Asked to Leave Read online

  I was begging for a day’s leave, because I needed it. Anyhow, I couldn’t afford to take ‘No’ from him.

  “I don’t have a headcount to manage office and all you guys are coming up with your personal issues, asking for a leave. I have decided not to give anyone any leaves further. It’s not approved.” It got me worried.

  I called my father “How are you doing?”

  “Feeling better son” He replied.

  “My office is not approving my leave for tomorrow, but I will take you to the hospital.” I said, while removing back pack.

  “Is that so…? Didn’t you let them know how badly I am suffering? They don’t have parents at home or what? Is it so tough to understand? .…. “My father was unhappy with my office and felt that there was insecurity in my career.

  “Come on Dad, I am there with you. What else matters to you! Forget it and forgive them. They will deduct my wages, that’s it. They cannot stop me from taking you to the hospital.”

  After 2 Months, In The Office.

  “Good morning, thank you for calling Oxyzen Care, my name is Ram, how may I help you?” I was told to be robotic.

  “Yes. I doubt you will help me, because it is the 3rd time that I am calling you and you guys are disconnecting my call. In fact, can I speak with your supervisor?”

  “I sincerely apologise sir. I will not disconnect your call and will call you back, if it gets disconnected due to any technical reasons. I will help you. Is it alright sir?”

  “Actually, I have to make an ISD call, which is very important. I had recharged my phone at an Oxyzen outlet. It’s been an hour and the amount has not been credited yet. When I approached your merchant, he asked me to wait for 24 hours.

  I am on a trip here in India. My father is hospitalised in Kathmandu, as he met with an accident. I want to call the hospital and know about his condition. The caller was about to cry.”

  “Don’t worry sir, he will be fine. I understand that it is important for you and respect the way you are caring and concerned for your father. Did you try to recharge your phone with Rs.200”? I asked him to confirm while checking the CRM as the complaint was registered.

  “Yes, yes. It was. Can you help, please call that shopkeeper merchant and ask him to help?” The caller was showing urgency.

  “Sir, be rest assured. I will do the needful.” I said.

  “Is there anything else I may assist you with?” I added.

  “That will be all, thank you.” He said and started talking to someone there.

  “Thank you for your time and have a nice day.” I disconnected, since I had promised to get his work done.

  I thought about my father’s accident. I knew where that guy was coming from, I thought, the wage is getting cut these days. I am already helpless, so why not utilise some money to help this guy.

  I put myself on ‘Tea Break’ and did not ask for anybody’s permission. I went down to the client office main entrance after crossing 4-5 buildings.

  “Bhai Ji, please do an easy-recharge on this Ariel Number 0971914507 for Rs.200”. I told the Security Guard and gave him that money.

  “It’s done.” The Security Guard said.

  I had put myself on ‘TEA BREAK’ and legally I was good to go with a cup of tea.

  “May I have a cup of tea, Bhai ji?” I ordered tea at the mobile tea counter on the street.

  While sipping on my tea, I was thinking about that caller, who had brought me here at that time. Fortunately, I had that money in my pocket or else I would not have been able to help him. Anyways, he must have spoken to his family members in the hospital thereafter and taken an update about his father’s condition.

  I was getting positive vibes, which was real happiness although I had violated the company policy by copying the customer’s number from the database and taking it out of the premises. It was a crime as per the company norms. But, I believe in doing the right thing. I was justifying my action, as I didn’t do anything wrong to anyone, neither my company nor that customer nor myself. I benefited by helping someone who was in dire need and achieving spiritual satisfaction.

  We believe in GOD. And if, I am being blessed with his sight now, he will help my father overcome his illness; in fact GOD will help mankind become more benevolent, caring and living each other’s stories. I was dreaming of that perfect world, where every living being is concerned for other’s well-being before taking any action for his/her own benefit.

  I had no reason to stand there in the bright sun, once I had finished off my cup of tea. I paid for the tea; gave him heartfelt thanks and rushed towards my workstation; punched my access card, looked left and right and settled down.

  “Congratulations Ram! We are proud of you. We got an appreciation call for you.” Inder told me with pride. He had reasons to be proud, as he was the one who had trained me.

  “Thank you sir” I thought it must be the one who was asking for a supervisor and I was happy that, if it is the same customer, then I was successful in converting a supervisor call into an appreciation call.

  So, it was the end of the story, no email, nothing, only the trainer on a personal level came up to me and let me know that there was a customer who was happy and appreciating the way he was dealt with. Although in such situations one always expects more. But, it was enough for me to satiate myself.

  I had indirectly got the message that the recharge of Rs.200 was successful from my end. I went through the transaction, which he had made through Oxyzen, it was still showing pending.

  Also, it gave me immense pleasure to know that the person whom I assisted by keeping my word. I clearly felt that this caller was a deserving candidate, because without knowing that it was my money, which had reached his account, he called Oxyzen customer care and appreciated me. I was humbled and feeling good that I was a part of this process. I don’t know why, but it gave me a reason to be happy.

  However, I wish happiness lasted for long. Something was badly waiting to screw my happiness. I never foresaw it even in my wildest dream.

