Page 27 - Seniors Today - April Issue

OHE was feeding the power to the train by RRI is about two km from Dombivli station,
which I was travelling, I got convinced that
the problem at Dombivli was not mine. I
tried to make my own luck. At the moment,
it suited me to make me one, in my thought
and action. I therefore proceeded straight to
Dadar.
On getting down at Dadar, I walked with
great efforts, taking double the time than the
normal to reach home. But before I reached,
control office had contacted me to inform
that I was immediately needed at Dombivli.
I still felt that the problem was of signalling
department and I conveyed my opinion to
the control room. The possibility of chief of
the signalling talking to my chief did not
occur to me. The possibility of controller
repeating my words to my chief also did not
occur to me. When a message is conveyed
to a third person, its meaning gets changed
totally. The chief got angry beyond limit and
the message given by the control reflected
his anger. I was asked to reach Dombivli
immediately.
Dombivli station
My energy had reached its lowest level.
I was a drained battery, forced to pour
electricity in demanding equipment. My
eyelids were heavy but the message was
strong. An elephant in the room was best to
be left in the room! I had to leave promptly,
peril for me loomed in my front. I took one
class four staff as my support and left. The
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #22 | APRIL 2021
near Kopar station. I walked along the track,
like Mahatma Gandhi, putting my weight on
shoulder of the staff to the extent possible.
On reaching, I found that it was indeed
my problem. The signalling and traction
cables were laid near each other due to space
constraint and insulation had failed.
The problems came one after the other
after the derailment in ghats, death of staff,
runaway train, and now this fire!
I got the information that the failure took
place due to attempted theft of the cables
but what amused me was the complicated
theory developed by my dour, complacent
immediate boss. The chief was not
impressed with my theory and concluded
that I found an escape route to avoid the
blame. It is difficult to accept blame when
one gives his maximum. My promotion was
due shortly and I felt that I knew the future,
the writing on the wall was clear. I criticised
him privately.
Someone got depressing information
from Delhi that promotion order was
being issued, which did not include my
name. Where upon the chief reacted in
my presence, “If Khade’s name is not in
the list, then no one’s name can be in it.” I
felt that it was fun at my cost. Or was it a
surprise? I was not expecting any good to
happen but I was neither prepared for black
humour. Soon the order issued with my
name in it. The intentions which the chief
had inside him, were hidden well from me.
The supposed outburst of the chief was like
a baton in the hands of generals, more for
decoration than for any practical use. I had
criticised the chief for being rude but like his
intentions, my criticism too was hidden.
The series of his outbursts could be
hot water showers to make me ready for
wearing regalia for higher post.
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