One of my finest hour.

 Writer:- Udhayan Chaudhry

Title of the Piece:- One of my finest hour.

Category:- Story/journal

Date: 24.04.2022.

 

 

One of my finest hour

 

Prologue

 

My name is Udhayan Chaudhry. I had joined Government Service as a Junior Secretariat Assistant  in the year 1986, and took voluntary retirement,  in the year 2019 as a Section Officer. Throughout my career as a Government Servant, I had a reputation of being a difficult person to work with. Maintaining discipline in accordance with the office rules was one of my biggest drawbacks. On top of it, something inside me rebelled at being working under a boss, if it was not to my liking.  Had I been in a private enterprise, in all likelihood, I would not have lasted even a month. In Government Service, it was different. I virtually got away with it. I cannot say I have regrets. At the same time, I am not proud of it either.  Not bowing to the wishes of my bosses as per their likes and dislikes came naturally to me. Probably my difficult relationship with my father throughout my childhood, till he breathed his last, had a lasting subliminal impact on me. For a period of about 32 years, I tried to be a humble Government Servant, a difficult task, considering my proclivity to rebel and being undisciplined. Now, memories of my service life come and go. Specifically, two special memories concerning two officers’ I worked with, holds an important place.

 

 

Part I

 

When I first walked into my officer’s room at Lok Nayak Bhavan, Lodi Road, in the month of January, year 2011, as an Assistant Section Officer, I instantly recognized the person whom I saw 21 years ago in my college.  In the college days, she was an year senior to me. Now, she was my boss.  Her name was Soni Lalwani. She was Under Secretary in Ministry of Home Affairs and my Reviewing officer. Tall, erect, beautiful and slender looking, I introduced myself. I avoided mentioning the past. She briefed me about my work in a stern manner and conveyed the impression of being a strict, and a no nonsense taking boss. I was told to take my seat in the adjoining room along with five other fellow officials.  A chat with my colleagues gave me a blueprint of the work in the Section. The work primarily involved policy related matters with respect to rehabilitation of destitute.  I enquired about my Reporting Officer, i.e, the Section Officer. I was told the concerned official was absent on that day. Two days later, the said official came and sat besides Soni Lalwani in her room. Her name was Palki Nehwal. She was short, slender looking and beautiful too, and gave me the impression of being a mild mannered person. Due to paucity of space in the office, the two officials had to work in the same room. For the first time in my service career, I had to work under two beautiful looking lady officials. Little did I know, then, that both of them would leave an indelible subliminal mark on my life.

 

It all began on a disturbing note in the year 2011. In office, one needs a computer to work with. I was given a seat with no computer. Initially, I had to use the computer assigned to my colleagues to do the work entrusted to me. This went on for few days. My two requests to assign me a computer was not given the due attention it deserved. My third request to Ms Soni Lalwani elicited a fierce response. Said she, “ Why do you come to me for small small things.” I was stunned. Had she been a man, I would have given a mouthful. I kept quiet. “What an arrogant lady”, I murmured to myself. Not assigning a computer to a working official was not a small thing. I was upset and retaliated in my own way. Whatever work came to me, thereafter, was written and submitted on a handwritten note in the file. This went on for a while. After a few days, a note received from the Director, Shri RK Vinayak of the Section on my table read. “ Please send the files duly typed”. It had the desired effect.  Ms Palki Nehwal, Section Officer, saw to it that a computer was installed on my table expeditiously. Thereafter, all files sent via handwritten note were typed by me. I recall, in one day, I had submitted twenty files. It was first of a kind as far as I was concerned.  Throughout my career, I used to submit two or three files a day. Submitting twenty files in a day was an achievement in itself. I did it in a state of anger. In between, I kept to myself. I did not talk to anyone in the Section and neither wished my officers’ a customary “Namaste”. It was my way of retaliation.

