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Room with a view
You know the saying 'There's no smoke without fire'. Well, a set of 'fiery' people are mourning the loss of a chamber specially designed for them.
- By Vanaja Rao, Stone Editor
- Published: 00:44 April 4, 2008
You know the saying 'There's no smoke without fire'. Well, a set of 'fiery' people are mourning the loss of a chamber specially designed for them.
With glass walls all round, the insiders could view feeding time at the 'zoo' even as they found themselves the cynosure of all eyes on the outside.
Some of the inadvertent glances at those within might have conveyed displeasure at the decadent lifestyle displayed so openly by the inmates, cigarette in hand and smoke swirling upwards.
Or maybe some of those stares were born out of perplexity, a failure to comprehend how anyone could voluntarily opt for a slow death.
These looks were countered by those within as the smokers sat comfortably at tables, deep in conversation with familiar faces. They might not know each other by name but they all had this addiction in common which was as strong a bond as any other.
So, they joked and laughed and exchanged titbits of information and generally had a good time. Undaunted by the fact that they were on show in their glass box, they continued to frequent this watering hole, happy to meet some whom they only got a chance to meet here.
This was a melting pot of employees from diverse departments who would never have got a chance to know each other otherwise. So, they were a content lot, assured that this haven would be theirs forever.
This meeting place was where confidences were exchanged, news broken and disseminated. There was a sense of ease, a relaxed atmosphere that invited even the most introverted to open up and contribute to discussions.
But one day the workmen came, armed with menacing-looking tools. There was consternation at the sight of these workers as they set about their work. The dreaded word was heard. Renovation.
In this case the canteen area was to be extended. With the appreciable increase in employee numbers, lunch time at the canteen had become a mad scramble for space and the sight of a vacant table was as rare as an endangered species.
In fact, there were times when one entered the canteen and stood guard near one of the occupied tables, hoping that one's presence would make those seated feel guilty and make them to end their meal as quickly as possible.
Sometimes one even opted for sitting down to a meal with complete strangers for lack of space. The ensuing silence as each swallowed their mouthful wasn't exactly conducive to easy digestion.
New quarters
So, the smokers understood the need for them to vacate their room. There was no need to feel any sympathy for them either as they were going to be given alternative accommodation. They watched as the new quarters slowly took shape.
It was obvious that this was a smaller space but beggars couldn't be choosers. They knew they should be thankful they were still being accommodated in spite of the global move to discourage this habit.
A week later they entered the new premises only to find that there was standing room only. Undeterred, they lit up but soon found the place becoming crowded. As they shuffled around the room to give others space, several light-hearted suggestions were made.
Some of the more hilarious ones were the installation of traffic lights outside the door. Green for empty or almost empty, amber for await your turn and red for sorry, you'll have to wait.
Then there was the proposal that the only way to control exit and entry was to monitor the number of people entering the room. Perhaps a limit could be imposed department-wise or nationality-wise.
As the amused laughter swelled with each ridiculous suggestion one could sense how quickly one could get used to anything despite initial qualms about the change.
Old habits die hard they say, a truth amply demonstrated by this determined band. Though each is secretly aware of the cost to their health by this indulgence they are an optimistic lot. Or perhaps they are living in a fool's paradise.
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