THE INTERVIEW

Lekha was summoned to the Branch Manager’s cabin to receive a phone call. She was in the midst of tallying the Cash Book when the call came. It was her uncle. He merely ordered her to leave whatever she was doing and come home immediately. He would neither hear her nor say anything further. The Branch Manager who had overheard the conversation as her uncle had literally shouted on the phone, asked her to go home saying that he would get her work done by someone else. He always had a very soft corner for Lekha as she was a very sincere, responsible and hardworking employee. Lekha had got the job in the bank on compassionate grounds as her father had died in an accident when on office duty. Her mother had died while giving birth to Lekha. Now that Lekha had no one to look up to, her uncle and aunt reluctantly took her under their wings.

However, when they came to know that Lekha would be employed in the Bank, they were quite relieved because with her salary they could count on some extra income. They had two daughters and they could save what Lekha earned to take care of their wedding expenses. So far it had been good going as the Provident Fund, Gratuity and all the other benefits Lekha got as the legal heir of her father, had all been put into the account of the uncle and aunt who convinced Lekha that they would take good care of it. A simpleton that she was, Lekha did not object to it, since as far as she was concerned, she had a job and a roof above her head.

She had been working peacefully for nearly four years when all of a sudden, her uncle broached the topic of her marriage. His friend had proposed an alliance where the boy was in a private company earning handsomely. He was the only child in the family and he thought that this could be the best match for Lekha. A meeting was arranged between Lekha’s uncle and Tilak’s (the boy’s) parents Tilak’s parents had confided in him that Tilak was in bad company and they were getting him married with the hope that he would mend his ways. They had also offered to undertake all expenses related to the wedding. The only pre-condition was that Lekha should be a home maker and had to quit her job.

Lekha’s uncle was more than satisfied with this offer. If Lekha left her job, she will be paid her dues which would also be sizeable. Already he had her father’s money and with some more addition, he could easily conduct the marriages of both his daughters, whereas he would not have to spend anything at all for Lekha.

He had called up Lekha asking her to come as Tilak and his parents were formally coming to “see” the bride. Lekha obediently came home and did as she was told. Her cousins dressed her up while her aunt and uncle danced attendance on the guests. Lekha was formally “shown” and they immediately conveyed their consent happily. Not once did anyone ask Lekha about her opinion. Even if she had been asked, it was quite unlikely that Lekha would have shared her views. However, she was startled when she was told that she should submit her papers for resignation straightaway. Lekha looked at her uncle who immediately gave them the word that Lekha would do so the very next day.

The wedding was just a week away and Lekha could not comprehend all that was happening. She felt uneasy about leaving a good job where she had earned a name for herself, but who would listen to her? Her Branch Manager arranged for a farewell party and wished her well. He also handed over the cheque representing her retirement benefits and advised her to put the money in her account.

Lekha came home with mixed feelings. She was happy about getting married and had been impressed by the dashing looks of Tilak. She had her own dreams of a happy married life, her own home and all, but leaving her permanent job made her feel uneasy.

The wedding took place on a grand scale and Lekha had no time to think about anything. The heaps of dresses and gifts showered on her brought a smile to her innocent face.

A few days went by and the newly wedded couple seemed to bask in the post wedding festivities. Tilak’s parents suggested that they go on their honeymoon and the very next day they set off to Ooty. Tilak and Lekha took turns in driving the car and Lekha truly enjoyed the drive. They checked into the resort and Tilak left her in the room saying that he would be back soon.

Lekha waited and waited and Tilak came towards midnight dead drunk. He fell on the bed and in no time was fast asleep. Lekha removed his shoes with a lot of disgust. Her hunger and anger surfaced but she was in no mood to eat anything. She felt ashamed of Tilak and was thinking what she should do the next day.

Lekha had not slept till the early hours of the morning as her mind was in a whirl. When she did sleep, it was around 5 o’clock. Tilak had got up and freshened himself up. His guilt made him escape from the scene. Even as Lekha was sleeping, he latched the room and went out. He went for a stroll in the lawns where he met a man with a hose in hand, watering the lawn and the flowerbeds.  One look at Tilak, the man knew that this was easy prey. “Shaab, race going?” he asked in broken English. Tilak’s eyes brightened and he eagerly answered in the positive. He then told him that the race for Nilgiris Gold Cup was on and that he had come at the right time. He pulled out the race card detailing the horses, jockeys and the schedule.

Tilak was overjoyed. In Chennai, he had tried his luck at Guindy, but Ooty was different. The track was short, but the jackpot was for Rs. 50 lakhs! He browsed through the race card and was happy to find familiar names of jockeys. He memorised the day’s fixtures and was about to leave after thanking him when he was stopped - “Shaab, hum bet lagayega – dekho tumhij jeetega” – this was what Tilak was waiting for. His luck had not been too good lately and he was advised by a so-called astrologer that if someone else did the betting for him, he would easily hit the jackpot!

