FROM THE WESTIN SOHNA RESORT AND SPA, GURGAON

GRATITUDE, ATTITUDE, SERVITUDE.

21 September 2010 - Dhirendra Kumar Singh (34), popularly known as DK met me for the first time. He was a team leader then (in F&B Service). What I liked about him is the way he openly spoke on things that were disturbing him. I heard him intently – all ears. I empathised with him and guided him to the best of my ability. This was at The Westin Sohna Resort and Spa, at Sohna, Gurgaon.

5 years later……

02 September 2015 - DK met me again ( in my Villa # 102). I wanted to write a blog on him. (I always felt that he has a special streak in him). While speaking to me he recalled our first interaction in 2010… as described above. He also added that he felt very relieved after speaking to me that day!

"I felt so relieved after talking to you. You never said anything in particular. But, you were just listening. I felt so peaceful and relaxed after meeting you" recalls DK.

Case in point: He is a very grateful person.  He is grateful for not only for the good things in life; but also for the so called "problems".

"In a short span of 12 months, I understood many a realities of life, said DK. My 70 year old father has been bed ridden for the last one year. My mother, elder brother, wife and even my sister who is married and blessed with a child recently - all nurse him to the best of our capabilities” says DK.

"There are only two ways to encounter a problematic situation. You can either crib about it or face it. I have chosen the latter" says DK- a strong willed person, who prefers to face his problems in life head on.

"I have learnt this from my mother”, he continued.  She told me that I should wrestle down my aggressive nature. For this she has suggested that I should broom the house and also mop it. On my off days I do the same. Every day upon returning home I go to bed only after washing the dishes. By that time, it will be way past 11 pm" admits DK.

                                    

"Nowadays, I don't get angry at all at my workplace. On the other hand, I teach others……one at a time. In turn, I will ask them to teach someone else the same way. I taught Gaurav (F&B) how to manage the stores….and in turn Gaurav taught Praveen Joshi - the steward at Seasonal Tastes".

DK joined The Westin Sohna Resort and Spa (the first Westin property in India) on 18th Dec 2006 as a Team Leader in F&B Service. This Bihar born, IHM Bhopal Hotel Management graduate had a car when he was just 25. ("The day I retire one of my sons should have a car" his father had once said. To honour his father’s words he bought himself a car). He became an Asst. Manager in 2009 and then rose to become a Manager Restaurants in April this year.

Standing like a pillar, he nurses his father before and after his day job – everyday. He is ready not only to support his family at this time of crisis….. but also to sweep away their sad sorrows.

DK certainly is a sweeping expert of a different genre!

I pray that his father recovers his heath at the earliest. God Bless DK and his entire family.

DK got married to Alka in March this year. She is software engineer, presently working with HCL in Noida.

Text and Pictures: R Kesava Mallia at Sohna, Gurgaon