  What happened? Sherry asked with a curious gesture.

  After my shift got over, I picked up my bag and collected my phone from the locker outside. While walking down the stairs, I was shocked to see a message from the mobile network company stating 18 missed calls on my phone. I suddenly started running down the stairs in anticipation with my heart pounding as fast as it can. I had a bad feeling. Once I was outside the office premises, I started making calls one by one. I preferred to make calls on mobile phones first.

  A few of them were telemarketing calls. I called my brother’s office phone, and nobody picked up, as it was late in the evening. I then called the neighbour’s landline number and discovered that my father was hospitalised, they had left a message with them for me. I hired an auto and rushed towards the hospital. It was a private hospital, located in Ansal’s Palam Vihar. It took me almost an hour to reach there.

  “How is Dad now?” I asked my brother who had brought father to the hospital.

  “No update yet. We tried to call you. But your phone was switched off.” He replied.

  My brother looked at me with disgust. “When will you learn to be responsible towards our family?” He was shouting at me as his only expectation was for me to be available and be more responsible towards supporting the ones we cared for the most.

  “I am sorry, Bhai. You know my office rules are not employee friendly.” My brother stopped in angst, while showing me his palm to shut up.

  “OK, Ok. It’s Ok. Father is being brought here.” He pointed towards the stretcher; I almost cried as my father laid down, with his eyes closed.

  I followed the stretcher with a couple of doctors and sisters.

  “You cannot go inside sir.” A sister nurse interrupted.

  “Sister, but he is my father. How is he now?” I asked her.

 
“Don’t worry. He is better. He had difficulty with breathing. But he will be fine.” the sister nurse said and went inside the ward. Of course, she needed to begin the treatment. We had no choice but to let her start the treatment. We could not ask her for more details, nor did we have any authority to stop her unless all our doubts were clarified. But, I had a few questions circling my mind about the on-going treatment, like how much is it going to cost.

  “Bhai, have you told them that you have an ESI card and want ESI empanelled hospitals?” I asked.

  Yes, I visited the nearest ESI Office Dispensary and they offered me this hospital.

  “Ram, you have come!” My father said, as I entered the ward and sat next to him, holding his hand.

  “Yes Papa”. You will be alright. I just spoke to the doctor. We can go home today. Let me bring some fruits for you Papa.” I said and went outside.

  “Hemant Sir, Namaste” I called my reporting manager; while talking to him I reached the hospital garden, which had colourful flowers.

  “Yes, tell me.” He asked me about the reason of the call.

  “Sir, my father is in the hospital and I will not be able to come to work tomorrow, so please approve my leave for tomorrow.

  “Ram, I cannot approve your leave. You are aware about our company policy; which says that a leave can only be approved, if your supervisor is notified at least 24 hours in advance.

  “Ok, I said”. But, again I am letting you know that I might not come tomorrow. I am sorry.

  “How many siblings do you have Ram?” Hemant asked this question at the wrong time. He was indirectly questioning about my responsibility towards my father’s betterment.

  “We are 6 brothers, Sir. My sister jumped into the burning fire when she was 6 months old.” I answered his question.

  I needed that month’s salary to help support my family.

  Then why should you only take a leave, don’t mind but you are getting paid here. If you don’t come today, you will never come back here. I am a Manager today, but “I have been there and done that” when I was at your level. So, I know that game, father is unwell, grandfather has died, grandmother has died and these all are excuses.

  “I will talk to you later on this, I have to go now.” I said and disconnected the call.

  Why has today’s human become so self-centred and what will happen, if the entire world turns selfish? It was a challenge for me to convey this message to Hemant. I was filled with sweat.

  After I disconnected the call, I stayed in the garden for a few minutes thinking what’s going to happen next. There was a cool breeze that touched a few drops of sweat on my neck and sent a chilling and tingling sensation down my spine. I suddenly felt better.

  It seemed; as if Mother Nature was trying to tell me something, which I could not understand. While entering the hospital gate, I was looking for answers to the unasked questions.

  “We are sending back your father home today, he is feeling better. But he needs extra care and bed rest for 2 months. If you see any symptoms erupting, please report it to us and we will send someone to help.” Dr. Bansal said and handed over his medical case file with the discharge papers.

  “I want you to be with me Ram. There is no one who can take care of me better than you.” My father said.

  It did not take me much time to decide, as my employment was not my dream job. They had already indicated that people working on Executive or Agent level don’t matter to them, though it is said that an Operations employee is the most valuable asset to an organisation. They generate revenue for the company and yet they were treated like slaves. All that appreciation and good talk was limited to papers only, not essentially practiced.

  So, I was not going to miss them. I had my foremost priority waiting for me to come home and take care of him, support him physically, mentally and spiritually in his old aged sick condition. After all, he is my father and he deserved to see me around.

  I had no pain leaving that job. I put my papers down after writing my resignation letter; handed it over to Hemant. He accompanied me to the exit gate, I felt happy that may be once in life he was acting like a gentleman and accompanying me to see me off.

  “Probably he must have had a change of heart. After all, we are humans and we learn from our own mistakes” Said Sherry.

