May
2 AM
After a rather tiresome journey at sea, and a bumpy one on road, I believe that I have arrived at my destination, which will be home for the next few weeks. It is rather unfortunate for me to enlighten myself with the fact that I have ended up in a third world country, considering the amount of jerks and jumps I experienced on the road. Nonetheless, I cannot wait to set my eyes on the glass platform that has been set for my display. Wait, where are they taking me? Another dark room?
6 AM
I cannot fathom how they have put me in the same room as those good-for-nothing Chinese manufactured solar plates. What do they work on, if one may ask? Sunlight! Cheap! Meanwhile I work on petrol. The only machine in this storage room with some expensive taste.
June
9 AM
It has been days. I’m so dusty. These people keep coming and taking those peasant plates away. Who would want to work as a solar plate in a country with 14 hours of daylight? I’d rather not!
10 AM
Finally, a man with taste! I am off to my new abode.
Wait, are those…ropes? What kind of vehicle is that? I AM BEING TIED UP ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. That is it. Goodbye world. One pothole and I’ll be done for.
1 PM
I did not die. I guess this is how matters work in third world countries. Safety is negotiable.
My new owners treat me with care. An old woman came along and she seemed to be reciting something. When she finished, she blew all over me and then wiped off my dust with a wet rag. She could’ve used a disinfectant with a paper towel, but at this point, I’m just grateful that I look presentable again. Everyone calls her “Ammi”.
2 PM
I’m finally getting the treatment that I deserve. Everyone is so careful with me. They’re always saying “Ahtiyat say, bohat mehnga aya hai ye.”
They feed me with so much care. Ammi’s son spilled some petrol outside while doing so and got scolded by Ammi for 15 minutes straight. She kept using the words “mehnga” and “mehngai”. I wonder what that means.
9 PM
My work today is done. The electricity came back after 4 hours and Ammi has put a bright flower patterned cloth over me. How considerate of her!
11 PM
I hear footsteps. Is that … a burglar? The neighbours probably heard how “mehnga” I was and the word must’ve spread.
Nevermind, it is just Ammi’s son. The electricity went out again.
8 AM
I’m so tired. I need a break. I guess they forgot to disconnect me. How can humans survive without electricity in a place with 40 C without electricity for 9 hours straight? That’s impossible!
There is so much smoke around me I can barely see anything.
9 AM
Finally some rest.
Oh no where are they dragging me?
9.15 AM
I like this new room. There are so many of my fellow machines around me. A feeble water motor. Some ancient voltage stabilizers. And is that…a UPS? How dare they put me in a room with this locally manufactured piece of metal! This is unacceptable!
1 PM
Well, this UPS isn’t that bad after all. It does most of the work. I’m here because it’s too old to handle all that burden when the electricity goes out. Understandably so, one house, 12 people, and a humble old UPS. Someone needed to come to the rescue.
2 PM
The electricity went out. Time for the UPS to show me what it can do.
4 PM
It couldn’t even stand 2 hours before giving up! What a joke! Time to show them who’s boss.
11 PM
I’ve lost track of how long I’ve been working for. Ammi’s son has fed me 3 gallons of petrol, he was sighing while pouring the third one. There’s a huge cloud of smoke around me. I can barely tell if it’s daylight outside or not. I can’t wait for Ammi to put that patterned cloth over me so that I can have a bit of rest.
4 AM
IT’S BEEN A WEEK AND I’VE BEEN WORKING FOR HOURS EVERYDAY. HOW DO PEOPLE EVEN SURVIVE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY IN THIS HEAT?
The poor UPS did not come back.
3 PM
The electricity went out again, but I think they have decided to give me a bit of rest. They’ve moved me to a dark, dusty room. There’s a big metal trunk in here, some ancient fans, and a lot of cardboard boxes of my cousin appliances.
August
9 AM
It’s been a month since they moved me to the storeroom. I think they can’t afford to feed me anymore. Ammi came in yesterday, wiped all my dust with the same rag, put a plastic sheet over me and then put me in a cardboard box. A teenage girl was helping her. I picked up a new word from their conversation “Jahez”. I think it means that they don’t need me anymore. I’m glad. Who would want to be a petrol powered electrical generator in a country with 12+ hours of loadshedding?
Until next time!