 

 I could sense by the gestures of my officers’ that they were flummoxed. Few days later, I got a compliment from Palki Nehwal. “Your English is very good”. I replied with a polite ‘thanks’. Not talking to your colleagues and officers for a length of time is not an easy thing to do. It is not natural. Not doing things which are natural came easily to me when being riled. I simply did my work, went out for a stroll to take a breather, and resumed working on the tasks assigned to me quietly. It went on for a while. Soon the ice broke. It was a custom in the Section to give an introductory party to a newbie. This time the party was for me. I refused the offer initially, but was cajoled by my colleagues and Palki Nehwal to accept it. “We are all a part of a family” said Palki. In deference to their wishes, I acquiesced. The introductory party was graced by the Director Shri RK Vinayak, Ms Soni Lalwani, Ms Palki Nehwal , and my fellow colleagues. A samosa, burfi, chips and a cup of tea was served. A few customary pleasantries were exchanged. No such pleasantries took place between Soni Lalwani and me. I kept quiet, and so did she. The formalities were completed within a short time.  Thereafter, it was work as usual.

 

Dealing with complaints of the destitute and Parliament Questions related to them did not come easily to Palki Nehwal. On several occasions, She got a rebuke from Soni Lalwani. Instead of summoning me into their room, it was she who came to me most of the time. I was successful in resolving the matter without much difficulty. With time, she became dependent on me. Consequently, we became close, but I maintained a respectable distance. Tongues in the Section began to wag.  Soni Lalwani did not like our proximity. That was when it all began.

 

Soon Palki Nehwal applied for leave for pressing family commitments. In her absence, I had to report directly to Soni Lalwani. I did not give her reasons to complain as far as my work was concerned. Indiscipline was a big issue. The work my colleagues did it in a day, took me barely two hours to complete. I am not boasting. I outscored my colleagues both in quantity and quality of work. It compensated for my indiscipline. There was an unwritten rule in the Section, that quality and quantity of work took precedence over other failings. One day, exasperated by the incompetence of her Personal Assistant, She called me in her room. She gave a long dictation to me over an important matter. I remember having completed the assignment within a short span of time. She was amazed and was forced to compliment me. I felt, I had earned it. The said work which fell under the purview of her Personal Assistant was done by me without much ado. Thereafter, to the best of my memory, I helped her complete all the important work in the Section. Throughout, I maintained a stoic silence.    I could sense, she wanted to have a conversation with me. Women’s ego and especially an officer cannot take it, if the subordinate does not desire to have a one o one conversation. One day she spoke. “Mr Chowdhury, you don’t seem to speak much. The only person with whom you speak is Palki”. I looked at her and she gave a mischievous smile. I felt embarrassed. I replied, ”What I talk is official in nature. After all she is my reporting officer”. She nodded with a smile and I excused myself and went back to my room. Honestly, after her fierce reaction before, I did not expect what I just heard. I was pleasantly surprised. Few days after the said incident,  Palki Nehwal resumed her duties. Soon it was business as usual. She used to come to me and I helped her. One day, we were alone in the Section. Other colleagues and Ms Lalwani had gone out. She called me in her room and offered samosas along with cold drinks. I gladly obliged. The conversations were personal in nature. All of a sudden, Soni Lalwani came back into her room. Seeing both of us together was something new to her. I could detect a faint smile. After some time, I went back to my room. To my delight, such incidents recurred inadvertently. I felt my stars were good. Never in my service career did I have such a privilege. Tongues in the entire Department began to wag, but I acted oblivious to them.

 

 As days went by, I began to enjoy working in the Section. My relations with my colleagues improved. I began to crack jokes. One day Soni Lalwani came into my room and sat beside me. I felt uncomfortable. She wanted me to transcribe. This was done in the presence of her Personal Assistant, a lonely man, who kept aloof. I obliged her. Incidentally, such incidents recurred. The gaze of my colleagues was on both of us.  We acted oblivious to them and proceeded with the work in as natural manner as it could be. It had an adverse affect on Palki Nehwal. She stopped talking to me. I did not know how to react. Soni Lalwani began to throw informal parties in our room. Samosas, chips and a cup of tea became a routine matter. I felt, she did such things on purpose in order to show one-upmanship over Palki Nehwal. There is an ancient saying, “Two women cannot remain cordial towards each other for a length of time”. It was during that period, I talked to Soni Lalwani about our college days. She was taken by surprise. “Why did not you tell this before?”, she queried . I replied, “I was searching for an opportune time to say so”. Thereafter, our relations became cordial. I could sense, she wanted to talk to me one o one, but could not do so because of office decorum.  Palki Nehwal had to come to me to solve her official problems. I obliged her happily as a willing subordinate. On several occasions when she came to me, Soni Lalwani used to come into our room on some pretext or the other. Although I enjoyed it, yet, I cannot say the same for Palki Nehwal.

