The day had nearly ended, the sun had already set and the horizon was splattered with an orange hue like a crime scene.
Arjun stood silently near the bottling yard, it was the end of his shift; but the factory never ceased to function. The yard was busy and hard at work, scrapping the broken bottles off the road and clearing the path for the lorries to bring in more bottles to feed the production machines. The air was still and in the distance the sounds of the utilities- compressors, boilers and packaging equipment broke the almost silent yard, the screams and abuses hurled between the men who worked in those lines also served to pepper the aura of the place.
Arjun stood silently near the bottling yard, it was the end of the day and he loved being there, the place brought back memories. He remembered the last time he was here.
He was a newbie then, fresh out of college. Eyes wide open and brains empty. He always wanted to work in a factory- the noise of the shop floor seemed like music to him. The armies of men and machines all racing against time to achieve a specified target yet keeping in mind safety, environment and sustainability as paramount was something that fascinated him.
Arjun graduated from the big city where a mall was just a small drive away; where tarred roads and lit streets weren't considered luxuries. Where witnessing a sports car or a flashy bike were day to day realities of urban life. He left all that to work in a factory which was located at a remote location. He moved to the seclusion of the industrial areas with dark gravel roads; bereft of street lights or public transport. Arjun took his first ride to the factory on a tractor which was the village's version of a city bus.
Sudhakar Verma, the engineering manager, Arjun's reporting line manager, was an intimidating figure, to say the least. He graduated from IIT Bombay was a fellow in more than two engineering groups and hated mediocrity in all forms. His department was the most professional with his team winning consistently at the annual company group awards. Mr. Verma scanned Arjun from head to toe as he stood in front of him. Mr Verma wasn't happy with the new recruit, for he wanted a candidate with experience not a newbie who was wide eyed and brains empty.
"Do you have any experience?" asked Verma
"No sir, but I graduated with distinction sir" answered Arjun
Sudhakar smiled "ok fair enough. Can you tell me how electricity is generated? Arjun face brightened- he knew the answer.
"Yes sir" said Arjun
"ok lets hear it" sounded Verma
In dams there is a turbine and when the flowing water hits the turbine it rotates and that's how electricity is generated.
Arjun looked triumphantly at Sudhakar who didn't look impressed.
Sudhakar sighed and asked him "Are you an engineer?"
Arjun throat began to dry up and could barely aqueeze out a "yes sir"
"Then why in God's name have you given me a fifth grade answer?? We've got power plants, boilers, refrigeration units, compressors, carbon di oxide and ammonia plants and if this is the best you've got to offer - well then son, you're wasting my time"
"Arjun's mind was in turmoil he was panicking. He decided to go for broke. Arjun had a passion for learning and was a grade student but college doesn't prepare you for the real world, and now he was in the real world- Sir I know I'm not good but I promise I'll get better, I really want to learn please don't send me back"
Sudhakar sat back on his chair and looked at Arjun who was on the verge of tears. Sudhakar stood up and signaled him to follow. He took him to the bottling yard, the sun was over their heads beating Arjun down with its harsh rays. The walk to the yard felt like forever. Mr. Verma thundered his way through the factory like he owned the place with Arjun meekly following him. Arjun began to think if coming here was a bad idea. Verma stopped dead in the centre of the yard and turned to look at Arjun.
"So you want to learn huh"
"Yes sir" said Arjun looking down now
"I have very little patience boy, and even less for the likes of you, but I will give you one chance to redeem yourself"
"Yes sir, thank you sir" said Arjun, still looking down
Sudhakar pointed out to the bright green gate at the far end of factory- "Do you see that gate?"
Arjun nodded silently as Sudhakar pointed to the other bright green gate located at the opposite end of the factory "Do you see that gate over there? "asked Verma
Arjun nodded again silently.
"Between these gates lies our world- should you have any doubt in this world you have my permission to ask me any question and I mean any question. Every question you ask I will give you an answer and if I don't know the answer- I promise you I will find the answer and give it to you. For every question you don't ask, I will ask you and the answer you must find on your own."
Sudhakar waited till the words sunk in Arjun's head and continued,
"Now, do you promise to ask me questions and provide me with answers?"
"Yes sir" said Arjun
"Well then welcome to the team" said Sudhakar shaking his hand.
That was ten years ago. Arjun kept his end of the bargain and asked questions and learnt & learnt some more. He grew fast in the ranks and soon became an efficient executive engineer. Two years ago Mr. Verma passed away, the whole factory attended his funeral; for Arjun he was his guide, friend and guru. It came as no surprise when Arjun was appointed to take his place. He was the youngest manager in the history of the group.
Arjun now looked to the crimson sky and pinched his eyes to dry out his tears and turned to look at the young man standing at the corner looking to him. He signaled him to come over, the young man stood before him looking at the floor. The young man was the factories new joinee, eyes wide and brains empty.
"What's your name?" Arjun asked the new joinee
"Sunil Bharadwaj sir" the man said
"Do you see that gate over there?" asked Arjun, the man nodded just as he had ten years ago.
"And do you see that gate over there?" yet again he nodded
"Between these gates lies our world- should you have any doubt in this world, you have my permission to ask me any question and I mean any question. Every question you ask I will give you an answer, for every question you don't ask, I will ask you and the answer you must find on your own. And should I not know any answer- I promise you I will find the answer and give it to you"
"Now, do you promise to ask me questions and provide me with answers?"
The young man nodded.
"Well then welcome to the team….."