This news surprised
me as I
was not expecting
this .I knew
that promotion is
happy thing but
this was also
a fact that
in spite of
all odds my
jab as packing
girl was more
close to my
heart and nature
.
When I returned
to the hall
girls gathered around
me and asked
what happened . I told
them whole thing . There were different kind of
reactions ,
few were
happy ,more were
shocked or annoyed
included section incharge
specially who was
always busy in
efforts to let
me down in front of madam .
She specially disliked
me for my
nature (which was not my fault
obviously) and she also hated me for
likening of madam
for me .Her reaction
was furious ,
she said “I
am working here since
6 years and
never saw someone
promoted from hall
to laboratory “ “how
it is possible” blah blah
Anyway From Next
Monday I was
asked to work
in laboratory where
six pharmacists and
12 helping girls
were already working in huge hall equipped with stuff that was used in preparation of different kind of medicine.
In first week I was taught to learn my duties and observe other team members .My job also included file arrangements in last two hours of the day.
In first week I was taught to learn my duties and observe other team members .My job also included file arrangements in last two hours of the day.
I was learning and doing alright but there was some negative vibes coming from few of my colleagues . Reason was my irritating simplicity ( heard these words from them) and my extra dedication( in their opinion) to my job which they though was my effort to get attention of madam and other seniors.
I had been suffering with such painful attitude from many people i encountered in my life from primary school to this moment who disliked me for the way i am and this is not fair in my opinion because everyone comes with different nature and this is just me.
I can change my habits to please others but nature is something so deeply rooted in genes so how can i change it????
Anyway time was flowing smoothly .My eldest son was doing fine in school and it seemed i was close to make my dreams come true ,
dreams of doing job and feeling little bit self dependent ,and dream of raising my son in decent environment away from all domestic issues caused by influence of in laws.
dreams of doing job and feeling little bit self dependent ,and dream of raising my son in decent environment away from all domestic issues caused by influence of in laws.
Meanwhile my husband was doing two jobs in his own city ,one was government's and other was part time as hotel manager .He was sacrificing his sleep to make some money so he can buy plot for making separate house for us and he was succeeding in his plan by the grace of God!
He had also joined the civilian force training which was optional for civil servants and was being paid in handsome amount after each training with army.
I was satisfied with my job inspite of some mistreats by two certain coworkers who tried to manipulate me with cheap tricks .
They misplaced files twice and misinformed pharmacist whom i been assisting about my performance and tried to make me embarrassed and insulted by madam .
But each time God saved me through my sixth sense which helped me to recheck and correct file arrangements and reply honestly when i was being asked about my work.
I forgot to mention about a young pharmacist who was extremely good looking (girls opinion) and almost each girl was ready to fall for him . Once my colleague found his dropped handkerchief and were fighting for it to keep( how silly)
Once, while it was raining and i was walking to the van stop for factory ,a car came near and stopped .It was pharmacist ,he offered me that he can drop me as he is also going to same factory .
I thanked him and refused politely ( here it is not good act for young lady to take lift from stranger) although in big cities it happens often but i was(even am) so coward in such acts. You can call me most coward person when it comes to be familiar to opposite gender (specially which seem not to be trusted by my senses ) what can i do it is in my weird nature !
Back to point since that day that man started to give me unwanted extra attention which made me uncomfortable and even worse that i was more clear target to my certain colleagues .
He would ask me to stand beside while working when even it was not required .This was making me angry .
Once i went to the madam ( lady head incharge of halls ) and without telling the reason requested to appoint me back in hall as packing girl as for me it was most important to work in easy environment .
Madam was shocked and asked me reason and inevitably i told her ,obviously it was laughing stalk for her and she thought of me a biggest fool . She said you should not be worried as it is very strict environment and he will not cross his limits ,it's just his timely affection .
She said when he will find no positive response he will be normal you should not be demoting yourself for other's mistake. I could not convince her that a man who inspite of knowing that i am married with one child is acting weirdly can not be decent enough to be worthy of respect or trust.
Once , when i was looking for van after leaving factory and it was raining heavily i saw him again though he had been leaving half hour ago front of my eyes . He again offered me to sit in car as it is raining heavily and van may be late more .
This time i told him to please leave me alone and stop acting extra nicely as it makes me uneasy and i find this harmful for my reputation .
He drove away but did not leave ,he stood and stared until i took taxi and left.
I could complain to head office and it could be dangerous for his job but i had no solid reason to do so as this was not any kind of harassment but stupidity of a young man . I also knew since always been little over sensitive about such issues or you can call me abnormal like my sister :) but again i could not resist my nature.
