COCKTAIL IN THE RAINBOW - Chapter –11

 

Chapter –11

 

Atanu did not come back within five minutes. I requested Nandi to wait for a little and entered the toilet attached to my cabin for getting fresh and changing dress for the party. Within ten minutes I came out and found Atanu chatting with Nandi.

“Mr. Nandi! What’s about freshening yourself? You need not go out. Get inside this toilet and come out fresh.” I said.

“Sir, please don’t mind. I am going outside for staff toilet.” Saying this Nandi went out without waiting for my further persuasion.

“I don’t understand why Mr. Nandi is so much shy in using this toilet when I requested him to do so.” I said.

Atanu smiled and said. “Sumantada, you are generous and great. That’s why you offered Fatikda to use your toilet. GM or other DMs will never allow office staffs to use the toilets attached to their cabins according to Rainbow etiquette. Fatikda does not like to violate the system laid down by the company. You will be surprised to know that Fatikda does not even use the toilet marked for junior managers and executives, as he is very much aware of his status in the office. He is senior most employee like Chanakya Nag. But today Chanakya Nag is GM, East of Rainbow and Fatik Nandi is the despatch clerk of Rainbow Calcutta office. Had he been a graduate, he would have become DM of any division of Rainbow today. But he is not a graduate, not even a matriculate or passed school certificate examination, though that should be the minimum qualification for an office clerk or assistant. However, Mr. Anderson kindly offered him the post of despatch assistant after the office had been established in Calcutta. He maintained so much respect for Fatikda that even during cocktail party and dinner after sales conference he would enquire loudly, “Where is Fatik?” So long Mr. Anderson was MD, for all commercial matters of Calcutta office Fatikda was the pivotal person. If any sales executive, DSM or supplier would approach Chanakya Nag on commercial matter, he would always suggest them to get in touch with Fatikda. After departure of that great Englishman, there have been so many changes in Rainbow, both at head office and branches all over the country till today and such changes will be there in future.”

There was soft knock at the door and Nandi entered my cabin. He said, “Sir! You may relax for another thirty minutes as the cocktail party will be inaugurated at 8-30 p.m. Chanakya Nag announced in the office hall.”

“Any special reason?” Atanu asked.

“Nothing special. Both Mr. Kelvin and Mr. Rozario would take another twenty minutes to leave the hotel as I could know from Leda Joseph.” Nandi said.

“But I saw both Iris Stephen and Swapna Ganguly in the office hall.” Atanu said.

“So what?” Nandi retorted.

Atanu smiled and said, “I mean Iris was with Mr. Kelvin and Swapna with Mr. Rozario.”

Nandi said, “Yes! You are correct. But my brother, it’s anybody’s guess, they can not come back to the office with Kelvin and Rozario. Both Swapna and Iris came earlier in a taxi. Adhikari saw them getting down together at the cross-road junction and walking upto office gate keeping distance between them. Adhikari was standing near the cigarette shop on the opposite footpath. You will get more news when Mansij comes back.”

“I am sorry to interfere. Let us talk something else.” I said.

“You are right Sir! Atanu has not yet started his description of food items to be served in dinner.” Nandi said.

“But I have not finished the items to be served in cocktail party.” Atanu said.

“My god! You will again talk about drinks?” Nandi said.

Atanu laughed and said, “Not drinks! Items to be munched with drinks!

“I understand what you are going to say. I saw my old masters, Mr. Kipling, Mr. Kingsley and Mr. Anderson taking lumps of Australian Butter before sipping drinks. Then after each sip they used to munch cheese cubes, boiled boneless chicken balls, sliced cold ham, boiled potato slices with fresh tomato and cucumber slices. All they used to take without sauce, salt, mustard paste and green chilli, the most favourite items of the Indians and most harmful for the stomach, duodenum and intestines as I learned from my English masters.”

“Oh Fatikda! Please stop your lecture on hospital diets. It’s not in vogue in a cocktail party. I will tell you about the items to be munched with drinks in our cocktail party. Water will start rolling down your tongue.” Atanu said smilingly.

