Cocktail In The Rainbow - Chapter - 16

Chapter – 16

 

Melodious solo tune on violin reverberated on the illuminated roof under moonlit sky. I was sitting alone enjoying the violin recital of unique Sonata of Beethoven, the ‘Pathetique’, having the glass of lime and soda in my left hand and patting right thigh with right palm in keeping with musical beats.

Cocktail service seemed to have attained it’s peak form. Boys and stewards were running from one end to other with drinks to rejuvenate the guests, young and old, ladies or gentlemen to their heart’s content. There was enormous gathering. Besides medical representatives, sales representatives, sales executives of ten Indian states and two neighbouring countries under the jurisdiction of Rainbow’s eastern regional organization, there were also many other guests from various government departments related to the company in day-to-day matters. Dinner was not yet announced and so drinkers were busy in consuming Scotch, French, Spanish, Polish and Russian drinks as much as they could without hesitation. It was a carnival of drinks.

I heard somebody humming Beethoven’s ‘Pathetique’ behind me. I looked back and found Atanu with his ever-smiling face and glass in hand.

“What happened with you, Atanu? I did not see you for a long time.” I said.

“I came once near to you and found you having chats with Mr. Talukdar. So I changed my direction.” Atanu said.

“You need not change your direction now, sit on that chair.” I said and asked him further, “What you are having in your glass?”

“Same material as you are having.” Atanu said smilingly.

“You mean, lime and soda?” I said.

 “You are right Sumantada. It will take another half hour to start the dinner. I have already consumed three drinks and do not like to have any more as Rikta is waiting for me. She won’t take her dinner unless I reach home and give her company.” Atanu said and his face became pale.

“That’s good spirit and should be the relation between husband and wife.” I said. Though I had already heard from Fatik Nandi that his wife was blind, I was very much careful in avoiding any reference from my side. I wanted him to speak.

“Probably you don’t know Sumantada that Rikta is blind and very much dependent on me.” Atanu said.

“I am really sorry Atanu.” I said.

“But I am not at all sorry Sumantada. I loved her when she could enjoy the visual beauty of the world. I loved her when she lost her eyesight and was deprived of her vision of everything. I love her most today as she is my wife and life partner. In my heart, she is the only lady, nobody else. You know Sumantada, she is not born-blind. She met with a serious motor accident on her marriage day. Not with me, she was to be married to a very rich groom. Instead, she fell in the hands of a petty salesman like me after losing her eyesight.”

Atanu paused for a moment and said, “Sumantada, please don’t mind. Let’s have small Whisky.”

He called the cocktail boy and picked up two small Scotch. I filled up the glasses with plain water.

“You displayed a very costly chivalry, Atanu,” I said sipping the diluted Scotch.

“No…No…Sumantada. You are mistaken. It’s not chivalry or generousity. As I told you before, I loved her, love now and will love for ever.” Atanu said.

I looked at Atanu. He was not drunk, but few drinks made him outspoken.

“Sumantada, I am sure you wonder, I am talking like a tragedy hero of a film. Truly speaking, I have not yet been able to convince Rikta that I married her because I loved her, not out of compassion that she was blind. Tell me frankly, had she not been blind, would she have come in my life? Daughter of an established wealthy Barrister would have become daughter-in-law of some other Barrister or Industrialist, not the life partner of a medicine canvasser.” Atanu said and had a sip of Whisky.

Moon in the sky was shinning with it’s full glory on the fourteenth of the bright fortnight.

“When did you meet Rikta first?” I said calmly.

Atanu smiled and said, “It’s a long story Sumantada. However since you have asked I will tell you briefly.” He paused for few seconds and said, “Standing on nearly a dozen of queues of job-seekers, I got at last a job of medical representative of Kipling and Kingsley for their Holland Pharma Division. I was posted at Cuttack and my territory was entire state of Orissa. After the training period was over I left for Cuttack with my bedding and suitcase. Two cases of physician samples and medical literature were booked by transport carrier to the address of one leading pharmaceutical distributor wherefrom I would have to collect the consignment for my use. While I was under field training of a senior medical representative, he gave the name and address of a lodging house. So on arriving at Cuttack I took shelter at that place. It was not exactly a commercial lodging house. It was resthouse founded by some senior medical representatives twenty years back as there was no good lodging house at moderate rate in those days. Medical representatives or sales representatives of pharmaceutical companies for selling their medicines or home products were eligible to stay in this rest house, known as Orissa Medical Representatives Rest House. It was really a home away from home. Whoever used to stay here, even for a day, became member of a big joint family having love, affection and mutual cooperation. Like me, there were few young medical representatives having headquarter at Cuttack. All others used to cover Orissa from Calcutta, Patna or Hyderabad. Though I got my tour programme for covering different parts of Orissa from the office, senior medical representatives guided me to the best of their knowledge.

One of my college friends gave me name of a local gentleman with his address before my departure from Calcutta. The gentleman was a friend of the elder brother of my college friend. My friend suggested me to contact the local gentleman as in an unknown place it would be always better to have a known person related to friend or relative.

So one morning I arrived at the house of Mr. Rabindra Patnaik, friend of my friend’s elder brother. Mr. Patnaik was an advocate and was known as a good man in the locality. His wife Mrs. Sakuntala Patnaik, who was also an advocate, was better known than her husband as legal practitioner.

Mr. Patnaik was sitting in his chamber, when I introduced myself; he asked me where I had put up. He got angry when I told him that I had lodged at Medical Representative Rest House. In the mean time Mrs. Patnaik entered the chamber from her living room and hearing everything asked me to bring my suitcase and other belongings to their house. Both of them almost commanded me to stay with them. They had such big hearts! However, I convinced them somehow that I would meet them very often. Mrs. Patnaik whom I used to call Sakuntaladi got words from me that the day I would visit their house, I would also take my dinner with them.

My working programme was divided in two cycles, each having ten days’ stay at Cuttack. So every month I was out of head quarter for twenty days. While working at head quarter I used to visit Patnaik couple every alternate day normally in the evening hours after completing field work and would come back to the rest house after having dinner with them. I got only one Sunday and on that day too, I had to take lunch with them. They developed so much love for me. Their seven years old daughter told me one day that she would not take her lunch if I was not at their home on Sunday. So I could not escape my lunch with them on Sunday, whenever I was at Cuttack.” Atanu paused for few seconds and looked at the moonlit sky probably to recollect the sweet moments of the past. Samuel Biswas and his orchestra raised melodious tune of Mozart’s ‘Turkish March’ just after completing Beethoven’s ‘Pathetique’.

