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 - 13

 

Chapter – 13

 

Samuel Biswas raised his melodious concerto on accordion for an unforgettable musical composition of Lara’s theme from Dr. Zhivago, the book I had read twice and the film I saw thrice.

Though I was having chats with Nandi, I could not resist my desire of listening the music.

I was so much obsessed in Lara’s theme, I could not afford to stand like that in a party. So I moved on keeping glass in hand with Nandi and passed Atanu who was having a nice get-together with a group of medical representatives. We went further and I asked Nandi, “What’s about Atanu’s wife? I find him single in the party.”

Nandi’s smiling face changed to some extent and he said, “Atanu does not bring his wife to office party. Has he not told you anything during these days?”

“No. Atanu did not tell me anything about his family. Sorry! I was also busy and did not ask him.”

Nandi said in low voice, “Rikta, I mean Atanu’s wife is blind.”

“What? I almost shouted.”

“Yes Sir! She is totally blind. Can not see anything.” Nandi said.

“Oh my god! Since when?” I said.

 Taking a light sip of Sherry Nandi said, “Not long. She lost eye-sight on the day of her scheduled marriage ceremony in a car accident.”

“So Atanu married the blind girl?” I said.

“Yes Sir. But not on that day. Rikta was betrothed to some other boy and was scheduled to marry him on the day of her accident. But the boy’s family ignored the betrothal and denied to accept the blind girl. Atanu married her long after and that’s also a long love story.” Nandi said. He could not proceed further as Gauri Chatterjee came to me and said, “Sir! Mr. Nag calls you. He is sitting in that corner with Mr. Rozario and Mr. Kelvin.”

I moved to that direction nodding my head and waving my glass to the persons I had met before. Samuel Biswas concluded Lara’s theme on his accordion.

I reached the corner where on a big sofa Rozario was sitting with Kelvin and Gurujee. Nag was sitting on a chair in front of them and said, “Hallow Sumanta, how do you enjoy the party. Mr. Rozario wants to know whether you are comfortable in Rainbow.”

“It’s thrilling to be in this party. I feel quite homely in Rainbow.” I said looking smilingly at Rozario.

“I am very happy to learn what you said about. What’s about business? Rozario said.

“Sales are going up. I am confident of capturing the market shortly.” I said.

Kelvin and Rozario shrugged smilingly. Nag said, “Very good. What you are having in your glass?”

“Brandy” I said.

“Oh! No! Have Sherry. Steward! Sherry please!”

Nag himself replaced my glass of brandy with a glass of Sherry and raising his glass said, “Cheers! Rainbow Agro Chemicals!

Rozario and Kelvin looked at Nag with adoration. They also said, “Cheers!”

I said, “Cheers!” and left the place seeking kind permission of Rozario, Kelvin and Nag. Though they did not introduce me with Gurujee, I bowed my head towards him as a mark of respect. He smiled at me waving his right hand to shower his blessings.

I was searching for Nandi or Atanu with whom I had become much familiar within few days and moved on in the crowd. I saw Debu Dutta talking to Mandakini Nag and beside him there was a smart beautiful young lady. Debu also saw me and introduced me with his wife Sikha and Mandakini to whom Chanakya Nag had already introduced me earlier.

Mandakini asked me, “Where is your wife?”

“Sorry madam! I am not married.” I said.

I could not talk to her further as Gajendra Saha appeared before us and saluted Mandakini.” Madam! Can you recognize me? During last visit of Mr. Rozario to Calcutta I was one of the guests at dinner at your residence. I am that Gajendra Saha.”

“Oh! Yes! Yes! I remember you. How are you Mr. Saha?” Mandakini said.

Looking crookedly at Sikha Dutta, Gajendra said, “You are great madam! That’s why you remember a small man like me.” He then looked at Debu and said, “Mr. Dutta is also great! Son of a rich man having own multi-storied house at Jodhpur Park and District Sales Manager of a multinational company married a door-to-door sales girl without knowing her origin and character.”

Debu Dutta roared like a lion and said, “Mr. Saha! You are our guest tonight. Had you uttered such words at any place in front of me, I would have punctured your well-bred tummy with my single fist. Hope, you have not forgotten the weight of my fist!”

Debu and his wife left the place and mingled in the crowd. After their departure Saha shouted like a street dog after a big animal and said, “Madam! You have heard what that bloody fool said. You are my witness. I will report to Mr. Rozario regarding audacity and misbehaviour of his petty DSM whom I can export and import many times. The poor fellow does not know what it costs to his company in disturbing Gajendra Saha. No other agency house in Calcutta will distribute Rainbow Home Products if Gajendra Saha says ‘Good bye’ to the company.”

