Slowing Down to Soak It All In | Diary - 12th June 2025
The plant still runs, but I’ve begun stepping away from the daily grind. Not out of indifference, but with quiet acceptance that my time here is nearing its end. It’s Thursday today. Saturday will be my last working day at WACEM. There's a different kind of rhythm now - a slower, more reflective one. I'm still updating the DPR sheet, and I’ll continue doing that till the last day. That’s part of my discipline.
Morning Thoughts and Meetings
In today’s HOD meeting, I emphasized something that should be part of everyone’s core responsibilities:
Clean your machines, clean your area - and paint them too.
It’s not just cosmetic. Clean equipment runs better. Painted equipment is respected.
A plant that looks good, feels good to work in.
But I’m no longer deeply involved in follow-ups or firefighting. The detachment is conscious and calm. I’ve never believed in calling people to the office for fruitless discussions or ego-centered monologues. It’s never been my nature - and now, even less so.
Two Sad Losses, One Heavy Heart
Today has been a day of deep sorrow.
First, the news of Mr. Harshad Suthar’s demise - our former Stores Manager during my early days at L&T Cement. He was not just a colleague but someone with whom I shared a different kind of bond. When I discovered his passion for painting, our relationship shifted from formal to personal. A calm, composed, and artistic soul - his passing is a loss not just to those who worked with him, but to everyone who knew the quiet richness of his inner world.
And as we try to absorb that loss, comes another shock - the tragic crash of the London-bound flight from Ahmedabad. For me, it struck home with painful closeness. The mother of my childhood friend, Mayur Dangar, was aboard that flight. Mayur, now settled in London, was a constant presence in my early years - and this makes the tragedy feel all the more personal.
I bow my head and pray to the merciful God to grant peace to the departed souls, and patience, strength, and healing to the grieving families.
May we all find the courage to move through such moments with compassion and remembrance.
Lunch time gave me one of those random, beautiful moments.
We stopped at Tabligbo junction to buy some bananas. As my driver went into the market, I noticed a row of mirrors placed outside a shop. Not ordinary mirrors - framed, polished, glinting in the sun like artwork.
One of them caught my eye. I stood in front of it and took a mirror-selfie.
The shopkeeper inside noticed, laughed warmly, and waved. I waved back.
We had a short chat - he in his language, I in mine - nods, smiles, laughs.
I asked for a selfie with him. He agreed instantly. It’s the kind of memory I want to carry back - simple, human, joyful.
Evening at the Mines - My Favourite Place
In the evening, I visited our limestone mines - the one place in this plant I feel most connected with.
The abandoned mining pits have turned into lakes, and thanks to recent rain, they’re now full and deep blue.
Birds hover and chirp. The green, the water, the calm - it gives me peace that no office ever has.
This place has seen struggle, sweat, and now, silence. And it feels alive.
On the way back, I stopped at the Reclaimer.
The belt replacement job is in its final stage.
This old bucket-wheel reclaimer is a beast. An old warrior, still standing.
Modern reclaimers wouldn't survive a year here - not with the negligent operation and poor maintenance we witness.
Just yesterday, it collided with the stacker again - for the third time since I joined. Third time that I know of. Who knows how many times before that?
Evening Reflections - India Calling
So, what’s next?
That’s the question swirling in my head these days.
“What am I going to do in India?”
I know one thing for sure - I’m not returning to a job.
Because there are no good, long-term roles anymore.
Because job roles today are not about experience or contribution - they’re about quick wins and quick exits.
It would be foolish to waste time chasing dead ends.
So yes, I’m working on some ideas, some plans.
Seeds I’ve sown earlier, now waiting to be nurtured.
Something meaningful. Something mine.
There’s uncertainty - but there’s also a strange kind of energy building within.
Key Points of the Day - 12th June 2025
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Emphasized cleaning and painting of equipment in the HOD meeting.
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Slowly detaching from routine responsibilities, maintaining essential updates.
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Visited Tabligbo junction, took a mirror-selfie, chatted with a local shopkeeper.
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Evening visit to the mines - serene, beautiful, and a personal favourite.
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Reclaimer belt replacement nearing completion; concern over repeated mishandling.
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Ongoing rain adds a touch of calm to an otherwise chaotic plant.
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Reflections about the future in India - certain about not taking another job.
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Reaffirmed focus on personal ventures and independent plans.
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