275. Squabble

 

“squabble”= an argument over something that is not important 

My team in workplace is of six

Below issue happened and I was expected to fix

Let's name my line manager as R

And my colleague SN's manager is Mr. AN at par

There is a team named Alpha

It's lead is Ms. AK who's on leave some

So her back up is SN

And if she is on leave when

It's me who handle the Department as back up

I was fine to manage workload and challenges to take up

But SN’s line manager AN wasn't aware of her leaves this time

And he also took his leaves same days thinking it's fine

I handle his department code

On his absence I was overload

I was back ups, back ups, back up now

I actioned on task somehow

SN although said about her leaves casually during lunch break

A passing squabble of words, too vague for me to intake

I couldn't exactly process the details to intake

She didn't even apply her leave through Company portal gate

So it didn't route to him to approve it at all

Now she is issued warning letter for negligence, a squabble small

And in response she mentions my name saying she has informed me

A needless squabble brewed, though I was only a colleague, see

When I was questioned I just said I am a colleague and not her boss

Why am I dragged in this squabble as work would go for toss

It shouldn't matter if she inform me or not

The right thing was to inform her line manager on the spot

And SN was upset that I didn't extend her support

After all dragging my name in this squabble was not a fair sort

People can't assume things, it should have been in writing

No point in overthinking and with me fighting

Yet I was cordial with her and she kept giving me cold vibes

Said she has understood me now and I am not her tribe

She is handling Team Beta, and I extend work support in that

One of the code submission had issues fat

After knowing the errors, I shouldn't proceed with submitting code

But she kept persuading me, a squabble I couldn't afford

I asked her to put it in writing so that I can document her response

Listening to this, she was taken aback and tense

I work for the firm

My decision should be firm

If something is wrong

I shouldn't be doing it under pressure long

I was cordial but, following the laid down protocol

No squabble can override integrity as my job’s true call

She was taunting me all this while

I was handling it with a smile

As staying in same pond I need to be cordial with crocodile

Than absorbing people's negativity and make work pile

Turning every squabble aside, letting peace compile

I was listening from one ear and leaving from other

And wrote down this instance so that I am relieved and no longer bother!!!

✍️©️ Priyanka Kamath 

20 Dec 2025