The empathetic Boss.

 I had joined a public sector company as an officer.I was young & naive- so much so, that I would sign on the dotted line without anticipating the result /s.The seniors  were unhappy as they realised that with my posting ,their promotions would lead them to transfers.One senior would regularly ask me to file papers in claim files.I would comply, as I felt, that it would make me  feel useful .I was to learn slowly & surely, that all officers in Public sectors were glorified peons .So filing papers was a natural trait ! I was being simply told to hone up inherent skills.

This happened after  one year,  after I had joined the said moffusil branch office as the only officer other than the Branch manager.A senior officer from the head office came in along with a team, to check some claim files.As he sat scrutinizing the same,he came across various irregularities, both significant as also insignificant ones.One claim in particular, had been a problematic one as no officer had signed on the relevant documents.As I was the only officer around at that time, the senior officer called me & started cross- examining me.He opined that I had erred by not signing. This ,he concluded, was the root cause of the aforesaid claim.So he started persuading me to put in my signature. I was in a dilemma- I did not know the ways of the public sector & I felt I had to obey the senior officer in the order of hierarchy but I still could not understand the mistake on my part.I had not idea about the claim.I had only been there for a little more than a year. Still, I refused to sign but found no reasons to back up my stand.I was under tremendous pressure & ultimately,sensing, that there was no escape ,I signed.

Very soon, a new manager came to head our department. He was considerate as also kind.He seemed to share an empathy with the staff & the officers.The said claim file landed on his table for finalisation.He went through the contents. He called me up & made inquiries.When he realised that I had signed under duress,he promised that he would rectify it in such a manner that I would not face any problem whatsoever.He also cautioned me against behaving similarly in the future.He stated that one should ask for time in such cases & then act accordingly after a lot of thought.He also assured me that I could call him up whenever I encountered such situations.I was overwhelmed by his concern.Later,he called me up, to inform me that he had taken due care about the said file.He told me  to stop worrying about it.

Then ,he helped me further, as he asked me if I was not commuting a long distance from home to office.I had been commuting for nearly 40 kilometres to office on a daily basis  & this had continued for 2-3 years.I agreed but replied that I saw no way out.He said ,he would see that I got transferred to an office nearer my home.He was as good as his word.His efforts paid off & I was transferred to an office  very near to my home.He took care to see that I was shifted without any written request from me .A written request from my side would have complicated matters.

Very soon , I was promoted.This was all due to his efforts at  giving me an outstanding confidential report .He was like that only -full of care & concern for others .He often commented that he sympathised with all ladies who commuted from home to offices in a metro as they had to slog on both the domestic as also the office fronts.

The sympathetic manager was later transferred to another office.All the staff & officers bid him a heartfelt goodbye,as he had become one of us.He taught us that being kind at office to subordinates works wonders ! I did imbibe these qualities from him.Ever since,I have tried to be understanding of my subordinates concerns & problems.This in turn, has made my office relationships stronger.This has later transformed into respect for me.It remains so, to this day, even though I am only a home maker now.I have tried to be concerned about my maids ,the doodhwala ,the dhobi,& others.I try not to test their patience.I have been enriched by being considerate.Moreover,this has become mutual now, as they all, also return it  in kind.

 I recently heard, that the said manager  has shifted to the private sector.I am sure,he is spreading his kindness there around as well.May his tribe increase & spread far & wide.

The radio

 THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN HT CAFE DT. 2/1/2010.

I am a big fan of the radio.My radio is always on full volume.My mother is always chiding me for this habit of mine. As I do not want to listen to my own thoughts,I insist on keeping the radio running at the maximum volume.Maybe, I will go deaf but that also has an advantage - no words will hurt me then onwards.

I have been a regular listener of Vividh Bharathi earlier but now with so many FM stations,I have switched loyalties but I am partial to the state radio stations.This is due to the fact that they play old hindi film songs which I adore.The private stations usually play new songs which I may like but not as much as the older ones.

I also listen to Marathi songs especially the old ones though Marathi is not my mother tongue nor the language I converse in.I have just developed a liking for it having stayed in Mumbai for the last 25 years.I particularly love the bhav geets & even the soulfully rendered bhajans especially the ones praising Lord Vithala-the presiding deity of Pandharpur.

Radio plays songs & the music in fact, helps me to work with enthusiasm be it dusting, cooking , writing or even surfing the net.Also,radio helps me to keep track of time.When the radio is on,I don't feel lonely.I love the voices of the announcers & feel at home with them.The FM radio stations give various pieces of information like major news events as also the traffic situation.The state radio stations broadcast information about the weather as also the arrival & departure of trains on a daily basis.Also I can listen to the news broadcasts at regular intervals on the national radio stations.

