Jul 5, 2006

Vikrant was in his office. His office desk was positioned close to the window. He glanced at the road. He could see the traffic signal. The vehicles were in motion when the green light was on. They were brought to a halt at the sight of the red light. He felt that even life was connected to analogous signals.

The red signal traps you in impediments and obstacles. A green signal facilitates the rapid way to reach out to the destination.

During the lunch break Vikrant went to the refectory. He consumed his lunch while sipping a coke.  He still had about twelve minutes to get back to duty. Vikrant entered the wash room and splashed water on his face.  He wiped the water and stood in front of the mirror.

Vikrant admired his traits while combing the hair.

Many more would find it extra appealing after a few months. He was sure the green signal of life was not very far. Everything would transform for better and good. He may be labelled as young, dynamic, the achiever and what not. Name, fame and success would always bring the stamp of authority, command and respect.

He beamed and reached back to his desk.

The company where he was working were importing chemicals and distributing it to the local market. He was an ordinary purchase assistant in RN Corporation. He did not have big salary. But Vikrant had tall plans. He was twenty-eight and had been working since last six years.

He was intelligent and attractive. His mind had always resisted the temptations of nailing into affiliation with opposite sex.  He withstood the attraction and defied the pull. He restrained when he was magnetized by his classmate Radhika. Sarika was the girl who was introduced to him by a common friend. There after they met quite regularly at their customary bus stop. He curbed the growing attachment by changing the bus stop. Vikrant completely ignored Miss Veena from the sales department who was still after him. He gave no response to the ever-smiling next-door Miss Ruby. Vikrant always had wanted to impede such liaison for the time being which could drift him out from his next immediate plans.

He knew that he was an average person. Was it imperative for the average persons, not to get into love relationships? 

No. That was not Vikrant’s theory. ‘All are welcome to become the victims of love and marriage. It is one’s personal choice. Being drawn in to the option of love, marriage and there by the confining the entrapment was left to each individual.’ But Vikrant never wanted to be ensnared. He did not want to lose himself. He had definite objectives   in   life. He had locked himself to remain within to achieve the desired aspirations. Vikrant did not have the patience to be flirtatious.

His ambitions were not based on the monthly salary and the savings to lead a life after retirement. The small salary offered by Mr. Ram Narang gave him no sense of pleasure. He wanted to disentangle himself from his present towards a dazzling future and he had devised a strategy.

How infallible was his strategy?

RN corporation was trading in chemicals with a few and selective foreign suppliers. During the course RN had neglected ample of other suppliers. He had the list of companies, whom RN had deliberately avoided. Vikrant had secretly initiated business correspondence with those suppliers which RN had overlooked.  He had also taken a rental fax number from a business centre. He knew how to arrange the import license.

The response was heartening and two of the foreign companies had extended their absolute support. He had spoken to a bank for some initial investment. What had remained was inducing the market response.

But he had ensured no compass for ambiguity.

He managed to collect the photo copies of complete customer list of RN Corporation. The name of the contact person, address, telephone, fax, email and all other related information was compiled in a file. He had even collected the records of RN’s buying price, cost of operation, freight cost, margin, commission, discount and selling price. Additional details on where the bribe need to be paid and the amount involved was also recorded. He had the copies of technical specifications, laboratory reports and other finer points of the products.

It would have been uncomplicated if had the option of scanning the material and saving it in a disk or CD. He could have sent part by part as email attachment, perhaps carried the CD without suspicion. But the scanner was kept in Brenda’s office and the workers were not allowed to scan any document without superior’s consent.

Hence the only alternative left was to furtively transport the hard copies. He had hidden this file in the bottom drawer of his office desk.

Vikrant was getting geared up for the final act of moving this thick file out of the building. He was waiting for an occasion. Once the file was moved out of RN Corporation, he knew his game plan. Shortly he would submit his resignation. That would be the launch of a new phase, which would dawn the emergence of Vikrant Enterprises. Vikrant Enterprises would make low profile initiation, but gradually stand up to be noticed. His desire would be to lift Vikrant Corporation to a level where he would be treated as RN’s competitor. He knew the wiles of this game and was sure that he would succeed. He wanted the kind of triumph in life where he would be cash rich to buy all luxuries, a big house, a premium car and the servants to make his living cosy. Then perhaps Vikrant would give a thought for marriage.