“To start with, pick up from one service tray ‘chicken pokoura’ or ‘chicken sik kabab’ and munch with red chilli-garlic sauce. Pick up from another service tray ‘fish-finger’ to be munched with green chilli or mustard sauce. Please don’t repeat these items. There are many more items to munch with drinks. ‘Sliced cold ham’ with salted custard or ‘pork sausage’ with ginger paste. If you do not like boar or ‘pig meat’, you can munch fried ‘mutton liver’ or ‘chicken leg’. Ok! Fatikda, there are people who call themselves strictly vegetarian and do not touch even onion, they will enjoy egg devil.”

“Egg devil?” What’s that? Nandi asked Atanu.

Atanu smiled and said, “Fatikda! I will tell you of the recipe. Please try at home. It’s boiled egg covered by spiced cereal paste and fried in oil till brownish in colour.”

“But egg is non-veg food.” Nandi said.

Atanu smiled and said, “You are right. But in cocktail party vegetarians mostly prefer egg preparation with drinks. Anyway, if you do not like egg devil, you may try boneless fried fish cube or sardine on toasted bread with sweet-n- sour tomato sauce. If you do not like to touch non-veg muncher, munch potato finger chips with slices of onion and green chilli.”

“I feel hungry. Talk about food.” Nandi said.

“Very little time is left, so I will narrate in brief.” Atanu said.

“It’s a buffet dinner. There are two sections. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian. To start with, for vegetarians two types of soups will be served. Tomato soup with crumbled bread and vegetable mushroom soup. For non-vegetarians there is chicken clear soup and for the guests having fascination for Chinese dish there is crab and sweet corn soup.”

Atanu paused for few seconds and said, “In such a gala-cocktail party after consuming so much of liquor, you may not be interested in going for liquid food again. So if you like to have vegetarian food, keeping the plate and napkin on your left palm, stand in the queue behind others. Whether you can eat or not, go on making a big heap of tandoori roti or porota, salad, raita, vegetable pokoura, vegetable kopta, vegetable fried rice, chole masala, peas panir, roasted cauliflower, fried beans baked papad, mango or pineapple chatni, gilabi, black jamun, rasogolla and rasomalai on your plate.”

Atanu looked at me smiling.

“You are great,” I said. “Had I been told of all these names, I would have forgotten fifty percent or more.”

Atanu said, “I told you only about veg food, I will now tell you about non-veg items, I mean about solid food.”

Looking at Nandi Atanu said, “Fatikda, if you do not like vegetarian food, stand in queue of non-veg eaters. Obviously this queue will be much longer than that of veg eaters. It’s upto you to decide whether you will take all the items on your plate or enjoy two or three items at a time. I feel your second choice will be much better for enjoying all the items systematically to your heart’s content. Ok! To start with put on your plate boneless chicken kabab with potato chips, sliced onion and cucumber or pork cutlet with mushrooms and sliced boiled beet and carrot. Finish this plate of chicken or pork and pick up tandoori chicken with sliced lemon and enjoy with butter nun and kulcha. If you desire to go for pig meat you can eat smoked bacon or pork ragout. Sorry! Though some of our head office bosses including MD like beef, this item has not been included in the menu as one influential spiritual leader having contact with central and state ministers will be present in the cocktail party.”

Atanu paused for few seconds and said, “Go ahead with your plate. It’s a gala festival of non-veg food. Chicken Biriani, Mutton Biriani, Mutton balls in tomato sauce, Chicken Butter Masala, Smoked Hilsa, Fish Garlic, Prawn Barbecue, Lobster cooked in Chinese style etc, etc. Some sweets like Rasogolla, Black Jamun and Rosomalai are also there in non-veg section. But beside these sweets, there are mixed fruit dessert, milk chocolate with nuts and cherries in iced chocolate. Finally for both veg and non-veg diners, after sweets there is Irish coffee.”

“My God! Coffee has also been named after that coquettish girl?” Nandi soliloquized.

What I found about Atanu during these days, he always smiled and did never lose his temper.

Atanu said smilingly, “Fatikda, coffee I have named is Irish, not Iris. Is it clear?”

“What is Irish coffee?” Nandi asked seriously.

“Very simple Fatikda! It’s nothing but black coffee poured in Scotch Whisky or Scotch Whisky poured in black coffee with or without sugar. Am I clear to you?” Atanu replied.

“After so much of drinks and food, last item is again alcohol!” Nandi said in exclamation.”

Atanu replied immediately, “There must be something for the road and in that respect there is nothing to match with Irish coffee.”

There was a mild knock on the door.

