Just Bliss

It was a fragrant blissful dreamy morning. When his car stopped at the main entrance of the bank, a driver neatly dressed in spotless uniform stepped forward mechanically and opened door for him to step out. He then obediently moving backwards stood at a distance. Three high ranked officers of the bank welcomed him warmly. On his right were two rows of orderly chrysanthemums adding beauty and in front, the palm trees with big leaves washed down with dew drops enhancing the ambiance welcomed him.

He had never experienced such sophisticated reception before. He gracefully walked through the unblemished white and black marble door towards the lift. The liftman courteously opened the door of the sweet fragrant lift and pressing the push button of the lift expertly like a robot, carried him to the second floor. The elegantly dressed high grade officials of the bank waited in the Executive Hall to receive him.

The scent that engulfed the scenario was similar to scent of desert cacti.

He was designated as the President of that bank. It was his first day of executing his official duties.

After formal introduction of senior staff members the ceremony began with the Holy name of Allah. Then one of the officers introduced his prior creditable experience, regarding him as the fresh energetic blood to boost up the bank with his expertise.

The warm ovation of clapping was a grand welcome to him.

Any meeting without the partaking of Staff Union is unlikely. Thus one of the members of the Staff Union was already present there. He was courteously invited to say something.

It was unbelievable to hear him say what was not expected of him. Usually union members complain of being deprived of their stipend though they are the ones who are provided their shares lucratively.

The Institute from where he came was dreadful to even think of. In his last days of working he felt like a chronic patient of hypertension who sees abstract optical illusions whether awake or sleeping. The vague images appeared and disappeared hastily like electric currents passes through aluminum wires making him nervous. But now he felt like walking on vast meadow of soft lush green grass and all his wishes came true.

He was invited on the stage to say words of wisdom. What he said was highly praised with prolonged applause standing ovation. Every single person appreciated heartily with gratitude as he talked about their necessities, problems, his earnest concern and promise to resolve them.

A small gathering enlightened him as well. He experienced new dynamism and energy in him.

He walked to his room with new spirit and strength of mind.

He was cruelly treated in his previous office. He was held responsible for everything that went wrong. He was rebuked and offended. The awards and rewards he was to get were awarded to others. He was least bothered of awards and medals that others ornamented on their chests that were his right.  He only wanted to stand out and excel with his honesty, merit, ability and loyal virtuous conduct.

It seemed in new office as if he changed his self too, with his old dress. With every step he took he felt like flowers blossoming.

It’s not difficult to renew the old building but it is hard to hold back the falling walls and roofs of the building which were broken by the owners themselves. He was thankful and relieved that he quit from that bank before it completely collapsed.

The peon and his personal secretary welcomed him in his office with a humble smile. He also smiling back to them entered with firm determination to serve with dedicated honesty.

Seeing a small office table he thought that unlike huge tables in office are useless actually as heaps of undone files decay there whereas good quality work is promptly and timely completed on small tables. Big tables are like small covering sheets, if cover feet, the body remains uncovered and vise versa

In one corner a black bowl full of countless floating jasmine flowers that made the whole room fragrant with their sweet scent was placed on a stylish stand. A painting of soothing pastel colors was hung above the bowl of jasmine flowers. In short the ambiance of the room was heartening and reassuring.

Feeling elated he sat on his chair. He was mentally and physically so enthralled like dehydrated mud in first rain emits sweet captivating smell.

He glanced at the picture hung on the wall while tipping off the cigar. The painting was no doubt an artistic piece of art of life and leisure

Then he saw the last year’s balance sheet. He was shocked and instinctively whining heaved a deep sigh as if seen a snake under his chair. Before seeing the balance sheet he felt like a brown cloud hovering, or like a boat swiftly floating in cool breeze on the brink of the sea shore, but now the whole scenario had changed. It was like full moon making the waves wild and furious sweeping the dry land on the shore in order to reach the moon.

The painting on the wall looked like an octopus heading to clutch him. Frightened he closed his eyes and rested his head against the back of the chair. ‘Will the amount of fraud and loss get doubled the next year? What if all the credits turn into failure? Is the achievement publicized all skepticism? Will the storm of locust abolish the whole profit?’ He thought. ‘No, no, I won’t let it happen. I will bring to a standstill and change its route.’

