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 - 15

 

Chapter – 15

 

“Sir, meet Harun-Al-Rashid.”

I was taken aback on hearing the name of the famous ‘Khalifah’ of Baghdad, immortalised in the stories of ‘Arabian Nights’.

I was actually floating in the crowd with the same glass in my hand after Atanu had gone down for toilet to ease himself. Myself being a music lover I did not feel bored as the orchestral party had been playing all along my favourite songs on their instruments. At that time I was totally mused in the sweet melody of ‘Blue Danube’ followed by ‘Waves of Danube’.

I looked back and found Nandi with a handsome young man well dressed in black trousers, white coat, black bow tie and shiny polished black shoes – complete uniform for an official dinner party.

 I shook hands with the young man and said, “Sumanta Bose.”

“At your service Sir! I am Kazi Harun-Al-Rashid Rahman from Bangladesh,” the young man said.

“Bangladesh! It’s a beautiful country.” I said.

“Did you visit our country anytime?” Rahman asked me.

“Yes! I visited Bangladesh only last year, shortly after liberation. I went there on export promotion tour on behalf of my ex-employer.” I said.

“Did you visit all the important towns of Bangladesh?” Rahman asked.

“Sorry! I could not. I visited only Dhaka and Chittagong. But I had thrilling experience. From Dhaka to Chittagong I was to go by air. My host got my air-ticket cancelled and carried me by his car and boat crossing wide rivers and paddy fields both sides right upto Chittagong. I will never forget that beautiful journey with sojourn at Cumilla and Fenny for refreshment and the warm hospitality of my host.” I said.

“Sir, next time you will be my guest.” Rahman said politely and gave me his visiting card. “My residential address and telephone numbers are mentioned on the card.”

I looked at his visiting card and came to know that he was the Branch Manager of Rainbow International for Bangladesh. I also learned from Rahman that entire operation of Rainbow in Bangladesh was controlled by Chanakya Nag on behalf of Rainbow India. Very shortly manufacturing unit would be started in Bangladesh under the name, Rainbow Bangladesh distributing public shares.

“Hallow Fatikda, how are you?” said another well-dressed young man with Mongolian countenance and yellowish complexion.

“Fine. How are you Gautam? Meet Mr. Bose, our Divisional Manager for Agro Chemicals Division.” Nandi said. “Sir, meet Mr. Gautam Thapa our Sales Executive in Nepal for Pharmaceutical Division.

“How do you do Mr. Thapa?” I said.

“Fine! I am happy to meet you Sir” Gautam Thapa said.

“You are posted at Kathmandu?” I said.

“Yes Sir! Have you visited Nepal?” Gautam said.

“Oh yes! I visited your lovely country several times since Nineteen Sixty, of course on company’s business. But during each visit to Kathmandu and Pokhara Valley, I enjoyed some thrilling Himalayan excursion and sight seeing tours to the temples and palaces built by the medieval Kings.”

“Hallow brother! Having good time with Thapa?” Ramani Talukdar said with a full glass of Whisky in his hand.

“Yes Mr. Talukdar.  I got acquainted with Mr. Rahman and Mr. Thapa. Mr. Nandi introduced with them.” I said.

Nandi moved away tactfully from the place. Rahman and Thapa also followed him.

“Brother, I feel you should have fresh drinks.” Talukdar said.

“It would have been my pleasure to give you company in fresh drinks. I don’t know the reason; but my stomach is causing obnoxious eructation time to time. May be for changing drinks.” I got to tell him lie to avoid more drinks.

Talukdar nodded his head and said, “ Brother! That’s why I suggest everybody not to change wine and woman. Stick to one brand and enjoy to your heart’s content. You will never belch. You will always live in healthy body and tranquil mind.”

Looking at my glass he said further, “You need not consume whatever is left in your glass. I am getting for you fresh lime with soda. You will be alright in no time.”

