It was Friday morning and I was rushing to toll booth. I had joined a week before as a toll collector and was still in the learning phase of handling the machine and different drivers. It’s one of the busiest toll stations between two metro cities, so I anticipated a hectic day as it was a long weekend.
I reached the booth and was asked by my supervisor to man a cash lane that day for the first time. I was bit nervous as I heard from my seniors that manning a cash lane on a hectic day would be really hard. I went into the cabin and took charge from Joe. He was tired and was looking feeble after night shift when he handed over the system to me. I made sure there were enough coins in the cash box to give change.
A brand new sedan was in the queue and there was a family of four with a child. People in the car were looking delightful in their attire. Elderly couple was playing with the child and the child was beaming. Guy in the driver seat gave me exact change and said in a courteous tone “Two ways Please”, I gave him the receipt and he had asked me directions for “water world”. It’s a theme park, 10 miles ahead from the booth. I gave him the directions and he thanked me. Kid in the car happily waved his hand and said “bye” to me. My mood turned jubilant with the family’s warmth and my nervousness went away. I thought that it’s going to be a great day ahead.
I kept smiling and wished the drivers a “very good morning” while handing over the receipts. Most of them responded back with a big smile. Though few didn’t respond back, their faces turned cheery. There came a couple in a bright red car but their faces were dull. I could sense that all is not well with them. I wished them a great morning and didn’t get any response. That guy gave me the cash and asked for “one way”. I collected the cash and generated the receipt. I took the green marker and wrote on a card board in big letters “Today is a present. Cheer up!!!” I showed that board to them and made a funny face. I could see a small smile on their faces now and the guy took the receipt and left. I felt that I have mastered my job. I thanked the family that came in the morning as it all started with them.
I was doing well with my job. Supervisor came and appreciated me for handling the job well. I took a break for lunch keeping a temporary staff at the cabin. Post lunch, the queue swelled up in the lane as most of the people started their weekend travel. I tried to be in the same spirit, but in the hurriedness to clear the queue fast, I missed it.
It was around 4 PM in the evening and the queue was never diminishing. I called for a tea and the attendant served it hot in my cabin. I sipped it while generating receipts. I looked outside the cabin window when I heard a continuous honking. It was from an SUV who was behind the 3rd car in the line and he was making some signs to me. I ignored and got back to work. After few minutes, I could hear the honking sound going up. I thought him to be a mad person. I took a sip of tea from the cup and looked at the window. This guy in SUV was looking at me with fierce eyes and said in a loud voice “You stupid, I am in a hurry, open the gate”. I got very angry hearing the word “Stupid”. I asked him to mind his words and said that he is a “stupid”. He got more anger and started blaming me for passing time drinking tea belatedly. I asked him to pay up and leave the place but he showed an ID card and said that he is exempted from toll fees and asked me to open the gate. I checked the ID card and found it to be expired a month back. I asked him to pay the fee as the card has expired. He hesitated to pay saying that he is the relative of a minister and threatened me of facing dire consequences for this act. All of a sudden, his companion sitting next to him came out of the vehicle and pushed me through the cabin window. I lost my control by that time and threw the hot tea over his face. Things went worse with that and my supervisor and other staff had rushed and held both of us. After some ruckus, my supervisor let that guy and his companion go and asked me to get back to Cabin.
I was disturbed, angry and fuming. Vehicles started moving in the Queue and I treated the drivers very harshly. One guy politely asked for one way giving me thousand rupee notes. I had the change to give him but I yelled at him to look for change. He asked his friend in the car to look for change but his friend also didn’t have. I asked him to wait for sometime after crossing the gate and made him wait for around 20 minutes. I felt uneasy for behaving like that but still some sort of irritation was in my mind. I finished my day and handed over the cash box and cabin to Kiran.
I was walking back to my home and remembered the day at work. I thought how we are influenced by the feelings or moods of people around us. We normally take the emotions as well while communicating with people. I felt they are very contagious than a virus. I decided to have a stable mind irresistible to others moods. I made a conscious effort to have that stability. Sometimes I failed and sometimes succeeded, but I never gave up and still make a continuous effort with a gentle smile.
Keep cheering.
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