“One Sunday,” Atanu continued, “I saw one beautiful young girl sitting in the same chamber of Rabida and Sakuntaladi. They introduced me with her. She was daughter of Mr. Samarjit Choudhury, a renowned Barrister of Calcutta, with whom Patnaik couple was associated in their profession very closely and this association turned into family friendship. Mr. Samarjit Choudhury and his family were on their way to Puri. They halted at Cuttack for few hours with a view to meeting one of their close relatives and Patnaik family. They would start for Puri in the afternoon. It was only two and half to three hours journey by car. Mr. and Mrs. Choudhury came after sometime. Sakuntaladi introduced me as usual with the Choudhury couple. From the facial expression of Mr. Choudhury I could feel that he was not happy with my status. Taking off the tobacco pipe from the grip of his teeth Mr. Choudhury said, “Medical representative! I mean medicine canvasser? Representing which firm?”

“Kipling and Kingsley, for their Holland pharma division.” I said without pretention.

 “How is your Topilal? I mean Topilal Sarbetwalla. I prepared his draft for the purchase deed of Kipling and Kingsley. He maintains respect for me. You may refer my name to him if need arises.” Mr. Choudhury said. Looking at Rabida and Sakuntaladi he said, “You are coming with us. We are having two cars. There will be no space problem.”

Sakuntaladi looked at Rabida and said, “Ok! Let us have lunch now and then we will decide.”
“Oh Kuntala (short name of Sakuntaladi)! No excuse. I will get your words and then I will take lunch with you.” Mr. Choudhury said in confidence.

“Oh my god! You are our honoured guests. You must have your lunch with us. We will give you company to Puri. But my brother will also go with us.” Sakuntaladi said and pointed her fingers towards me.

I said, “No Sakuntaladi. I have got other programme. I will have to go to Berhampur – Ganjam.”

“First class! It’s almost on the same route. You spend with us one day at Puri and then you can straight go to Berhampur, need not come back to Cuttack.” Sakuntaladi said emphatically.

After lunch I went to my rest house and brought my suitcase, bedding and the detailing bag, full of sample and literature, as I would have to be on tour for more than a fortnight starting from Berhampur.

At Puri all of us lodged in a seaside bunglow owned by Mr. Choudhury. In my previous three four visits to Puri, I stayed at Puri Hotel or Victoria Club where normally sales people used to stay during their visits to Puri on company’s work. Like medical and sales representatives’ rest houses, these two hotels also rendered the homely comfort to the sales people.

Programme was chalked out by Sakuntaladi for next two days. On the next day we would visit Sun Temple at Konarak, Khandagiri and Udaigiri hills near Bhubaneswar to see ancient rock cut Jain temples, Temple of Lord Shiva at Bhubaneswar and Zoological garden. Day after, we would visit Chilka Lake wherefrom I would proceed to Berhampur and rest of the party would come back to Puri.

We strolled on the beach, bathed in the surf dashing on the sea-shore, viewed the stone images of amorous couple on the Sun Temple at Konarak built in thirteenth century, entered the caves of the ancient Jain Temples on Khandagiri and Udaigiri hills, enjoyed the vastness of the lofty stone temple of Lord Shiva and pleasant boat ride on the lagoon at Chilka. Excepting occasional glances I did not have much opportunity to speak to Rikta, daughter of Barrister Choudhury. But I found the captivative look in her eyes and a serene smile like ‘Monalisa’ on her beautiful face. She desired to talk to me as much as I wanted to do so. We had fallen in love through our glances though we could not express.

One day at her house, Sakuntaladi asked me whether I had developed liking for Rikta. If so, she would propose to Choudhury couple during her next visit to Calcutta. Due to our cordial association for few months, I was very frank in my conversation. I told her that developing likeness for the moon, a man, whether short or tall would not be able to touch it by stretching his hand. It was like that, if a field salesman of an agency house would aspire of getting married to the daughter of a renowned and wealthy Barrister. Sakuntaladi replied sharply saying that it was true, a man, short or tall, would never be able to touch the moon by stretching his hands upwards. But through perseverance and hard work man could land on the moon. After all she was an advocate practising in the High courts of Cuttack and Calcutta with overloading briefs. So it was difficult for me to beat her in argument. Sumantada, on this wise I spent one year in Orissa under the shade of love and affection of Sakuntaladi and Rabida. I toured from one end to other of this picturesque and peaceful state several times and enjoyed the serenity of unravished nature and simplicity of the people.

I was called by my company to Calcutta to attend annual sales conference. Official stay in Calcutta was for two days; but I extended the same by another ten days as there had been accumulation of earned leave after completion of one year in company’s service. One day I happened to meet Fatikda at Esplanade on footpath below Esplanade Mansion. Fatikda was in Rainbow at that time after leaving Kipling and Kingsley. He told me that in their expansion programme Rainbow east would recruit some medical representatives for Calcutta and upcountry towns. On my request he arranged an interview for me with Mr. Chanakya Nag and I was selected. Total amount that I would get in Rainbow including salary, daily allowance and sales incentives appeared to be more than double the amount I had been getting from Kipling and Kingsley. Besides, as a medical representative of an Indian pharmaceutical agency house I always aspired for working in multinational company like other young medical representatives working for Indian medicine companies.”

“Hallow Sumanta! Having nice time with Atanu? May I join you?” Chanakya Nag stood before us with smiling face.

to be continued....

COCKTAIL IN THE RAINBOW - Chapter –12

 

Chapter-12

 

“Good evening!” Welcome to this evening party!” I greeted the VIPs and shook hands with Kelvin, Rozario and Nag who whispered “Well said Sumanta. I am proud of you.”

Nag suggested Talukdar to stand beside me to welcome few more very important guests of the company as being almost new in the organization I was not expected to know them. Though being vexed to some extent as he could not stay with the VIPs, Ramani Talukdar stood beside me and said, “It’s my pleasure to be with you. Don’t worry, you will know everybody and everything very shortly.”

