*pop*

I work in an unusual environment. Of course what I mean to say is its unusual as compared to commonly held perceptions about what a work environment constitutes: an impersonal off white office block stretching to the sky, those horrid wood prisons we call cubes, phones beeping, muted chatter, unduly long breaks at the water cooler, board rooms, late evening ordered -in pizza ...you get the picture.

I work in an office space which has no cubes, where staff sits on whichever chair is available then depending on how many people are in the office, a wash basin next to my designated desk from where my desk is at times sprayed with droplets when ever the sink is put to use, water colour paintings and crayon drawings made by young children plastered on walls and a furniture factory next door to provide a steady hum, whine and clash of wood being forged into something people buy. But that's not what makes this office different. In fact, with my laptop, earphones and back to the office, I pretty much manage to block out what may initially seem inconveniences but actually aren't. A bubble woven with an almost toxic mix comprising MS Office, broadband internet and an extensive music collection. But like all bubbles, this one too pops, but what you see and hear makes up for the fleeting discomfort.

What does set this office apart from the normal are the conversations that I overhear when my earphones aren't plugged in:

"Why don't you want to finish your 10th grade exams? You should...it will help you and you'll be able to earn twice what you earn today"

"Where is your friend? Call him here...otherwise he'll soon run away again or will steal something. Bring him and I will speak to him"

"She just completed her vocational training course and is now earning 3500 a month!"

"The parents were extremely angry because the children returned later than expected...some of them were drunk and beat up the children. They then came to beat us up too, accusing us of taking their children away and removing their kidneys & eyes to sell them..."

At times jarring, at times disappointing and on rare occasions satisfying...I guess these emotions aren't very different from what one might experience in a more, shall I say sterile office environment. What keeps coming back is the reality that here, it isn't quarterly sales targets or revenue estimates that are being discussued...and of course it sure beats water cooler induced gossip ...back go the earphones.