Talukdar called the cocktail boy and asked him to bring lime and soda for me. Sipping almost half of the Whisky in a gallop, Talukdar said, “Brother! How do you feel as a peripheral manager?”

“Peripheral! I exclaimed.

“You don’t know the term? No problem. I will explain. Regional GMs or DMs are all peripheral managers. It’s like a solar system. Planets are revolving round the sun and the satellites are also revolving round the planets. In a professionally organised system of a multinational or national company, both regional GMs and DMs are the peripheral managers. GMs are the planets and the DMs are the satellites. Head office is the nucleus of this professional infrastructure like the sun of the solar system.” Talukdar said and looked at me with self-satisfaction.

“Really marvellous! You have clarified our position nicely.” I said.

“No brother! I have not clarified in details about the position of a peripheral manager, better to say DM of Rainbow India, look that side.”

I saw according to his direction. Keya Talukdar was having chats with Gregory Anthony, all India manager of pharmaceutical division.

Talukdar said with a smile, “The lady does not know that her husband is to carry suitcase containing dirty garments and linens of the man she is talking to.”

I could not follow and hence looked at Talukdar with curiosity.

“I guess you don’t follow me. Ok! I will tell you, whenever head office boss comes to Regional office, depending upon status GM or DM or both will have to receive him at the airport. If both GM and DM are there at the airport, GM will accompany the VIP to car waiting outside leaving the baggage tag with the DM. DM will lift the suitcase or bag from the conveyer belt and carry the same to his car. You know, many times I saw dirty old garments and linens being handed over to hotel laundry man for washing. Since senior managers of Rainbow travel on actual expenses to be paid by the company, they get their suits and linens washed in five star hotel laundry, hair cut in hotel saloon and body massaged in hotel health clinic.”

Talukdar said that in such a style I could not check my laughter. He was senior to me in age and from the day of my joining the office he had been very affectionate to me with full cooperation as colleague. He used to address me as ‘Brother’, not Mr. Bose or Sumanta, my first name.

“Why don’t you come to my residence next Sunday for dinner?” Talukdar said.

“I will see my week-end programme and tell you tomorrow.” I said.

“For a bachelor week-end programme can be fixed instantly. So keep aside ‘tomorrow’ and confirm right now.” Talukdar said.

“Ok Mr. Talukdar, I am coming to your residence next Sunday for dinner. What will be your convenient time?” I said.

“You are coming for drinks and dinner. So best time will be 8 p.m. if not inconvenient to you, you can come earlier. We will have chats and my son Amit will entertain you with Tagore songs.” Talukdar said with confidence. 

“It will be my pleasure to be at your residence and listen your son singing Tagore songs.” I said.

“It will be also my pleasure to get you at my residence. My family and Nirapada will welcome you.” Talukdar said.

“Nirapada!” I exclaimed.

Talukdar said smilingly, “Nirapada is my affectionate dog.”

“First time in my life I hear such name of a dog.” I said.

“Oh yes! Nirapada was a common name of Bengali man in olden days. Even now this name may be found in the rural areas. Do you know who christened my dog?” Talukdar said and without waiting for my reply added “Santanu Majumdar.”

“Santanu Majumdar? I mean our former DM – Home Products?” I said.

“Yes. Santanu, my ex-colleague. He christened my pet. Since the puppy was calm and gentle, Majumdar suggested me to call the little creature ‘Nirapada’ i.e. safe in English.” Talukdar said.

“Really good name.” I said.

“But Keya did not like this rural Bengali name for a pet. She almost shouted at Santanu, as he did not suggest any good western name. Santanu was smiling, but did not argue with Keya. I told her, since creature was born in West Bengal and it’s ancestor’s identity was not established, how it was possible to christen it by western name! However Keya was not at all satisfied with my explanation. So I suggested various western names like Tom, Tusi, John, Johnny, Dick, Dicky, Tiger, Lion and so on. But my loving wife did not like these common names as many of her relatives and friends were having dogs of such names. She wanted some special name for her pet. Since dog played important role in Indian Mythology like ‘Mahabharata’, Santanu suggested some mythological names which were rejected by Keya who ultimately agreed to retain the earlier name ‘Nirapada’ or safe.”

