Short Fiction
THE FRIEND
Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
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Part 1
My Office in Pune
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“Sir – there is someone to see you…” my Personal Assistant (PA) says.
“Who…?” I ask her.
“A “Mr. Vijay”…!” my PA says, “he says that he was your classmate in
Engineering College…”
“Vijay…? Is he standing in front of you…? I ask my PA.
“No, Sir – he is waiting in the reception lounge. The receptionist had
called…” my PA says.
“That’s good…” I say to my PA, “Well – I don’t remember him. Tell the
receptionist to tell him that I am not free – that I am busy in a meeting…”
“Yes, Sir…” my PA says – and I put down the intercom phone.
So – Vijay wants to meet me.
I told my PA that I don’t remember who Vijay is.
But – of course I remember Vijay – my best friend in college – my
hostel-mate – the person who was closest to me for the 5 years we studied for
our B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering – around 50 years ago – in the 1970’s.
Dear Reader – you must be wondering why I did not want to meet my best
from college.
Let me tell you why.
I am successful industrialist – I now have multiple businesses – so –
well – you can say that I am a business magnate – you can even call me a “tycoon”.
But – I am a self-made man.
After my Engineering – I worked for 10 years in the industry – on the
shopfloor – learning everything – then – I became an entrepreneur – I started
off on my own – I failed badly – but – I rose from the ashes – so to speak –
and I tried again – worked very hard – and – I succeeded – yes – my success was
even beyond my own expectations – and now – I have multiple businesses –
manufacturing – trading – even shipping.
Also – I remember the days when I was down in the dumps – when my first
attempt at business had failed – at that time – no one had helped me – they all
turned out to be “fair weather friends”.
When you fail – people shun you – even your near and dear ones think you
are a “loser”.
But – the moment you become successful – they all swarm towards you –
like bees around a honeycomb – they all want to take advantage of you – and
seek undue favours from you – all “leeches” – who want to exploit you.
That is why – as a matter of principle – I avoid relatives, friends,
classmates etc. – and I don’t meet anyone in office – or even at home – as far
as possible.
My success “mantra” has worked – business is to
be run professionally – No Nepotism – No Cronyism – no place for “relatives”
and “friends” in business.
That is why I avoided meeting my classmate Vijay who suddenly turned up
at my office.
I wondered what he wanted…?
Vijay had joined the Navy after his Mechanical Engineering degree – in
fact – he had been selected in the “University Entry Scheme” and had been
commissioned when we were in our final year of Engineering and was getting a
handsome salary too – I remembered the party he had given us and he always
treated us too.
Then we lost contact – since he was posted on ships – and – I took up my
first job in a factory in Pune.
We had last met in the alumni meet held in our college 10 years ago when
I had been awarded the distinguished alumni award.
On the insistence of our classmates – we gave a musical performance –
Vijay sang a song – and played the guitar – just like we did during our hostel
days.
Before we said goodbye – Vijay told me that he had quit the Navy and
joined Shipping – the Merchant Navy.
Ah – so that’s why he wanted to meet me.
Maybe he wanted a job in my shipping company.
We were looking for a CEO, some Superintendents, even some Masters – and
– maybe – he had found out.
It was a wise decision on my part not to meet him – I had avoided the
embarrassment of refusing the request of a close friend.
I had upheld my principle – my success “mantra” – business is to be run
professionally – No Nepotism – No Cronyism – no place for “relatives” and
“friends” in business.
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Part 2
My Home in Pune
_________
When I reached home after work in the evening – my wife says to me: “Your
friend had come home in the afternoon…”
“Vijay…?” I ask her.
“Yes…” she says.
“He had come to the office…” I say.
“I know – he told me that you were busy in a meeting – and wouldn’t be
free whole day – so – he came home…” my wife says.
“He came to the office – then – he came home – he must be desperately
wanting something from me…” I say.
“I don’t think he wanted anything from you. On the contrary – he wanted
to give something to you…” she says.
“He wanted to give something to me…?” I say – surprised.
“Yes – see that box over there – there is a musical instrument inside –
it’s some sort of guitar – he told me the name – but – I don’t remember exactly…”
my wife says.
I walk across to the table – and – I open the box.
I am overwhelmed by emotion when I see what is in the box – I experience
a delightful feeling of tremendous happiness – thrilling joy – a sense of ecstasy
I feel when I get something I have passionately wanted and yearned to possess –
for a long time.