 

One day Palki Nehwal beckoned me to go to the adjoining records room. Certain old files were to be searched and files in the Section had to be kept in the records room as per official procedure. The said work is routinely done by a Peon in the office. I obliged her willingly. I could sense, she wanted a one o one conversation with me.  Both of us were alone in the records room . As I continued to search the files, she remarked. “Aaj kal aap ke aor Soni ke beech mein bahut baat cheet hoti hai, Aap ney college ki baat chhupa ke kyon rakha. PA ke hotey huey, woh aapko kyo dictation deti hai” ?. Roughly translated, “ These days, Soni and you talk much. Why did you hide that both of you studied in the same college. In the presence of her PA, why does she gives dictation to you”?. Before, I could reply, lo and behold, Soni Lalwani came into the records room. Stunned by her unexpected arrival, I kept a straight face. Palki Nehwal went on to great lengths to explain the reasons for seeking my services.  Soni Lalwani did not say anything. She kept on observing me doing my work. Never in my wildest imagination did I expect such an incident.

 

Soni Lalwani enjoyed singing by herself in a low tone. I was told music was one of her passions. I also had a habit of humming Hindi film songs. On several occasions, I worked and hummed at the same time. My colleagues complimented me on my humming. They felt, it was melodious. I could feel, both Palki Nehwal and Soni Lalwani listened to my humming, but kept quiet. I am sure, they enjoyed it.  One day , when  I was in one of my lighter moods, I hummed a Kishore Kumar song. Later, I was told by Palki Nehwal  that Soni Lalwani had lend her ears to listen to my humming. What a compliment it was !. On another occasion, in the presence of two colleagues, I began to dance on my seat to a Hindi film song in the absence of my officers’, when all of a sudden, Soni Lalwani came from behind.  I was caught unaware. Deeply embarrassed, I feigned innocence. I was told by my colleagues, that she gave a mischievous smile and went to her room. Inside her room, she started singing. My colleagues winked at me. I felt I was having the time of my life. There is a saying “ All good things come to an end”. Mine came abruptly.

 

In the month of December, 2011, I was transferred from the said Department. The transfer order roughly read, “ The following officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs are transferred to the allotted Departments. They are directed to join immediately. No request for retaining the above officers would be entertained under any circumstances. This holds with the approval of Secretary.” I was one of the five officials who were transferred. I was shocked. Despite by best performance in my service career, I was transferred. Both Soni Lalwani and Palki Nehwal fought for my retention in the Section with our Director, but to no avail. I had to go. Later, I was told that I was transferred on grounds of indiscipline. Palki Nehwal was almost in tears on my transfer. I had to bid adieu.  I did not know, then, I would again have to work in the same Department and meet them after three years amidst different circumstances. A roller coaster ride was in store for me in the future.

 

 

Part II

 

