For The Oman Daily Observer Features of Wednesday

December 28, 2011

My Website – www.majidall.com

At My Workplace!

Respects and Mutuality!

For people to respect you – you must respect yourself first!

Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers. — Isaac Asimov

The desire to write grows with writing. — Desiderius Erasmus

If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it. — Tennessee Williams

In all my articles I keep hammering on the same point and focus always – It is in the Offices and in Offices Dealings – where people are at their worst forms – and how they actually behave, act and interface with one and each other!

A long time ago a ‘good friend’ of mine ‘had joked with me’ that if he had met Madam Wife (MW) in the Offices – as he was now doing – he would make sure that he ‘fought her’ for me – and that I was a (unprintable!) son of a gun! And I did not deserve ‘to politely put it’ to be so lucky! I wondered to myself aloud – if I had met his wife – and if I had told him the very same things he was telling me now – how he would behave and react?

But then his wife was at home cooking, washing, cleaning and raising his children – even though she was – as I had heard later – was an educated and qualified lady – but for him a woman’s place is only at home! No other place! The education and qualifications – according to him – was that she would be a ‘better mother and wife’ – and that is all that counts! The ironical and sad tragic part was that he considered himself as a ‘religious and pious’ person too – but can gravely insult one so easily!

A long time ago there is this ‘a sort of prominent and famous person’ – who had at one time wanted to buy my Consultancy business off me – and let his Indian GM run it for me – whilst I got a monthly dividend – but condition I had to stay at home! Look – he says to me – ‘This is real clean money with no headaches’ – What more do you need? I had refused – because I had wanted to be self-employed and do this thing myself only!

Some months later, when the business had just collapsed first with the drying up first of any further funds and support – a good friend of mine took me to his Offices with the W (Wastah – Influence) cap on to try to get his W for a job for me instead! That is why I am always cynical and sceptical of all these continued talks of being ‘self-employed’ per se!

He was quickly dialling and talking to someone on the loud speaker phone – Guess who is here in my Office now? Yes – it is him! He is looking for a job now! But I am not going to help him at all! Now he will see life in its reality!

The person at the other end was a woman whom I came to realise later was a family member – and that is how far betrayals and let-downs can go! I would have preferred him to say NO straight emphatically and directly to my face – rather than use this way of communications to me! For the rest of my life till they bury me deep in my grave – I have ‘forgiven – but will never forget’!

This is our problem in Oman – and still continuing and never ending! These people do not want any competition from any corners – even the small businesses – let alone SMEs! Actually they have already plates and plates of Biriyani and Pilauw – but they still want that sandwich on your small plate!

You will excuse me for the quote – but the East Africans have an expression that goes on like this – For a person to insult you – he does not have to choose his words carefully and wisely– anything lumped together and thrown to you quickly goes!

It makes all sorts to make this world – and if you want to maintain your health, sanity and faculties- then you must just go along and take the bitter pill – and in many cases just not sugared even!

Happy, Peaceful and Safe New Year 2012! Take Care!

By:

Majid Al Suleimany