A middle aged tall, handsome, robust and fair complexioned gentleman in blue coat and trousers wearing crimson bow-tie and handkerchief of the same colour peeping out of the chest pocket came before us smilingly along with a beautiful lady, slightly bulky, dressed in blue chiffon georgette and blouse matching her escort.

“Welcome! Welcome! Mr. Bhatia! How are you? How are you Mrs. Bhatia?”

Talukdar received the couple and requested them to proceed further. Nag came forward and accompanied them to the spot where Kelvin, Rozario and other head office bosses were chatting.

“Have you heard of Bhatia and Sons pharmaceutical distributors of Lord Clive Street, now renamed Biplabi Sarani?” Talukdar asked me.

“Of course! I know. They are very big pharmaceutical distributors in Calcutta like Kipling and Kingsley of bygone days.” I said.

“You are right.” The man you met is Om Prakash Bhatia, key-person of this pharmaceutical distribution company who are super stockist of Rainbow ethical products for Calcutta and suburbs. His wife Manju Bhatia, one of top socialites of Calcutta and active member of Venus club.” Talukdar said with a crafty smile.

“Hallow Mr. Saha! Welcome! Welcome! Both Tarit Ganguly and Ramani Talukdar shouted together.

The man who got such a warm ovation from both Talukdar and Ganguly, was of short stature having enormous bulky body and large tummy vibrating under his glossy silk kurta. His over-oily hairs were parted from the middle and teeth were blackened for chewing betel and tobacco leaves. With the exception of two thumbs and two little fingers, other six of his two hands were decorated by gold, silver and copper rings studded with fortune stones of different colours subjugating major planets. Ganguly escorted Mr. Saha to the spot where the VIPs had been waiting for more wanted guests to join the inauguration of the cocktail party.

“He is Gajendra Saha, sole proprietor of Saha Distributing Agency, a division of Saha Spice and consumer products company. SDA, I mean Saha Distributing Agency are the sole distributor of Rainbow Home Products for Calcutta and greater Calcutta. Not only Phuchkanwala and Rozario, Anderson also used to visit the office of Gajendra Saha, whenever he was in Calcutta. So you can well understand the importance of this hippo in Rainbow.” Talukdar said. “I am expecting another important person, oh! He has come.”

“Namaste! Namaste! Gurujee! Welcome to Rainbow! Hallow Rakesh! How are you? Please escort Gurujee to that side. Mr. Rozario and others are awaiting him eagerly.” Talukdar said.

Seeing Gurujee from distance, Nag came forward and welcomed Gurujee. He then escorted him to Rozario and Kelvin.

Gurujee as addressed by both Talukdar and Nag was also a man of enormous size both in length and breadth. He was having long hairs and beards with matching thick moustache and cloaked in long silk kurta and pyjama of deep orange colour. With round vermilion mark of almost one-inch diameter on his forehead above the eyebrows and half a dozen necklaces of wooden and glass beads hanging down his big tummy, he looked like tantrik monk, one of the self-made saviours of mankind.

“Very very important person to Rainbow. Gurujee is from Darbhanga of Bihar state and discovery of Rakesh Tiwari, our Institutional Executive for ethical products in Bihar. Through Gurujees’s influence over state and central ministers, Rainbow got business of several lakhs of rupees. I will tell you more about him afterwards. Talukdar said.”

“Good evening Mr. Khan! Welcome to Rainbow. Please go that side, Mr. Nag and our big bosses are waiting for you. Oh! PK! Please escort Mr. Khan.” Talukdar said.

After Mr. Khan had gone inside with P. K. Sanyal, Talukdar said, “He is very powerful senior police sergeant and good friend of Nag and mine. Khan looks after the traffic regulation of our office area. Rainbow cars always escape penalty for traffic violation only due to courtesy of Nawab Khan.”

Nawab Khan was really like Nawab in appearance. He was tall and handsome having well shaped muscular physique. I saw him twice on the road junction controlling traffic in his white uniform. This evening he was clad in casual dress i.e. half-sleeved printed shirt and black trousers.

“Good evening Dilip! Where is Mrs. Sen?”

Talukdar asked Dilip Sen, sales tax consultant who was accompanied by a middle aged gentleman.

“Sorry! She is not well this evening. Meet Mr. Mondol, commercial tax officer of our area.” Sen replied.

After they had gone inside, Talukdar said, “We do not bother for sales tax problems as Dilip has got tremendous hold with the department.”

Binoy Bhusan Bhar escorted one gentleman and introduced him with Talukdar and me. He was Mr. Pal Choudhury, superintendent of excise vigilance.

“Good evening Sir! You are most welcome to Rainbow. Bhar! Please look after Mr. Pal Choudhury.

“Here comes Chotan Dastidar, our local guardian.” Talukdar whispered to me.

“Good evening Mr. Dastidar! You are most welcome to Rainbow.”

“Where is your Nag? Hope Rozario has also come.” Dastidar said in his hoarse voice.

“Oh yes! Everybody is there. We will meet them right now.” Talukdar escorted Dastidar to the VIPs and came back immediately.

He said, “Have you heard of Chotan Dastidar anytime?”

“Yes! I saw his name in the newspapers.” I said.

“He is the same man and local don of our office area. Any transaction regarding house, flat, construction of new building, demolishment of old building or opening of a new office, Chotan must be informed, as his approval is necessary. You know, our office area was once a purely residential area of well-to-do families. Old palatial buildings are being demolished and high rise buildings are coming up. Private companies and government departments are shifting or opening their offices in these new buildings. Some old buildings are renovated and housing offices of big companies like Rainbow. So, persons like Chotan Dastidar are making their fortune. Without being member of state assembly or parliament, he moves like a minister with red light on his car and gets salute from the traffic police. He is personal friend of senior police officers and trusted person of a powerful minister who always protects him from rape and murder cases.

Without support of Chotan Dastidar, candidate for assembly or parliamentary seat will never win the election from the constituency.

Such a man like Chotan Dastidar is a patron of Rainbow. Besides Scotch whiskey bottle time to time, Nag has arranged a permanent monthly levy for Dastidar and Rainbow is free from all local problems including staff agitation.” Talukdar paused as probably another VIP appeared before us.

“Hallow Sir! Good evening! Welcome to Rainbow.” Talukdar said and without knowing his identity I also smiled and said, “Good evening Sir!”

