Page 23 - #letter to son

SUNRISE
Dear son,

Belief, I decided, is irresistible.

If you have belief in a cause it transcends above all else – above people,
above petty politics, above everyday circumstances, above routine
situations. I believed in the power of audit and I had invested my faith in
diligence and governance. Far from being just a fiduciary responsibility,
I considered my work a moral obligation to the society.

Belief had turned me into a new leaf. And the gift of belief was bestowed
by a senior partner of the Chartered Accountancy firm where I was
pursuing my articleship to whom I’m eternally indebted.

Striding along the corridors of a Delhi-based public sector behemoth
working for rural development, I realised I’d walked back in time. The
air hung in a dusty mist. Files were heaped in small mounds. Rusty
chairs creaked all day. The almighty clerks and office-bearers basked in
the glory of a federal job. If they were found on their desks that is.

I felt like a subdued David. Just short of running away in the opposite
direction towards the doors, I approached an official and requested for
the documents to begin my probe – audit that is. He smirked and asked
me to wait. I took up a chair. Soon, seconds rolled into minutes and
minutes ticked into hours. I looked at him and then looked at my watch.
He looked away. As if he had no time to cater to my request. Quite
ironical, I thought. I went again. This time I pleaded, begged almost.
He acquiesced. But shoved at me papers that I had little use of. When
I pointed it out, he pointed me to the chair. I sat and waited. Until the
office slowly emptied itself out. The exact same situation played out the
next day. Desk to chair. Chair to desk. Desk to chair. And chair to the
exit door.

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