Work is Worship

Recently I completed my 10 years of professional working career.  Phew!! Felt like eternity.  Office has been routine, more routine and some more routine. After having tasted all the possible roles(except a receptionist and a CEO), I had no excitement left to work. The same old projects, deliveries, code, defects, deadlines, documents, contracts, proposals, certifications, interviews, trainings, meetings. And not to mention the painful time-sheets  Sigh! I started dreaming at work, contemplating my retirement; if I was a son of a billionaire, I would be playing golf and visiting beaches every day.

Back home, we decided to renovate our house last month. Everyone at home was excited. Mom called me and said there were three carpenters; a head and two of his subordinates. She said one of them, from a North Indian village, is really a good worker and a nice guy.

“We like this boy”, she said

“Who?  That Northy?”, I was apprehensive

I further snapped, “Mom, That’s the problem with you human beings. You trust each other in no time”

“Aren't you human?”

“No, I am alien. Now listen to me. You guys got to be careful at home. Don’t trust that guy that much. I say, don’t trust him at all”, I said aloud

Well, I have no prejudice against the North Indians but the recent stats show that crimes aren't a big deal there. That doesn't mean everything in the South is all hunky dory. When it comes to corruption, they are equally guilty; may be even more.

It was when my brother, whom I consider a pragmatic individual, told me that the North Indian guy was indeed a nice person, I thought Mom was right. He was a small guy in his early 30s (like me (just the age part)). He wanted to earn some money and then return to his native, get married and get settled.

I spoke to Mom again after a few days. She said she never knew that there do exist people who enjoy work too. I asked her what she meant by that. She said all her life she had only seen people hating to go for work.

“Look at your brother. Every morning when he is about to go to office, he looks as if he is going for a space mission” She lamented. Then she told me that story which she has already told 20 times before. She had a job opportunity when she was young but her father didn't allow her to work and instead had gotten her married. She again said how much she regret not working without realizing that being a housewife is the toughest job in the world per se, may be next only to being a test pilot.

“Mom, did you mean that that little carpenter enjoys his work?” I asked curiously

She was quick to respond, “Yes. Absolutely. I wish you were here to see him work. Every morning he comes home with a big smile. Then he takes the plywood, blows off the dust, then wipes it with his own shirt, and then he moves his hand over it smoothly feeling every part of it. He keeps a pencil over his ear. He takes it and then carefully draws lines before he takes the saw. He keeps humming some strange songs when he is working. Every day he forgets about the lunch break. We have to wake him up from his reverie every single day. When someone enters the work area, he never lifts his head to see who has arrived. He is deeply lost in his work; All the time. Most times he doesn't respond if someone calls out his name. We either have to pat his back or prod his shoulder to talk to him. When he is done with say, a cupboard, he keeps staring at it for long as if it’s a painting. Every day he looks as if it’s his first day at job. Only thing he requests your brother is, to play his favorite songs from the internet (youtube) at the end of the day. We have to kick him out at 8 or 9 PM as we sleep early for the Ramzan fast. Then one day, I asked him, “Tum itni lagan se kaise kaam kar lete ho?”(How do you work with so much passion?).  He replied, “manne bas aaj ka kaam kal se behtar karna hai jee”(I just want to work better than what I did yesterday). That’s about him. So, do you enjoy your work beta?” Asked Mom

Do I enjoy my work? That question, no one had ever asked me before. I didn’t answer and hung up the phone. I didn’t get sleep that night. I kept thinking and picturing about that little carpenter. Then a thought struck me; what if I didn't have a job? What if I was unemployed?

Next day, I had an interview with a client manager, Aaron Gindt for a new project.

“Impressive resume. Hope you will be a good asset to my team” He told

“Aaron” I said, looking into his eyes, “I can promise you one thing for sure. From today, I will work better than what I did yesterday”