A middle-aged man with square-cut stern face and hairless scalp was a senior officer of the local office of defence store and supply. He was escorted by Uttam Das, Institutional Executive Rainbow Pharma Division. By courtesy of this officer i.e. Major Batra, entire order for multivitamin tablet and cough syrup comes to Rainbow. Though officially, Uttam Das is under Ramani Talukdar, DM of Pharma Division, for all matters i.e. commission and gifts for government officers, the former discusses directly with Chanakya Nag. Talukdar does not know anything about such transaction and also does not dare to know either from Nag or from Uttam. “This is the system of Rainbow.” Talukdar said. “Majumdar wanted to know the reason for anomaly of the system, and so, he got to leave the company.”

Without waiting for the direction of Talukdar, Uttam went inside with Major Batra. I looked behind and saw Nag coming forward to receive Major Batra and Uttam Das.

“Bose! Be very careful of the hypocrites.” Talukdar whispered.

“Sirs! Please do come to the inaugural ceremony of the cocktail party.” Gouri Chatterjee requested us.

Rozario, Kelvin, Nag, Mrs. Nag, head office managers, various honoured guests as received by us were standing in semi-circular form with Rainbow office and field staffs, some with their wives behind them.

Rozario was wearing a full sleeved casual printed shirt having pictures of the wild animals of African jungle. Kelvin was wearing white sports banian with a red heart printed on the chest pierced by a green arrow. All other head office managers were in the same dresses, only without their neckties. Nag and Talukdar changed dresses in their cabins like me and were wearing casual shirts and trousers.

Chief service steward of Tiny Tavern was standing nearby. Nag looked at Rozario and getting his signal told the chief steward, “Gentlemen! Service please!” Within a minute half a dozen steward came forward with drinks on their trays. As per direction of Nag, the chief steward himself handed over the glasses of Sherry to Rozario, Kelvin and Gurujee. Head office managers and other important guests got Scotch. Kelvin inaugurated the cocktail party by raising his right hand with the glass and said, “Cheers!” From all sides and corners of the roof there had been reverberation of ‘Cheers’ for few minutes.

 “Che Sara Sara – what will be, will be”, Samuel Biswas and his orchestra started their melodious music on a very popular old song. Twisting legs and shrugging his shoulders Kelvin said, “Thrilling! I feel at home!”

Most of the field staffs dispersed with their glasses like the bees of the pierced honeycomb to different corners of the roof. Sky was absolutely clear and the bright stars could be seen atop with the glorious moon. That evening, was also the fourteenth of the light fortnight, ‘Sukla Chaturdashi’ as is said which I could learn from Binoy Bhar. He told me further that he had personally collected information from Alipore Meteorological office that weather would be favourable for an open-air party and there was no possibility of rain or thunderstorm till next morning. So the decorator did not cover the whole roof by canopy. However to remain on the safe side some emergency folding canopies had been kept at one corner of the roof beyond anybody’s view. All sides of the roof along the parapet were fenced by six feet high plywood sheet decorated gorgeously with magenta red velvet and primrose yellow satin.

Opposite to cocktail service counter and on the other side of the roof there was long buffet service counter table covered by milk white linen. On the table there were silver trays containing various items and slowly heated by brass stoves fitted below. Behind each tray there was a service boy standing like a statue in his red and white uniform. On the starting point, glass plates, forks, knives, spoons and napkins were heaped side by side. There were small plastic slabs placed before each tray on which names of the food items were written in bold letters. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian items were separated by the sweets kept in the middle of the long service table. So vegetarians and non-vegetarians would meet at the middle starting from opposite ends. Plates, knives, forks, spoons and napkins were kept at both the ends of the service table.

Though there were so many ladies and gentlemen scattered here and there I was moving alone with glass of brandy. Excepting the managers, I did not know much of the office and field staffs. Field staffs of pharma and home products division coming from Bihar, Orissa, Nepal, North Bengal and North Eastern states were absolutely unknown to me. There were many coloured plastic chairs and sofa sets placed along the parapets on two sides of the roof. But nobody was sitting on the chairs; some were standing or strolling with glasses in their hands and chatting amongst themselves. Some formed groups like honeycombs and were discussing about latest national and international events.

Nandi came beside me with his glass and said, “Sir, please don’t mind. I saw you moving alone and that’s why thought of giving you company.”

“So nice of you Mr. Nandi. What’s there in your glass?”

“It’s Sherry. When the big bosses went to other side, I requested the cocktail steward to get me Sherry.” Nandi said with low voice.

“Why should you be shy in choosing your drinks? In a party you can have anything as per your choice.” I said.

“You are right Sir. But I heard that Sherry, Champagne and Cognac were specially reserved for VIPs. Just to have a taste of this Spanish wine I managed to have one.” Nandi said.

“I am sorry Mr. Nandi to learn about such discriminating arrangement. But how could you know about that? I think service of drinks started only few minutes back!” I said.

Nandi almost whispered, “One medical representative wanted to have Sherry from the cocktail steward after he had served to Rozario, Kelvin and Gurujee. Gouri Chatterjee asked him to go for Scotch Whiskey, Rum or Beer.”

I did not ask him further regarding this matter as I had already developed distaste for such arrangement. Colours of Rainbow seemed to have lost brightness, that’s what I felt at that moment.

to be continued........

 Previous Chapter: Chapter - 11

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

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. 

COCKTAIL IN THE RAINBOW - CHAPTER - 8

Chapter – 8

Swapna Ganguly went upon the dais to collect the prize as joint winner in Bridge tournament. Her co-winner was Chanakya Nag who was out of the auditorium. Rozario was sitting on his chair with serious face ogling at Swapna’s heavy hips and protruding breasts. When Mandakini was about to hand over the prize, a leather case containing two packets of cards to Swapna, Chanakya Nag came upon the dais from the side door and collected the same jointly. Nag of course handed over the leather case to Swapna saying “Keep it for your practice to win the next year’s trophy.” Swapna Ganguly almost sprang like a baby waving her bobbed hair, hips and breasts and came down from the dais with the trophy.

Other recipients of prizes got to wait for sometime as Rozario and Nag were engaged in serious discussion. After few minutes Nag got up from his chair and announced without microphone, “Ladies and Gentlemen! After the prize distribution is over, please do not leave your chairs as there is another important item which I will announce shortly. Thank you!”