Cometh the year 2012, I had to work in a different department. It was a new building, the officers were also new.  The Department was an important one in Ministry of Home Affairs as compared to Rehabilitation Department. The work involved dealing with administrative matters related to paramilitary forces. Although, the work was challenging, yet, I could not digest my transfer. To put it bluntly, I missed working under Palki Nehwal and Soni  Lalwani. Honestly, I was more close to Palki Nehwal . For reasons which cannot be explained but understood, I missed them terribly. My rebellious streak and my indiscipline came to forefront. It landed me in trouble. I did not like the new atmosphere. My performance dropped significantly. In the Rehabilitation Division, I used to submit an average of ten files in a day. In the new division, I struggled to submit even one.  Soon, I was reprimanded for my attitude. I got a warning for my indiscipline. Nothing new for me, but considering the importance of the Division, it became a serious matter. I had altercation with my Reporting Officer at regular intervals.  I considered him a rude person. He considered me an upstart. This went on for a considerable length of time. Soon, I got information which turned things upside down. It was related to my transfer order. As mentioned earlier, one of the things mentioned in the transfer order read “ No request for retaining the above officers would be entertained under any circumstances. This holds with the approval of Secretary”. Subsequently, I came to know, I was the only official who was transferred. Other officials were retained in their Divisions. I also came to know that the said officials had problems related to discipline. All hell broke loose inside me. I confronted the administration on the matter related to my transfer. I was told that transfers and retentions were prerogative of higher officials; a official like me should not question them. I said, “these are not in conformity with the office order”. I was politely told that it was the standard official language which was routinely used. I was furious, but had to return empty handed. Seething with anger, I submitted an application requesting for a transfer to Rehabilitation Division on the grounds that the other four officials were retained against the order of Secretary. I remember having written, that, not following the order of the Secretary was a serious offence. It took my officers’ by shock. My request was rejected. Meanwhile my relations with my officers deteriorated. In my anger, I took full advantage of the situation, and absented frequently. That was unacceptable to them. They did not know what to do. I did not budge from my position. One day, I was severely reprimanded by my Reporting Officer. He warned me of taking strict action. Quietly, I went to my room, and applied for Voluntary retirement on grounds of harassment.  It hit every officer hard. I had dared them at their own den. I also accused the concerned officials for causing me severe psychosomatic problems. I submitted a copy of treatment received from Safdurjung Medical Hospital. All the concerned officers got scared. It was an unprecedented situation.  I was determined to leave and they did not know what to do. They blinked. I was subsequently transferred from the Division. Wherever, I went, my reputation preceded me. No officer was willing to accept me. I became famous in my Ministry for wrong reasons. For almost three years, I became an untouchable and a pariah. My request for voluntary retirement was not forwarded. 

 

Meanwhile a personal tragedy struck me. In the year 2013, my mother was diagnosed with Cancer. She expired after few months. I was devastated. In complete disarray, I did not know what to do. I wandered like a vagabond. My psychosomatic problems became bad. I just survived. In the end of 2014, I was transferred to Rehabilitation Division. Three years had passed. I had virtually forgotten Palki Nehwal and Soni Lalwani. I rarely met them in between. Out of sight became out of mind. Destiny had again beckoned me to meet them. This time, it was a different story.

 

