Emotional Hoon, But Resilient Bhi!

“Ma’am, sir, mujhe aapko apna expression dikhana hai ek baar!” said Neha with jubilation, talking about her motherhood journey with us on the other side of our call.

Flipping with Joy

Neha had already worked for 8+ years across multiple employers by the time she joined Flipkart in 2021. She recounted the time when she underwent the Flipkart interview process, and received that long-awaited call one evening that she had been selected for the lead role of an Assistant Manager. She said, ”it was a nervy process, and I had been waiting for a while, but eventually mujhe call aa hi gaya. I was so happy that day.”

Neha Ojha, a Lead at our Ranchi Sortation Centre, got married in June 2022, and came to know about her pregnancy in December 2022. The news was a welcome surprise to her and her husband. After all, this moment was something that both of them shared, deeply and wholeheartedly. Neha’s first ultrasound was when she was overwhelmed by the surreal experience that she was going through! She recounts, “the first time I saw the transformation happening inside me, I went to the next level, sir… absolutely, the happiest moment of my life so far”. My gynae kept encouraging me to live the moment… oh, I was so so happy.”

“How happy? Well, normally they wouldn’t give ultrasound images to you, but I requested them deeply to give mine… fir kya, Archies jaake vo baby timeline wala frame leke poora ache se sajaa di main usko!” ??

Sticking with Resilience

Neha went on maternity leave in June 2022. On July 25th, her baby boy was born. This is the part of her story when Neha, in a conversation with us, asked us if she could turn the camera on and show the expressions on her face, almost unable to contain her utter joy. And honestly, it was deeply heartening to see - the pure, unfiltered bliss of a mother talking about her child!

The cycle of life, however, is more like a seesaw of balancing acts at times - one between life and death. While Neha was overjoyed with the birth of her son and cuddling him in her arms after an emergency C-section due to significantly reduced water level, the rest of the 11 C-sections done around her in the hospital that day were not fortunate enough to experience that kind of joy. Between some admitted in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and the rest who couldn’t survive, it was honestly a tough day for all involved. For Neha, the C-section experience was the first in a series of complications that would test her resolve. To start off, her little “babu”, as she so dotingly mentions each time, contracted conjunctivitis just 20 days in. Instead of worrying about the situation, she reassured herself of the fact that she’s a 21st century mother who doesn’t need to be phased, and proceeded to connect with a pediatric doctor via a parental app.?

Next up, the baby contracted pneumonia, which wasn’t a pleasant affair, yet again. Neha and her family kept wading through the phase as best as they could.

Neha also had to undergo a major gall bladder operation recently. Detected in January 2024 after a series of excruciating pains, she couldn’t proceed with the operation initially as her baby couldn’t consume formula milk and required Neha to help feed him constantly. Upon doctor’s recommendation, she then went ahead with the operation in March this year. And unfortunately, yet again, complications rose with this operation too - her Hb level dropped majorly, from which she is still recovering. However, she believes that after a break of more than 3 weeks, she is finding it nice to come back to the office slowly - this is where she maximizes for self and for the baby! “Abhi mazaa aa raha hai” is what she calls it.

Tripping Hard

Neha takes great pride in the work that she does - working in the middle-mile operation of Flipkart’s supply chain. Leading a 4 women team and assisting another 39 off-role women, Neha and her peeps begin their maximization efforts to make the dreams of countless Indians come true from 6 AM every single day, and conclude the day by 3 PM. (6 AM is the time when the editor of this piece is in his morning deep snore - true story!)

On a daily basis, Neha and her team work hard to ensure on-time bagging of non-large shipments without any breeches and losses. Highlighting the impact of their efforts:

• they have been immensely valuable behind reducing the quantum of losses in the East Zone from INR 15 lakh to just INR 2000 ??
• Neha also proudly boasts about Project Shoonya, through which the team was able to reduce Tech issues to Zero. “In fact, we have a track record of Zero breaches from the morning shift that I handle”, she said.

Neha, on her two wheeler, covers a total distance of 50 km every day (25 km each side) to arrive at a slightly remote sortation center site, that is accessible through forest roads and mountain-cut paths. A befitting example of resilience and spirit of maximization!

Maximizing through support

With such tribulations testing her resolve, Neha feels immensely happy for the support that she received all this while. From her husband being her anchor through it all, to her team remaining considerate of her needs through the day, to a manager who kept counseling her throughout, she feels a deep sense of gratitude towards the star team of which she’s a part! She was extended the flexibility of coming in at 8 AM instead of her pre-complication phase of 6 AM workdays. Upon reaching the site, she recounted receiving special care from the housekeeping ladies (provisioned by the organization) who would help her remain hydrated by fetching water for her regularly.

She said, “My manager also encouraged me to keep being a shining example for other married people in the team. I am passionate about my career, and even though I’ve been through quite a challenging time, I always knew I wanted to make this happen for me - my priority was very clear. Many people have questioned my decision to even return to work after all this, and to them, I say - why shouldn’t I?”?

Neha opines that she’s worked hard enough in life to be where she is, and likes nothing more than the fact that she feels deeply empowered by the ecosystem of colleagues and manager around her, and her innate zeal & energy to continue maximizing at work, and be able to provide a great life for her son.?

Through all this, she has stood rock solid, a picture of staunch resilience in the face of adversity, smiling and giggling her way through conversations, almost like a recapture of the youth that she finds in herself when she talks about her life as a blessed mother!

To Neha, the mother, the maximizer - we thank you! ??