Gouri Chatterjee called Budhadeb Sinha of stores department to come upon the stage for collecting his first prize for recitation in Bengali. Mandakini handed over to him complete works of great revolutionary Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. After Budhadeb came Jolly, daughter of Chanakya Nag and Mandakini to collect her prize for “Bharat Natyam” dance and Amit, son of Ramani Talukdar and Keya for vocal music. Consolation prizes were given to Badal, son of Jagabandhu Adhikari and Basabi, daughter of Fatik Nandi. Lastly Ramchandra, personal peon of Chanakya Nag got a special prize for his obedience and sincerity.

“Ladies and Gentlemen! I am now happy to announce about the farewell party of Mr. Santanu Majumdar, our ex-Divisional Manager, Home Products. After serving Rainbow India for five glorious years, Mr. Santanu Majumdar left us for betterment in his personal career. We extend our best wishes to him. Today, I mean, this evening we have arranged a farewell party for Mr. Majumdar. Unfortunately he has not been able to attend this function, as we understand, suddenly he got indisposed.” Chanakya Nag paused for few seconds.

Rozario spoke something to Kelvin who shrugged occasionally.

Nandi whispered from behind, “Sir, it’s an absolute imposture.”

Nag said again, “Ladies and Gentlemen! We would have been happy had Mr. Majumdar been with us at this auspicious moment. Anyway since he has not yet turned up, we will send the farewell gift to his residence.” Nag showed a wristwatch to the audience.

He further said, “Third session of our today’s function is cocktail and dinner. Perhaps most of you have come here with your children and some from distant place. So I request those members, especially ladies with small children to wait for few minutes for dinner in the office hall. Those who desire to participate in the cocktail party may kindly be present on the terrace of our office building sharp at 8 p.m. However on behalf of Rainbow Calcutta I invite all adult members to join us at cocktail this evening. Thanks!”

Audience who remained seated in the auditorium with so much patience and discipline started moving out through the main door like stampede as seen in the cinema halls after the end of film shows. We, I mean managers and executives got to remain inside till the departure of VIPs from the dais through side door. Before going out Nag advised Tarit Ganguly and Gouri Chatterjee to see him in his cabin.

Gouri Chatterjee, the thin and tall bearded young man was a personal appointee of Chanakya Nag as recommended by his wife Mandakini who got to oblige one of her co-joggers in front of Victoria Memorial. Being the student of a Calcutta English medium school, Gouri could speak English fluently in Anglo-Indian accent. Very often he used the word “Bloody” even while talking to seniors. He spoke some words in his own accent and sounded something else to others. As for example instead of speaking ‘Well’ he would utter ‘Boel’ and similarly ‘Buil’ instead of ‘Will’. Nag was very much impressed by spoken English of Gouri and appointed him as a Medical Representative in pharma division under P.K. Sanyal. Within a short time Gouri became a top favourite of Chanakya Nag as he was the only person who could procure original Scotch whisky and virgin girl friend in shortest time for entertainment of Rainbow guests and big bosses. There was a confidential rumour that Iris Stephen was one of such virgin girl friends of Gouri Chatterjee. She applied for the post of secretary to GM (East) of Rainbow India as per direction of Gouri who had brought her to Chanakya Nag long before her final selection by Rozario. Gouri once told his immediate boss Prodyot Sanyal that as per prediction of his family-astrologer, he would rise up to a senior position in Rainbow very shortly. Fatik Nandi was standing nearby and he heard Sanyal saying pointing towards Nag’s cabin, “I also foresee, you are occupying that room very soon.”

Gouri came out of Nag’s cabin and approached Iris who was chatting with Leda, Rupa and some other ladies standing near to me.

“Iris! You have got an exciting responsibility! Do you know what is that? You are to show Mr. Kelvin some of the historical relics of British Calcutta. Go down and get inside the air-conditioned limousine for a nice time to Victoria Memorial. From there you will proceed to Dalhousie Square and show Mr. Kelvin G.P.O., Writers’ building and Octorlony monument before taking him to Hotel Intercon for freshening. However, you must see that you come back to Rainbow house at 8 p.m., as Mr. Kelvin is the guest of honour in the cocktail party. Anyway I am coming down with Mr. Kelvin within a minute.”

Gouri delivered lengthy instruction to Iris and proceeded towards Nag’s cabin. Within two minutes he came out with Kelvin and went downstairs for Limousine and Iris.

I decided to spend the period of intermission in the office only. I was not married at that time. My mother was quite old and my sister was allergic to cocktail party. She never opposed my taking drinks in official parties of previous employers, as I would always keep myself confined within limits. But she questioned me many times why official parties could not be confined within tea, coffee and soft drinks. Though I had tried to quote many historical royal parties and modern banquets arranged by country or state heads in honour of visiting heads of other countries where French Champagne, Spanish Sherry and Scotch Whisky were served, I was unable to convince her of the utility of alcoholic drinks.

Chandan, sales executive of my division came to me and asked me when he would be promoted to the rank of DSM. Though I did not like his untimely quest for career development, I smiled at him and said, “Oh yes! Why not? Very shortly.”

Tactfully I avoided his further question and moved towards my cabin.

I had been relaxing on my chair stretched in inclined position for ten minutes or so when Nandi entered my cabin and said, “Sir, sorry to disturb you.”

I said, “Not at all Mr. Nandi! Welcome! So what are the news? Please take your seat.”

“Most disturbing news Sir!” Nandi said comfortably.

I brought my chair in normal position and looked at him curiously.

“Sir! Do you remember Swapna Ganguly? I mean Tarit’s wife?

“Yes I do.”

“She accompanied Mr. Rozario for marketing.”

“It’s alright! What’s the problem?” I asked Nandi.

“No problem Sir. You asked me about latest news and I told you about that.” Nandi said with depression.

I realised that ever jubilant Nandi did not appreciate my total indifference towards latest news provided by him. As a matter of fact though I welcomed Nandi and offered him to sit before me, I was totally preoccupied with my new assignment in USA. Fortunately, I did not accept official flat of Rainbow as one of the perquisites besides official chauffeur driven car for twenty four hours as I had four roomed rented flat in an excellent locality of central Calcutta. My landlord was a NRI settled in USA like millions of immigrants from all the countries of the world who had migrated to this golden continent in search of platinum currency i.e., US dollars. USA also sheltered these immigrants as their citizens. My landlord used to visit Calcutta once in a year and meet us normally on the day before his departure for USA. He was very friendly to me. So in my absence there would not be any problem for my family to stay in the same flat. I decided to inform some of my distant relatives and close friends to look after my mother and sister for some time.