“It’s a good name.” I repeated my appreciation of the name.

“But even by mistake please don’t admire this name before Keya. Then you may miss specially fried Pomphret with drinks at my residence on next Sunday. You will have to munch only roasted peanuts.” Talukdar said jokingly.

“Oh no! I don’t like to miss specially fried Pomphret. You may rest assured I won’t repeat this mistake. By the by, is Nirapada the first pet at your residence?” I said.

“You are absolutely correct. Nirapada is the first pet at my new flat given to me by Rainbow as my official residence. Previously I used to stay at my ancestral home at Salkia in Howrah city where we had many pets like cats, mice, rats and cockroaches which used to move freely in the old house of our joint family. After getting company’s flat, I moved there with my wife and son. Flat was well furnished with beautiful cushions and curtains. I spent further amount to beautify it as per demand of Keya. But you know, desire does not have limitation. One day Keya told me that during my tour and Amit being in school she had felt many times absolutely lonely in the flat and so she must get a pet to spend the lonely hours. She further told me that she had seen a nice Pekingese dog on the lap of Mandakini Nag during our last visit to their flat.” Talukdar paused for few seconds and had another long sip of Whisky.

“So my search for foreign puppy began. Santanu Majumdar came forward to help me. One day he took me to the bank of the Ganges near Princep Ghat where some Gypsies had been living for few months. Though I did not meet before any Gypsy, I heard that these Romany people earned their livelihood by selling puppies, musks, taxidermic figures of birds of Prey and Mongoose, aphrodisiac herbs etc. One elderly fellow brought from his tent nearly a dozen of puppies, all of which looked like the offspring of street dogs abandoned in Calcutta city. He touched each small creature and said smartly Alsatian, German Shepherd, Greyhound, Foxhound, Dingo, Lurcher, Mastiff, Terrier, Spaniel, Bull dog, Great Dane, and so on which I can’t remember. Santanu told him that he did not find any difference in appearance and so it was not possible for him to select any one. If he had any pure Indian puppy, he would buy immediately. The Gypsy fellow with his fully expressed laughter said, ‘Sir, all these puppies are of purely Indian origin. You may choose any of these creatures. All are same. But I tell you, if you domesticated properly, any one of these puppies will become your obedient servant.’ So we bought one puppy that day and the little creature grew up to full form of an Alsatian male dog with meat, milk and maize dough mixed with Rainbow multivitamin capsules as fed by Keya with her motherly care everyday. But I tell you brother, the fellow is hundred percent safe. Santanu rightly christened it’s name ‘Nirapada’.” Ramani Talukdar put an end to his dog’s story, but not to his drinks. He picked up another glass of Scotch from the tray of a passing cocktail boy and said, “Meet you again brother, some guests are waiting for me, bye.”  

to be continued....

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 - 7

Chapter – 7

Atanu Samanta and Deb Pratim Dutta welcomed me almost jointly to occupy the same chair between them. I complied with their request though Gouri Chatterjee had earlier requested me once again to sit on the front row as Dilip Sen, sales tax consultant had left for home and would turn up sharp at 8 p.m. to join the cocktail party.

Prizes were nicely arranged on a table covered by immaculate white silken cloth at one side of the dais. Rozario, Kelvin, Nag, Mandakini and other senior managers of Rainbow head office seemed to be waiting for next announcement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, now we start the second session of our today’s ceremony. I request our beloved GM….” Looking at Chanakya Nag with smile Gouri Chatterjee announced, “I mean Mr. Chanakya Nag to inaugurate the prize distribution ceremony.”