  But, it was a shock of a lifetime for me; when, he asked the security guard to check me thoroughly, while I was exiting the main gate. I was surprised. The security guard wiped his hands on my body to make sure I was carrying nothing other than what I had brought along. It was the first time I felt humiliated the most. I was reading through their mental state, when Hemant ordered that guard to check me out properly.

  They will never be able to erase the experience I was taking along that day.

  I didn’t deserve it, but they respected me that way.

  It must have been taught to them by their seniors and I still feel sorry for them when these thoughts cross my mind.

  ***

  CHAPTER TWO

  My Father’s Farewell

  May 1, 2010, Raute Hills, Nepal

  It was 2 PM on a sunny afternoon. Everyone was sitting on the floor surrounding my father. He had just taken his last breath of the mortal journey. It felt, as if… everything had come to a halt. Though, we knew this day would come. It was a deep melancholy for us to accept the fact that he was no more, but I had to stay strong and hold on to my tears to support my family. My mom went into a shock and fell unconscious, while we tried our best to bring her back to consciousness; we threw water on her face to help her come back from the oblivion. As soon as she collected her consciousness she started crying. I tried my best to help her calm down, but tears didn’t stop falling from her swollen eyes. I could understand the state of her mind; she had just lost her life partner. For some time, while helping her calm down I forgot about my father’s demise, I focused on helping her accept the nature’s choice.

  “Mom, please don’t cry and be strong, you can’t cry like that.” I said while hugging her and wiping off her tears.

  While crying she said that “He left us lonely here to cry and went home alone.” My mother was speaking less and crying more. It was loud enough to let a few neighbours and villagers know that there had been a death in the family.

  “Give him back please, God! You can’t do this to me and my children, Oh God! You called him so early; God! Don’t be so cruel, bless us with mercy and return him.” She was not ready to face the reality, which is “Once gone, is gone forever.”

  I had to tell something which could help her stay strong.

  “See Mummy, we can’t change it, its nature’s law, thousands of people die in this world every day. You are now the eldest in the family and it is your turn to play the role of our father too; so, be bold and strong as our father. He was strong enough to get operated; get catheters changed in every 20 days, travel from Nepal to Delhi for treatment.” Yet he always had a smile on his face. It was finally helping her calm down.

  “Mama, nobody dies, we are like dolls, or clothes. It is a kind of truth you have to, in fact; all the living beings have to accept that we are mortal beings and soul never dies. You think about your childhood; when did you meet Papa for the first time? When you were 11 years, right? You were with your family and friends. So, where are they? You left them behind; in fact they left us to find out the new possibilities in this mortal world. Nobody of them is with you right now. If they are somewhere, they are within you only, in your memories, you think about them.”

  “You are right my son. I shouldn’t be crying this much, or he’ll feel bad; but he will not be with me to share the early morning tea, he will not be there to go to the fields and help me farming, he will not be there to go to the jungle with sweets and sit on the edge of the deep mountain valley and sing songs looking down at the village. He will not be there to fight with me, love me or st
ill embrace my wrinkled beauty.” Saying this she started crying again.

  “Mom, listen, he is not dead, he is alive in you, alive in me, and in all of our family members. We all are with you; you just have to understand that he is always around us and feel positive, once you understand the reality, you don’t even need to sit alone and cry thinking of him. Feel him, he is everywhere.” I felt a deluge of my emotions flowing through my words. It was challenge for me to help her come out of it, because I was scared of losing her. We anyways had lost my father and couldn’t afford any more losses. An accidental death of my friend’s parents due to a heart-attack was swirling through my mind at that point.

  “I wish it could have been that easy my son. You know every moment of my life is incomplete without him, of course I will get bread and butter, as you guys are there in the family; but I can’t imagine of living without him.” Her throat choked and eyes were busy pouring tears.

  “Mom, for how long you think we will all be together?” I asked a question which amazed her. She had no answer to it.

  “Mom, please be stop crying and be strong; stand with us, I need you, we all need you. Nobody and nothing is permanent in this world; neither you nor I. Everything mortal, will no more exist; we should live our lives and try to do something better for people and nature. His soul which sees all of us right now must be hurt. So please, let time and nature do their job, let his soul set out on a new journey in Peace. Please stop crying Mom.” I had nothing much to say, and she was feeling better. She had stopped crying, but kept on looking at my father’s body in the courtyard.

  We were neither in the mood to have food or water, nor were we allowed to have food or water for a day and half, depending upon three time meal. My brother and I had to be a part of my father’s last journey to the crematorium; the final destination and we were ready with white coloured clothes and pallid face.

  It was piercing my heart into pieces to see my father tied with those four wood sticks, covered with bright red nylon and polyester clothes, his file filled up with doctors’ prescriptions and diagnosis and an entire history of treatment and surgeries. We kept all those items with him, in the bag with other clothes, and his shoes, his cap, shirt and jacket he had been wearing in the recent past, all of those items were supposed to be cremated along with his body. My mother and everyone in the family said their final goodbye. Females were not allowed to be a part of one’s final destination journey to the cremation ground; they were all left behind mourning inside home.