The immediate task was to get the file out of RN Corporation. It would never be simple. There was risk. Mr. Ram Narang was not the kind of person who would forgive someone who had betrayed him. The employees were strapped with a contract while joining.  If Vikrant was caught that would be the end point. The act would be reported to the police. What would follow is disgrace and humiliation.

Vikrant was not prepared for humiliation!

He had only imagined the dreams of success. He wanted to guide his destiny towards victory. He had not under gone this tough exercise and the pains of a project plan to be caught like a thief.

He wanted triumph and only triumph!

It would just be a matter time. Who knows some day even Mr. Ram Narang might extend his hands of friendship with admiration?

‘Mr. Ram Narang?’

He was known as a live wire personality and terror in RN Corporation. Ram Narang was the dynamite, which could explode any time without warrant. Forget the common employees, even the top managers of the company were not able to interact with the boss in ease. The very name of Ram Narang gave panic signals. Such was the command, respect and fear.

Something struck to the mind of Vikrant. Since morning he had not seen Mr. Ram Narang. Was he on leave or on tour? He thought for some time and rang Ms. Brenda’s number. She was boss’s trusted secretary.

“Hello.” He opened his mouth.

“Hi.” She replied with an intoxicating tone.

“Tiger is not around?” He was curious to know. Tiger was Ram Narang’s nickname, kept by the workers.

“Tiger must be flirting with the tigress!” She laughed. “Yes. Not yet. But he has advised if any urgent papers for signature could be given to Mr.Menon. Menon is expected to meet the boss in the evening on his way home.”

“That means he may not come even tomorrow…. Wow!”

“I really do not know!” She sliced it short.

Actually Brenda knew everything. But she must have had been instructed not to disclose information on his movements. Mr. Ram Narang was known for surprises and had never wanted his employees to take business lightly even during his absence. He had the knack of making appearances at a time when one was about to rest for a minute between intervals.

The news of Mr. Menon’s visit to boss’s house gave clear hint that Mr. Ram Narang would not be coming to the office. In that case why not implement the mission of smuggling the file out from RN Corporation?

What ever might be the case, but normally the atmosphere in RN Corporation had the proclivity to be sluggish during Mr. Ram Narang’s absence. The speed of work would slow down. This could be the best chance to slip out without inkling.

He decided. Yes…. It had to be today!

He waited anxiously for the clock to show 17:00 hours.

His heart began dribbling inside his chest. He waited for few more minutes. He could hear the colleagues saying ‘bye-bye’ to each other. Each one was moving out after hard day’s labour. His department became empty. Vikrant pulled the drawer.

He gripped the file in his hand. It was not just a file. That was his dream!

His brain reacted. Carrying a file as it was would be imprudent. Security officer Somappa was extremely austere and known for tough discipline. He was trained to be vigilant on the movements of company workers. If found sceptical, was asked to call the boss on his cell phone anytime during twenty-four hours. Being a retired army officer, was maintaining the same discipline, which he had undergone during army days.

Security Somappa was no one’s friend! Contour of perspiration appeared on Vikrant’s forehead.

He heard the noise of the door. Office boy Narayan peeped in.

“ Saab…. Are you not going?”

“ I need to clear some pending job” Vikrant took a deep breath.

“Bye” Narayan closed the door.

Vikrant thought for a minute.  Then he removed all the papers from his undisclosed file. He attached a clip and pushed the bundle inside the shirt beside the abdomen. He did not feel comfortable. He was aware that the shape of the shirt would lead for clues from the close up. He controlled the apprehension and stood up with valour.

Vikrant moved his feet. He could feel the heaviness in his shoes. He opened the door of his department and stepped out.

Ms.Brenda!

Normally she would get out of the office by this time. But today she was late and just moving out. The gap between them was about twenty steps. Once within the close range she would not miss the outline of the hidden papers. Who knows Mr. Ram Narang would be immediately informed.

“I am delayed due to this Menon,” She complained.

Before she could reach close to him he bent down and attempted the act of fastening the shoelace. He managed to cover his stomach.

