Guess the Worker

 

NOTE: NO PHOTOS IN THIS BLOG; ALL PICTURES ARE ADVERTISEMENTS.

Genre - Fiction

Sub-genre - Motivational

Length of blog - 1600 words

 

PART ONE: The Outsourced One

                Veknat joined the company after his graduation. He had taken it up after a relative referred him to the post of photocopier. Despite not knowing why he was having the same job title as the photocopier machine he operated, Veknat had taken it up, on the insistence of his relative that the organisation was a world-class one which took care of its employees and their growth. And, grow he did. His hard work paid off into a desk job, followed by promotion into the facilities administration team.

                A few years later he was onto the organisations core production environments - gaining experience and becoming skilled in the area, dealing with distributors and the technical aspects of designing the product rollouts across the globe. After a decade of working on linkages of global delivery across shipping lines etc., Veknat was pulled towards the last mile rollouts. There was a significant change in government policy which changed the last mile delivery. The entire company was abuzz with this new arm which could better the already great profits.

                Veknat applied and got through the hands-on trainings and performing with flying colours, Venkat got the hike and position in the new department. The only small drawback Venkat could see was that it was on a partner payroll.

                A handful of years down the line, the partner company was ejected from the main organization. The uniforms remained the same. They were allowed to take their tools home. The pay was hiked and yet he was now subcontracted - outsourced to a third-party vendor. Veknat comforted himself by looking at his paycheck and in the knowledge that this industry was an evergreen one.

                In a few months he was fired.

                His manager stated, “You are too expensive for the company”

 

PART TWO: The Scam

Veknat was flabbergasted, how did he get into such a spot where he delivered the company’s product so well that he had cut himself out of the company. He was with a mortgage, which could be taken care of by his wife’s income, but what about their daily sustenance. They started living hand-to-mouth.

He made a few phone calls to competitors but no luck. He looked at the aspect of joining as a fresher in another trade.

“But what about my rich experience in this field”, he asked his wife.

“Yes, I too was thrown out the same way last year”, Joey said.

Veknat had got Joey’s number from another colleague.

“Meet me at the corner tea shop tomorrow at 10”, Joey continued into the phone, “Come in uniform and bring your toolbox.”

Veknat was excited to get a job. He had excitedly told his wife and with a hop in his step reached the corner tea shop. Soon Joey arrived on a bicycle in the same crisp uniform.

“Why are we in uniform? Are we doing consultant work for our company”, Veknat said after pleasantries.

“No”, Joey replied. His head high as if smelling his tea from afar. He motioned Veknat to bring his ear near his mouth.

Joey did not whisper into Veknat’s ear, neither did he shout, but mildly said,” We are going to scam people.”

Veknat pulled back as if he was bit on his ear. But before he could say anything Joey continued.

“We do the same servicing job on people’s appliances, the only difference being we approach them rather than they approach us.”

Veknat followed Joey into his first scam. He was calm and as instructed by Joey was only to observe Joey’s style. The rest would be easy - servicing the intricate last mile devices. They entered an apartment building under false pretense.

No one suspected them, coz of their uniform.

Then some random loitering to “filter out someone to scam”, as Joey had put it. He seemed to know what he was doing. Then they climbed the stairs, avoiding the elevator and Joey pointed at a door.

“TV is on, not too many shoes in the shoe rack”, Joey explained.

The doorbell was rung.

Joey quickly took out a bottle of ethyl alcohol and doused his hand with it. The door was opened by a man. Three more sets of eyes peered at them from inside.

“We are from here to do some routine checks. Kindly open the door”, Joey said.

They both entered. Joey, in a flash, was in the kitchen, fidgeting with the appliance. He lit a match and showed the owner of the appliance how it was giving out flames at unwanted places.

The fires extinguished by a small cloth; a deal broken for servicing the device. And on completion they were paid well, thanked and at the tea shop before noon. They had even handwritten the bill on company’s receipt book – which was part of their standard company toolbox.