So unconsciously now i was looking for to quit this job.I knew i was going to make mistake ,but one thing sprang in my head as very strong excuse.
My eldest son missed his father all the time and often asked me that why Abu (father) can't live with us ? I always told him that one day he will come to stay with us but to do so he had to quit his government job which was in provincial category and transfer in federal area was not possible .
My husband visited us after each 3 or 4 months just to make his son happy though it was quite expensive to travel from one corner of country to another .
We both (me and hubby) also missed each other but our priority was to give our son all that he needed to be nice ,healthy and successful man in future .Honestly we also were stressed and pressurized by in laws and circumstances to be departed.
Ofcourse my strong bonding with my mom was also a big reason as she was not agreed to live with us in our small city which she always criticized for heat and dust and i could not leave her alone .
My father's returning gave strength to my plan .I requested him (begged him actually) to not to leave mom alone again and that i may be get going back to home as Ahsan(my eldest son) is missing his father all the time.
One day when i returned from factory in evening i saw that my son got his finger cut by blade and stain of blood on his shirt made me mad.
I asked mom about the accident she said it happened while i was taking nap after lunch (i was paying extra fee for school van to drop my son back home).
I hugged my son and asked what happened ,he told that i picked up nana's (my father) blade to play as i wanted to shave like nana but it cut my finger.
I felt so sad sad and dizzy . I said my father how he can be so irresponsible to leave his shaving kit in reach of my child. Which hurt me more was that my parents did not dressed the wound which was not much deep but as i said stain of blood on his white shirt was enlarging the scenario.
I immediately dressed his finger and hold him tight as i felt i was responsible for this .Worries surrounded my heart ,i realized that anything worse can happen to my child in my absence .
I thought i was doing everything for my son but if he is not safe and happy what benefit i am getting from my struggles .
I made quick decision that i will go back to my husband and we both will look after our son together .This way my son will be safe and happy to have both of us close to him.So next day i went to railway station and reserved our seats . Luckily i got reservation was after one day.
It was middle of month yet i did not care and next day gave my resignation to madam .She was so shocked that why so suddenly i am doing this .I did not tell him the whole story i just said that my husband has come from another city and i will have to leave with him as he has reserved our seats in train already , I lied because i knew madam who had become quite attached with me will force me to wait till end of the month .
My guess was right she became so emotional and i could not believe when i saw tears in her eyes!
She was pregnant with six month but still was coming to work .This was painful for her to take lots of stress and pressures of daily running and shouting around and achieving the production targets set by seniors .
In whole factory she found me one to whom she can trust and share her heart and bit story of her life .Her tears for me made me cry too.
Woman of stone had soft corner for me this was miracle of my dear Lord!Girls in halls were astonished by this sight when she got up and hugged me . Our friend was unseen and surprising for all and even for us because were eventually so different in our nature .
But her strictness was requirement of her job and there were less to understand and accept it. I Knew this when later twice i got job as principal of school. Positions change our behaviors though not nature and this goes with need of the present moment.
I gave her diary as gift and told that i will be calling her until she give birth to her baby.She gave me her number and asked me for mine (i had none then) There was no chance to get salary because i was leaving job suddenly in mid of month yet she gave me salary from her own pocket which i strongly refused to take but she said she will get mine next month so i should not take it as favor .
That day when i was coming home after saying goodbye to all in factory i felt that i will be missing this place specially madam. Earning by myself was my biggest dream since beginning which shrinked front of the love of my child .
But what i learnt from this job influenced my next part of my life to quite great extent!
first of all i learnt that i can do so many things that i never thought i can do!
I learnt SPEED ,how to work quickly and taking quick decision .
Keeping mind ATTENTIVE all the time!
My observation skills developed !
I learnt most striking thing that even i can get love from people by simply following my heart!!!
All these learning made my life better in coming years!
I was little wiser ,patient ,cooperative and understanding.
After returning from there God blessed me with two more children in 2003 and then in 2006 , who were so desired by us and by our eldest son as he was starving for sibling !
Soon my husband bought plot for separate house and the more pleasant era of our life started .
I called from pco (public phone booth) madam few times until she became mom of baby boy ,she told she is also resigning and returning to Lahore (her husband's native city).after that were not in contact.
Sorry for long post dear friends !
Please take great care ,stay strong and positive!
God Bless you All!!!
Work place situations in US are not so different. I guess Competition and jealousy is universal.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right dear Joe!
ReplyDeleteIf you step out this feeling rules the world
Joeh raises a good point, there are many similarities between workplaces throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteYour entire story is so interesting. It is fascinating how some seemingly hard people can actually become soft when you get to know them.