“Mr. Nandi, you did not finish your story of Kipling and Kingsley. So far I remember, you stopped somewhere when Mr. Anderson indirectly invited you to meet him in his hotel room.” I said to make the situation light.

Nandi smiled and said, “Sir! You remember everything so vividly!”

“Yes! I met Mr. Anderson in the hotel same evening. Such a great man he was! Immediately on being informed by reception, I was asked to go to his room. Door was kept open for me. When I entered into the room, Mr. Anderson almost jumped from his chair and said, “Hallow Fatik! Welcome to my room. Like some drinks?”

“What did you say?” I asked.

Nandi became shy to some extent and said with a smile, “I said, most welcome! I am at your service.”

I was about to burst into laughter but restrained on hearing a knock on the cabin door. Nag entered my cabin and said, “Sumanta, I am extremely sorry to tell you, without your permission I asked your driver to take out Mr. Rozario for marketing. If you need car, I will arrange something for you.”

I got up from my chair and said, “Sir, you have done excellent job. There was really no necessity of asking for my permission. I will not go out anywhere before the end of the cocktail party. Mr. Nandi is giving me jocund company.”

Nandi had got up before Nag entered my cabin and seeing him in person felt very much uneasy. Probably Nag understood the mind of Nandi and said, “Well done Nandi. Why don’t you take out Mr. Bose to the hall, some ladies and children are taking dinner. I am sure, he will enjoy.”

Nag further said, “Sumanta, you can come afterwards to my cabin and enjoy cards.”

I said, “Thank you Sir!”

Nag left my cabin.           

COCKTAIL IN THE RAINBOW - Chapter - 2

Chapter – 2

In the morning hours all pharma sales people, including Ramani Talukdar and Chanakya Nag were out of the office. They were busy in pharma sales conference. Though there was an official holiday for the office, managers of other divisions and essential staff members like Binoy Bhar, Fatik Nandi, Jagabandhu Adhikari and Leda Joseph, telephone operator cum receptionist were requested by Chanakya Nag to remain in the office.

So I was there in my air-conditioned cozy cabin relaxing on the soft revolving chair in an inclined position with my eyes fixed on the slow moving fan.

“Sir, may I come in?” Nandi appeared before me. “Sorry to disturb you. Should I come after some time?”

“Oh! No! Please take your seat Mr. Nandi.” I said.

Nandi sat on the chair opposite to me across the table and said, “Thank you Sir!”

“Welcome, it’s my pleasure Mr. Nandi.” I said, “You didn’t finish the story of Kipling and Kingsley. I am interested to know more about the company. What happened to those two English gentlemen?”

I relaxed on my chair again and started smoking. I offered a cigarette to Nandi. He refused with thanks as in Rainbow no office staff used to smoke in the presence of senior managers.

“What should I tell you, Sir,” Nandi said and paused for a moment closing his eyes.  “Entire office of Kipling and Kingsley was a garden of flowers. Except very few male members office was full of beautiful Anglo-Indian, Armenian and Jewish ladies. Secretary of Mr. Kingsley was such a paragon of beauty, all the male staff members were eager to have her eye-glance. I saw her other day in the Esplanade-Park Circus tram-car. Middle age could not eclipse her beauty. Miss Martin caught hold my both hands and expressed her immense pleasure of meeting me after a long time. Passengers of the tram-car were looking at me with curiosity.

“And I am looking at you with jealousy,” I said with a smile. Instantly I told him, “Sorry I am just joking with you, please continue.”

Nandi said, “Sir, I remember very much my days in Kipling and Kingsley and often become nostalgic for that period of my life, I can never get back.”

Nandi paused for a while and then said, “Worst disaster came down to Kipling and Kingsley office with the sudden death of Mr. Kipling, who was a confirmed bachelor. I mean unmarried, having no legal issue. Mr. Kingsley’s health broke down shortly after the death of his loving friend. His wife came to India once, only for a short period as she was very much afraid of Indian malaria which had taken the life of    Mr. Kipling in its malignant form. She constantly persuaded Mr. Kingsley to leave India disposing of his company and the property. Ultimately, the company along with all assets and liabilities was purchased by Mr. Topilal Sarbatwala.”

“Was there any change in salary structure or benefit, the staff members used to enjoy before the change over of management?” I asked.

Nandi said, “No Sir. There was no change for anybody. Rather Mr. Sarbatwala assured us of five-percent increase in salary after six months. All male staff members were happy and thanked Mr. Sarbatwala for his generosity. The ladies kept standing with their pale white faces. They seemed to be very much unhappy. Of course, when asked by Mr. Sarbatwala, they smiled.”

“Why the ladies were not happy?” I asked. Nandi started laughing and said, “Sir, I feel shy to tell you. Ladies used to earn much more from Mr. Kipling and Mr. Kingsley besides their salary depending upon their capacities in pleasing them and their guests.”

Suddenly Binoy Bhusan Bhar entered my cabin with Ramchandra and carpenter Khodabox having screw-driver in one hand and measuring tape roll in another hand.

“Sorry to disturb you Sir. I have come just for a check-up of the cabin. Is there any defect with your furniture Sir?” Bhar asked me.

“No thanks! Everything is all right. Nothing is defective.” I said with a smile, though I did not like his entering my cabin in such fashion.

 Before leaving my cabin Bhar looked at Nandi with vexation, probably because he did not like his sitting before me. In Rainbow no office staff except personal secretaries used to sit inside GM’s and DM’s cabins. Though I did not like this system or norm, as I was new in the company I did not break that. Since it was a holiday and everybody was in festive mood, I requested Nandi to sit before me.

After departure of Bhar I told Nandi, “Be easy. You need not worry for Bhar. If he reports anything to Nag, I will take care of you.”

“Thank you, Sir!” Nandi said with an expression of gratitude.

On my first day in Rainbow, Chanakya Nag introduced me with all the Managers, officers and staff members of the office. When we went to Nandi’s table, he said, shaking hands with me, “Good morning Sir, welcome to Rainbow India. Always at your service, Sir.”

