My deep thought process while strolling back home from the local grocery shop was broken by a half muted call. Initially I ignored, thinking it to be one of those numerous cacophony around me. However its persistence forced me to turn around, only to find a lean underfed overworked man in bleached blue uniform half smiling at me. I was mildly irritated with this unwanted intrusion to my private world.
I dragged myself to him with a quiver on my eyebrows. He was stading at my neighbours gate seemingly for sometime, trying to locate a soul around. His one hand holding an assortment of envelopes and with the other trying to brush off the grime and dust from his face. I slowly motioned towards him mentally cursing the publice parasite that he is, feasting on public funds.
He enquired about the occupants of the yellow house with a concern non existent in a public termite. Now to be honest, in my last four years of existence in this neighbourhood, I don't even remember the face of my next door neighbour let alone knowing their names and the least...their whereabouts. The irriation was now apparent on my face. He was unpurturbed. His anxiety was palpable on his face which was so very uncommon for a parasite. I am so used to their nonchalant brooding faces. He insisted that today was the Rakshabandhan and that Mr. Khanna (till then I didn't even know the surname of my neighbour) must be waiting for this "Precious Gift"all day long, that if he could not deliver this Rakhi to him today, gesturing at the blue colored envelope in his hand, Mr. Khanna would be deeply pained, that he will be responsible for the breaking of the hearts of a sister and brother duo seperated by the pangs of modern day living, that his professional commitment to serve his customer will be dented forever. He almost begged me to accept the package on his behalf and help him redeem his professional pride. ...
The words trailed off from me. I was almost dumbfounded. I could not believe what I was experiencing. A simple Parasite, who I always loathed for being everything Unprofessionalism stood for, demonstated a grassroot level, matter-of -fact compassion for Professional Excellence which even a Harvard studied, Jack Welch fed professional will find hard to macth! A World Class Customer Commitement, delivered in such an unadulturated manner, yet so profound so deep. His eyes glimmered with the satisfaction achieved by a task well accomplished. He rode off on his rickety bicycle with an amazing grace, Profusely thanking me for helping him in his professional commitment.
I was humbled. A professional with a mutlnational organisation, who always thought, true meaning of professional commitment can only be learnt with a simulated training module, prepared by some World Leading Expert. Customer commitment can only be learnt if one has attendeded or read the motivational sermons of New Age Gurus.
Slowly realisation dawned to me. I mumbled to myself, "India, this century belongs to you....", still clutching the blue envelope in my hand....
