Feb 20, 2024

 

I don't know what it is about February, but I end up not writing much. It seems as if there are things that weigh on me during this period, right after the new year has started with some gusto. Last year, I was ill for most of this month. This year, I have felt a flu coming on a number of times, but did not really get palpably sick. So one would I expect that I wrote regularly this month. I didn't. One of the reasons is that I cannot get the Electric Utilities installed in my new premises. DEWA- the utilities monopoly in the UAE is usually a remarkably efficient outfit. However, if you make a small mistake in how you apply for a new connection, I am learning that there is pain. Much pain. And this is true for almost all things in the UAE. Resilience, Plan Bs and alternatives- are a weakness. Consider what happens when you miss an exit on any highway. You can be delayed by up to an hour- which seems ridiculous, but it is patently true. Highways are not designed for you to make a wrong exit. Utilities companies are not designed to give you a connection if you make an error in your application. In my case, I had inserted the incorrect Premise number- which was a mistake. But I paid my deposit and pressed enter- only to realize that I had put the wrong premise number. If I applied again with the correct one, I would have to pay the deposit one more time. I exchanged some emails from their customer service, and they suggested I apply again but use the option of not paying the deposit. And then write to them to transfer my deposit from the incorrect application to the correct one. So, I complied. Since that day, I have had no account activation. Something that takes 15 hrs. has now taken 12 days and counting. Fortunately, there is power connection but without the formal activation of the account there are a number of things I cannot do, that I need to do. Each morning, I call DEWA customer service who promise me that they have sent a priority email to the proper department. But each day passes without any action. I am now wondering how they will bill me if they dont activate my account by the end of the month? I also wonder maybe I should just apply again and pay the deposit again. Then after my account is active ( since it would be the normal process I expect it would go through), I can then try to recover my earlier deposit by chasing them. All in all, it has been a real bother. And when I am really bothered, I cannot get myself to write. The fact that I am writing at the moment implies that I have pretty much given up and have resigned to this fate. It shall happen when it happens.

This is of course a trivial matter. There are some other matters at the workplace which have also been frustrating- these matters I would rather not pen down in detail- but it is fundamentally to do with a complete lack of professionalism shown by the HR department, not to mention a lack of respect coupled with inequity- basically, thanks to them,  I have been engulfed by the whole nineyards of opprobrium. It is not them- it is their leader in particular.  All my life, HR departments across space and time have been my bête-noire. I don't know if this is my fate, but it seems like I can never win with this lot. And as a result, I have a really nasty opinion of the profession as a whole. My attitude to HR as a profession is akin to Virender Sehwag's attitude to off-spinners. Except, I keep getting out to the off spinner while he knocks them all over the place. In addition to the HR matter, there is another issue that is brewing that makes me wonder a bit about my future tenure at this organization. All in all, much has been on mind, and as a result I have neither been regular at writing nor in my two other vocations- namely performing and exercising. But I have to say I have done better on the other two. During this time, another event worthy of note that has transpired is that P has made a whirlwind trip to Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Initially, I was aghast that she was even considering it, knowing what an utter pain it would be to navigate the crowds and the traffic, not to mention inflated hotel prices and so on. Upon reflection though, I thought maybe it is a good idea for her to go alone. I can remain with the kids over a weekend. She can then make the pilgrimage and seek blessings for the whole family. Did I believe in pilgrimage? I don't know. I cannot get myself to go- but there may be some good vibrations, after all it is an ancient Hindu event running for centuries, and I am past that stage where I think I know better than wise men and women who have traversed this planet for 5000 years before I was born. Not to mention, I was having one of those Februarys, and maybe this may well turn the corner for me. It hasn't thus far, but I shall give it some more time. The great thing was that P made it back smoothly after a really arduous journey. On the way in the flight to Delhi was so delayed that she missed her connection to Prayagraj. She was then booked on another flight but not to Prayagraj but Lucknow. From Lucknow, there was a taxi booked to driver her (and friends) to Prayagraj- they drove through the night for 4 hours and reached Prayagraj at 3.30 AM in the morning.  She seemed quite calm in spite of this ordeal and when I asked her why, she replied to me suggesting that pilgrimages are not supposed to be easy. She was visiting Lord Shiva essentially- and the road to his abode is not meant to be a bed of roses.  So, there I was.