Binoy Bhusan Bhar entered and bending forward upper portion of his bulky body said, “Sir! Cocktail is ready. Mr. Nag and Mr. Talukdar have gone down to receive Mr. Rozario and Mr. Kelvin who are expected to arrive anytime. Mr. Nag told me to request you to wait on the roof for receiving them. Mr. Ganguly and other managers and executives will assist you. After Bhar had left my cabin Nandi said, “Sir! Thank you for your kind company. Now I am going out and will meet you again in the party. I will have to go to the roof along with my other colleagues.”

Nandi left my cabin. I requested Atanu to accompany me to roof and went to the toilet once again to get myself fresh for the party. I took only a minute in the toilet, as I would have to be on the roof before the arrival of the VIPs.

Company’s guests, office and field staffs, most were on their way upto the roof. We found Tarit Ganguly and his wife Swapna going up to the upper landing keeping significant distance between themselves. We were just four steps behind them. There was no exchange of words between them as if they did not know each other.

Finally we landed on the rooftop fully covered with green carpet, I felt myself to be in a fairyland hidden in the seven colours of Rainbow glittering everywhere under the open sky studded with bright stars. On a dais covered by scarlet velvet Samuel Biswas

and his orchestra were tuning their musical instruments. On one side, little far from the dais, there was semi circular cocktail table covered by white linen. Above the table and service counter there was golden velvet canopy with coloured balloons of red, blue pink, green and orange hanging at equal distance from one another barring the front where a fastoon of silver thread was fixed with glittering letters “WELCOME TO COCKTAIL IN THE RAINBOW.”

Atanu whispered, “They have come.”

COCKTAIL IN THE RAINBOW - Chapter – 10

After Atanu had gone out of my room, Nandi said, “Sir! I feel, it’s my duty to tell a good man like you about the two-faced snakes of this office. Hope within these few days you have already known Binoy Bhar to some extent. If you open your heart to him, he will carry your words to Chanakya Nag without any loss of time. Mr. Majumdar, though he was a sober-minded gentleman, got disturbed many times because of duplicity of Bhar. Another sly man is Tarit Ganguly. He played a big role in getting Mr. Majumdar out of Rainbow, as his only aspiration at that time was to get this cabin, white ambassador car that you are using now and Diana Gomes.”

“Diana Gomes? I can not follow,” I said.

“Yes Sir! Diana Gomes was the secretary of Mr. Majumdar. She was the most beautiful girl in the office. You know, since mid-sixties many Anglo-Indian families have been migrating to England and Australia. Young boys and girls with white skins and good appearance having passed at least school certificate examinations got fair chance in procuring jobs through their relatives already settled in these countries after independence of India. Diana also got job in a hotel at Sydney in Australia through her uncle settled there. Mr. Majumdar fell victim of Rozario’s wrath because of his failure in convincing Diana to go to his hotel room in the evening for taking dictation of urgent letters. Tarit Ganguly falsely reported to Rozario in presence of Chanakya Nag that Diana did not come to hotel, as Mr. Majumdar had not persuaded her properly though as DM he had ample opportunity to prevail upon his secretary. Chanakya Nag was so much infatuated with the false statement of Tarit Ganguly, he endorsed the same instead of asking him about the source of his information.”

I said, “Mr. Nandi, I do not understand why a big personality like Mr. Nag should approve of the mischievous disposition of Tarit Ganguly?”

Nandi retorted immediately, “Sir! I tell you something about Chanakya who was once my friend and colleague when we started operation of Calcutta office of Rainbow together. He is intelligent, diligent, aspirant and dexterous. He is also courteous and does not loose his temper outwardly by any provocation. He always says ‘Yes’ to bosses and never says ‘No’ to them. Chanakya knew that Tarit had lied, but he did not have the courage to contradict his statement as he, I mean Tarit had already become a blue-eyed boy of Rozario because of Swapna’s intimacy with him since their days in Patna.”

“You mean, Tarit was in Patna before coming to Calcutta?” I said.

“Yes Sir! You are right.” Nandi said, “Only few years back Tarit was a sales representative of cosmetics under Rainbow Home Product Division in Patna.”

“So far I remember, Kumar Sengupta was Divisional Manager of Rainbow in Patna.” I said.