Chanakya Nag got up from his chair and said loudly without microphone, “Ladies and gentlemen! You know that Rainbow is a worldwide international family. I am sure, you know well that some members go out for attending job or business and some look after household matters. But everybody meets in the family get-together. Same thing we do in Rainbow. We meet here on such auspicious occasion and enjoy. Tomorrow again we will be busy in our respective work. I now invite Mrs. Nag to give away the prizes to the winning members.”

Mandakini Nag got up from her chair and smilingly stood near the table on which prizes were kept for distribution. Gouri Chatterjee caught hold of the microphone mouthpiece by one hand and the list of winning candidates by other hand for announcement. One handsome young medical representative stood beside the table to help Mandakini in giving away the trophies with the announcement of Gouri Chatterjee.  

“Mr. Binoy Bhusan Bhar! Please come upon the stage for collecting your prize; Oh! I am sorry! You are getting two prizes. One, first prize in debate competition and second prize, oh! It’s MD’s special prize for arranging all the office functions systematically.” Gouri Chatterjee announced.

Binoy Bhar came upon the stage from the side door and bent forward the upper portion of his heavy body at sixty-degree angle. He collected from Mandakini Nag one Parker 51 fountain pen as first prize in debate competition and one original Japanese calculator as MD’s special prize. Holding up the prizes by his two hands he once again bent forward his body above the waistline at sixty-degree angle and turned towards the audience before exit.

Fatik Nandi already told me about Binoy Bhar who although was very fond of his family life, could not leave the office any day before 9 p.m. whenever Nag was in Calcutta. After office hours Nag had fancy in playing cards almost everyday with DMs and DSMs and also with his other favourite chaps in the big hall sitting around a convenient table. Usual games were Flush or Rummy at stakes of coins and currency notes of lower denominations. During the game, cold beer with spiced peanuts and snacks were served by Binoy Bhar as directed by Nag. After the game everybody would leave except Bhar who had the responsibility of closing and opening the office with the help of two peons.

Before joining Rainbow, Bhar used to work in a travel agency as Public Relation Executive. Though this travel agency was having office on an infamous lane of the most notorious red-light area of Calcutta, it’s tour itinerary included all famous places of India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand. It had so much influence with rail, plane and shipping reservation counters that only with few hours’ notice confirmed tickets were delivered to the clients.

On the first day of his official visit to Rainbow as PR Executive of Transganges Travels Bhar told confidently, in Safari tour to the Jungles of North Bengal and Assam, elephants’ backs and the forest Bunglows were given preference first to his company. Even in Rajasthan deserts, best camels were reserved for the tourists booked through Transganges. There was a luxurious “Sikara”(boat) on Dal Lake of Kashmir exclusively reserved for this travel agency.

Nag was very much convinced by Bhar of Transganges Travels and very shortly opportunity stumbled down at his feet to utilize services of this agency house. He was informed by Rozario, the then Director (Marketing) over telephone from his residence at his residential number that a four member party consisting his two sisters-in-law and their husbands would visit Calcutta for a pleasure trip. He (Rozario) would be happy if Chanakya Nag could arrange their sight-seeing tour to North-Bengal, especially to Darjeeling, queen of hill stations in the Himalayas.

Though for official tour of Rainbow Managers and Executives, tickets were booked through World Wide Travels, an international travel agency as approved by Anderson, the then MD, Nag negotiated with Transganges Travels through Binoy Bhar for this private tour of the close relatives of Rozario. Nag knew well that officially being the Director (Marketing), Rozario was at the helm of administration. A blue-eyed boy of Anderson, Rozario used to interfere in the activities of Director, Commercial and Director, Technical. Anderson never hindered him in his activities beyond his jurisdiction as the white gentleman was captivated by this young man looking more like an Abyssinian than the descendant of Portuguese who ruled the tiny state of Goa for a long time.

Nag was aware of the fact that after Anderson, Rozario would become the MD of Rainbow India. Foresight of Rozario was also very sharp. He developed friendship with all four GMs who were favourites of Anderson. It was due to the recommendation of Rozario, four regional heads having designation Divisional Manager were elevated to post of General Manager – East, South, west and North.

