Survival of the fittest

Survival of the fittest

I could not meet Vicky for a long time. I was eager to know what happened when he went to the college with Sheila for the program. But I was so busy with work. 

 Vicky and I joined the firm around the same time. I still remember signing umpteen pages in bond paper with the Old man for sending to the Institute for registration. I still have a copy of that. As Vicky came and joined later, I was able to advise him a bit about filling up of forms.

 The training was straining, all the same engaging and sometimes utterly boring like when we had to compare figures in two sets of books to trace out a missing figure in the trial balance. Sometimes this went on for days. Slowly we became seniors!

 Gina was a fresher. She was the first lady apprentice to be precise. Till she joined it was an all male bastion. She was a timid creature despite her impressive academic records. We had a tough time making her understand for example what a voucher is and how a posting is made to a ledger and convincing her it is the same thing which she studied for her graduation!

 Despite us behaving very nice with the young lady, there were times when our patience was tested. One such incident happened that week. Perhaps it was my fault. I was very vulnerable due to anxiety during the previous weeks of announcement of the results of our examinations and when it was obvious that I shall fail!

 She was helping me in one of the assignments. I was furious and chided her left and right when I found the accounts were not tallied despite her claiming the checking was over. On her table lay a number of books and bags of vouchers and bills. She was evidently trying to prepare the annual financial statements even before the trial balance got tallied. I became more and more agitated as I talked to her. She started crying.

 I didn't say sorry and stomped into my room and started on a bunch of files. I threw a big ledger across the table to a bunch of books lying in the corner to vent my anger. It lay there spreading some of its worn out pages around.

It is perfectly alright to know that you are bad and indecent! Then you don't have to pretend to be good.

This was when Vicky suddenly appeared like a blessing. I briefed him about the matter when he asked me what is wrong. The sight of Vicky walking in to the room itself seemed to relieve Gina. She wiped her face and labored a smile.

 "I mean, it is utterly disgusting... The clerk said he was a commerce graduate and he had training in some accounting firm. I am at a loss to understand what training he got. I expected the work to be almost completed and now I find that a number of entries are not even posted in the ledger. There is a huge figure missing in the purchase register and the gross profit is going up the roof. The Old man will be angry when he sees this". I was fuming.

 "Easy. This must be that dress maker's accounts. They are running it in the family, my friend. They don't care about accounting and all." Vicky said.

 "I understand that. Still there has to be some responsibility for the accountant."

 "What Gina, the patient comes to the doctor, right?" The typist, who was spying, joined issue. He must be happy in secret as he understood I scolded Gina. Now he will tell everybody about this including the Old man. Isaac, the typist, was however a friendly character. It was his job building the grapevine. But this comment made a lot of significance to me. Indeed, it was true. But there is a difference between sheer irresponsibility and genuine difficulty.

 "Yes, but then I need to be told in advance that I will be doing the clerk's job as well." I shouted. I sounded it to be in such a way that Gina should feel I was actually scolding the clerk!

 "Leave it, friend. Let us go for a tea. We will talk about this later in the afternoon." said Vicky who sat with Gina and whispered something to her. She started laughing and I felt relieved. But she did not speak to me for a week after that.

 "Please come and help me in my work". Vicky asked her.

 "This man is said to be closing down this business and leaving to U S". The typist said about the dress maker.

 "Hi! We need to report whether the business is continuing. Gina, what is that called?" asked Vicky.

"Well, err...Going Concern Concept?"  

"Booking cost and revenue as they are incurred or earned and not as cash is received and paid, is....?"

"Accrual Concept" said Saji, another apprentice who joined the discussion.

"Ok. And there has to be Consistency which is similar treatment of items from period to period. Going Concern, Accrual and Consistency were fundamental accounting concepts! Everything is missing here! Is that what you are telling me?"

 "Why, we need to help them anyway. We should train the accountant, so next year, it could be even worse!" said Saji.

 "For you! You will be doing this next year!" I shouted.

 "We have account-clerks who know everything. They are clever and dangerous. This one is a simple innocent, fellow" said Vicky with a sarcastic look. He imitated a smile raising his cheeks suggesting "Leave it man!"

