Days are numbered ...

 

Days are numbered…


“So uncle, your days are numbered”, the little school boy chuckled me. Yes my days in NTPC is numbered. To be precise in just another 120 days run and then it will come to a halt. My name will be adjunct as ‘Ex” NTPC, Ex-employee, Ex.. whatever it is. I am no longer in NTPC. My regular service will be end with that tag.

I remember in 2021 April when one of our colleague died of heart attack just the previous night, and he was brought home to complete the last rite, everybody even the near & dear ones addressing him “body”, “keep the

[photo courtesey  Internet]

 body in the front room”  etc. Overnight the man who is a father or a husband or a brother becomes just a body – a lifeless body! Therefore, I will be an ‘ex’ just after the penultimate day and then there wont be any look back! May be some calls will still be pouring in unknowingly but the moment they come to know that I’m ‘ex’, they will edit my number carefully to prefix an ‘ex’ means ‘not of much use now!’

 

The ‘ex’ NTPC world is really devoid of many complexities. While in actual NTPC world the top man is the most powerful man who draws all attentions, in ‘ex’ world it is the healthiest man who draws most attention. If somebody claims that he is going to run for masters marathon, he is the hero. If somebody claims that his ward is in the top college or in the top job in a top country, he is the hero. In ‘ex’ world quality matters whereas in real NTPC your sincerity & devotion matters!

 

I know a most intelligent manager was once banged by the then HOP because the poor man was out of station for attending some “useless”  ‘medha pratijogita’ arranged by NTPC HR. His time out for the HR initiatives was not honorably accepted by the top man.

 

‘Ego’ is really a trash in ‘ex’ NTPC world. You can think of a waste basket where all sorts of fused bulbs – zero watt to powerful 500 watt bulbs can pitifully be thrown! No one cares for others price tag! Because all are now useless or out-of-use ‘ex’!

 

37 years of usefulness have gone like a blink! NTPC have grown from a few thousands mega watt to 70 Giga watt today. All the ‘ex’ when look back they see how carefully they have crafted it then, so it becomes so big today! The pride they feel is absolutely an ethereal pleasure reserved only for ‘ex’ NTPCians.     

…

So my days are numbered! My active NTPC days are gradually coming to an end. My several phone calls everyday will suddenly become zero. The morning rush hour will stop at my door. By habit I may become ready by 8:45 but I know that I am no longer required there. I am out of this daily grind now. The few abhorrent tasks like the annual property return, the PMS submission, new PMS creation will stop before me now. The annual health check up, the annual live certificate [for pension etc] will be part of my routine tasks now.

 

My long awaited hobby for which I had to steal time many times from my hectic daily routine will be my full time task now. I can pursue it unhindered! Probably I will have more time left to find other engagements! Lets see what’s there in store for me.

 

Until then bye bye!

 

Bera S

 

 

 

 

 

 

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