Life is a mystery. We can never predict when, where and how our life turns a new leaf and we are bowed to follow it. Life sometimes brings some unexpected things, which we would have never imagined. We are just mere puppets and spectators.

This is about one of my colleagues. He was a brilliant chap and worked dedicatedly. A few days back, he was not keeping well for sometime, though he was not showing any symptoms of major ailment. And since I was his supervisor, he requested me for a leave the next day, which was a Friday for a checkup and for visiting his home. He also asked for leaving the office early on Thursday, which I permitted and asked him to report on Monday for the work and warned him not to bunk the office, as there was some ongoing project. I repeated that he should come on Monday, which he nodded. As there has been instances in the past, where he had taken a leave on Monday, after being on Friday. So I repeated again to him to be in the office on Monday.


Accordingly, I informed my head office as well as client about his leave. Everyone agreed and the task was kept for Monday.

All went fine till the weekend, I met with one of my friend’s parents and had a good time. Monday came, I reached office but the colleague had not reported till then. I casually thought he would be as usual late from his native bus. The client sent a query and still I was hopeful that he would turn up, as he had not sent any mail or made a call otherwise. Then came another mail from a client and it was half the day and still there was no news from him. I needed to act fast. I informed the head office and the chief executive officer (CEO) about him being absent. After a while, the CEO called as it was related to some project and wanted to talk about the unprofessional behaviour of the employee. I informed him about my instruction to him for being in the office on Monday and still he had not turned up.


The CEO made it a point that the employee should be questioned and asked why disciplinary action should not be taken. I said that now the employee should have a reason to satisfy us with his conduct. We decided to take future action when the employee reports the next day and it has to be a stern action.


I had not imagined that my talk of reason would be answered so profusely. In the night around midnight, I got a call from the employee. At first, I thought he would talk some nonsense and make some stupid excuse but I was wrong. The employee was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and had to take treatment for some serious ailment. His brother informed about the condition and said he needed at least one month’s hospitalisation. All my anger vanished and I wished him early recovery and told him that I would co-ordinate with the head office. Even the people including the CEO and clients were shocked by this revelation. We all prayed for his early recovery.


The irony of life…. Monday was not to be there ever after repeated reminder….


So whatever we do, how smart we think of ourselves, life when dances to its tunes, we are mere spectators and puppets.