After half an hour Nandi entered my cabin and told me, “Sir! Please consider me as your own person as you are from Kipling and Kingsley, my old company. I will remain always at your service.”

Since that day I have enjoyed company of Fatik Nandi, who used to come to me somehow or other evading falcon looks of Binoy Bhar.

Getting himself very homely again, Nandi told me more about his days in Kipling and Kingsley.

“After the changeover, almost all the ladies left the company for the future. Even some of the sales and medical representatives joined the services of the other companies. I remained along with few more office staffs. Mr. Topilal Sarbatwala recruited some new persons, both in the office and the field. He finalized new agency agreements with some Indian companies.

One day I heard that Rainbow International would terminate their agency agreement with Kipling and Kingsley as they had already finalized their factory site in Bombay after getting a license from the government. I too heard that Mr. William Anderson, overseas manager for Southeast Asia of Rainbow International got the charge of setting up factory in India and he would become the first managing director of Rainbow India.”

Nandi paused for a second and said, “When gossips regarding Rainbow cooled down, one day I was very surprised to find Mr. William Anderson in our office. Mr. Sarbatwala came out from his chamber to receive Mr. Anderson. I was standing very much near to the door of Mr. Sarbatwala’s chamber. While going into the chamber Mr. Anderson saw me and said loudly, waving his right hand, “Hallow Fatik? How are you?”   

Not only Mr. Sarbatwala, everybody in the office got stunned.”

“Did you meet Mr. Anderson beforehand?” I asked.

“Not once, many times” Nandi said with gravity and told further, “Whenever Mr. Anderson used to come to Calcutta, Mr. Kipling and Mr. Kingsley entertained him at their Alipore Bunglow. Though there had been official room booked in Hotel Emperor Intercon, Mr. Anderson was a special guest in Alipore Bunglow. Only two trusted persons were engaged to look after William Anderson. For indoor comfort Helen Martin, personal secretary of Kingsley and for outdoor job, this poor man, Fatik Nandi.” Nandi said with confidence.

There was a phone call for me. It was from my residence. My sister informed me that a letter had come from American Agro-Chemicals. It was about my appointment letter and obviously I dropped the receiver with a smile.

“Sir any good news?” Nandi asked me.

“Nothing special, please continue your interesting episode of Kipling and Kingsley.” I said.

“Oh! Really interesting. That was the golden time of my life. Do you know what happened that day?” Nandi asked me.

“How can I know unless you tell me?” I said with a smile.

“After having meeting with Mr. Sarbatwala, when Mr. Anderson was going out, he dropped his visiting card on my table. On the back hotel room number was written. I was sure he desired me to see him in his hotel room.”

Nandi did not complete his story, suddenly he got up from the chair and with my permission left the cabin.

I sank in my soft revolving chair with high backrest and closing my eyes thought about my new assignment in American Agro-Chemical. Within a fortnight I would have to complete passport, visa, foreign exchange and other various documents, besides making some new arrangement for my family.

Within ten or fifteen minutes Nandi entered my cabin and said, “Sir, I am sorry to go out abruptly. My wife and daughter were to come here to attend the function. So I went out to see whether they had come.”

“Have they come?” I asked.

“Not yet, Sir. They will come by local train from Canning. My brother-in-law will pick them from my residence and leave at the office. That was the arrangement.” Nandi said.

I said, “Please do not worry about them. Canning is quite far from Calcutta. Sometimes local trains are irregular. They will come in no time. Please take your seat.”

Nandi sat on the chair and said, “Some interesting news! Binoy Bhar may come to you very shortly.”

“He is most welcome. Anything special?” I asked Nandi.

Nandi looked at the closed door of my cabin and said in low voice, “Car politics.”
I stared at him and said, “Sorry, can’t follow you.”

Before Nandi could say anything there was a gentle knock at the cabin door.

I said, “Yes, come in.” 

COCKTAIL IN THE RAINBOW - Chapter - 1

CHAPTER - 1

It was the foundation day of the Eastern Regional head office of Rainbow International India Private Limited. The long auditorium used for territorial or regional conference was rearranged like a small theatre hall lighted with powerful lamps on the walls and two big chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. There was a dais on one side. Though there was a holiday in the office all staff members, officers and managers were busy in the afternoon and seemed to be waiting for a particular moment.

Overseas Director, who was the head of all overseas units of Rainbow International, came to Calcutta for the first time to be the chief guest for the function which would be inaugurated by the Managing Director of Rainbow India. There were also half a dozen senior managers of Indian head office and factory of Rainbow who used to accompany the Managing Director always during his visits to regional and branch offices with audiovisual system.

I got a cyclostyled copy of the program of the function. There would be prize distribution, break for two hours and the cocktail and dinner.

Function was supposed to start exactly at four o’clock in the afternoon beginning with the introduction of the guests and welcome speech by Chanyaka Nag, General Manager (East) of Rainbow International India. Leonidus Rozario, first Indian Managing Director of Rainbow would deliver his inaugural speech. Robert Kelvin, Overseas Director of Rainbow International would deliver his lecture as chief guest. Iris Stephen, young and beautiful private secretary of Chanyaka Nag would garland Kelvin and Rozario. Haladhar Jana, the oldest peon of Rainbow, Calcutta would thank the Indian management conducted by Rozario for honest, generous and kind attitude towards the employee on behalf of third and fourth class staff members of the Eastern Regional establishment. On behalf of sales, medical and chemical representatives of Rainbow India, Eastern Region, Gouri Sankar Chatterjee would thank Kelvin, Rozario, and head office executives, Chanyaka Nag and other managers of Rainbow India, Eastern Region for excellent management and administration. He would then recite an English poem written by him for this special occasion.

Second part of this function consisted of only prize distribution ceremony.

Mandakini Nag, wife of Chanyaka Nag kindly consented for distributing the prizes to the winners of various events as organized by the Rainbow sports club of Eastern Regional head office. She would be aided by Binoy Bhusan Bhar, administrative officer of the Calcutta regional office. Bhar loved to be called as “B cube” by Nag for the first letter B for his first name, first letter B for his second name and first letter B for his surname. He did not like to be called “B cube” by any other member of the office and the field, since he was an officer, not ordinary staff. However, he was called as B cube by everybody in his absence.

