Page 84 - #letter to son

SUNSET CONTEMPLATIONS
Dear son,

It is such a paradox that people want both God and wealth.

They want their ventures to be successful, their children to study well,
their health to remain perfect and their household to be in impeccable
order. They want to be spiritual purists as well as wealthy perfectionists.
They want this and also that.

I recall an instance of my youth when I was working at an engineering
consultancy in 2004. An entity of the Indian Railways, a public sector
undertaking engaged in specialised manufacturing and modernisation
technologies, had owed our company over Rs. 5 crores. I was tasked with
the responsibility to recover this amount. When I did a little study on the
account, I found that the funds were due for over six years. Surprised, I
got down to work. I made a list of employees in the government-owned
enterprise who could help me. Working like a recovery agent, I would
call them diligently every day to do tagada (follow-up). Sometimes, if
they did not abruptly hang up, they would give me the contact details of
their colleagues and even their higher-ups and I would also chase them,
snooping for anything that could give me a breakthrough. At times
when I felt phone calls were not enough, I visited their offices, waiting
long hours just to put in a word to the babus. Those days, people were
not computer-savvy and hence, sending emails was out of the question.
Plus this was (and still is) a sarkaari (government) enterprise.

After almost six months of relentless follow-up, a cheque landed into
our mailbox. Jackpot! The arrival was perhaps the biggest event in the
history of the engineering consultancy. An amount that was almost
written-off came in style in our office. For me, it was sweet success.

However, the sugarcoating quickly melted-off when I was called into my
boss’ office the next day. He waved several bills in front of me. He said
I’d run up a high amount in telephone bills. He hinted if I was making
personal calls. I was angry. I told him about the follow-ups. How I had
chased for the outstanding without loss of enthusiasm. And all this with a
76