Short Fiction
THE POLITICIAN AND THE SOLDIER
Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
______
PROLOGUE
______
Dear Reader – before I start
telling you the story of “The Politician and The Soldier” – let me first
introduce myself – the narrator of this story.
Yes – I am the narrator of this
rather curious story.
I am the politician’s “manager” –
his “right-hand man” – his “major-domo” – his “all in one” assistant – or – if
you wish to use more uncharitable terms – I am his flunkey – his lackey – his
stooge – his minion – you can call me what you like – but I have become
indispensable to him.
My “Master” – the politician – he
is the “uncrowned king” of the place – wealthy – powerful – he controls
everything – and – nothing moves here without his approval.
Everyone is terrified of him –
including me.
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PART 1
_______
One evening the phone rings – the
landline number.
I recognize the voice – it is the
“Soldier”.
“Is he there…?” the soldiers asks
me on the phone.
“Yes…” I say – and I connect the
call.
The “soldier” speaks to the
“politician” for around 5 minutes.
Then the “politician” summons me
inside his office and says to me: “Is there anything in the evening…?”
“Yes…” I say, “you have to attend
the party meeting followed by dinner…”
“Tell them I am not coming…” he
says.
“Sir – it is a very important
meeting – top party leaders are coming – the general-secretary will also be
there – you must go there…” I say.
“Nothing is more important than
my friend – I have already told him to come for dinner – you call up my wife
and tell her to make something special – get whatever she wants from the market
– and organize some good snacks to go with the booze…” he says.
“Sir – should I arrange some
“Single Malt” Whisky…” I ask him.
“You have been with me for 3 years
now – don’t you know – my friend will be getting a bottle of “Military Rum” for
me…” the “politician” admonishes me.
_________
PART 2
_________
The “Soldier” arrives at 7 PM in
the evening.
The “Politician” is genuinely
delighted to see him.
“What have you got for me…?” the
“politician” asks the “soldier”.
The “soldier” pulls out a bottle
of rum from his bag.
“Ah…” the “politician” says,
“let’s go inside and open the bottle…”
The “soldier” goes inside.
I look at the “politician” and
say: “Sir – I have got all types of snacks – chicken dry fry, mutton kababs,
fish fry, peanuts, pakoras etc. – and – I have briefed the servants how to
serve them…”
“Good…” the “politician” says to
me, “did you tell my wife…?”
“Yes, Sir – she is preparing a
special meal…”
“Wonderful…” the “politician”
says.
“Sir – I have informed them that
you won’t be attending the meeting as you are indisposed…”
“Ha – Ha – “indisposed” – you
have become an expert at inventing excuses…” the “politician” says, “you can go
home now – if I want something – I will call you…”
“Thank you, Sir…” I say – and – I
turn towards the office to lock it up.
The “politician” goes inside his
house to join his friend – the “soldier”.
______
PART 3
______
NEXT MORNING
______
“How was the evening, Sir…?” I
ask the politician.
“We really enjoyed ourselves till
the wee hours of the morning…” he says.
“Sir – I have been wanting to ask
you something for a long time – but I don’t have the courage to ask…?” I say.
“Come on – you have been with me
for over 3 years now – you can ask anything you want…” he says.
“Sir – it is about your soldier
friend – you always give him an immediate appointment – and you cancel
everything – however important – just to spend time with him…” I say.
“He is my best friend…” the
politician says.
“But, Sir – he is just a soldier
– and – you are such an eminent person – so wealthy – so powerful – and – you
only move in “high-society” – and – you eat and drink the best – but – when
your soldier friend comes – you drink cheap military rum with him…” I say, “and
yesterday – you cancelled a most important appointment – a crucial political
meeting…”
“I told you once – my soldier
friend is the most important thing to me – so – when he comes – other things
just don’t matter…” the politician says.
The politician pauses – looks at
me – and says:
“Okay – I know you are curious –
today – I will tell you about our friendship. We – the soldier and I – we were
classmates in school – best friends. After finishing school – both of us wanted
to join the Army – so – when there was a recruitment rally – both us went there
– we both wanted to join the Army…”
“Oh – so you too were in the Army
– Sir…?” I say.
“No. He was selected – but – I
was rejected…” the politician says.
“You were rejected – why…?” I
asked him.
“Till today – I really don’t know
why the rejected me…” the politician says, “they made us do all the tests – and
– they selected him and rejected me…”
“You must have been
disappointed…” I say.
“Yes – I was terribly
disappointed – but – my friend was even more disappointed than me – and he said
that he would not join the Army since I was not coming – you see – we had been
inseparable friends since childhood…” the politician says, “but I convinced him
to go and join the Army…”
“And you…? Sir…?” I ask him.
“Well – I did odd jobs – here and
there – for a few years – and then – a political party asked me to do campaign
work during elections – later – I joined that political party – and – the rest
is history – as they say…” the politician says, “but throughout my bad days my
friend would write to me and boost my morale…”
“And your friendship remains as
strong as ever…” I say.
“Yes – whatever happens – we will
always remain friends…” he says.
“Sir – if you don’t mind – I
wanted to ask you if your soldier friend mentioned that he was in a bit of
trouble – and – did he ask your help…?” I say.
“No – he didn’t say anything –
what is the matter…?” the politician says, looking surprised.
“His family had taken a loan from
the cooperative bank for their farm – they couldn’t pay back the loan – so –
the bank had declared them as defaulters…” I say.
“Defaulter…? How do you know all
this…?” he asks me.
“Sir – he is your close friend –
and it is my job to keep track of such matters – I knew he would meet you when
he came on leave – and probably ask your help…” I ask.
“You have not understood him – he
will never ask for help – it is a question of dignity – he is a man of honor –
a soldier – and – you have not understood our friendship – obligations can
destroy the best of friendships…” he says.
“So – you are not going to help
him…?” I ask the politician.
“Of course – I am going to help
him – but he should not know that I have helped him – do you understand…?” the
politician says, “you do one thing – pay off the entire outstanding loan and
interest amount – and tell the bank manager to tell my soldier friend that his
loan has been waived under some government scheme. No one should know that I
have paid the money – do you understand…?
“Yes – Sir – it shall be done in
a most discreet manner…” I say to the politician.
“That’s good…” the politician
says, “you have done the right thing to inform me – keep a track of his family
– in case they have any problems – especially when the soldier is away – in
case they need something – but – remember – whenever you help them – do it
quietly and anonymously…”
“Yes, Sir – may I go now…?” I say
to the politician.
“Okay – keep be briefed…” he
says.
_________
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Disclaimer:
1. This story is a work of fiction. 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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