Recognition and Reward
On a rainy evening last week, I am relaxing outside with my legs stretched out and looking at the reflection of the sky in a puddle. “ Uncle, Come and join the award ceremony at 5:30. We should all be together.”, my niece beams. My mouth is wide open, and my breathing suspends for a split second on receiving the unexpected invitation.
I glance at the clock as my mind starts racing to decide what I should wear for the event. Finally, I rush inside on my restless legs, look into my wardrobe, and find a shirt and pants with creases. I am not sure where my blue jacket is hanging, as I have not worn any former clothes for the last ten years since I have retired. I remember to have given away all my colourful ties to friends long back as they are of no use to me.
My current shaving schedule is only once a week on Monday, but I decide to shave today as an exception. The menthol Gillette foam and a razor come in handy for my quick shave. The hot shower is refreshing, and I get ready in thirty minutes to leave. I spray the Curve perfume presented to me by my sister on my last birthday and walk out of the house. I do not know whether this perfume label is for men or women.
My sister tags along, and we both reach my niece’s apartment by 5:15 pm. The empty living room gives a feeling of nothingness with all the things in the right place. It is like a friendly Japanese workplace, spotlessly clean. The sofa cushions are fresh and in place, and the table is devoid of any unnecessary food or utensils. Books are looking out neatly from the book rack. Usually, the area is like a war room with toys with and without clothes, books and other gadgets thrown around by two kids in the house. For a moment, I thought we are late, and the others have left without us. Then, my sister peeks inside and checks — they are all inside, busy dressing for the occasion. Time is ticking, and I am pacing the room up and down.
My niece comes out of her room and announces that the ceremony is virtual and we need not go anywhere. She sees a weak smile on my face. The other members of the family join us in the room. My nephew sets up the notebook computer and connects it to a large Sony TV through an HDMI cable so that all of us could watch the proceedings. I press my palms to the eyes and sink into a nearby chair, cursing my foolishness of not checking the venue details on the phone.
My niece explains to me that the camera could focus on the family members at some point in the show, and we need to share the back story of how all of us supported her in the challenging last year. All the family members present themselves in the best of their attire, become small children as the award ceremony starts and announcements progress.
The ceremony starts with an introduction, and unexciting speeches of the managers follow, asking the employees to work hard. I hear someone in the family clapping on the back with every award announcement.
I lower my head, covering my face with my hands. My chest tightens, and I am sure the speakers are delighted that they have a spot and the big man is watching them. It is supposed to be a Zen-like experience for the employees. In reality, the speakers look like pigeons sitting above, asking if they can poop on the employees. My images go back to the books of Russian authors on slaves and slave drivers. Everyone knows that one or two family members have burnt their butt in the name of the Work From Home (WFM) framework in the last year. The acronym More Work and No Home (MWNH) could have been more appropriate. I am not surprised to find several awards in the behavioural segment sending a message to the slaves that they need to work faster and better. My sister sits like a bit of a perching bird watching everything, but saying nothing.
Elders jump up in anticipation with excitement racing through with each announcement and realise that it is a wrong call, and my niece’s name is still to appear on the screen. My niece sees me shifting in the chair and adjusting my shirt as her segment does not appear even after an hour. She quickly orders some snacks to keep me happy for another thirty minutes. Joy wells up in my heart when I see hot Vada Pavs.
The atmosphere in the room is electric, with all of us waiting for the announcement. With time ticking fast, I conclude that my niece’s name will not come up on the list.
“ Do not be disheartened”,
‘Management has no eyes and only ears.’
“Smart work rather than hard work is necessary for success.”
“ You can not fight with your boss through the year and expect a reward.”
“ Hard work in an organisation is always one-way.”
“ Do your duty and leave the rest to God”- Someone is quoting Chapter II, Verse 47 from Bhagavadgita.
While the above tamasha is happening in the background, I hear sudden squealing, shouting and screaming in the room that my niece’s photo and the name appear on the TV, and she is given the Best Performer Award for the year 2020. The joy bubbles up in the room.
