Samyuktha Shivachandran, III year B.A.English
Image Credits Krishna J. Nair, III year B.A.English
Priya Aunty, Canteen Staff
The one thing I’ve learnt and mastered through this job is how to be patient. I wake up in the morning and get ready to work knowing that I have to carry myself in a certain manner. The fact that I have this job requires me to understand what it entails. So I know that patience is something I can’t fall short on, for if I do, I’ll fail to do my job.
But honestly I can’t even crib because such is the work environment here. The students are extremely understanding and supportive. I’ve noticed that even when they’re in a hurry, extremely hungry, or quite obviously worried about something else, they understand and don’t mind waiting when I request them to do so. They recognize that we’re humans too and we can only do one thing at a time. They’re all such young, spirited girls but their actions prove that they understand the virtue of kindness and the importance of something very essential to humankind: respecting one another.
When it all gets too much for me and I need to take a minute, I can, thanks to my coworkers. So I’ve never felt burdened by any work I have done here. In fact, I can’t even call it work. This environment, the people, and the relationships I’ve made, make me feel as comfortable here as I would with family at home. So I’ve never differentiated between my coworkers and my family, we all love and care for each other the same way. They’re there for me when I need them the most, and I wouldn’t bat an eye to do the same as well. I honestly consider them gifts. For how could I ever imagine working so peacefully and efficiently if they’d fall short on supporting me? They’re so kind, no matter what they’re going through in their personal lives they don’t let it come in the way of work or how they interact with the students or each other. The integrity and dedication with which they work is also commendable.
Something aside from all this that truly warms my heart is how some students come hug us and take pictures with us before leaving college. A couple of them even go as far as constantly checking on me and my family, just as a family friend would. They think of us as not just people who work at the canteen, from whom they buy things, but as family.
Having been in such a great work environment, it’s extremely hard for me to leave. We started seven years ago, in 2012, but now it’s time to say goodbye. I’ll miss all of it; the place, the people, and even the routine. But hopefully, with technology and what not, it’ll be easier to connect and get by in spite of all else that’ll change.
(While conducting this interview, every 15 seconds we were interrupted by three to four people, to say the least. Being an impatient person myself, I got slightly annoyed. But that’s when I couldn’t help but notice just how calm Priya aunty was. Be it aggressive students who’re in a hurry, extremely soft spoken ones, or annoyingly indecisive ones; Priya aunty deals with everyone with the same composure, accompanied by her oh-so-pleasant smile. We might not think much of it, but just imagine how easily a bad day could turn worse if we didn’t have a kind Priya aunty handing us our food with a smile instead of simply snubbing us.
Thank you, Priya aunty, if you do in fact read this. Thank you for your smile and the smilies.)