With kind permission of Mandakini Nag I left the place. I did not know what was told by Mandakini to please Gajendra Saha, a very important person to Rainbow and about whom I learned afterwards from Ramani Talukdar.

Samuel Biswas and his orchestra were playing on their instruments “La Paloma”. I was just strolling in the crowd when I heard somebody saying “Hallo Brother!”

I looked around and found Ramani Talukdar on my left smiling at me. “So by now you know the eminence of Gajen Saha in Rainbow.” Talukdar said.

“Yes I do.” I said.

“But do you know this man and his company?”

“I met this man for the first time. But I saw advertisement in newspapers of spice powders manufactured by Saha Spice and Consumer Products Company. I do not know whether he is the same man.” I said.

“Yes! You are right brother! He is the same man.” Talukdar said. “But I find your glass empty. Steward! Come here please!”

Steward came and Talukdar ordered for two Scotch, which we got immediately as the cocktail boy was just behind him. Taking a long sip Talukdar said, “I tell you brother, in drinks there is nothing like Whisky, specially if it is Scotch. By the by, let me tell you about Gajendra Saha and his company.”

He paused for few seconds and said, “This is between you and me. I will tell you the fact, not a fiction.”

I heard the story of Gajendra Saha and his company from Ramani Talukdar who was in very good mood after consuming already three pegs of Scotch and enjoying the fourth one.

Founder of his company was Rajendra Saha, his grand father. In old days, there was no office, but a grocer’s shop namely Saha Stores. Though Debendra Saha, son of Rajendra Saha used to assist his father, he was more interested in wholesale rather than retail business. He expressed his desire to his father who gladly made some space for his son for carrying on wholesale business in the same shop. In one corner of the shop accomodation was made for one small table, two chairs and one wooden cupboard for files. Within very short time wholesale business progressed by leaps and bounds. For wholesale business, initially they used to buy goods from Burra Bazaar (Big Bazaar) and Jaan Bazaar. With the rapid progress, Rajendra Saha negotiated with some soap and talcum powder manufacturers for direct agency. He was successful and renamed the wholesale department of Saha Stores as Gajendra Saha and company after the newly born grandson Gajendra. Name was further changed to Saha Distributing Agency in course of time.

So long Rajendra Saha was alive; he used to look after only retail business. After his death Debendra Saha rolled up the retail business and shifted his distribution office to Trade Centre of Biplabi Sarani. With the help of good interior decorator and fabricator he made a modern office of Saha Distributing Agency. Old shop of his father was initially converted into a godown and thereafter a small spice powder factory. Demand for spice powders grew up day by day and Debendra Saha could not manage production in a small area. So he acquired bigger space in north suburb of Calcutta, set up a big factory for spice powders and marketed both in small and big packings. Since Gajendra was still a school boy, Debendra got to shuttle between his office at Trade Centre and his factory at Dum Dum to manage all by himself. Within another four or five years Debendra became terribly sick with asthma and heart problem. By that time Saha Distributing Agency became one of the leading Agency houses for consumer goods in Calcutta. Even Kipling and Kingsley Company used to indent Rainbow cosmetics and home products from Rainbow International specially for Saha Distributing Agency. When Gajendra could not pass the School Final Examination three times, Debendra decided to place him at his office at Trade Centre to look after the agency and wholesale trade. He concentrated mostly in supervision of his spice powder factory at Dum Dum. But Debendra did not live long like his father. One day in the factory he started coughing and sneezing until his lungs and heart stopped functioning forever.  He was declared dead by the Doctor.

Gajendra Saha became all in all of the company. Though having a bulky body like baby elephant, he was a regular visitor to night clubs and massage clinics with his friends. However, under any circumstance he did not neglect his family business. He would attend his office everyday from morning till late evening excepting Sundays and holidays and expanded agency lines. Sometimes during the day he used to visit his spice factory which was kept under the supervision of a wholetime factory manager. Spice powders as manufactured by his company were moving well though formula was changed. During lifetime of Debendra Saha, he never mixed adulterants with his spice powders. But Gajendra Saha made the formula fifty fifty. Original spice fifty percent and adulterant fifty percent. So he could reduce the prices of his spice powders and captured the market. Since his adulterated spice powders did not cost anybody’s life he did not bother for complaints received time to time from the retailers. He used to compensate the retailers with much higher discount than his competitors and satisfy the Food Inspectors to their heart’s content. These gentlemen did not lift anytime, samples of GS brand spice powders from the market dealers for laboratory test. GS was the brand of spice powders manufactured by Saha Spice and Consumer Product Company and marketed by Saha Distributing Agency.

“So brother! Get some idea of GS, I mean Gajendra Saha? A multifarious genious!” Talukdar finished his Whisky in one sip and said, “Let me see how others are progressing in drinks! Ok! We will meet again.” He left.    

to be continued....

 

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