Nag told Bhar that he would arrange payment of the entire expenses of the tour of MD’s relatives by cash only, not by cheque. Transganges Travels were delighted for getting entry into Rainbow and assurance of cash payment without bill from GM. Obviously such payment would not be liable for any tax.

Relatives of Rozario enjoyed the tour very much. One medical representative having headquarters at Siliguri was advised to receive the party at Bagdora airport and accompany them during their tour to Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Gangtok and Jaldapara forest. After going back to Bombay they expressed their happiness to Rozario for the excellent hospitality extended to them by Nag and his boys.

Since then Bhar became a person of Nag’s confidence. Within a month he was appointed by Nag as the Administrative Officer of Rainbow Calcutta office with kind permission of Rozario who in the meantime had become Managing Director Designate of Rainbow India after abrupt retirement of Anderson.

“Ladies and gentlemen! I now invite Mr. Deb Pratim Dutta, I mean our beloved Debu Dutta to come upon the stage to collect the prize of best cricketer.” Gouri Chatterjee announced on microphone.

Debu went up to the dais to collect his prize from Mandakini Nag who seemed to be stunned to look at the handsome tall young man with reddish white complexion and well shaped body wearing bright crimson tight T-shirt on white trouser. He looked like a romantic Hollywood hero. He became District Sales Manager, Home Products very recently after Tarit Ganguly had been promoted to DM of this division. Debu did not hesitate to admit that his wife Sikha had brought him luck as immediately after their marriage he got his promotion as DSM from Senior Sales Representative. Sikha was sitting with other ladies behind us, which I could know afterwards. I met her for the first time only in the cocktail party.

After Debu Dutta, P.K. Sanyal came on then dais to collect his prize as best chess player. Prodyot Kumar Sanyal, commonly known as PK, liked to be addressed like that by his seniors. He was jolly and ever smiling with burning cigarette gripped by his fingers. Nandi told me that PK could prepare instant story to pamper Talukdar, his immediate boss and Chanakya Nag. I remember the day Chanakya Nag introduced me with PK, a plump young man of short height and dark complexion, “PK, meet Sumanta Bose, our DM Agrochemicals and Sumanta please meet PK our DSM, Ethical Products.”

Shaking hands with me PK said, “ Welcome Sir to Rainbow.”

Turning his head to Nag he said, “Boss! You are great! Your forecast regarding railway tender has come true. We will get the business.”

“Thank you. Come to me after getting the business.” Nag said.

Prize distribution ceremony was progressing fast. Nag seemed to be feeling uneasy on the dais. Bhar, who was standing near the side door, came before Nag getting his signal. Nag whispered something to him. Bhar left the auditorium immediately.

“Ladies and gentlemen! I now request Mr. Atanu Samanta to come upon the stage to collect his prize as a best actor in the last drama presented by Rainbow sports club.” Gouri Sankar announced.

Atanu went upon the dais and collected a complete volume of the works of Shakespeare from Mandakini as his prize.    

Atanu Samanta, Product Manager of Pharma Division was a cultured literary young man of medium height and fair complexion with thinning hair above forehead and bright eyes. He was humorous and smiling. For a short period Atanu worked in Kipling and Kingsley as a field supervisor for pharmaceutical products.

In Rainbow Pharma Division, medical representatives would report to District Sales Manager who would again report to DM. So I was to some extent curious about job responsibility of Atanu who told me a very interesting story in my cabin in presence of Nandi.