“The ethyl alcohol is just to give the residents a push towards the servicing”, Joey said.

“Yes, I guessed as much, the poor souls will never know they were scammed”, Veknat said.

“The fire works make them come to their senses about equipment safety et al; we are doing them a favour ya”, Joey said.

“Yes, especially if they are lazy about gas safety. And looking at the gas company’s service engineer shortage, they would’ve been relieved for doctor’s visit”, Veknat said.

Joey winked at him, “Just see that you know how to vamoose fast enough if they find something fishy.”

“Like ask for ID?” Veknat said.

“Yes, or if one of us had just scammed them earlier”, Joey said and let out a laugh.

“So, we can divide the area and conquer. Keep in touch. You can use my bicycle when you feel like making some money”, Joey said.

They both went their separate ways.

 

PART THREE: Not always a scamster!

It was not until Sheely herself wanted someone to fix her pipes; did she realise how hard a job it was.

“Not to fix your pipes – but a singular pipe”, Jailesh said.

“Yes whatever”, Sheely murmured into the phone.

A frown coming to her face, Jailesh wouldn’t understand her predicament, even if he did, he would not be able to help her from Germany. As soon as she knew their relationship would be a long-distance one, she had learned to drive. Jailesh too had ‘chipped in’ by buying her an electric scooter.

They were waiting to get married first, then Jailesh could service her pipes as much as he wanted. She knew he was trying to get her in a lighter moody by joking, but he was not helping her situation. They both said their byes, and the video call was cut.

She dialed the gas company helpline, “Hello, I smell gas.”

“Please switch off all outlets and open all the windows, mam”, someone guided her.

“Yes, all that was yesterday, and no imminent danger, but how can I get it fixed though?” Sheely said.

“Mam, I see you have taken steps and done the needful the contain the situation, however, since one individual household has a problem the household appliances repairs are not supported by the gas company, I cannot help you any further.” the other voice continued, “This is for a single apartment, right?”

“Yes, but I need my appliance fixed, else how will I cook and eat, it’s kinda an emergency, as I do not know whom to contact. I tried to contact the phone number on the installation bill; it is unreachable. I even went to the address on it and the address seemed to be a fake one. There is no such building on that entire street – I went up and down the street at least a handful of times asking around - the landmark opposite it is present, yet opposite that landmark is an open playground since eons it seems. This entire operation seems fishy”, Sheely was ranting.

“Please contact our appliance distributors for further assistance. This line is for gas emergencies only. Since there is no immediate assistance needed, I will hang up”, the line was cut.

Sheely laughed at her reflection on the blank phone screen.

“Why would a company which installed the entire housing complex’s gas pipeline, and the adjoining appliances give out an address which does not exist?”, Sheely WhatsApp-ed Jailesh.

“… Typing”, her phone said.

“It’s only your hot water geyser which is affected”, Jailesh replied.

“I know but someone should be able to repair it, right?”, Sheely continued typing, “I called the gas company and lied about gas leakage, but due to no imminent danger, they were not interested in the fake address of the install company”

“Let me try to go to the gas company in some time”, Sheely typed.

“Try it, but I guess they would say the same thing”, Jailesh replied.

Sheely picked up her bag and walked out of her gate. It was a 10-minute walk to the nearest bus stop to the gas company’s headquarters.

She rounded a corner, and her eyes caught the familiar sky-blue uniform on a bicycle. It was the gas man. She seemed to remember seeing these guys pass by her neighbourhood. Sheely waved to the man on the cycle.

Her eyes squinted to read the logo on his shirt, “—CL”

The breast pocket turned away, she could only see CL, was he HPCL or BPCL or MPCL, she did not care, the “burning gas” symbol was good enough for her.

“My gas geyser has conked off, gives a gas smell but does not light up. I tried to reach your office on LBS road, but no luck. Can you help me”, Sheely said.

“Mam you can leave out going to our office, I can help you”, Veknat smiled broadly, “Lead the way to your apartment.”

His first day and he did not have to scam!

--- THE END ---