Based on real life, though names and places have been changed, Soumya profiles the life and times of a new probationer in a bank. An exclusive for Different Truths.  

Ajay Sharma was slightly apprehensive. This was to be his first day at the job.

Ajay was from a respectable middle class family from UP. His father worked for the state government, and he grew up in Lucknow, living in government quarters, studying in a missionary school, always a good diligent student, if not brilliant, and therefore continued through to Allahabad University, and tried unsuccessfully to crack the UPSC and fulfil his father’s dreams of seeing his son as an IAS officer.

Ajay was from a respectable middle class family from UP. His father worked for the state government, and he grew up in Lucknow, living in government quarters, studying in a missionary school, always a good diligent student

After the regulation couple of attempts were unsuccessful, he did what millions of others like him did in those days, go to plan B, and take the competitive exams for the various public sector companies and the state civil service. This backup plan was immediately successful, and he had a choice of three different professions.

The family elders discussed the options and decided that the best option was to be a banker, especially as the posting was in UP, in a newly nationalised bank, and accordingly Ajay was dispatched to a Branch office somewhere near Agra.

He, therefore, left with all blessings from his elders and the family priest and much advice from his father about ethics and conduct of a government official

He, therefore, left with all blessings from his elders and the family priest and much advice from his father about ethics and conduct of a government official, and the need to make a good first impression.

The late night train from Lucknow left him in the sleepy station early in the morning, and after sprucing up in the station toilet, and dressed neatly in pressed clothes and a tie, but retaining the tika the priest had put on his forehead, he took a rickshaw to the bank address carrying his luggage.

The late night train from Lucknow left him in the sleepy station early in the morning, and after sprucing up in the station toilet, and dressed neatly in pressed clothes and a tie, but retaining the tika the priest had put on his forehead

He arrived and found the doors locked, but the signboard assured him that he had reached the right place, so he waited quietly on the doorstep with his suitcase and hold all.

In a little while, someone turned up, unlocked the doors and proceeded to sweep the place, ignoring him. He tentatively went inside, kept his luggage and sat quietly to wait for the manager.

Slowly people started turning up and finding this young man with a tie and suitcase asked him his business. On hearing that he was the new officer they told him to wait for the Branch Manager.

As more people came in, work did not seem to start, but people were gathering in groups and discussing something in an undertone, occasionally giggling.

On his timid query as to whether there was a problem, he was assured that not at all, he was merely held up at the police station, the office peon was also with him, and that the field officer has gone to the PS to get them back, and they should be arriving soon.

After an hour, he went up to a senior looking person and asked about joining for duty.  He was told that he was to wait, and the Branch Manager, who was held up for a bit, would arrive shortly and accept his joining report. On his timid query as to whether there was a problem, he was assured that not at all, he was merely held up at the police station, the office peon was also with him, and that the field officer has gone to the PS to get them back, and they should be arriving soon.

Worried, Ajay asked whether the work involve encounters with the police. He was reassured that not at all, this was mere routine, and had happened before, and that an unexpected raid the night before in the famous red light district in the town had unfortunately netted the manager, but his broker was the office peon, an old hand at this, and the Manager was a known and respected man in the town, and he would soon be back.

Worried, Ajay asked whether the work involve encounters with the police. He was reassured that not at all, this was mere routine, and had happened before, and that an unexpected raid the night before in the famous red light district in the town had unfortunately netted the manager, but his broker was the office peon, an old hand at this

A much shaken Ajay awaited this respectable boss, wondering about the advice from his father on ethics and first impressions.

Anyway, soon this great man came in, looking quite pleased with himself, and was congratulated by all his staff.

Ajay was introduced to him, and was warmly received as a young officer, direct recruit, almost like the IAS, and the future of the company. He was told that first of all they would help him find an accommodation, helped to settle in, arrange his board and lodging, make him comfortable, then teach him office work, which would be in the accounts department, but he would sometimes have to work as a teller. But first he must see the sites and enjoy the pleasures of their little town. An ancient accountant was to show him his duties, and the aforementioned peon would take care of the other things. With a wink the boss assured him that in case he was lonely, being a bachelor, his guide could show him the pride of their town, famous for their entertainment district, which housed the ladies of negotiable virtue. He said that the place was so famous that even people from Delhi came there to relax.

An ancient accountant was to show him his duties, and the aforementioned peon would take care of the other things. With a wink the boss assured him that in case he was lonely, being a bachelor, his guide could show him the pride of their town, famous for their entertainment district, which housed the ladies of negotiable virtue.

A terrified Ajay later learnt that most of the staff were locals, as was the manager, all employees of an erstwhile private bank, now merged in the PSU giant, and the manager was actually the earlier owner’s son, with a taste for the good life. The peon used to be his favorite broker, and just before nationalisation was appointed by the manager as an employee, so that he could be a sarkari employee on merger. The grateful peon was also the manager’s personal servant, and continued to ply his old trade from the office premises. After hours, many startlingly dressed ladies dropped into office and clustered around the peon’s seat, laughing joking and settling accounts. Needless to say, their accounts were with this bank. They sometimes winked at the petrified Ajay, working late to sort out the muddled accounts

Of course, none of this was relayed to his parents in his weekly letters, and he assured them about conducting his work and life with the highest moral standards as befitted the Sharma khandan.

Photo from the Internet