It was the story of an old pharmaceutical company in Calcutta. Though a private limited company, it was wholly owned by a Jewish family. For some of their ethical products there was good demand in rural areas as in the villages and suburban towns most of the doctors used to own medical stores which were attached to their clinics. These doctors placed regular orders with medical representatives of this company who got to empty their detailing bag containing physician samples on their tables. They got meagre salary and commission on sale. In spite of personal and joint appeals, company did not settle their demands. So one fine morning, management of this company saw ‘stop work’ notice submitted by the medical representatives. MD was at that time in USA for a special training in man power and man management. He came back by earliest flight to Calcutta on being informed by his office of the grave situation as the sales supervisors had also endorsed the agitation of the medical representatives.

Mr. MD, a staunch worshipper of Jehovah, was a man of cool brain. He further equipped himself with the recent training in man management during his short visit to U.S.A. he met the leading members of the striking medical representatives and sales supervisors and appreciated their action very much. He further told them that had he been in their position he would have taken recourse to same action. However, he admitted that all these problems had cropped up due to absence of any sales conference for a long time. So he invited all the medical representatives and sales supervisors to join him in a conference to be followed by buffet lunch. Everybody was delighted with the munificent attitude of the MD just returned from U.S.A. They heard about sales conference accompanied by lunch or dinner held by multinational or big Indian pharmaceutical companies. It would be an eventful occasion for them to attend sales conference to be accompanied by lunch for the first time.

Morning session ended with gala lunch. Fish being the top favourite of Bengali people, fish fry was in abundance with chicken leg ‘Biriyani’ and mutton ‘Kabab’. Last item was “Rosogolla” a favourite Bengali sweet.

Afternoon session was fixed for personal discussion with MD. One after another sales supervisors and medical representatives went inside MD’s cabin and came out smiling. It was known afterwards that all sales supervisors were promoted to Sales Managers and all medical representatives were made Territory Managers, their salaries and commission remaining unaltered. Since commission was paid in terms of percentage, more sales would fetch more money as per very simple mathematical formula. Atanu paused for a moment and I burst into laughter. Nandi also joined me. Being a humorist Atanu did not laugh and said seriously, “Sorry! I have not yet finished my story.”

“An upcountry sales supervisor rushed towards MD’s chamber when all the new managers left the office. The poor fellow was awfully late as his train had been held up at a railway station by the agitating passengers travelling without tickets in the previous train and punished instantly with heavy penalty by the mobile checking staffs.

Mr. MD listened to the gentleman with patience and said, “My boy! I am sorry, there is nothing left for you as you are late.”

“Sir, I have told you everything. Please do something for me.” The sales supervisor said desperately.

Mr. MD consoled him by patting his back and said, “Ok boy! I will give you promotion. But are you prepared for less salary?”

“I don’t mind Sir! Please give me promotion.” Sales supervisor almost cried.

“Ok! My boy! From today you are my Product Manager! Congratulations!” Mr. MD said with ecstasy.

COCKTAIL IN THE RAINBOW - Chapter - 6

Chapter 6

Rozario enjoyed very much the laudatory clapping of the audience. Sitting on his chair he was talking to Mandakini Nag and Kelvin occasionally ogling at Swapna Ganguly. Swapna also responded to him by erecting upper portion of her body for proper exposition of her protruding breast.

He was in steel grey coat and trousers made of lustrous synthetic cloth which seemed to be glittering under high powered neon light. His thick dyed curly hair with partition line exactly in the middle above narrow forehead looked like much popular picture of the advertisement of hair-dye inserted in different newspapers or magazines. His sunken eyes on his black complexion below joined wide eyebrows and above long pointed nose were piercing like that of falcon in search of prey.

Fatik Nandi told me one day in my cabin that a perfect English gentleman like Mr. Anderson, founder of Rainbow India had to fall down as a most unfortunate prey of his trusted personal assistant Leo who caused his infamous departure from India. Nandi further added that a steno-typist becoming the Managing Director of a multinational company Rainbow India was probably a world record.

