The moment of salvation

Date : September 25th

Time : 5.30 PM

Place : H2 Admin Area, Cognizant-Pune

Just the second week of my journey with Cognizant, I stood in front of the lady and asked for the bus pass. I felt myself a bit tentative while asking her, the way it often is when you are new, you always find yourself defensive and extra polite.

I said "Excuse me !". She didn't move.. Bad start !

I once again uttered those words and she looked at me. I said "I need a Bus pass."

She fixed her gaze on me and I noticed her big-time irritated face. "It's going to be bad"- I said to myself.

She turned her chair and started crawling through a bunch of registers, I was still wondering whether she's doing this for me or has she ignored me totally. New place new people, you never know what you have to face.

She took out one register and placed it on her desk, and asked for my employee id.



Bad things happen all at once.. I was looking somewhere else when she asked me this. I realized that she was asking me something.. umm.. ya, what did you say - I uttered.

She raised her voice and I could see the anger in her voice. "Tell me your employee id !" She repeated.

"umm.. it's 189542" I said.

As she started telling me something her senior roared from the cubicle across. They exchanged a few words. She was supposed to finish something which she couldn't, too much of work. I felt bad for her.

Then she looked at me and said "See what's written over there !". My heart sunk as I read timings for bus pass distribution, I was comprehensively late. I was about to leave the place when she said "Wait !" She asked me my id and handed me the bus pass.

I said thanks with a smile but she didn't react. I turned my back and headed for the door with a grief. And then something suddenly rushed into my mind. I took out an eclair from my shirt pocket. Thanks to the panwala who didn't have change.

I went to her kept it on her desk and said "It's for you, thanks again."

That was the moment which made my day as I saw a wide smile on her face with a hint of amazement in it. I had certainly troubled her but I managed to bring the smile back on her face.

That was my moment of salvation.