            Although, I had to work in the Rehabilitation Division, yet to my dismay, it was not to be under Soni Lalwani and Palki Nehwal. I was given a different Section. I came to know subsequently, that I was transferred previously from the said Division on the instructions of the Director, Shri R.K Vinayak. I was understandably upset. I  did not join deliberately. Days went by. I spent my time reading in the Library. Soon after a call came from the said Division that I had not joined. I was instructed by the Administration Division to do so. Reluctantly, I went and joined. The Division was shifted to a new building at Janpat, New Delhi from Lok Nayak Bhavan, Lodi Road. My new Officer was a lady named Ritu Madan. She was a fat and an aggressive lady. She gave me a mouthful for joining late.  To my shock, Shri R.K Vinayak remained my Director. I understood, it was he who had briefed her about me. It took time for the dust to settle. I met Soni Lalwani and Palki Nehwal. They were pleased to see me. Palki Nehwal warned me about my new officer. “ Ussey saavdhan rehna, (be careful of her), she is a dangerous lady”. Her words were prophetic. Worse was yet to come. It came in the form of Shri KS Rajput. He was the Division’s new Joint Secretary. A bachelor by choice, but had a terrible reputation. In his introductory session, he had warned about indiscipline and lackadaisical approach towards work. He went on say that he had suspended 10 officers before. Normally, a humble ranking Assistant Section Officer does not have to meet a Joint Secretary on a regular basis. I felt, I could somehow manage. I outscored my other two colleagues both in quality and quantity of work. Indiscipline still remained a big issue. Ms Ritu Madan did not like me. I could sense it by her behavior.  Soon the sitting arrangements of the officials were changed. By a coincidence my seat was placed adjacent to the room of Soni Lalwani.  Palki Nehwal was in a different room. Thereafter a group of Data entry workers on temporary basis were inducted. It consisted of young boys and girls. They worked as a supporting staff. I did my work and kept to myself, but the enthusiasm was lacking. Time changed many things. KS Rajput became a terror. Every day, he would admonish an officer in the Section and closely monitored each and every staff. In my entire service career, I never experienced a Joint Secretary who monitored the work of every staff of the Section. He used to hold a meeting of the Section Officers and above on a daily basis. Everyone dreaded him. The atmosphere in the Section became very uncomfortable. Incidentally, Ritu Madan and Soni Lalwani were in his good books. He appeared to have a particular affinity for Soni Lalwani. Most of the officers were insulted on a daily basis. Soon, Soni Lalwani was made in charge of the Administration of Rehabilitation Division.. She did the job with aplomb. My mother’s death had left me disturbed. It was compounded by the behavior of KS Rajput. The only breather, the Department had, was when he had to go out of the State for an official purpose. The atmosphere in the Section would then become jovial. Young girls, namely, Kitu Chandana, Shilpa Sharma and Shrishti  Gupta whose seats were placed adjacent to me,  chatted with me in their free time. In course of time, they began to enjoy my company and I with them. It irked Soni Lalwani and Ritu Madan. My habit of humming while doing the work and Soni Lalwani’s singing inside her room in low tone remained intact. The above mentioned girls working adjacent to me complimented me on my humming. Once Kitu said, “ Sir jab aap gungunate hou, phir hum sab aapko sirf sunte hai”.(Sir, When you hum, we listen to you intently). I replied with a polite ‘thanks’ and said “It was a big complement to me. At least it gives me an incentive to work in this hostile atmosphere”. They laughed unanimously. Old times had revisited in a different way. I used to help them in their work. Ritu Madan continued to find new ways of altercation with me. One day, she complained to Soni Lalwani about my proximity with the girls. She became upset. In my spare time, I went to Palki Nehwal and gossiped with her. One day she said “ Mr Chowdhury, Soni and Ritu do not like you to meet me. They become jealous”. I replied, “I take it as a big compliment”. She laughed. I said “ As long as you do not object, I will keep on coming. The day you object, I will not. It is a promise”. She said ‘Ok’ with a big smile. She also had her limitations. After all, it was office, and the atmosphere had changed dramatically. One day, probably, irked by my proximity with the girls’, Soni Lalwani reprimanded the girls for no worthwhile reason. They had to endure it for risk of loosing their jobs. Amidst these incidents, my humming and her singing continued. One day, while humming and being engrossed in the work, she stood behind me. I was oblivious to her presence. Later, Kitu Chandana, told me that she was intently listening to my humming and gestured them to keep quiet. When my humming stopped, she went away.

 

 Meanwhile my relations with Ritu Madan deteriorated. I promptly requested for transfer from the Section. It had a devastating effect. Ritu Madan took my application of transfer to KS Rajput. It was rejected. Up to then, my indiscipline was condoned, because, I had supposedly outscored my colleagues as far as quality of work in the Section was concerned. My application for transfer had hurt Ritu’s ego. Along with  R.K Vinayak, the Director, they instigated KS Rajput. Although my work output was good, yet my discipline remained poor.  “Why was I not told about this before” asked KS Rajput. Thereafter, he went for my jugular. He blamed Soni Lalwani who was in charge of the Administration. She wrote a note against me. My attendance register was sought. Absenteeism and late coming became my Achilles heel. I had no defense against it. KS Rajput initiated disciplinary proceedings against me.  The Administration of the Ministry game me a memorandum and threatened me with major penalty. For the first time in my career, I became scared of losing my job. After consulting senior colleagues in the Ministry and a lawyer who dealt in such matters, I was advised to submit medical certificate of my treatment, consequent to demise of my mother.That was the only defense I had. It came to my rescue. Initiating disciplinary proceedings against an official who had undergone treatment due to demise of his mother is not an easy thing to do. The Administration kept my proceedings in abeyance. Meanwhile, Soni Lalwani talked to Palki Nehwal about my predicament. Palki was advised to counsel me. “He won’t listen to me”, I know, he will listen to you”, She said.  One day, Palki Nehwal took me to a canteen and counseled me. “Just talk to KS Rajput once”, she implored. “Tell him about your personal problems, he would surely listen”, she said. Reluctantly, I accepted her advice. I had no other option. One day, I summoned up enough courage to talk to him. He was receptive to me and gave a patient hearing. I told him, consequent to my demise of my mother, I was disturbed and it adversely affected my work and discipline. To my surprise, KP Rajput relented. “OK, Mr Chowdhary, I will give you one opportunity. I will closely monitor you. Do not give your officers reason to complain”, said he. I breathed a sigh of relief and went back to my room. Ritu Madan and RK Vinayak were delighted at my predicament. I was demoralized. I had to bow down.

