23. A LADDU TREAT GOES WASTE (YEAR 1974)

STRESS, SUCCESS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN

The Highs and Lows of A Woman’s Journey in the Corporate World

CARE: This is Chapter 23 of my book Stress, Success and Everything In-Between. These are individual anecdotes but to understand the professional journey in totality, I would recommend reading the book from Chapter 01 onwards.

 

After my confirmation as an officer, I was assigned to the IIT-Delhi branch of the Bank. Eager to assume my new responsibilities as a confirmed officer, I arrived well ahead of schedule. Little did I know that the Branch Manager, an ex-National Bank of Lahore staffer, habitually arrived late, never before 11 am.

 

Seated in the Branch Manager's chamber, awaiting his arrival, a curious employee approached me and inquired about the purpose of my visit. My simple response was that I was there to join the branch. No further questions were asked, and I did not consider it necessary to provide additional details. I continued to wait from 9.15am onwards while many came in on one or the other pretext to look at me. 

 

The Branch Manager, as expected, arrived after 11.30am. He saw my transfer letter and instructed me to take charge of the Savings Bank Section. He called Arora Ji, the current account in charge, and asked him to introduce me to all the staff members. Coming out of the Branch Manager's room, I noticed a messenger distributing laddus to the staff.

Arora Ji, a very decent gentleman, escorted me to my desk, a sizable table in the middle of the banking hall and advised me to leave my bag there before introducing me to all the employees. 

 

As I was escorted toward my desk, I experienced a sudden hushed silence in the hall. The messenger, who was distributing sweets to the employees, halted abruptly. Those who had taken a bite of the laddu stopped moving their jaw. The three Savings Bank ledger keepers - Harcharan, Satta, and Khurmi - turned their heads 180 degrees, fixating their gaze on me as if their heads had become permanently affixed in that position. As I placed my bag on the side table, I observed that the spell suddenly broke. 

I realized that attention had now shifted from me, and the atmosphere turned relaxed. The banking hall buzz resumed instantly. All looked amused, and the eyes turned to Monga Ji, who looked embarrassed. I looked around and was met with grins and smiles. The messenger restarted distributing laddoos, and those with half-eaten treats finished them and resumed their jobs. The messenger even placed a laddu on a piece of paper on my table. When I inquired, "What's the occasion?" he just smiled and moved on, leaving me intrigued.

 

By lunchtime, Harcharan, Satta, and Khurmi had become my pals, and they invited me to join them in the canteen for lunch. Thapa, the canteen boy, heated everyone's lunch, and four of us sat on a makeshift dining table. Lunch was devoured in two minutes. Meanwhile, Thapa prepared delightful ginger tea, and we continued sipping the hot beverage, recharging ourselves for the latter half of the day. Once we were at ease with each other, I asked why sweets were being distributed in the branch.

 

They exchanged meaningful glances and burst out laughing. After regaining composure, they explained that they all assumed the woman waiting in the Branch Manager's room, who had come to join the branch, must be a clerk. It never crossed their minds that she could be an officer. Consequently, the threesome persuaded Monga ji to distribute sweets as he would now be relieved of the dispatch seat. Monga ji, the junior clerk, was responsible for dispatching letters, a duty typically assigned to the most junior clerk in all branches. Anticipating liberation from dispatch duties, Monga ji was made to celebrate the occasion, who happily complied with their request.

 

The preconceived notion of the staff that a woman waiting to join must be from the clerical cadre was shattered that day. But they were happy to have an early morning treat of laddus!

( To be continued .....)

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