 While walking for the cup of tea and a smoke for the soul, from the corner shop, I complained about my workload and the way some get away with it without any struggle.

 "This is a citadel where people with knowledge about business have already made it their bastion." Vicky said. "You and I have come from outside. We are not from business background. We are telling them, Hai, here we are! The Constitution gives freedom to practice any trade. We studied well. We have worked hard and we have the necessary grades to join you. This getting into a society is not that easy. We are crossing cultures. Having a good academic background would get you nowhere. You need to know someone. When did you first see the office of an accountant?"

 "During the same time I joined the college". I said.

 "That is it! Still you did not know what is happening inside until you joined one. You are struggling to show somebody that you are worth it where as there is no need to do that. This will only backfire. Those who perform well always have advance information. That makes the difference. We are no inferior but we lack support and some are getting it. So the painful lesson, do not wish unless you know all about what you are wishing for!"

 Clouds were gathering on the eastern horizon. It might rain today. There were flashes of lightning giving long sprouts dancing across the clouds. 

 Gina disappeared on a fine day one year later. She was sent to the firm by the family obviously to train her for a job in Persia.

Those were also fortunate days because the opportunity columns for Middle East were filled with advertisements which categorically mentioned that only Christians and Muslims need apply. With the dual pressure on us from the studies and to find a means for a living, we might also have ended up overseas discarding the course mid-way. This was not to be.

.....................................

 As said before, I could not find out what happened at the college after the day Vicky met Sheila. Old man was on a trip to Mumbai and Vicky joined me in my room.

 "The next day, Sheila was waiting for me at the book shop. The book shop was one which was frequented by me and its manager was also known to me. Therefore it was not wise to hang around the shop or else they would misunderstand me. We immediately crossed the street and went straight to the college with a few friends of her.

 At the entrance to the College, however, there was security post and they were inspecting the identity cards. But somehow through the rush, I just flashed my own identity card which was worn out and got inside.

Because I was with Sheila and other friends, the gate keepers who were flirting with the girls, did not really scrutinize the card or looked at my face. We rushed towards the Auditorium, which was on the first floor opposite to the office of the Principal.

 At the staircase, however, there was sign of the dangers coming. I met an old student leader, Jojo, who was slowly coming down the steps. He had with him, a small gang of his own. He was known to me.

The man was a fierce loyalist of a hard core political leader and his manipulative skills were very famous. He was tall, had whiskers and wore an extremely serious look. He used to speak in cultural meetings in our city. He had connections with top of the leaders of the party and the writer's guild and used to conduct press meetings at times.

It was rumored that he was elected to the University students union in an election using sheer goon force where otherwise, he had little hope of winning. The man saw me. He then looked puzzled as Sheila was with me.

"Hello, why are you here?" Jojo asked in the regular booming voice of a patronizing politician. If he was any nearer he would have thumped my back!

"Ah! You!" I said suddenly "I actually came to meet Professor Mathew for an urgent matter regarding a research paper". That was all I could conjure up then. It was fortunate that I met the professor yesterday. It was a strange coincidence.

Jojo seemed convinced. Because of the urgency or so, he was then moving further down and suggested we should meet later.  A man who stood behind Jojo was now passing me and I would not have cared but for the characteristic sneeze by the person. I looked at him and was bewildered at first. He was the same person; whom we met on the street food shop, on that cursed night when the Journalist was murdered.

I found the man also gazing at me, somewhat bemused and seemed to recognize me. His nose was as red as a plum. I stood on the spot, contemplating what I should do. He moved on. On the way back, he seemed to utter something to Jojo for which, Jojo looked back at me.

 I became quite nervous soon afterwards and told Sheila that I should leave immediately. I could not understand why the man had come with Jojo this far, and too in a college unless for some sinister purpose. Besides he has recognized me which would make matters complicated if some brawl happened, which was usual those days in colleges during functions.

 Sheila who was intently watching us, asked,

 "What is the matter and who is that person with Jojo? He is not a student".

"No". I said. "Which also mean that I should leave now".

 "Who is that? Don't worry. Nothing will happen. Program is organized by Biju and he has made sufficient arrangements" She said confidently.

 "The one who teased you, the other day, in the corridor?" I asked to which Sheila gave me a piercing look and said "No".

