Just a few days old at the new workplace and getting to know people a little better amidst the anxieties of "my first job" at 37, talking like a professional wasn't easy for me.
I was handed over a lot of firsts... my business cards, my customized diary, my name badge and of course the official phone with the SIM that belonged to my predecessor.
There were hundreds of warnings and instructions that had come to me from all corners regarding the industry that I had just joined. All of them tried hard to play my well-wishers.
In the next few days, most of the nervousness got addressed and settled. It was a regular day at work and I was writing a nomination for a Department Head for an award. I had to share the same with him for his approval hence looked for his number in the employee directory. Called him and asked for his email address.
Later sent the draft for him to check and texted him saying, "Sent!"
My phone buzzed and I saw, "What baby?" from the same number.
Silence.
No more texts.
Stumped was I.
I just knew that I had made the wrong decision of joining work here "I should have joined a school as a
teacher"... I avoided that colleague for a few days and in my head kept
bestowing him with all the possible "laurels" I could. Since I was
being circumspect I didn't share this with anyone. My hatred for that colleague
began surging every time I saw him and he smiled at me.
"He knew I was married".
"I am a mother of two."
As days went by I made a few friends and we would indulge in office gossip breaks then one day a colleague just mentioned casually about that department head dating the girl who was handling
my profile before I joined and that they were getting married soon.
That "baby" was (out of habit)for her. She had been using that number before me. The next day when I saw him at a meeting, I smiled back and in my head said, "Sorry Chef!"
He is happily married to his "Baby".