My daughter keeps telling me to switch to a channel wherein they play the latest hit songs & my hubby simply asks me to switch off the radio.My better half opines that the noise of the radio interferes with his thought process.Well,atleast one thing is clear- he thinks ! I was of the view that the male of the homo sapiens is a man of action & not words ! But my love affair with the radio continues.The radio never interferes with my routine -it actually is a perfect background to which I have got attuned.

In conclusion,I am reminded of the matrimonial advertisement in which my father had stated that I liked assorted light vocal music.My brother had later explained to my fiance that this meant that I was an avid listener of Hindi film songs.My hubby keeps telling me that he has never felt so cheated by the words used in the advertisement.

The courier fellow.

The bell rang as I was just going to savor my first morsel of lunch.I get flustered with such interruptions.I whined & said to myself,"Why such things always happen to me ?I can't even have my lunch in peace."I opened the door.He was there with a bag slung from his shoulders prominently displaying the local courier company wherein he was employed.

"Madam,your courier- you have to sign here."I said,"You have to wait.I have to wash my hands."He understood & was immediately apologetic,"So sorry,Madam.I did not notice.Please tell your name & phone number & I will leave your packet on the table here.I don't like disturbing anybody during lunch."He wrote my name & phone number in his register & was gone.I was touched by his consideration.

I kept thinking about him as I ate my lunch.He was only a courier fellow but his empathy with me was just unbelievable.I realized that he was a good human being first & foremost to behave like the way he did.

Some days later,I spotted him doing his job at the office of the courier company which is on my way to the local market.Though,he was engrossed in sorting the packets,a smile played on his lips.

I bumped into him again after a few days as he had come to drop a courier at my neighbour's house. I had just landed on the floor after a shopping spree,wherein I reside,when I met him. My neighbour's home was locked & I was unlocking my house.He enquired,"Madam,has your neighbour gone out of station ? Nobody seems to be home."I replied,"No, they keep travelling between their two homes - this one & another situated nearby.""That is fine-if you don't mind,can I please write your name & phone number in my register & drop the letter in their post box?"I nodded & gave the details.I was amazed at his thoughtfulness.He slid the letter into their post box & went on his way.I sat pondering at the fellow.He was so thoughtful- he never wanted to be a bother to anybody.I felt, he deserved a better future than being a courier man.But while he was at his simple job,he was making life pleasant for all those who came in contact with him.He was delivering happiness & joy all around.I felt, that I ought to emulate at least this simple trait of smiling from him if not his thoughtfulness.Maybe, as smiling becomes second nature to me ,I would also become as kind as him.

I think,such people only make the journey called life worthwhile.

Balloons & birthdays.

Yesterday,my daughter turned nine.So,again,we had to have a b'day party,my kid insisted.I find all this quite a task- I have absolutely no interest in all such things but then kids compel us & we have to just give in.

I told my kid that she better call girls who are staying in our building only.She gave me a list of some eight girls & I invited them all.The menu was also small -akin to the common minimum programme of our political parties which they never deliver but I am not so lucky.I had to get the cake,the wafers,the pizza & the chocolates.

So the preparations began- gave the order for the cake & pizza & got wafers, choclates, paper plates,balloons,plastic spoons,paper napkins,etal.My friend & her daughter who are very close to both of us came in the afternoon to help us- in fact ,it would be more appropriate to state that my friend works like the host & I behave like the guest on my daughter's b'day party.My efforts depict or rather display my feelings or rather lack of it for such events & more.

We hung the streamers & tried to blow the balloons- it was impossible.None of us were able to blow even a bit of air into any of them.We were trying hard but to no avail.We were just left huffing & puffing.My kid insisted, that I had got the wrong ones which I flatly refused to acknowledge as such.But I also started doubting if I had brought water balloons but then the shopkeeper was at fault, not me.Then, my kid started stretching the balloon like an elastic & then blew it up.It was superb! We were really thrilled ! My daughter showed us all how she did it & we all followed suit.All the colorful balloons were soon hanging around the drawing room giving it that distinct birthday look.

My daughter taught me that sometimes a task like blowing a balloon may also require that correct technique & may have to be learnt from somebody younger than you.In effect, a task may not be as simple as it looks- appearance can be deceptive!Any body could teach us provided we are open & receptive.Looking at the colorful balloons made me also jump with gay abandon! It was just like the balloons full of bounce ! Filled with the joy of life !

I realised , my daughter is really grown up.I wonder like all parents that my daughter is growing up too fast.After all - from the next year onwards,her age will be in two digits.