"You seem to be very famous, here" I said as I deducted now that Jojo knew her as well.

 "There is a reason" she said "the man was after me sometime for making me the chair person of the college union! It was very difficult to deter him as the man was like a leech!"

I laughed. "Why, you should have agreed" I suggested.

 "Thanks" she said, "but I have more serious things to attend to than being a puppet in their hands" There was contempt in her words. She was obviously averse to campus politics.

 But I was sensing even more danger now. I must leave, I thought. For once I have entered without permission. Professor was not to be seen anywhere for help, if something happened. I was in an alien place without any help in sight. I cursed myself for deciding to come.

 Sheila said "See, the police have offered protection, if something happened between the student groups. Besides Jojo has assured Biju that nothing would happen as one of the dignitaries invited was a respected author whose loyalties are well known to be with the political party which supported Jojo. It was a trick by Biju. However, how come you knew Jojo so well? And you did not tell me who the man with Jojo is".

 I said I shall talk about this later. I was not convinced, but nevertheless went ahead and sat towards the end of the Auditorium. I was able to convince Sheila that we should sit near the door, just in case.

 Nothing however happened during the meeting and the program that followed. I saw Jojo once in the corridor and the small group of people was also with him. I had thought that he was a speaker, but evidently he was not invited. It was then a wonder how he and his group were allowed in. He was there listening to the speech of the well known novelist.

 Immediately after the speech, the author, however excused from the program and was seen leaving, when Jojo seemed to mutter something to his ear and they left together. The man in question was nowhere to be seen. This made me a little uneasy. However, the program continued.

 We did not listen well to the other speeches. I was looking at Sheila's left hand and muttering to her something about her good fortunes till when the entertainments started.

After two solo songs, there was a boring mimic's parade and then the dance performances. The students were as usual cooing and whistling. Sometimes paper arrows were flying across the hall. A group started a mimic song at the far end of the auditorium and was dancing and making merry. They were evidently drunk. The Principal would not intervene as he knew the students needed some freedom.

There was a fusion dance using Western and Indian music by two sisters, which was splendid. We were now at a disadvantage as we sat far from the stage and Sheila was now indicting me for this. However we could see as much and enjoy it. There was a musical fete by a well known troupe and the function was over late after noon.

 We went straight to the canteen, had lunch and went to the stadium for a walk, when I explained my acquaintance with Jojo and stories about his election to the union.

 The story went like this. Jojo had gone to meet the Principal of a college on the outskirts of our city to 'discuss' -which means actually to question- some practices followed by this college in admission of the students. Somehow both disagreed, and there followed an altercation.

Jojo is accused of manhandling the Principal. This however did not literally happen though Jojo was quite capable of doing it. I was there in that college when it happened in connection with the admission of a girl in my neighborhood. Her father was also there who was a bureaucrat whom Jojo knew. We were introduced there after this commotion.

The Principal, a vicar, who was obviously very angry, lodged a complaint to the Police, who registered a case against Jojo for unauthorized intrusion into the College and man handling.

Later this was made an election issue by Jojo's opponents in his college elections. However, at the meet-the-candidate program, Jojo won by reading out a letter from the same principal denying any such incident!

Afterwards it was rumored that he secured the same letter from the Principal using the hard core leader and the leader coerced the Principal into writing the letter on the pretext that Jojo got some government job and he should not have a criminal record early in his career!

 We do not know exactly what happened or the truth about this story but Jojo was quite a capable politician and he could eliminate his opponents, politically or by whatever means.

"We later used to meet occasionally in meetings or literary events" I finished the story of my acquaintance with Jojo.

 We sat under a huge tamarind tree. I had been introduced to Sheila's friends and we were sharing stories and teasing each other for quite some time that we forgot how time passed. I also told them the story of that night when the journalist died. Sheila and others listened with horror in their eyes.

Sheila had brought some food delicacies, which she claimed was cooked by her. Some items I recognized like the 'Indary Appam' and 'Kolappam' and some where very much new and very tasty.

 We enjoyed the wonderful afternoon winds of December which were snooping around us being unable to leave and was eavesdropping on us. It was about evening when finally I said I should leave.