“Yes Sir! Kumar Sengupta was the manager of Patna branch and his designation was Branch Manager. There were two District Sales Managers, one for Pharmaceutical Division and another for Home Products. These District Sales Managers were reporting directly to the Divisional Manager, Pharmaceutical i.e. Ethical Products and Divisional Manager, Home Products with their head quarters in Calcutta only. As I have already told, Ramani Talukdar was the DM for Ethical Products and Santanu Majumdar was the DM for Home Products. Responsibility of Kumar Sengupta as Branch Manager was to look after branch administration, execution of orders, arranging conference of Sales and Medical Representatives as well as that of Stockists and Distributors. He was lucky guy and top favourite of both former and present MD. Former MD i.e. Mr. Anderson loved to take some young and beautiful lady with him for marketing and local sightseeing tour. But he never dragged that lady to his hotel for sharing his bed in the name of dictating urgent letters or by means of any other deceit. Ivy Sengupta, wife of Kumar Sengupta accompanied Mr. Anderson for marketing and got one Ambassador car allotted to her husband. In Rainbow, managers in the rank of DM or above are entitled to get chauffeur driven car. After becoming MD, Mr. Rozario visited Patna. Ivy Sengupta gave him company for local marketing, but due to health problem expressed her unwillingness to accompany him to Rajgir and Nalanda for a same day return sightseeing tour by car. Tarit took advantage of the situation and informed Chanakya Nag of solving this problem. Chanakya became very happy to get the offer from Tarit and wished him brilliant success in his life. Next morning Tarit Ganguly came to the hotel with his charming wife. Mr. Rozario was waiting in the lounge with Chanakya Nag and was dumbfounded to see replica of Aphrodite standing before him with smiling face. He did not waste time and requested Swapna to get into the car. They were wished bon voyage by Nag and Tarit. Next day before departure for Delhi, Mr. Rozario directed Nag to promote Tarit to the post of DSM and transfer him to Calcutta to assist Santanu Majumdar.”

Atanu came back to my room and said looking at Nandi, “Hope, I have not disturbed you!”

“Not at all! We were just passing time. Tell us about the items of dinner. I am sure, you had a round on the roof to have a glance of the arrangement.” Nandi said.

“Oh! Yes! I went up and met Gauri who showed me the menu, both for cocktail and dinner.” Atanu said.

“But I saw Gauri Chatterjee going down with Mr. Kelvin?” Nandi retorted.

“Yes! Your observation was correct. Gouri simply accompanied Mr. Kelvin to the limousine and left him under care of Iris who had been given responsibility of showing him some relics of the then British Calcutta. Gouri came back and went up to the roof for supervising the arrangement. Entire credit goes to him for procuring varieties of imported drinks for the cocktail party. It’s beyond imagination, how the guy could develop such excellent rapport with army canteen, customs and shipping agents. Mini Bar of Rainbow cocktail party that I found in one corner of the roof, can easily vanquish the “Moulin Rouge” bar of Hotel Emperor Intercon.” Atanu said and looked at me smilingly.

Nandi said with unusual gravity, “Gauri is expert in procuring Wine and Woman, although it is said by other boys that he has not yet sipped either.”

Atanu burst into his usual laughter and said, “Oh! Fatikda! You are becoming silly even before sipping Wine. Don’t worry! Only after thirty minutes from now, you will have the chance of tasting the untasted things of your choice.”

“What you are talking about? I tasted Scotch even before joining Rainbow.” Nandi rebuffed Atanu.

Atanu was smiling and said, “Ok! I do agree you are familiar with scotch; but there are many other drinks, which I will narrate all in details. You tell me afterwards whether there are more things in heaven and earth not known to you so long. Ok?”

“Ok! Atanu! I am interested to know details of the arrangement made for cocktail and dinner. I think Mr. Nandi is also interested to know all about your observation.” I said with a view to putting an end to their argumentative discussion.

“Sorry Sumantada! Please don’t mind. I was just having jokes with Fatikda. Anyway let me start with drinks. By the by, for your kind information our caterer for the cocktail party and dinner, Tiny Tavern has brought Samuel Biswas and his orchestra to entertain the guests with melodious music.” Atanu said.

It’s really thrilling! Once I had the opportunity to enjoy piano recital of Samuel Biswas when he was attached to hotel Emperor Intercon. He is equally good on accordion as I listened to his western music in radio.” I said.

“Tonight you will listen to him on accordion as it was not possible for carrying his grand piano to the roof-top.” Atanu said.