Following the programme, Gauri Sankar invited Haladhar Jana, oldest peon of Calcutta office. I learned from Fatik Nandi that like him Haladhar was also the appointee of William Anderson who picked him up from Hotel Emperor Intercon. Haladhar was not a regular staff of the hotel. But he used to work in the garden attached to the swimming pool everyday. While relaxing beside swimming pool, one day Anderson watched the young man working very attentively in trimming grasses and plants. He could know from a bar waiter serving him beer that this man was on ‘no work no pay’ basis. Next day Chanakya Nag met Anderson beside the swimming pool. Haladhar was also trimming the grasses at that time. Anderson advised Nag to ask Haladhar whether he was interested to get a permanent job. Haladhar agreed and next day he was appointed as peon of Rainbow’s new office in Calcutta. So long William Anderson was the Managing Director of Rainbow India; Haladhar Jana was very powerful man of Calcutta office. He would always carry on ego of being the personal appointee of MD. After departure of Anderson from Rainbow India, Ramchandra Mondol, personal peon of Chanakya Nag exercised more power and almost eclipsed Haladhar with the change of situation. Ramchandra Mondol became powerful man in the office, as he was previously a favourite household servant of Mandakini Nag on whose recommendation Chanakya Nag appointed him as his personal peon. His extra job was to serve tea or coffee to the Divisional Managers. But in all household occasions like family get together or entertainment of official guests at homely lunch or dinner Ramchandra would be in Chanakya Nag’s flat to assist Mandakini and her cook. So Divisional Managers, other executives and office staffs had to depend mostly on Haladhar Jana and another peon Netai Chand.

Haladhar came on the dais and saluted everybody bending upper portion of his body at hundred eighty degree angle. He then looked at the audience and stood in standstill position. Binoy Bhar prompted from the side door of dais. But Haladhar could not follow him and forgot what he was to say. He again bowed at hundred eighty degree angle and came down from the dais. Though the audience started laughing, Chanakya Nag seemed to be irritated as could be seen on his facial expression. Rozario murmured something looking at Nag. Probably he expressed his displeasure.

Gauri Sankar came on the dais and dispersed the sultriness of the auditorium. He took the mouthpiece of the microphone and said smilingly glancing at Rozario and Kelvin, “Ladies and Gentlemen, first session of our function has come to an end. I will now recite a poem specially composed by me for this occasion.”

He paused for few seconds. Touching his well groomed French cut beard on the chin and tightening up neck tie knot he said,

Rainbow in the sky, emits seven colors

Rainbow on the earth, it’s only ours.

Kelvin and Rozario clapped loudly followed by all other on the dais and in the auditorium.

Second session would start after ten minutes. Most of the ladies and gentlemen came out of the auditorium along with children to ease themselves. In air-conditioned auditorium smoking was not permitted. So the smokers lighted their cigarettes outside without any loss of time. Smoking and easing were to be completed within ten minutes. I was smoking standing beside a window of the big hall just opposite to my cabin. Chanakya Nag had already escorted Kelvin and Rozario to his cabin. Bhar also rushed in Nag’s cabin followed by Ramchandra carrying Gin and Lime. Antony was talking to Talukdar. Both of them were non-smokers. Ganguly lined up with Phuchkanwala. Chandranath Gupta was joking with Chandan. Prodyot Sanyal was having chats with other head office executives.

In such crowd of office staffs and their family members it was difficult to identify the persons excepting those I had met during these few day in Rainbow office. Such persons were very few in numbers. 

No young man can forget Iris Stephen once seen. So it was not difficult for me to identify her when she came out of Nag’s cabin where Kelvin and Rozario were resting on Gin and Lime. Probably Chanakya Nag called her for getting some paper or file.

Gouri Sankar and Bhar were standing in front of Nag’s cabin. Iris talked to them for a moment and went to Leda Joseph, the telephone operator cum receptionist. Being holiday, Leda was not sitting on her chair. She was talking to Accounts officer Jagabandhu Adhikari and Fatik Nandi. She was well shaped beautiful tall Anglo-Jewish girl in early twenties having reddish complexion and curled light brown hair resembling a Greek beauty. She was soft-spoken having always a sober smile on her charming face. She was attractive, but not seductive like Iris Stephen.