He had on his person Rs.40,000/- which his father had given to spend in Ooty. He gave it to the man ticking the names of horses and their jockeys on whom he should place the bet on.

Whistling happily he went back to the room but found Lekha still sleeping. He went to the restaurant to have his coffee and breakfast as he was famished. The cafetaria had just opened and there were other early birds who trickled in for an early morning cuppa. The man on the next table signed to the Manager and asked him why the gardener was not around. The Manager answered him that the gardener was on leave for a week as he had gone to his native place. Tilak’s ears caught this. “Then who was that man watering the lawns and flower-beds?” he jumped. “Oh, that boy! He is a good-for-nothing fellow who just walks in and out of the resort. We have to tolerate him as he is distantly related to the owners of this resort”.

Tilak hurriedly left in search of the man who had his money. Rest of the story can be imagined. After seeking him high and low, he returned in the evening, empty handed to face the wrath of Lekha. Looking at her innocent face, he could not lie to her but blurted the truth. He also told her that he had no more money with him even to pay the hotel bill and that they should pack up and leave quietly and immediately.

Lekha packed up all their things and helped him load them in the car, but went to the Reception and settled the bill using her credit card. She did not speak one word during their return.

It was lunch time when they reached home. Lekha was surprised to see her uncle and aunt enjoying dinner with her in-laws. They were so busy talking with one another that they hardly noticed the couple enter.

Tilak’s father spoke in a booming voice, “Oh what a relief! Now Lekha can take care of him. I am hopeful that she will woo him out of his bad company and change him…..” Lekha’s uncle also chipped in thanking him profusely meeting all the wedding expenses, helping to save the money.

It was not long before that Lekha realised that she had been fooled. The next day she went to the bank to withdraw money and saw to her dismay that all but the minimum balance was available in her account. On her father’s demise, his name was deleted and her uncle’s name was added in his place. She could have recorded instructions of Former or Survivor, but in her magnanimity, stuck to Either or survivor. Her uncle had withdrawn every bit of money.

She went to her uncle’s house to ask him about this money as well as the monetary benefits of her father. She was rudely received and both the uncle and aunt just shut the door in her face saying that they had nothing to do with her now that she was married!

A crestfallen Lekha came to Tilak’s house. Her in-laws too shrugged their shoulders and said that it was her headache and they were not in the picture at all. She decided to spend the night there and then move out the next day, not wanting any “charity.”  

Once in her room, she organised her certificates and wrote out a brief resume. She then sat poring over the newspapers looking for Situations Vacant. She marked a few of them, took down the addresses where walk-in interviews were to be held and then went to sleep, without breathing a word to anybody. Tilak remained as elusive as an eel but it did not bother her now.

She came to the living room where her in-laws were watching a movie. She switched off the TV and demanded their attention. She asked them why they had not told her about Tilak and his bad habits. She got no answer. Later in the day, the police came with a warrant to arrest Tilak. He was involved in embezzlement to the tune of Rs. 30 lakhs! While the parents were agitated, Lekha showed no emotion whatsoever.

After Tilak was taken away, she left the house with her certificates and went to the very first office in her list. The interview was scheduled for 3 p.m., and she reached in good time and waited outside with the other candidates. While waiting she thought about her days in the bank and how peaceful her life had been!

When her turn came, she entered the cabin only to see that the executive was seated on this chair with his back to her. He asked her to sit and asked her a few questions which she replied very correctly. Without turning around, he told her that the job was hers on one condition. His voice was familiar, but she could not place him.

“Condition? And what would that be?” she asked. “You must forgive me.” So saying he turned around to face her. “Oh my God! Amar! I did not expect to see you!” she exclaimed. “I had seen you enter my office on my CCTV and had decided that you would be getting the job as I know you very well. However, you do not know something which I had done when both of us were in college. Those were the days when I was madly in love with you, but you would not bother about anything or anybody. You were so straightforward and would never think of doing anything like falling in love! I therefore wrote a message purportedly from you professing your love for me and managed to keep it on the Principal’s table. When the Principal saw it, he was quite enraged but he did not call for you – he called ME instead. I was not prepared for such an eventuality and so when he started questioning me, I blurted out the truth. The Principal was kind-hearted and so did not inform you about this matter and made me promise that I too would remain silent on this issue. Today, when I saw you walking down my office, I could not hide it from you. I heard that you are married, but married to the wrong guy – wrong in all respects. You deserve someone much better than him…..”

Lekha could not control herself anymore. She broke down and narrated everything to him – how her uncle and aunt had betrayed her and how she had to marry Tilak. Amar looked up to her and said, “I still love you. Could you give me a chance to make you happy? We can wait for you to file for divorce and once that is done, we can start a new life. Will you be mine?” Lekha was overwhelmed. She had no words to speak but her eyes sparkled with love, eagerness and expectation.