This is my response to "[[WE95] Weekend-Engagement posting topics: Accident" You can also join the challenge here.
A hard one this week but it's better. Thank you @galenkp.
Topic:
Accidental accusations occur - Have you done it or been accused yourself? Post about the scenario, what happened and what situations resulted from it? Was there an apology or did those involved roll with the false accusation? Did it ruin a relationship or make it stronger, or damage your reputation? Feel free to avoid specific details if you like, just give us the general information.
No one likes being falsely accused. I like keeping a level head but when you push too far unnecessary, it takes only one minute for me to lose it and you wouldn't see it coming. I can switch from 0-100 real quick especially when it has to do with what I know nothing about.
I started working in this Steel Company in another state; Ogun State that year. I left teaching that year and joined my cousin in Ogun State when he asked me to come for a job interview at the Steel Company. I studied Economics which helps me to enjoy a bit of flexibility in taking on any job but being a Nigerian, you have to take on any job anyway.
I passed and started working with this Steel Company which was dominated by Indians. I must say that I connected so well with them even though it took me a while to understand the kind of English they were speaking. With the help of my cousin, I was able to understand. The funny part of it was when I speak good English with them, they laugh at me as though I was speaking terrible English.
Satyendera and Nitin with myself.
Okay, let me throw a bit of humour so you can understand what I am saying. There was this day, I think my second day at work where I had to go and meet Mr Rakesh; the man in charge of the lab I was working inside the Steel Company. I told him: "Sir, it's lunchtime. I would like to go and get lunch." He was there with 2 other men and they all laughed at me at the same time. They are smart, even though they understood what I mean but they wanted me to say it in the way they wanted. One of them gestured with his hand to his mouth and said, "You...go...chop-chop?" I smiled and said, yes, and he told me to go and they continued laughing.
I told my cousin too and he laughed but he assured me with time I would start speaking like them and yes, I did 😂😂🤣🤣. So, everything was going so well until Mr Rakesh had his usual crazy mood swing even though I've never been at the receiving end of it before. Before then, I was switched to permanent night duty because other people testified that I worked well with them whenever I was on night duty and complained that when the other guy works, he sleeps and allows the samples to get delayed.
My cousin and I.
I was switched to permanent night duty, so I resumed 7 pm and leave 7 am. It was fun because it afforded me to always stay in the lab all the time unlike during the day when I had to loiter around since Mr Rakesh and the MD always have meetings there. I was warned of Mr Rakesh by his fellow Indians that he isn't loyal and he likes using people as a fall guy to shift blame. I choose to judge people based on how they are to me and not how someone told me. I like giving people a clean slate.
There was a day I did my usual overnight which was the last day anyway. The machine stopped working that night and I was unable to do many samples. I sent a text to him that midnight and others called him too. He came around the next morning and told me he would fix it. I left for home only for my cousin to come home for lunch while I was sleeping to tell me that Mr Rakesh told the MD that I was the one that spoilt the machine. The sleep left my face and I was fuming. They hadn't fixed the machine up to that point and my cousin saw my face, he was scared I would ruin things more.
I went to night duty that day, earlier than usual. I got there past 6 because I knew the MD would still be around. I was waiting for them to say whatever nonsense they wanted to say to my fave because I was so sure I did nothing wrong. I went into the lab, dropped my bag and saw Mr Rakesh still fixing the machine. He greeted me as though he didn't say anything bad about me and I played along.
I stepped out of the office to tell the others to get work-ready since the machine is close to being fixed. I went downstairs and that was when the MD accosted me and told me "Why did you spoil the machine?" I asked him I didn't understand what he was saying and he went on a rant and that was how I gave it back to him. I said so many words to him and called him gullible and someone who lacked the ability to reason.
His face lit up and he told me to go away which I responded in the same way that I wouldn't want to work a day further for someone who lacked the ability to give a fair assessment. He stood motionless on the spot as I walked away to pick up my stuff and left. My cousin came home the next morning to tell me that it was rat poo they saw in the machine and the rat ate some wires. One of the Indians called me and said in their usual English: "Me tell you no trust Rakesh, now you see? Rat ate wires, how your problem?" (I told you not to trust Rakesh, now you can see. Rat ate the wires and how is that your problem?)
They had issues with rats during the daytime but I never had issues with rats at night because I rarely open the door. People open the door more during the daytime. I spent extra 2 days before I finally moved to my State after working there for 2 years. I regret talking that way to that man because he was older but I fought back because my integrity was at stake. Maybe if I had explained myself that I didn't, they would have seen the truth eventually (which they did) but my outburst wouldn't have allowed that MD take me back even though I knew some staff members enjoyed that outburst as they gave me a thumb's up. I guess MD had intimidated them one way or the other and they enjoyed my dressing him down.
I enjoyed my time there and funny enough, I am still friends with most of them on Facebook and we speak our bad English to one another 🤣😂🤣😂. No apology was given, none was offered too.
No one should laugh at my old pictures, please. 🙈
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.
Hello @olawalium
Thanks for sharing this story, I personally understand that you were defending your integrity. It was unfair of the MD to accuse you without having the diagnosis from the mechanic in the first place, often we will jump to a conclusion before we have finished investigating and without cause, any normal person would be defensive.
I have been a bit hot-headed like that in the past and used to have a sticker on my fridge that read "Speak when angry and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” -Groucho Marx
Luckily I was able to change that around.
I'm glad you're still friends with your old colleagues 🙂
Have a lovely weekend.
Exactly. My integrity was at stake and even though they didn't apologize, I was glad they got to know the root cause of the issue. They felt I mistakenly pressed the wrong command that faulted the machine and it wasn't until they escalated and opened up the machine before they got to see the truth.
That's why I have learnt to just keep quiet most times because I don't like speaking when I am angry.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate this.
I actually do the same now. I am far more inclined to be calm and listen to what the person has to say/shout and I try to remain calm and not escalate the situation. Sometimes it's really difficult.
It is really difficult because there is that internal war between lashing out and staying calm.
I don laugh tire looking at your old pictures 🤣🤣 These Indians ehn, they thought their own way of speaking English is bad, whereas they only borrowed it and spoil it for us. Lol
There is this spirit in you that would make you defend yourself when you are being accused of what you are innocent of, and would want to fight it out knowing you are sure of yourself. I hate people who do that. At least you said your mind then as you were fuming with rage 😂
Hahaha I spoke my mind and was glad I did.
Those guys damaged my English a little bit back then. I came speaking Phonetics only to leave speaking terrible English.
Don't you dare laugh at my pictures 😂😂😂
🤣
🙈🙈🙈
Very funny 😄🤗😂 old pictures. I know this type of bosses jare...I have experience working with Indians too loool
They are the type that would always play perfection but they make more mistakes than everyone.
Leave my old pictures alone o hahaha
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Thank you, Posh.
Thank you so much.