Adhikari and Nandi got dispersed in the crowd with the arrival of Iris before Leda. Iris was an appointee of Rozario. Immediately on becoming Managing Director of Rainbow India, he visited Calcutta on special request of Chanakya Nag and selected Iris. Leda Joseph was an appointee of Anderson as private secretary-cum-steno-typist of Nag because of her serene beauty.

Nandi told me once that Anderson was always fond of serene beauty, sober habits and surroundings. He himself was soft-spoken and liked soft-spoken people. Out of ten girls interviewed, probably for that quality Leda was selected by Anderson. But things changed after his departure. Leda was made receptionist-cum-telephone operator and Iris was appointed as secretary of Chanakya Nag. Simple reason for this change was Leda’s unwillingness to accompany Rozario for marketing some garments for his wife in New Market and thereafter to his hotel in the evening for taking dictation of some important letters. When proposed, Leda could understand the ultimate desire of Rozario instantly and regretted her inability point-blank, as she had to attend some household celebration.

Obviously Rozario decided to do away with Leda tactfully, as he had never expected to get such rebuff from an office girl who according to him was expected to follow the order of her immediate boss. He expressed his displeasure to Nag and asked him for taking necessary action tactfully. Chanakya Nag was an intelligent guy. He did not want to displease any party, either Rozario or Anderson. So Nag also expressed his artificial anger and displeasure for Leda’s imprudent attitude and act of disobedience, though personally he liked her.

However he advertised in the leading English daily of Calcutta for attractive young female secretary and short-listed half a dozen girls for final selection of one by Rozario during his next visit to Calcutta. Iris got place in this list and was finally selected by Rozario during his first visit to Calcutta as Managing Director of Rainbow India. On the first day of her appointment as secretary to Chanakya Nag, she cheerfully agreed to go to hotel in the evening to take dictation from Rozario on some important management matters. Nag consoled Leda saying that because of her pleasing personality her services were required on the reception desk, which had so far been occupied by Rupa Banerjee who had been transferred to pharma godown. Leda was not unhappy for this change; rather she emitted sigh of relief.

It was time for second session and everybody started entering the auditorium. I was about to follow them. Fatik Nandi rushed towards me and said, “Sir, I have got a funny news for you.”

I looked at him with curiosity.

Looking at all sides by moving his body and head Nandi said, “Mr. Majumdar has not yet turned up. Mr. Chanakya Nag is very worried.”

I said, “Why?”

Nandi said, “Sir, it is extremely confidential. After the prize distribution ceremony there will be a small function which will be announced publicly by Mr. Nag. But I have collected the secret information from Adhikari that arrangement has been made for Farewell reception of Mr. Santanu Majumdar, ex-Divisional Manager, Home Products. Mr. Rozario and Mr. Nag would congratulate Mr. Majumdar for his yeoman’s services rendered to Rainbow in developing sales of Home Products in Eastern Region for last five years. At the end of this function Gauri Chatterjee will recite a poem composed by him in honour of Mr. Majumdar.”

I said, “But this function could have been celebrated some other day! Why in such haste?”

Nandi inclined his head towards me and said in low voice, “Mr. Rozario desired that farewell reception of Mr. Majumdar should be held in presence of Mr. Kelvin. Accordingly he informed Mr. Nag few days’ back and advised him to purchase one farewell gift for Mr. Majumdar. Adhikari told me that he had already paid to Bhar for buying a good watch for Mr. Majumdar as per advice of Mr. Nag. After all Mr. Kelvin should go back with excellent impression regarding Indian management of Rainbow.”

Fatik Nandi wanted to tell me something more. But he slipped away towards the auditorium gate, probably observing Nag coming out of his cabin.

I saw Chanakya Nag coming with Kelvin and Rozario. Before their arrival I entered the auditorium.