime !

I could hear loud exchanges of hellos from the cabin.Then there was a discussion about how Mediclaim was not being handled properly at Divisional & branch offices.This was so as one of the  relatives of the executives was denied a claim & the doctor was being ordered to settle the claim in review.Otherwise,the executives had been indifferent to all queries,suggestions on improvising claim settlement in all departments.Just goes to show how nepotism can turn you against your own employer.I was able to hear almost  everything .I had no intention to overhear   but as I was sitting so close by,there were no options left.I could not get up & go as somebody else could gain entry next.I wished, our executives could refrain from talking so openly when they knew that a junior was just outside.Or the least, they could have done was to be magnanimous & allowed me to go in first.After my work was over,they could have all discussions openly provided no one else like me was around. But since this possibility was a big improbability,they had to pursue this actuality. My wait was increasing by minutes now & I  was getting irritated as I had to rush back home to my daughter.

Then,there were  check ups done.The doctor told them that they were both in good health.This perhaps prompted the executives to tell," Lets have a drinking session one of these days ." I  was flabbergasted - I knew that many claims,& delicate issues are debated only during such sessions but this was just like the official seal  ! But thankfully,the banter ended in a few minutes after that & both the executives walked out of the cabin.I knocked on the door & let myself in.I told the doctor about the files in brief & he promised to give his replies in the forthcoming week.My work over-I walked to the bus stop to catch my bus home.

The next day,I narrated to my boss the  whole episode & requested him that he never depute me for such work.This was because I did not want to lose whatever little respect ( if any ) I had for the top management.He just smiled & left it at that.

Sparsh ( Touch )

I read in the newspaper that a book is being released tomorrow titled "Learn the rules of touch".The book is in Hindi ( Sparsh ke niyam seekhiye).

Millions of kids all over the world are abused by persons known, as also unknown, to them.Moreover, the scars inflicted remain on their minds all life long.Even I, have been tormented by this.I remember, the first time, it happened was, when, I & my sibling were left with teenagers as all our parents had gone for a party.All of us started playing a hide & seek game by putting off all the lights.The eldest teenager caught hold of me & my sibling & started groping me.He kept passing some funny comments.I was too naive to know what was going on but, I felt, very uncomfortable & tried to wriggle free.When I grew up,it was clear, that this was my first brush with abuse.Later ,I got a marriage proposal from the same person !I refused.Maybe,he had forgotten, what he had done, but naturally,he will not recall as he may have acted similarly with other kids.It was then, that I told my parents about it.I did not disclose earlier because, I did not understand the assault then. As I grew up,I had begun to realise it.

Later , I had to travel with a younger cousin to a town some distance away by a bus.I was still in school then.On our way back,a middle aged fellow sat next to us.He sat besides me & my cousin sat next to the window.Very soon, he tried to get physical & before I knew,he had begun fondling.I was aghast, but could not protest. I knew nobody on that bus except, my cousin who was younger than me & a boy at that.So I kept turning my position till my bus stop came & my ordeal ended.

Whilst in college,I was coming home on vacation in a train.It was very early in the morning & I had got up as my destination was nearing.But being sleepy,I wanted to catch a few winks.So I lied down on the sleeper at the bottom.In a few minutes,I could hear somebody breathing.I opened my eyes to discover that one fellow male traveler was cosying up to me ! I turned but he smiled & assured me that I could sleep ! I got up & sat till my station arrived.There were majority of men around me & a minority of ladies who were asleep.I was forced to be silent.


Later ,this happened, while I was working in Public sector.I was feeling unwell in office- so much so, that, I needed to visit a doctor. I went to one who had his clinic next door.Under the pretext of my physical examination,he abused me physically.I left hastily after collecting my prescription.My boss later asked me if the said medical practitioner would be suitable for being on the Company's panel for Mediclaim.I told him that his inclusion in the panel would lead to a flood of grievances instead of redressal.

We all have gone through such sexual abuse as children as also as adults as Indian society places too much premium on our tolerence but, it is time, we discuss & debate all this.This will educate us & give us solutions to overcome this menace. Boys are as much abused or maybe even more than girls- the tender age of children is exploited for satisfying sex maniacs,promoting pornography as well as supposedly curing sexually transmitted diseases ! This has to stop.

That is why sex education at schools becomes a must.That is how a child will learn about sparsh- the good,the bad & the ugly.Lest,we forget,we cannot have another incident like Nathari.