Binoy Bhusan Bhar was on the top of the list of recipients of the prizes. He would get the first prize of debate competition. Besides, he would get MD special prize for arranging all the functions of Rainbow House systematically. His name was recommended by GM (East). The best cricketer prize would go to Debpratim Dutta, District Sales Manager of Home Products Division. Prodyot Kumar Sanyal, familiarly known as PK who was District Sales Manager of Ethical Products Division would be awarded the best chess player prize. Stores clerk Budhadev Sinha would be awarded first prize for recitation. Atanu Samanta, Product Manager of Ethical Products Division would get a best actor prize for his superb acting in the office drama.

List of prize winners was quite long. Indoor and Outdoor sports competition in Rainbow sports club used to be held twice in a year, along with a family get-together. Wives and children of the office and field staff including managers were free to participate in various indoor events.

Joint winners of Bridge tournament were Chanyaka Nag and Swapna Ganguly, wife of Tarit Ganguly, Divisional Manager of Home Products.

Jolly Nag, daughter of Mr. Chanyaka Nag and Amit Talukdar, son of Ethical Products Divisional Manager Ramani Ranjan Talukdar would get their prizes for dance and music respectively. Consolation prizes would go to Badal, son of Accounts officer Jagabandhu Adhikari and Basabi, daughter of Despatch Assistant Fatik Nandi. Lastly, special award for sincerity and obedience would go to Ramchandra Mondol, personal peon of Chanyaka Nag.

I did not see when Fatik Nandi stood beside me. I could know when I heard his voice, “Sir, gone through the programme?”

“Yes! Good arrangement for entertainment,” I said.

Nandi said in his low voice, “There is a small programme after the prize distribution and before the break.”

“But it’s not mentioned in this cyclostyled copy!” I said.

“Yes Sir! You are right. This programme would be announced by Chanyaka Nag.”

Fatik Nandi said and continued, “It’s a confidential programme to be known by the public abruptly."

Binoy Bhar was going towards the auditorium. He stood in front of me and said,

“Good afternoon Sir! Anything I can do for you?”

I said, “Thanks!” Binoy Bhar lowered down the upper portion of his heavy body as a mark of respect and again straitening his stature left in the auditorium.

“Sir, please don’t mind, he is a number one hypocrite; never open your heart to him.” Said Fatik Nandi.

I joined Rainbow about a week back. Whenever he got the chance, Fatik Nandi tried his best to give me details of Rainbow Calcutta office for my guidance. Though initially I did not like his unwanted talks and would avoid him, after two days used to enjoy his company in my chamber. I got lots of information from him regarding Rainbow within these few days.

Rainbow International is a prestigious multinational European company in the field of medicines, including bulk drugs, laboratory chemicals, agro-chemicals, paints and consumer goods. In mid-sixties Rainbow set up their own establishment in India with head office in Bombay and factory in it’s suburb. Till then famous Kipling and Kingsley company used to deal with Rainbow products and distribute through reputed medicine wholesalers in the cosmopolitan cities.

Not only Rainbow products, Kipling and Kingsley company used to import various ranges of products of many other multinational companies of the world. Afterwards, they manufactured some medicines, insecticides and whiteners of foreign companies under loan license in Calcutta and suburbs. In the fifties and sixties Kipling and Kingsley company was a very popular name, particularly for young graduates desirous of joining the sales profession and to less known foreign companies interested to market their products in India used to approach first Kipling and Kingsley.

Though in the market Kipling and Kingsley company was known as multinational foreign company, in fact, it was purely an Indian company run by two English gentlemen, Robert Kipling and John Kingsley. They were retired army officers and good friends. Both of them were posted in the North-East Frontier province of India. After the end of the Second World War, they came to Calcutta from Kohima in Nagaland and settled in this city. In those days of mid-forties houses were available at very cheap rent. Robert and John got one large house near Calcutta police headquarter in Lalbazar and formed their partnership company Kipling and Kingsley. Initially they used to import foreign liquors, articles of toilet and fancy dresses. Within a year they started importing medicine mostly from European countries. Before the independence of India, there were very few manufacturers of pharmaceutical and chemical products. Life saving drugs were largely imported in the subcontinent. So the business of Kipling and Kingsley got increased by leaps and bounds. They opened their branch offices in Bombay, Delhi and Madras.

After independence, many English families left India for England. But Robert and John stayed permanently in Calcutta. They purchased a two-storied bunglow at Alipore from the heir of a vassal state. After renovation in English style they shifted their residence from Lalbazar to Alipore. Three-storied building at Lalbazar was fully converted to office and warehouse. Warehouse was on ground floor, general office at first floor and Directors with management staves on the second or top floor.

Nandi could not finish the story of Kipling and Kingsley that day as I had some meeting with Chanakya Nag. The next day I got the opportunity and called Nandi in my chamber. I requested him to finish the story of Kipling Kingsley.

“Sir, what should I tell you, it’s not a story but a fairy tale. Nobody will believe how great were those two ‘Sahibs’!” Nandi said and after a short pause continued, “I was hardly a boy of seventeen, I joined Kipling and Kingsley company as an errand staff. Starting from the bank, sales tax office, corporation etc., I got to go everywhere as per advice of two beautiful private lady secretaries of Robert and John. I was made common personal secretary of both of them for doing their personal outdoor work. They used to call me by my first name Fatik.” 

Nandi could not finish the story of Kipling and Kingsley that day also as he got to leave my chamber to make statement of despatch particulars of medicine samples sent to representatives of Eastern India.

Within a day or two all the representatives of pharmaceutical, chemical and home products division would come to Calcutta to join the function of foundation day to be followed by cocktail and dinner.

He was very much free and frank in opening his mind to me as he could learn, before joining Rainbow as their Divisional Manager, Agro-Chemical Division, Eastern Region; I had worked for Kipling and Kingsley for a year as a manager of their Insecticides Division. But this Kipling and Kingsley company was not that as owned by Robert Kipling and John Kingsley. It was owned by Topilal Sarbatwala, a share broker and estate agent who purchased the company without changing the name. 

Nandi told me, “Sir, what a coincidence! Both of us are from KK. I mean Kipling and Kingsley family.”

With a smile I said, “Good! I feel at home to get someone from my ex-employer. I mean the company, not the owners.”