I lovingly pick up the musical instrument – and – I say to my wife: “This is the Bağlama – the “saz-bağlama”
– a Turkish Lute Guitar – I wanted this so much – I have all types of guitars –
now – my collection will be enriched by this beautiful Bağlama…”
My wife smiles and says: “Your friend told me that you would be very
happy to see this – he told me how you two would perform during your college
days – you would play the guitar and he would sing…”
“Yes…” I say – I strum the strings of the Bağlama – and I say, “it is nicely
tuned…”
“He told me that he bought it in Istanbul – from the best musical store –
and got it tuned for you – he said you would love it…” my wife says.
“Istanbul…? He must have signed-off from his ship over there…” I say.
“No. He told me that he had gone to Istanbul in connection with
chartering of a ship…” she says.
“Chartering of a ship…?” I say, surprised, “I thought he was still
sailing – that’s what he told me the last time we met…”
“That was 10 years ago – he seems to have done well since then – I think
he has his own shipping company now – that’s what his card says…?” my wife
picks up a visiting card from the side table and holds it out.
I gently put the Saz-Bağlama back into its
case – walk across to my wife – and take the business card from her.
“Wow – Monaco…!!!” I say – full of awe – Vijay is the “Director – he owns
the shipping company
The shipping company name looks familiar.
I google his company name – it becomes quite clear – he has taken over
the company a few days ago – bought it.
I feel very guilty for avoiding to meet him – just imagine – I thought
he wanted a job in my shipping company – when actually – he owns a shipping
company much better than mine.
I feel ashamed of myself.
I thought he wanted something from me – but – he wanted to give this
priceless guitar to me.
I look at my wife and ask her: “Where is he staying…? I must meet him…”
“He must be on his way to Singapore…” my wife said.
“Singapore…?”
“He told me that he was going to fly directly from Istanbul to Singapore
– but – he found this guitar…”
“Saz-Bağlama – this instrument is called the Bağlama…”
I interrupt.
“Yes – whatever it is called – he said that he knew of your fascination
for guitars – so – when he saw Turkish Guitars while window-shopping in
Istanbul – he immediately decided to gift it to you – so – he changed his
flight – and – flew via Mumbai. He came from Mumbai to Pune by Taxi just to give
you the Guitar – you refused to see him in your office – so – he found out your
home address from the receptionist – and – came here to deliver the gift…” my
wife says.
“I wish I had met him in office. I am so feeling so guilty for my
boorish behaviour – what did he say to you…?” I say.
“He had a cup of tea. He talked a bit about your college days – about
your love for music – how you loved playing the guitar while he sang. I asked
him to stay for lunch – but – he said that he had to catch the evening flight
to Singapore – and – he left for Mumbai Airport in the same taxi…” my wife says,
“He wanted to speak to you – but – I told him that you don’t like being disturbed
in office…”
I feel terrible – extremely contrite – filled with remorse – never before
have I felt so ashamed of myself.
“Everything has gone wrong today…” I say, “what will he think of me –
that I am a snob. I will call him right now and apologize…”
I call the number on the business card – but – it is switched off – the flight
must have taken off.
My wife looks at the “Saz-Bağlama” and says: “It
is such a beautiful guitar – it must be quite expensive…”
“For me – it is priceless…” I say.
I pick up the “Saz-Bağlama” Turkish Guitar and say to my wife: “I am
going to the music room…”
“We are supposed to go for that dinner party to…”
“No…” I interrupt my wife, “I am in no mood for parties. I am feeling
upset. I need to be alone with my music. And – I will not feel at ease till I
speak to Vijay…”
“Okay…” my wife says, “Oh – I forgot – he has brought one more thing for
you from Istanbul…”
She points to a bottle of Raki – the deliciously tasty liquor from
Turkey – which turns milky white when you add water to it.
“Keep the Raki bottle in the liquor cabinet…” I say to my wife, “I will
enjoy it with Vijay when we have our music session together – I will play the “Saz-Bağlama”
and he will sing…”
“Will he come…?” she asks.
“Of course he will come…” I say, “I will speak to him the moment he
lands in Singapore and ask him to spend a few days with us in Pune on his way
back to Monaco…”
“Hope he has time to stopover…” she says.
“The only way I can make amends for my churlish behaviour is to play
this “Saz-Bağlama” for him – which he got so lovingly for me – and – if he
doesn’t have time – we will go to Monaco…” I say to my wife.
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