Night Life

For people living in the city, night life is something they love. Often they swear by it. However, night life in a goddamn factory in a goddamn town is nothing but a pain. In fact, come of think of it, the usage Night life is an oxymoron in this context. It’s simply insipid. And it isn’t just about me. It’s about anyone who works during this time without choice.
I had thought that my days in the night shift had ended with my software company days. Lo Behold!! That’s when I am asked to come for a week in night shift as part of my training. Well, the idea was to observe how things work during a period of time when the management or administration isn’t there.

The first night was really bad. I wasn’t prepared at all. I didn’t carry any book with me. I still hadn’t got my internet connection. The outgoing facility in my phone got snapped because I hadn’t paid my bills. And with no one around, in fact there was no work too. I thought I’d die of boredom. In the subsequent days, I started carrying a book. I also sent reading stuff to my official id so as to keep me occupied. And I started doing other things to keep me engaged.

10 pm – I reach office. Read and respond to mails. I hunt for personal mails amongst a flurry of official mails. Pillai never disappoints me though the mails he sends might be related to Malayalam cinema.

11 pm – 1st Line visit. The seamless production process of atta getting converted into a packet of noodles always amazes me. 50 pairs of prying eyes. I nod and smile as I move along and eventually meet the Shift officer to get the night visit report signed off.

12 am – The tea boy comes with a plate of bread butter jam toast and tea. This is one of the things I cherish in the night shift. Probably it’s got something to do with the boy who adds a tinge of love and respect while making the foodstuff which makes it all the more palatable.

1:00 am - 2nd line visit. In college, I used to think that I was best suited for a factory because I had an uncanny ability of getting along well with all kinds of people. This myth was based on the friendship I forged with the non teaching staff, security, canteen folks and others. However, this got busted when I reached the factory. I found myself struggling to break the ice with the technicians. I still am not quite comfortable at it though attempts continue at that during such line visits.

2 am - Tasting session. Well, this is the advantage of being in a food industry. You can satiate your appetite by just going for a tasting session. Ideally, the people who go for such sessions are the sensory evaluation experts who after tasting are supposed to provide feedback based on which it is decided whether or not the batches can be released. However, I don’t have any dual intention. My motto is simple – savor the magi :). Am reminded of my hostel days in TISS when Jaideep and Joseph used to sneak into our (Vibhu and mine) room and steal Vibhu's maggi. I didn't have much option other than being a silent accomplice. haha..

2:30 - Take a tour of the factory with the security. These rounds are meant to be more of an inspection. Checking the hygiene of the social blocks, canteens, checking whether there are people sleeping in the social blocks are some of the activities to be done. A couple of times, I found people sleeping the social blocks. They are very smart. You won’t be able to find where they are hiding. They change the position of the lockers, sneak in between them and sleep. A hide a seek game at 3 am in the morning. :)

3:30 am: Its tea time again. Quality of the tea served during the night is a concern, say some of the workmen. I note down my observations for the night and read a bit.

4:00 - Planning for the next day. Essentially this involves sending mails to people prescribing what needs to be done the following day. Now I am acting like a manager. :)

5:00 - Am almost ready to leave. I can’t wait anymore. It’s just beginning to get on to me.

5:30 – I take a stroll outside. It’s pretty cold. “Pahaad mein baraf gir rahi hain. Isiliye yehaan pe thandi hawa chalti hain”, says the security person. Bhajans from the neighborhood temple fill the air with devotion. I am immediately transported to the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. Well, that’s the feeling that you get. Damn good.

5:45 – I punch out and run to the hotel with a fear of losing the sleep if I see the sun.