“Atanu! Time is very short. Tell us all about drinks and food items of the cocktail and dinner.” Nandi said.

“Ok! Ok! Fatikda! You told me that you had tasted Scotch Whisky! Can you tell me the name? Atanu said.

“Yes! Of course! It’s Vat 69!” Nandi retorted immediately.

“Vat 69 is too common. Besides this brand there are Ballantine’s, John Haig’s Gold label, Johnnie Walker Black label, Queen Anne, White Horse, Black and white and Highland Queen. These are not enough Fatikda! I also found some Canadian and American whiskies. If my memory does not betray, I saw Canadian Club and Old Crow Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whisky. Though there are Indian Beers like Golden Eagle and Kingfisher, there is no place for Indian Whisky in Rainbow.” Atanu said and looked at me smiling.

“Only Beer and Whisky?” Nandi said.

“Oh! Fatikda! You are getting impatient. I must go seriatim. There are two types of Gin, Gordon’s London Dry Gin and Beefeaters Dry Gin 47° besides Polish Vodka and French Brandy. I remember the labels very well. Cherry Vodka Dry 40°, Seguin French Brandy and Martineau French Brandy.”

“Sorry for my interference Atanu! Whisky, Gin, Vodka and Brandy - those are all common drinks. What’s about Sherry, Champagne, Vermouth, Cognac etc, etc?” I said.

Atanu was delighted to hear me enquiring of drinks and so with much enthusiasm said, “Thank you Sumantada! I am about to tell about Italian, French and Spanish drinks. There is Martini Vermouth of white and red varieties, four bottles each. Likewise I found two varieties of Champagne, Dry Monopole Brute and Cordon Rough Brute, four bottles each. Only two bottles of Sherry could be procured. Of course of two varieties i.e. Dry Sack Sherry of Williams and Humbert and Golden Sherry of Mackenzie. There are sparkling Wines, both French and Italian of famous brands like Chevaliers de Malte of France and Riccadonna President Reserve of Italy. There is only one brand of Cognac and that is the best available brand in Calcutta as told by Gouri Chatterjee.” Atanu paused for a moment. Probably he was tired of narrating so many names of imported drinks.

“What is that?” Nandi asked.

Atanu smiled at Nandi and said, “Very difficult to pronounce. It is Cognac Courvoisier, favourite drinks of Napoleon, ok? Now I will tell you about Rums and Beer. Besides Indian Old Monk there is Gilbey’s Governor General Jamaica Rum. To tell you frankly so far as Rum is concerned; drinkers will prefer Old Monk or any other Indian 3x Rum. But if any guest desires foreign Rum, he will not be disappointed. Similarly, along with Indian Beers like Golden Eagle and Kingfisher, there are few dozens of Tuborg and Carlsberg Beer in can and bottle. So Fatikda! Drink as much as you can, as you may not get next chance in your life. Art is long and life is short.”

I smiled at Atanu and said, “Atanu! Please do not make him drunker. He will have to go back to his wife and daughter.”

“There is no problem for Fatikda. He will come to my residence and stay with me till tomorrow morning. If he desires, he can sleep for the whole day and go back to Canning in the evening.” Atanu said.

“Is there any arrangement for light or soft drinks?” Nandi asked.

“Oh! Yes! You can have Gimlet. Half peg Gin or Vodka with lime juice and small pieces of ice.” Atanu said.

“I am sorry Atanu! Gimlet is more dangerous than Whisky or Rum. When you drink you do not feel an intoxicating agent is going inside. You feel like enjoying soft drinks. After few drinks, you get kick and get drowsy or drunken. I experienced once and decided not to touch again.” Nandi said.

“Ok! Don’t touch Gimlet or any alcoholic soft drink. Hope you are not having any objection for drinking orange, pineapple, grape or lemon juice. You can also have taste of imported apple, raspberry or strawberry juice. No problem! Any thing you want, you will get in Rainbow Cocktail party.” Atanu said. “I think we are to get ready for the cocktail. Only after fifteen minutes from now we will have to be on the roof.”

“But you did not tell anything about food, talked only about wine!” Nandi said with some disappointment.

“Fatikda! Please don’t mind, I will tell you about food when we are on the roof. Within five minutes I am coming back and all of us would go up together.” Atanu said and left my cabin.