Behind the bars of Silence

“I feel disheartened to see how common people easily abandon us and mistreat us only because we are hearing impaired”, says Syed Kashif Hussain, a 33 year old lobby boy working in KFC, with deep sorrow.  Neatly dressed in his red and blue uniform, Hussain seems to be concerned only with the work he is assigned with. A resident of Sohrab Goth, he has inherited the hearing impairment from his family. He along with his elder brother are the bread earners of the family.

While narrating the saddest event of his life, Hussain being a very sensitive person had tears his eyes. He still remembers sometime ago, how a customer almost knocked him down only because he served the wrong order. On telling about the customer’s attitude towards them he further informed how sometimes they get so irritated because according to them they do not have enough time to explain orders to them. But on the contrary, “There are people who visit this branch only to show how they appreciate the outstanding work the people are doing”, he adds cheerfully.

Furthermore, he says delightedly how some people appreciate his loyalty to the work he is assigned. Misbah-ud-din, a delivery boy and a very dear friend of Hussain tells the level of his devotion to his work. He further informs the keen interest he takes in his work. He talks about the times he used to fight with his family to come to work when a strike is called or even when the city conditions are tensed.

 “I used to do odd jobs before I joined KFC. And in the beginning people did not respond pleasingly because I used to take more time to understand the task”, says Hussain.

With a visible glow on his face Hussain says how big a source of motivation his brother, Jawaid Hussain is for him. Because of his hard work he is now working as a custom agent. Moreover, he considers himself lucky to have a brother like him who has always been very supportive and encouraging in whatever things he wants to achieve in life.

He has been working here for past 3 years. On talking about the skills of Hussain with the Manager Mr. Asif Ayub, he proudly answers, “Hussain can easily do multi-tasking. He manages his work quite well and is a brilliant employee. He is gifted with sharp skills.”

Advising people like him, who are suffering from impairment, he says that should keep striving hard and try moving on with the society. He further adds, “I feel saddened when I see people begging. I do not understand why they lose hope. They should realize that they are a part of the nation and should struggle hard to make their place. We are blessed with many other skills and if we acknowledge them we can easily compete with the people living around”.

Sohail Raza, his uncle adds that the government is not fulfilling their duty. They should be hired in every firm on quota basis. He further says with deep sorrow that families should not abandon them. They should not think of them as a burden in fact they should motivate and boost their confidence level. “I have seen other people with disabilities with low self-esteem. It is only because we do not buck up their confidence and this is the reason they lack behind in the society”, says Mr. Raza.

It is people like Hussain who work hard to make their place in the society. Hussain says, “They should be given equal respect and should be accepted by the society regardless of the drawbacks they have”.