 

Part III

 

 Palki Nehwal was promoted as Under Secretary and was posted to a different Ministry.  She was the only one with whom I confided. I knew she was fond of me as I was of her. It acted as a balm. Soon she went. I felt devastated. I went back to my shell and quietly did my work. I was forced to improve my discipline.  Hirtherto, I used to come at 11am, thereafter, I had to come between 9 and 9.30A.M. The official hours were from 9am to 5.30pm.  Soni Lalwani wanted to talk to me. I was in no mood to talk to her. After all, she had written a note against me. Previously, I used to wish her and talked to her informally. Now it all stopped. She felt bad. My humming stopped and so did her singing. I stopped talking to the girls. They too were upset. The atmosphere in the Section became tense. It had no effect on Ritu Madan. She took advantage of the situation and started pestering me, as did RK Vinayak. This went on for a while until I could take it no more. For the second time in my life, I applied for Voluntary Retirement. It was rejected on the grounds that a disciplinary proceeding was pending against me. I sought transfer from the Section, it too was rejected. I was flummoxed. Never in my service career, did I face such a predicament. I realized, I got what I gave to others. It was a form of divine retribution.

 

Soon an incident happened in the section, which lifted my spirits. It was an unfortunate one. A Peon in the Section suddenly collapsed after meeting KP Rajput. It was later found that KP Rajput had threatened the said peon with expulsion. The peon could not take it. A stretcher and an ambulance were summoned. The peon was hospitalized. KP Rajput was summoned by the Secretary. It became a serious matter. For some days, KP Rajput kept quiet and so did Ritu Madan and RK Vinayak. Meanwhile, I had come to know about an incident involving KP Rajput which took place three years back.. He had manhandled a Member of Parliament. It was a serious offence. I was told; he had to tender an apology in the Parliament. The Secretary, who was supposedly close to he had come to his rescue. The said Secretary retired. The new Secretary of the Ministry did not look kindly towards KP Rajput. It was a blessing in disguise for me. Soon the peon was discharged from the hospital and was subsequently transferred to another Section. KP Rajput went away for a leave for a month. All the officials in the Division breathed a sigh of relief. Whenever, I could, I took leave on medical grounds. Soni Lalwani inquired about my well being from the girls. I was informed about the same, when I joined office. I ignored it. One day, Kitu said to me in hushed tone, “ Sir, Woh aapkow Chahati hai” (She wants you). I replied, “Please do not talk rubbish”. She continued, “Sir, hum aurat hai, hum yeh sab samaj lete hain. Aap aadmi ho, yeh sab aap samaj nahi saktey. Jis tarak se woh aapko dekti hai aor aapsey baat karna chahti hai, hum samaj letey hain” (“We are women, we know these things. You are a man, you won’t understand all these things. The way she looks at you and wants to talk to you, we understand it”). Honestly, I did not know what to say and maintained silence. I had heard rumors about her difficult relationship with her husband. Once Palki Nehwal had hinted about the same too. It was supposed to be a personal matter. So, I refrained talking about it.  

 