Sheila however suggested we go to the canteen, have some tea and leave, as it is not known, when we shall be able to meet again. It was the most normal but clumsy thing to do.

 When we reached the canteen, there were many students killing time sitting there. At the right side corner, however, was sitting our man with the plum nose! He was with two other persons who looked like goons.

Since I was watchful, I saw them first and I hid behind the group. One of them was glancing at times to the back entrance as if they expected somebody to join them. Some noisy girls were sitting between us why they did not notice us entering. I took the cover of the girls and sat on the left side, close to the wall and tried to keep a low profile.

 Just as we were having tea, a group of students entered the canteen hall, loudly discussing something and laughing. Behind them came our youth leader, Sheila's friend, clad in 'khadar' (pure white, hand woven cotton dress) who went straight to the shop keeper.

Since everybody was looking at him, it was impossible to miss him. He was dark, medium height, strong and extremely good looking. I looked at Sheila and saw that she was bewildered as she was now looking at the three sitting in the corner.

 "I think you were right" she said.

"Let us call Biju and leave quietly" I suggested.

"No. For him, it is safe as long as other students are here." said she, which was however wrong.

 Biju exchanged some pleasantries with the tea maker and ordered something with the contractor cum waiter and turned and immediately noticed the three sitting in the corner. His face suddenly went serious and grim. He noticed us as well and was awestruck by the moment's confusion.

Save a moment has passed and what we noticed was flying cola bottles, which shattered around the three. The three jumped up.

 The group who came with Biju, who was watching this, was also in action, immediately. The three were moving towards Biju when more bottles flew in the air. They were closing in on Biju with menacing eyes.

Biju had broken bottles in each hand. The three, however charged on Biju and others. They were now armed with chains. The boys who came with Biju lacked weapons.

Our plum nosed man was wielding a sword-cane and was holding it in a posture to strike. He was quite stocky. If there is a human face for deceit, cruelty and malice, it was him!

In no time there was hell. Girls were running out of the canteen crying loudly. It became a blood smearing battle ground.

 Biju was seen retreating to wards the door smashing bottles one after the other in front of the three, which held them back to some extent. I was by now running towards them. It was time to think logically and run away from them! But I was mesmerized by the events and was angry at the man remembering the previous occasion. There was blood everywhere in the canteen floor. This was our battle ground.

The man suddenly drew the sword up and rushed to Biju, half way when I was able to get close to him. He had struck once and Biju was lucky as the swinge smacked the edge of his arm. I caught hold of the right hand of the man and drew him down.

The man then turned back violently at me and was shell shocked to find me there and dropped his sword. He had not expected me there at all.

 Suddenly he jumped aside and signaling the others, took to his steps. The two followed whom the group of students chased till the old stone fence, over which they jumped and escaped. I was relieved though I understood that I was knee deep in danger now.

 Biju who was injured on the arm was now exhausted by the excitement. The contractor and the staff had run off too. One of the students took one bottle of cola, snapped opened the lid and gave it to Biju, who drank it, slowly.

 Sheila had not run! She was still by my side and she attended to Biju, who was slightly wounded in his arm. She then introduced me to Biju. We shook hands.

"You must be very careful" I told him. "These are goons from our city and they are conmen."

 "I know". Biju said. "But they won't get me, here or anywhere" He said confidently.

I could only look at him with awe. He was shorter than me. He looked dark and strong like an iron rod. Do you know, often people who do heroic things are ordinary people. They are very normal people and what makes them strong are the very experiences in life through which they grew. It was evident that Biju was one who knew what he was doing and had gone through as much experiences in life that made him tough and bold.

 I said I should leave before the authorities or the police come. Therefore I bid goodbye. Sheila asked me to walk up to the library building, circle it and come back through the front side of the college to get to the bus stop un noticed. She too would join me at the Bus stop.

 She was so sorry and shaken by the incident that filled her eyes. I tried to calm her and said things worse than this had been happening around and I had witnessed many such violent incidents. I requested her to go home immediately as the three might return with more people. We managed to catch the first bus and I came to the Bus stand all alone to catch the bus to our city. It was getting dark".

 ('Survival of the fittest' is part of The Inverted Tiq Marqs © by A P)