She asked me about my skills in office work as can i operate computer or assist in office work such as arranging files and exchanging files from one office to another .
I said that i don't know anything about computer but yes my English is good enough to do office help.
To know about my English understanding skills she first gave me a book to read passage from ,then had little conversation in English .
After doing all this she said my understanding of English is quite better than people with ten grade degree ( thanks to all my love for English programs on t.v)
Unlike private schools in our government (where i studied) schools , students used get their first English alphabet book in six grade and then till tenth grade we were taught tenses and sentence formation only.
But we all know that any language can be learnt well with regular practice of speech rather then writing it in notebooks
Biggest source for my understanding of English was only due to my fondness for this language and my interest for learning more and more about western and American life style which was so different than our's and sound fascinating then.
After this little interview which lasted for hardly half hour she wrote a note of reference and told me address to go there and give that note to general Manager of that Pharmaceutical company .
She told he is her husband and will definitely make some adjustment for me as Werrick pharmaceutical was (is) among the biggest medicine companies of our country in Islamabad.
I thanked her for generosity and left for the place she asked me to go. I went straight to the van stop as i did not want to waste a minute , It was one and half hour away and i took two different local vans to reach there .
I was more nervous to see the huge building spread on many blocks .there were two huge main gates with many guards .it was industrial area of Islamabad And to reach medicine factory i had to cross thin rectangular area of woods.
I had doubt if they will let me in. I though composed myself and told them that the wife of general manager has sent me for job.
One of them went inside to inquire my request and returned with positive answer as general manager was called and informed by his wife already.
When i entered in the huge well decorated office my legs were slightly shaking. Specially when the general manager came inside and looked at me as i was ant. He seemed to be highly educated ,professional and very arrogant man.
I could not face him with same level of confidence so in result he thought i was not suitable for office work .
He said i am appointing you as a packing girl if you are satisfied with the position. I was little disappointed though i did not want to loose the opportunity so i grabbed it with simple shivering"okay sir"
I was sent to head incharge who was Really a Strict looking lady (could be in her last thirties) Her face was as she never smiled in her whole life .Eyes like burning coals who can roast you any moment .When she spoke ,her voice was so loud and clear with definite commanding sense which cannot be unheard or un obeyed ever .
She Xryed me with her sharp examining eyes and asked some questions about my arrival there, then informed me that no matter how great my source is she will not tolerate any kind of mistake here .
There were three huge halls where almost three hundred females were working as packing girls. All had a white uniform , most of them girls seemed from 20 to 30 and unmarried (learned later). All were from poor and needy families and when they heard (later) that i was there without any basic necessity they were so surprised !
Each hall had section incharge who had to report Head incharge about everything going on between the hall and workers .
On the both sides of quickly running belt in each hall workers were stood actively to pick up the syrup bottles , sachets or tablets more then just quickly and pack them into packets which they have to bring in shape also before putting the medicine inside because they were in flat shape .
In each hall there was one man to put the heavy bag full of medicine on the beginning corner of belt .Then he would put them quickly on the belt in rows which run front of workers just as moments run out of our hand and we can do nothing to stop them.
If workers skip any of stuff on belt Head incharge burst out like an atom bomb and insult the responsible inhumanly .
After wearing the white uniform there was only one thing which relieved my heart and this was
"oh yes i have to work among only women!"
in other words it was heavenly place for me because there were no men around most of the time .As far as ladies i was so comfortable with them no matter how bad or rude they were in beginning with me . I knew that may be i can be fool or less efficient but i have one gift
" honesty and loyalty as gift "
It was totally new thing to deal with such quickly running belt and prevent myself from Madam's insulting behavior .
Like always i asked my Lord to help me with this and started my job with multiple emotions fearfully !
Hall was full of different faces and voices ,after each half hour Head icharge would visit and observe the worker's speed . She would also ask the section incharge if someone is not working rightly ?
My section incharge was an un married girl of my age (25) .She treated me little unfairly as i was new comer still she asked me to stand on the last part of the belt where all the skipped stuff would come and fell into bin .
On my first day i find it quite difficult , though i was trying my best. But i was not to the mark anyway and few bottles were falling in the bin .When Madam came to observe it was hard to hide my shaking hands!