He believed in solution prior to problem though its time taking but not impossible.

He knew that the banks introduce new schemes showing more profit and less interest or loans on minimum mark up to attract people, parties and investors to deposit their capital in their bank to cover up the deficit and achieve their targets so there must be some ways to do away with fraud.

The ocean of worries and the full moon started descending and the octopus was also going back inside its frame. He felt fairly at ease.

On third day after his joining he called a meeting of all heads of all departments of the bank. Where other major points were talked about, fraud was also discussed. It was identified that one or the other member of the staff was involved in one way or the other in fraud. Some were fraudulent themselves; some helped others to deceit or due to disregard and inattention.

He was sitting in his room going through the same agony that he experienced in his previous workplace. Same fraud, cheating, disloyalty and selfishness were in practice here. The loss may be double the size of previous year. He was concerned. The market slump will swallow the business and his dedicated honest services of thirty long years will hence go down the drain.

The employees were tearing down and damaging the bank as in his old bank where he served earlier.

Thus the detractors will get a chance to laugh at the incompetent and fruitless service.

The octopus again seemed coming out of the painting to clutch him and the whole air of his office looked as cyclone is smashing away everything. He closing his eyes rested his head against the back of his revolving chair.

When he opened his eyes the pearls of his wisdom emerged like submarine from the deep waters.

He realized that the chair is not to sit only but to think something constructive. He smiled to himself, then laughed and laughed loudly. He got conscious and looked around his office. Everything was at ease and peace.

‘Fraud selling’ he felt happy like sailors who had lost their way and all of a sudden see the birds on the shore.

The meeting where all head of departments joined was without any agenda. Every officer was anxious and worried. When he started speaking the silence got graver in the room. He said; “Matter of the fact is that one or the other member of the staff is involved directly or indirectly in fraud, so what I’m going to share with you today might feel funny to you but its contentment to me. The outcome of my scheme will be fruitful in future. The scheme will not only benefit the bank in making headway but will also be financially advantageous for the staff. I have given this scheme the name ‘Fraud selling.’

The fraud selling amount will be distributed to the staff in lieu of house rent, conveyance, petrol, according to designation.” When he finished his speech the silence in the room was as the room was vacant for years—-no sound—no noise— no echo—— nothing at all…

Every person looked at each other in disbelief and wonder. When he looked he saw some faces very serious and some were shining as if new spirit was blown into their dead bodies.

After sometime one of the officers smiled, the smile then affected each one of them. As a final point they were all laughing with delight like the sun had suddenly risen after sundown.

After the approval of all present there, in the greater interest of the bank, the meeting was adjourned.

The very next day representatives of clerical staff, cleaners and lift men raised voice after its circulation in the bank against the Fraud selling notice. They held banners saying; “Is the senior staff still unsatisfied with theft that now is rewarded with Fraud selling?”

A sweeper held a banner with the words; “We will wipe out the whole bank” another banner read; “NO to fraud— Long live Fraud Selling— long live President of Fraud Selling”

Timely intervene of the Union settled the angry crowd. All grades were granted Fraud Selling according to their post and position. Every employee was rewarded of 5 basic salaries yearly. It was very welcome by one and all. Holy Pilgrimage, weddings and other major events could be easily and happily carried out without being ashamed of deceit or fraud.

The environment of the bank changed like washed in clean and virtuous rain. Every single person carried out his duties diligently feeling liberated from long imprisonment.

One year passed since he joined this bank. Everything was progressing and promising, fragrant and dreamy morning like his first day was when he joined.

The new balance sheet was placed on his table. He looked at the place where amount of fraud is mentioned. Surprisingly fraud was zero. On the contrary profit grew to the highest scale, just like crowd of passengers flock in 3rd class compartment.

It was the most blissful day of his career. For very first time he felt like brown floating cloud hovering, or like a boat swiftly floating in cool breeze on the brink of the seashore!

The balance sheet was similar to honesty, efficiency diligence and ocean of fragrance passing through a narrow channel. Suddenly he saw a folder underneath the balance sheet. He opened the folder with his progressing victorious hands. A letter of complaint was there from the auditor of the main branch that was just below the President Secretariat.

It was written that the Assistant Manager of the bank took out the amount of Fraud Selling two months earlier illegally. The action against him will be instantly taken.