Holiday fever spreads like contagion

THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: True optimists will find opportunities in any adversity. Though the petrol price hike has hit the country once again, a good majority of government employees in the city who hail from far-off places were packing their bags on Friday evening to enjoy the three-day holiday that came as a surprise gift to them.The air was thick in most government offices on Friday morning till the news of the motor vehicle strike was flashed on TV channels. While Saturday will be an unofficial holiday on account of the strike, Monday has already been declared a holiday in connection with Bakrid. “Thanks to Manmohanji and Soniyaji, what else can I say?” quipped Pradeep, an employee with the Revenue Department.Anilkumar, who works in the Panchayat Department, was a bit more ambitious than his colleagues. Anilkumar, who hails from Alappuzha, was busy trying for a half-day leave on Friday when ‘Express’ contacted him over the phone. “There will be a heavy rush in the evening at the Central Bus Stand. It would be convenient if I could catch a bus in the afternoon itself,” he said.Mohanachandran, Anilkumar’s colleague, said that he was envious of bachelors on such occasions. “They can pack their bags and leave, whenever such a strike is announced. The case is not same with people like me who have school-going kids,” he said. Mohanachandran and his wife, a bank staff, have decided to stay back in the capital for now. “I am not sure whether the decision will change once I reach home,” he said with a smile. Though she is happy, Susan, who works at an office in Vikas Bhavan, could not hide her ill-feeling at the union leaders. “Had they made the announcement on Thursday night, I could have packed my bags well in advance,” she said. Susan’s husband is also a government employee and she said that they hadn’t yet finalised whether the holidays would be spent at her home in Kottayam or husband’s home in Alappuzha. Dhanya, a school teacher hailing from Kottayam, is luckier than many of her hostel mates working in government offices. “Tuesday is also a holiday for schools; hence, we will get four days in total,” she said cheerfully. While many employees who hail from other districts are preparing to leave, some have chosen to celebrate the occasion in the city itself. Sunilkumar and Mithun, both staff at the Forest office, reveal the secret behind their decision. “These are surprise holidays and our families won’t expect us to be there,” they said.  ‘’Moreover, it will not be holidays for Bevco outlets,” Mithun quipped. The Central Bus Stand and Railway Station witnessed a heavy rush of people hurrying to their destinations before the 12-hour motor vehicle strike began at 6 am on Saturday.