One day, for no apparent reason, Soni Lalwani snapped. She summoned me to her room and angrily told me to search a file concerning her Section. It made no sense to me I asked, “why am I told to search a file concerning your section”?. “Because at one time, it was your Section too”, she replied, and handed me the number of the file. I left the room quietly and went to my previous section where I had worked three years back. The file was not in the Section. I searched an earlier register and found the subject matter related to the number. It was opened by me, then. Memories of that day with Palki Nehwal in the records’ room came to me. At that time, I had helped her to keep that file in the said room. It was practically of no importance.  I took the same and gave it to Soni Lalwani. She inquired; “From where did you get this file”?. “From the records room” I replied. “It’s your entire fault”, she said. I kept quiet and went back to my room. I was dazed. The girls looked at me. It all had happened before them. I could sense what they wanted to say to me. “ Sir, hell has no fury then a women who is scorned”. A week later, another incident took place which shook me to the core. On that day,  I was  working up to 6 P.M. The room was empty. I was engrossed in a work with a matter related to information being sought under RTI. The phone on Ritu Madan’s table rang. It was at some distance from my seat.  I did not pick up the phone. Suddenly a peon  came  and told me that Soni Lalwani had called me into her room. Normally, she used to leave the office at 5.30P.M. I did not know, She was in her room. I entered her room and she gave me a glare and asked “Why did you not respond to my phone in the Section”. I was aghast. I replied, “I was not expecting any call at this hour”. She said, “don’t you realize why I have called you”. I did not know what to say and neither knew what to do. Luckily for me the Peon entered her room She gestured me to go. I left her room hurriedly. My hands were trembling. I closed my computer and went away. I was dazed and dumbfounded. Kitu Chandana’s words echoed in my mind while going back to my home. The subsequent day, I went to the office as if nothing had happened.  Soni Lalwani came. I could sense, she was gazing at me before entering her room. The girls gazed at me in return. I kept quiet with my head bowed.

 

 I had made a decision to leave the Section once and for all. Things were becoming too difficult for me to handle. I approached the Administration Division of the Ministry directly. Luckily an Under Secretary who was known to me was posted in the Administration Division. I requested for a transfer. It was promptly accepted. Three days later, the transfer order came in the Section. It took the entire Section by surprise. Ritu Madan could not believe it. She made a vain attempt to stop my transfer. In this regard, she had the audacity to talk to KP Rajput, while he was on leave. But to no avail. Despite her best efforts, I had escaped her clutches. I joined my new Section in the autumn of the year 2016. Subsequently, I came to know that my substitute posted in that Section had not joined. Ms Ritu Madan had to handle my share of work. Her work load doubled. My baser instinct had the pleasure of having had the last laugh.

 

I was told by one of the girls that Soni Lalwani looked disturbed. She inquired, “how could I leave the Section without the relieving order” ?. She was told that no relieving order was needed,  if an official was transferred from one section to another. One day in my new section, Shrishti Gupta came and told me that Soni Lalwani wanted to talk to me. I refused politely. I told Shrishti to say to her the following lines: “ Woh afsana jisko anjaam dena na ho, mumkin, usey ek khoobsoorat maur pe chhor dena Aachaa hai”. Roughly translated, “(That journey which has commenced, but does not have any destination, should be discontinued, and one should move away from it gracefully. ) She went away smilingly. Few months later, Soni Lalwani was promoted as a Deputy Secretary to another Ministry.

 

Cometh, 1^st January, 2017, I went to meet my old friends in Ministry of Commerce and Industry at Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi. Lo and behold, there, I met Soni Lalwani by chance. Both of us were taken my surprise. She was posted in that Ministry. I wished her a happy new year and enquired about her well being. She asked,  whether I was posted in the said Ministry. I said, I had come to greet my old friends. “You have worked here before”?. She inquired. “Yes”, I replied. “I  worked here for 22 years before working under you six years ago”, I continued. “I hope you are fine here”.  She replied smilingly “ Thank you so much Udhayan”. This time, I took leave from her gracefully. That was the last time I saw her. Two years later, in 2019, I was promoted as a Section Officer. I decided to take voluntary retirement to start a new journey. I was told, she had also taken voluntary retirement in the same year. What a coincidence it was!.

 

 

Epilogue

 

Thus ended my 32 years of journey as a Government Servant. I thanked God for making me retire gracefully. I had survived the ordeal. Since my retirement, I have been in touch with Palki Nehwal through w’app’. We continue to wish each other on important religious occasion. I wrote to her, that, I gave my best performance under her and Soni Lalwani.  That performance, I could not replicate under any other officer in my service career. “Your performance was phenomenal under us”, she replied. That acknowledgment, apart from other related emotions, probably, was one of my finest hour in the service career.

 

 

(I have  changed the name of the officers’ and the Department I  worked under for personal reasons.  I have taken a writer’s artistic license to dramatize the said story a bit. However, the essence of the story remains intact to the best of my belief , memory and knowledge)