Let me share an embarrassing story of my still very short civil service career! Request to not spin this in any political way. Hence not tagging any one involved. This is purely about me & my stupidity. Nothing & no-one else.

And it is quite long.

Well, as many of you would know, after you join civil service, you are kept on probation for two years. And you are famously known as the 'probationer'. This word means a lot to many of us. We are told by our seniors that there are only two real officers in the entire bureaucracy. Probationers & the Chief Secretary. I believed it very much. Even thought us real officers should meet often, cutting down all the useless intermediaries in between.

Also as probationers we could walk freely into offices of most seniors. We felt it is our right to be treated well. Probationer da..!!

Coming back to the incident, I was attached to a district then & was quite happily running errands for the Collector. One of those days I learnt that Govt. was implementing bus as a winter shelter idea. Was feeling particularly proud & happy.

As some of you might know, a couple of years earlier, before joining the service I had written the same to Govt. a few times. So I was righteously basking in the glory by sharing it in Facebook and all.

The very next day I was told that I am required to work from CMO immediately. Now that is quite uncommon & strange for a probationer. For us our district & our district collector was everything. Rest all... well... redundant stuff trying to stop us from doing our work.

So, for a moment I was confused. But then realized... ha..! it must be because of all my ideas & stuff. CM must have felt my brilliance shouldn't be limited to just the district.  Well.. if he insists!!!

So the next day I went straight to the secretariat & found my way to the CMO. Carrying multiple print outs of all my other ideas..

'Kannan, wait for some time here. We will go into CMs chamber in a few minutes.', said the Principal Secretary sir.

'OK sir!' Furiously rearranging my papers once again on genius quotient... Difficult job. But have to prioritize no?

As I walked into the CMs chamber for the first time, it felt a bit awkward & scary...

Kannan here, is a 2012 batch officer who will be working here in the CMO Sir.. Principal Secretary sir introduced me.

Ok Kannan, so you are doing your internship? CM asks.

I replied sternly. No sir. I am on my probation. Not internship!

Huh! Probationer da! How dare he make me an intern!

After the initial exchange of pleasantries, I came out of the chamber. But I was wondering when we will be discussing those ideas!

I am still clinging on to those printouts!

After sometime, somebody asks confusingly in the CMO, who is Kannan.. CM is calling.

I say it's me & start walking to the chamber with the print outs again!

Pr Secy sir comes running behind me with a notebook & a pencil.
Tells me... Kannan.. at least carry this when you go to CM's chamber!!!

Anyway.. second time inside the CM chamber.

Sir, you called me?

Are you Kannan?

Duh!!!! We just met?

And then he started looking at some files. Completely ignoring me.

Well, I looked around for a few minutes & then sat on a chair laid on the side.
I sat there for a good 10-15 minutes. Looking at that muffler hanging from the coat hanger.
hmm hmm...! Nothing. No response.

Suddenly CM looked up & said something. I have a completely confusing look on my face!
Had no idea what was just said. As I stared at him with a blank face, CM probably realized he will have to be the one to break the silence!

I will be needing someone to take these notes, said the CM.
Again looks at me! I am still confused though..

But I gathered my wits fast enough. Oh.. CM wants someone to take these notes. Well, in districts when we needed someone to take notes we pressed the bell & waited for someone to come in.

So I looked at the door & then looked at the CM.
Then looked at the door & at the CM again.

I guess CM got the hint. He pressed the bell. Someone came in & took the note.

After that I was told

Ok, Kannan, you may go back to your training.

And that was my one day stint at CMO. Back to Probationer da days with all my printouts!

PS: They were looking for someone at junior level to work in CMO & my name came up as a dear senior suggested it. That's all. Nope! Nothing else! Nothing to do with Bus & shelters!