Office Humour

Working eight hours in an office can be very boring and tiring. One is immersed in loads of file.  At a junior level many employees share a room. They can occasionally converse with each other and  share their experiences and  encounters. If you are the head of  office, you have to sit alone, with piles and piles of files, reports, circulars, office manuals,and what not. Sometimes when you feel like chatting or cracking a joke, you have to curb your desire! After all you are the Boss. People think twice before they enter your room.
                                  Fortunately or unfortunately, I have have been the "boss" for most  of  my career. In the beginning when I used to take my lunch in the common room, I noticed that people would talk about their problems, expecting a solution from me. They never discussed their favourite movies, TV serials,  family affairs, office gossip and many other personal matters. So I decided not to be an obstacle and allow them freedom of  speech and conversation.
                                                              I  used to get a chance to  speak leisurely with  other officers only when we went out  to attend meetings, seminars, workshops or conferences. Some times even inside the office some funny incidents  occur, which I found  not only  foolish but  brought a smile , and also evoked laughter.  I recollect one interesting incident. Every year teachers are given Awards  on the basis of meritorious results, and contribution  in the field of Education. One Teacher came to my office. He sent a slip through my P.A. As I had to leave  for an urgent meeting I told my PA to call  him the next day.My PA also pleaded his case and on his insistence I called the teacher.. He gave me a file.There was one paper in the file. I looked at him,signalling him to speak. He said," Madam , I am retiring this year. I request you to recommend my case for Teacher's Award". I told him to attach  all his achievements  and certificates so that his case could be recommended.  He replied,"I am the only earning member in my family. I have seven daughters. If you recommend my case, I will get  one year's extension."He was aspiring to get an award on the ground that he had to marry off  his  daughters. Though I felt sorry for him I could not resist  my smile.
                                                           I remember another  funny  incident. There was a school, about which the office had received several complaints. I and the Education Officer, of that zone , went on a surprise visit  to the school.  There was pin drop silence. The EO said that all the complaints were  false, as the school was running smoothly. When we entered the Principal's office, the  Security guard was sleeping . With a shock he got up. On enquiry he said that every Thursday the School remained close  after the Break. Those days Doordarshan used to televise Hindi movie  every Thursday at 2 pm. Ha,ha, ha! What a brilliant idea!
                                            On a visit to another school in the first period, it was seen that  not even a single teacher was in the class. I found all the teachers in the staff room,either having lunch or in deep sleep on the benches and the floor.(The school was running in the 2nd shift).It transpired that the teachers leave home early morning to give  private tuition  and were too tired to teach!!  Hey, hey. Every year they give a declaration that they do not undertake any private tuition work. This was happening right under the nose of  the Principal!
                                                       Just one more instance and I will stop.  I was promoted as a Principal and my first posting was in a tented school. I went to the school to join duty.  I found complete chaos in the School. Children were  running  here and there and shouting! I entered the Principal's office. The scene was as noisy as it was outside. One teacher was standing behind the Principal and fanning her.(flattery,what else?) I stood there for five minutes, watching the tamasha. Suddenly one madam noticed  me and asked me the purpose of my visit. I just said,"I have come to join". All of them in unison said  that there was no vacancy in the school. I  kept standing all this while. I said,"I have come to join as Principal". This had an electrifying effect. All the teachers instantly vacated the chairs and within five minutes  there was silence in the school. The officiating principal got up and offered her seat to me. I  sat on the opposite side and told her that I would take her seat after taking charge. The next step took me by surprise. The "fanning" teacher  rushed behind me and started fanning me. Ah, what an example of flattery!!
         There are many more anecdotes of such nature, which I will pen down some other time.