I wonder what she is doing now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story, very interesting.
ReplyDeleteYour entire story has been so interesting, I've enjoyed each part.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder what she may be doing now?
Lovely posts from you Baili.
All the best Jan
A wonderful story full of many kinds of love just as you are. There are many valuable messages here. The first is that you stayed true to yourself and others saw that. You put you family above all else and your family benefited from that. You and your husband worked toward a goal for your family. Both of you sacrificed and in the end you earned what you desired. There are many more but you know what they are.
ReplyDeleteI think you did fine. Your kindness and honesty will always work for you in the long run. Just be yourself. No one could ask for more. Other people's problems with you are just that. Their problems.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very long post but very interesting, so many things are the same as here but a lot are different when I was first married it was the thing to move out of the family home and start your own life not alway easy to do but you had freedom now young couples often are at home because the house prices are so high. I always worked and enjoyed it but the workplace is filled with lots of things that are not fair things have got a lot better now I think.
ReplyDeleteMerle........
I think you made good decisions throughout this time in your life. I'm glad you were eventually able to move to a separate house, and it made your life peaceful once again.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting reading of that part of your life.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly did learn a lot. One door closes and another opens.
We are always learning, baili.
ReplyDeleteWhen and if we stop, life becoems very boring.
Have a great week!
Gosto da forma como expõe os seu problemas e espectativas no trabalho. Em todo o lado é igual, Baili…
ReplyDeleteUma boa semana.
Beijo.
I really enjoyed reading about your job experience Baili, I think apart from all that you learned during that time, the girls in the hall learned a lot too - that goodness shines through and that because of your hard work and honest nature, you were popular. It must have been very hard with the in law issues to also have hostility and jealousy from the girls at work. I am so glad you made the decision to go to your husband - there's strength in being together and your son(s) were safe and loved by both. I think the biggest thing that shines through in your story (and also your posts) is your unquestioning faith in God.
ReplyDeleteI loved your story, Baili! You and your husband both worked very hard and you were blessed in so many ways. I am so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting reading, baili! I would guess that you are not the only person who learned important lessons while you were working in that place. You'll never know how you may have changed the attitude, outlook, or behavior of some of the other women, but you were a very good example of a loyal employee, a kind friend, and a hard worker!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed learning about your job, Baili, and how you managed to turn a negative situation into a positive learning experience. It is a story to tell your grandchildren some day......of how you and your husband overcame your hardships and created a beautiful life all your own. Truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing. A hug xo Karen
ReplyDeleteHello dearest Baili, I have now read the three parts of this story. And what a fascinating story it was! It's wonderful that you gained experience and self-confidence from you work. Integrity, honesty, diligence and kind-heartedness often are not appreciated by the unfriendly and inconsiderate people and conflicts may arise. I'm happy you came out as winner.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings!
I read your story with great interest, dear Baili, and could relate it - work environment is not easy anywhere. I think that if you are clear in your intentions, honest in your dealings, and still accept that the world is not always fair or kind, you are doing the best you can.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
This is a lovely story and it worked out well for you and your hubby in the long run :-)
ReplyDeleteWorkplace situations can be similar in the UK too. I suppose it is human nature and we are all different.
We all learn from so many different situations! Our work places are so much similar all over the world! Never change! You are a great person!
ReplyDeleteHi, Baili! I'm sorry that I have been absent for so long. Life has pulled me away from my blogging buddies, and it is taking me a long time to get back with everyone again. I really enjoyed your three-part story about your second job. It all happened because you had the courage to speak to that principal about getting a job. She was wise not to employ you where Ahsan was studying. It can be really hard on the child, especially emotionally. You were wise to be true to you and not to change to please others. I've always thought if you try to change who you are to please others then you are living a lie. On top of everything else, it would be stressful and exhausting to try to be someone you're not. It's always powerful to prove to yourself that you can be independent and stand on your own two feet. Once you realize that you can do that, it's easier to make the sacrifice of choosing to put your son first when he needed you. Thanks for sharing this lovely story ~ I could imagine it all so vividly in my mind. Take care, my friend. Just because I've been away doesn't mean that I had forgotten you. I think of you often, and I hope you, your husband, and sons are doing well!
ReplyDeleteI so admired the stand you took when you were offered a ride by that pharmacist, Baili. I felt so angered by those others who were so envious of your promotion. And, I was so happy for you and your son to go to where your husband and his father was instead if staying with your in-laws. Evem though your son’s cut finger was a minor injury, there could have been more serious incidents if he and you remained.
ReplyDelete