Monday, April 26, 2021

The Friend

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.

My success is due to hard-work and professionalism – and of course “luck” – and most important – my HR “mantra” – No Nepotism – No Cronyism – there is no place for “relatives” and “friends” in business.

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

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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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VIKRAM KARVE

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Disclaimer:
1. This story is a spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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