She observed for while and came near to me stood beside and started to pick up the fallen bottles and pack them. I realized that now stuff was not being skipped anymore .And chuckling whispers were also disappeared immediately .
When after break belt restarted section incharge asked me to stand on beginning side of belt ,most probably she was instructed my Madam.
I Worked there for almost 3 years . But most striking part of my job is that Madam was nice and gentle to me all the time. I was not aware about secret observers around specially in the corridors of whole building and specially in hall where during break time females would sit and have lunch and tea.
During such times most popular topic of ladies was gossip particularly back bitching about our Head Incharge who was not human in their opinion .
Within almost months ice seemed to be broke and many girls started to be nice with me. They praised that my behavior changed their attitude about me as my behavior was so respectful and caring to them.
Our duty hours were from 8;30 morning to 40:30 evening ,each hall had only few desks and it was rule to exchange desk between girls with justice so everybody could have chance to sit for at least 5 or 10 minutes during work without stopping or slowing it.
But section incharge was using her influence to give chance of sitting only her favorites . From first day of my job i unconsciously broke her rule and when it was my turn to sit i asked another girl to sit which was not feeling well.
My little simple act surprised all as it seemed they were not expecting it from stranger specially the girl i helped . I realized that behind such cold behavior of workers main reason was the worst and inhuman behavior of Head inchrge .
It was famous that once when a worker got her hand cut by the machine Head Incharge did not show any empathy even the girl was crying ,shouting and bleeding , she informed the higher authority and ask girls strictly to work carefully so time must not be wasted and daily targets must be achieved .
There were equal number of men in the building whom we would encounter when walk into corridors .Many times i picked up cartons dropped by carriers and deliver to store room or switch off running fans in empty rest room .
After hardly two months of my job one day when i was walking through the corridor and no one was around suddenly a young man appeared from his office and asked if i can talk for few minutes .He was one incharge of store room may be.
I was surprised to hear him as i used to hear about him from hall girls that he is from northern areas and has heart of stone as he never look at any girl .(yes there were lots of things going on inspite of the all rules and strictness by management and i was being familiar gradually of such stories)
I stood still and asked him what is the problem?
he smiled and said " no there is no problem ,i was just curious from where you are?
I told him in short that i was from northern foothills but now came here from southern city where i live with my husband ,i also told him that i am here to raise my son in better environment"when he asked that why i am doing this low salary job when my husband on good post in govt job.
He said it is nice to know woman like you who came here only to work not loosing her self respect or ruining the honor of her family.
I did not react on his words and left quietly . Later it came to knowledge that he was one of those who keep tough eyes on the activities of workers and report to authorities.
Within few months i was popular Baji (big sister) for everyone .All girls would share their heart with me whenever any of them find me sitting alone from crowed .They all used to say
"we never told our private stuff here to anyone because we know that listener will show sympathy on face but will laugh upon us on back, but we don't know why we find you someone who will listen us from heart and will advise with love that we often find in you for people around you"
This was such grace of my dear Lord and honor for me hear these words from all of them .I was grateful because i was receiving love and respect from so many people which was peaceful feeling for my soul thirsty for love!!!
I cannot forget those words of cleaning women who were not allowed to come in common rest room and used to have their lunch outside in the corridor.They used to clean all the toilets of building.
Once when i was passing by one of them asked me in a formal way that "Baji have some bite with us" i sat with them on ground and took bite from their lunchbox , i was surprised to sea that lady who offered me was crying ,She said " i cannot believe you are actually eating with us as no body like to shake hand or touch our stuff"
I hugged her and tried hard not to drop tears on her shoulder .I said you are God's creation and you must be proud that you earn by doing hard work instead of doing any shameful job like theft or bluffing , I added that never forget that you are on right path and God Loves you for that be sure , and forget about fools who have less insight .
In third month of my job Head Incharge called me and took to the upper story in her senior's office who were three men with different jobs .They specially appreciated my attitude towards work and particularly my devotion to my work place which they said is so rare .
They informed me that from now on i am not packing girl anymore .I will work as assistant of pharmacist in labortary .
To be continued...
