Page 81 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

willfully. We requested him to keep this matter strictly confidential as we
were going to meet him any way and try to speak to him. The Head
cashier felt very bad. I consoled him that we would try but now in a
different way, in light of the information received about the customer.

We reached Vikram Singh's house and greeted him and addressed him
as "Chaudhary Sahib" which was considered a very respectful title. He
too greeted us and asked us how the bank team was there in their locality.
I told him, "Our Head Cashier paid Rs1,000/- excess by mistake and he is
so much worried as this is equal to his 3 weeks' salary and he has to make
good this amount out of his salary. He could not recollect with accuracy
which customer might have received excess. But some possibility of
payment to you was there as per record of denominations of notes given.
So, we are here. While asking some customers about your address they
told us that you were a Chaudhary (meaning one of the respectable few)
in that area and well known for your financial worth and honesty. I have
told my cashier that he need not worry about losing his salary because
if Chaudhary Vikram Singh has received excess payment, he might not
have counted the notes. He would definitely return the excess amount if
he had received unknowingly, looking to his high reputation in the area."

Vikram Singh immediately retorted, "I have not actually counted the cash
and gave it to my son to keep. When he would return in the late evening,
we shall count and let you know tomorrow." I told the Head Cashier in
front of the customer, "Look, I told you already, if Chaudhary Sahib has
received excess cash, you would surely get it back." The customer seemed
happy and we did not discuss anything further about cash. We requested
him for some referrals who have some financial worth and can keep
deposits with us and chatted for a while in general. We thanked him for
the hospitality and left.

Cashier was complaining that I was too soft in telling the customer to
pay back. I told him to wait till next day. If he did not pay this way, he
would never pay otherwise also. If he directly admitted that he took the

78 | A Banker down the Rabbit Hole