Soumya continues with the portrayal of Ajay Sharma, exposing the strange ways of babudom in a bank. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Since we met our friend Ajay Sharma last, he has resigned to life in the boondocks and has settled down in the colourful branch office of the Bank and its charismatic leader, whom we met in the previous adventures of Ajay Sharma, which your narrator had titled The Probationer.

He still remembers his father’s homilies on ethics and responsibility, and tries to reconcile them with daily realities of office life, mostly by emulating the brilliant strategy said to be the copyright of the ostrich, pretending that nothing exists if you don’t see them.

He still remembers his father’s homilies on ethics and responsibility, and tries to reconcile them with daily realities of office life, mostly by emulating the brilliant strategy said to be the copyright of the ostrich, pretending that nothing exists if you don’t see them. Mahatma Gandhi’s three monkeys are an inspiration too, and he hears, sees or speaks no evil.

On this day, he was in his boss’s cabin, trying to explain some intricacies of the muddled accounts of the Branch, when the head clerk came storming in

“Look what the **** field officer has done!” he was shouting

As evidence, he was holding up a cattle loan file with a ten-rupee note pinned to it.

“Are you upset about the amount or the fact that the note is pinned?” politely the manager asked him

“You are always joking sir. This is a serious matter. I have been insulted. You will hear from the union,” he retorted and stormed out of the cabin, saying he and the other clerks would not be working anymore that day.

The Manager calmly went back to signing the accounts papers, assuring Ajay that he need not explain anything, as what a direct officer brings, he would always sign

The Manager calmly went back to signing the accounts papers, assuring Ajay that he need not explain anything, as what a direct officer brings, he would always sign, and anyway he did not follow a word of accounts.

After a while, the field officer came in to enquire whether the loan had been approved.

The Branch Manager showed him the file and asked him what this was all about.

The targets for cattle loans for the quarter were falling short, and he wanted the file to be cleared fast. As the farmers couldn’t pay much, and the vet, the sarpanch, and the others took their cuts, plus keeping aside his and the manager’s commission, the office arrangement with the clerk was a pint, or quarter of whiskey per file processed. This, cost rupees fifteen. As he didn’t have change, the field officer had attached ten only

With a weary sigh, the field officer explained that this was the head clerk’s usual drama. The targets for cattle loans for the quarter were falling short, and he wanted the file to be cleared fast. As the farmers couldn’t pay much, and the vet, the sarpanch, and the others took their cuts, plus keeping aside his and the manager’s commission, the office arrangement with the clerk was a pint, or quarter of whiskey per file processed. This, cost rupees fifteen. As he didn’t have change, the field officer had attached ten only, knowing that if he gave twenty, he would not get back any change. The clerk wasn’t a bad man, quite honest in fact, but needy only about alcohol, which is his sole weakness. Otherwise, he is efficient hardworking and doesn’t make unfair demands, as long as he has his daily quarter of booze is provided.

He assured the manager that he will smooth things out, and treat him to an extra peg today and get his signature, there’s nothing to worry about.

The Manager quietly approved the loan

Thus, Ajay learnt another valuable lesson in management ethics and responsibility that his father had omitted to teach him.

Photo from the Internet