The First Days of My Job Were Horrible
I had started working right after doing graduation. I joined Jansatta, the Hindi paper of Indian Express group in Chandigarh. I worked as trainee sub editor. I have worked with Amar Ujala as reporter. Both the jobs were low paying and demanded a lot of work. As a sub editor, I used to work in the 3 to 11 shift and as a reporter there was no fixed hours of returning home. Then for three years, I worked as a kindergarten teacher in a school which I opened in partnership with four other persons. I used to get up at 5 a.m. and work till 12 in the night. Then the partnership failed and it caused a lot of embarrassment for me.
After marriage, my in-laws asked me to quit job, which I gladly did. I was fed up with working and changing jobs.
Then three years passed peacefully, I gave birth to my daughter and suddenly I got the news that I had been selected for the govt. job for which I had applied ages ago.
Every body was saying that my daughter has brought good luck with her.But the reality struck very soon. I had to live alone in the city where I got my first appointment. There was tension about who will look after my daughter who was eight months at that time. My mother took leave from her job and came to stay with us initially. Then my husband’s aunt came for three months, after that it was again my mother’s turn. That first year was really harrowing. I was always tense. I had to prepare lectures, I was made head of department so there were added responsibilities, the timing of college was very uncomfortable. It was from 11.15 am to 5 pm. My daughter had never been separated from me from birth, but now I had to be away from her for more than seven hours. She got ill. My husband was away with his job in Bangalore. He could do nothing.
The principal of the college was very nasty, a shrewd politician, who liked to play dual games with the lecturers. Making them quarrel with each other.
. The other two colleagues, who were also newly appointed like me, made things worse. They would enter in arguments with the principal and ask me to sort things out. Being the head of department, I would have to interact with the principal on daily basis and I dreaded that. I had lost my sleep in those days. Even a small issue in the college will give me headache and I would lose appetite. I developed chronic diarrhea as a result of being always in tension.
My daughter lost considerably. It was the first time since her birth that I had to be away from her and that too for six-seven hours. I didn’t get the time to settle her gradually.Separation from
mother always affect a child. My daughter stopped eating. Earlier she was a healthy child but now she got ill frequently.
Now when I look back, I can’t imagine how I passed those days. I can’t thank my mother enough. I have never told her how grateful I am. My mother- in law never offered to take leave and come to stay with us, not even during holidays. She always has this excuse: I am asthmatic.
My husband’s aunt also helped a lot. She became quite attached to my daughter. I feel sad when we go to meet her. She tried to cuddle Jahnavi just like old days but Jahnavi shies away. She doesn’t recognise her.