“You are still here?” She moved and did not look back.

“I had to finish some important job.” He slowly got up.

Ms.Brenda walked towards the lift. By this time Vikrant could hear some noise from the sales department. The sound of steps began getting closer. There were four file cabinets on his right side. He jumped behind and waited.

Menon walked off in a hurry.

Vikrant swallowed the spit. He remained there for next couple of minutes and wiped the sweat on his face. He came out from the hidden place. He could not see anyone. He came closer to the lift.

Unexpectedly the door for the ladies toilet opened. That was on the right side. He acted quickly and turned to the gent’s rest room, which was on the left side.

“Hi…” Veena called him.

“Hi…” He did not turn back.

“You are still here?” She enquired.

“You are also still here?” He felt irritated.

“I will wait for you near the lift” She advised. “ Let us go together and have bhelpuri. We never have been out together for long time.”

“Please do not wait for me.” He hurriedly opened the toilet door. “ I am having a stomach upset.” He entered the rest room without waiting for the reply.

Veena felt disappointed and went towards the lift.

He urinated, washed his hands and face. He felt lot better. He waited inside for nearly 8-10 minutes and then came out.

He was shocked. He had thought that by this time, Veena would go. But this lady was still waiting for him near the lift. ‘Oh. no!’  He got annoyed. ‘This lady is getting on my nerves!’ She was looking at the lift. He controlled his cool and silently walked out through the staircase.

He came down to third floor from fourth floor. He pressed the button for the lift. The red light was showing the indication of first floor. That means the lift was stuck on the first floor.

Vikrant swiftly, came to the first floor. Someone had not properly closed the manual door of the lift. The movement had stopped. If he gets in and if the lift moves up, he would meet Ms.Veena. And when the lift goes down he would be encountering security Somappa. Somappa had sharp eyes. By looking at the shape of the shirt he might catch him. He normally would check the workers who carry bags. Why would he leave Vikrant? The hidden papers would be pulled out. All the efforts he had pumped in would end up as futile exercise. The dreams would be destroyed. The dark spots of dishonour would be mortified.

He felt horrified to understand the after effects of being caught!

Vikrant gasped for breath. An idea clicked in his mind. There was a laboratory on the first floor. He used the intercom and got in touch with Somappa.

“I am Veena.” He whispered in a girl’s voice. “I am on the third floor. Why is the lift not coming up?”

“I will check”. Somappa informed.

Vikrant’s plan worked. Security Somappa came up from the staircase. He got inside the lift and the lift moved up…. Vikrant did not waste time. He jumped out from the laboratory and came down to the ground floor. He literally ran. There was no other person in the security office. Within next two minutes he was out of gates of RN Corporation.

It was all over.

Without clues for any doubts he had transported the documents out of the office. Very soon the count down would begin for the birth of Vikrant Enterprises.

Certainly it could be very soon!

He was sure. He felt fluffy in his heart. The heartbeat slowly had become regular. It was like the joy of scoring hundred runs. The thrill and elation was beyond his own imagination. He was charged up for the big show.

He thought of catching a taxi to go home. Then he decided against. It was an act of typical middle class mentality as he did not believe in wasting money.

There was a bus stop on the opposite side of the road. It was not very far and would reach home by fifteen minutes. While stepping up the speed of his walk he felt the skin irritation near his stomach due to perspiration. He removed the papers and held them in his hand. He reached the pedestrian crossing were there was the traffic signal.

He saw the waiting bus on the other side. The signal to cross the road changed green to yellow. He had decided to traverse. He did not have the mood to step back. At this very moment the signal light flickered from yellow to red.

He did not have a second to think. He attempted the final leap and a speeding car banged him off. He flew in the air. The papers gripped off from his clutch.

Vikrant tried to get into his senses from the place he came dropping down. By this time the crowd had gathered due to the effect of the accident. The vehicles all around were honking.  He opened his eyes with pain. He wanted to get up and collect the papers which had widely spread on the road.

Mr. Ram Narang got down from the car, which had fortuitously knocked Vikrant. On his way he picked up the documents from the road and came closer!

Vikrant experienced the blurred vision.

He was unconscious.