It was around 6.30 in the evening. A cool breeze was blowing due to rain in the outskirts of the city, as he made his way back to home from office was stimulating. He stopped for some quick shopping at the margin free market. When he was coming out, he caught a glimpse of a man, in his late sixties, zipping fast on his two-wheeler. He was riding a Honda Activa, the front loaded was with fruits and vegetables. Though the man’s face was masked by a helmet, Gopal could make out with that he was none other than a city based hotelier who runs two hotels; his friend, philosopher and guide, Mr. Joseph.
One day, a mutual friend remarked, “Gopal, do you know, he is well past 70. He begins his day at 6’0 clock and returns home by 11 in the night. While many of his counter-parts would simply sit, enjoy and would issue order sitting inside our cabins, this man takes care of each and everything and is very particular that every client knows him by name. If there is one man who toils that hard in the city, at his age, it would only be him.”
That was a true assessment. Gopal had seen him at closer quarters. Senior to him by more than decade, he got to know Joseph when he was engaged in tea business catering to hotels. Joseph was one who took personal interest in his business and also gave support to develop it further. His approach was same to all who dealt with him. Some call him ‘Achayan’, others ‘Josi ettan’ but Gopal addressed him as ‘Sir’, as his way of approach and manners was totally different from those of any other hotelier he had come across in the course of his business.
His motto was simple. Maintain value and quality, cultivate relationships, cherish and nourish them. Business would automatically grow. The more you stay in touch with clients, the more they would bring in added business. He had seen Joseph take orders, wait at tables, clean them and even wash vessels. Only a bee could have been busier.
He was a sweet task master. While he cared for his employees as well as their family’s welfare, he disliked to seeing ‘doing nothing spells’ among them. Gopal was witness to an incident. One of his staff was idling and lost in thought. Noticing that, Joseph called him. In a typically Kuttanadan Malayalam slang, he asked “enthaa da, pani onnum ille”, (Why man, you are sitting idle!). His staff, too, in typical Kerala style jerked his shoulders indicated his freedom. “Da, veruthe angu irikathe. oru table-l keri aa fan okke thudachukude. Oru karyam cheyyu, Molil irrikunna aa thattum, cuppum succers ellam thazhe irrakki,nanniiyittu thudauchu moli kettu, Pani avasyam pole undu. Noki noki cheyyanam.” (Don’t sit idle? Don’t be like that! Can’t you step on that table and dust the fans?). Immediately the boy was about to step on to a table to dust the fans. “No no, not now. Customers may come in and it will be awkward with dust all round. Do that tomorrow morning. Now, take all those porcelain plates, cups and saucer kept in the cupboard wash it, clean it and keep it back, safely. If you do not have work look for it, you will find far too much. Clean the fans tomorrow morning”. So the boy had his hands full for the moment and for the next day morning.
Gopal recalled that day, when he called on Joseph one evening. Joseph was bit surprised to see him on that day, as he usually visited him only on weekends.
“H0w come you are here today? Today is neither Saturday nor Sunday”.
“I have to come, no other alternative, Sir”.
He seemed he have read him right. “Tell me, what is your problem?”
“I need Rs.3,000/- to meet an unforeseen expense”.
He explained the rest. Gopal always set a limit, beyond which he would not ask. Joseph immediately granted the sum without any counter questions. He was aware, if Gopal was asking for help, it would only for genuine reasons and that he would return the sum without being reminded. Indeed, Gopal was not the lone beneficiary of such munificence from him.
Over the years, Gopal after experimenting with various businesses had zeroed on tea business that brought him his friendship with Joseph. That too could not be sustained. He then joined a brokerage. Still he maintained his good relationship with Joseph.
Then he did a bit of financial engineering. He decided to rent out his big house that can accommodate about 40 people, to a textile giant to accommodate their staff and moved to a smaller home, where by, he could service his home loan as well as other liabilities and move out of debt in a few years time. Gopal called Joseph and informed of his decision. He had not fixed the alternative accommodation. Gopal soon moved to a new dwelling. His employer too shifted him from the branch to the Insurance department. So, he had to surrender the mobile, his company had given him, at the branch.
Joseph tried to contact Gopal in his mobile but did not succeed. He was anxious to know where he had shifted and one morning he visited Gopal’s earlier residence and inquired there and landed at Gopal’s house. He was in a state of indignation.
“What are you up to, Gopal? Why you did not call and inform me? I was roaming like a lunatic to locate you”.
Gopal clarified everything and soon normalcy was restored. As it was Diwali time, Gopal’s wife packed a box of sweets for Joseph’s family. She was unaware of Gopal’s financial dealings with Joseph.
“Gopal, come in the evening to my hotel, I have a spare mobile, you can use it for the time being and keep in touch”. Joseph said.
Joseph, who was on his way to market for his business purposes, had interrupted that to meet Gopal. He was soon in his elements, cracking racy jokes. “Gopal, I am very late now, I have to leave”. Gopal accompanied him to the end of the compound which was about 70 meters away.
Suddenly, Joseph, asked Gopal, a question, that sent a chill down his spine.
“I found it extremely difficult to locate you. You could have informed me somehow. Ok, leave it. Tell me, how much do you owe me?”
Totally caught off-guard, Gopal was speech-less.
“Gopal tell me”, once again Joseph persisted.
Gopal stuttered, “Six months ago …….I received ………..Rs.3000/-…… from you. I wanted to return it to you…….. before you asked. But…..?”
“Stop”, Joseph said, taking out his wallet from his hip pocket.
“I know how much you owe me. What you can do is-repay me Rs. Rs.10000/-, when it is okay for you. Take this additional 7,000/-. You have shifted and would have incurred lot of expenses”.
Then he sped away on his bike.
Tears filled Gopal’s eyes.
Narayanan Ramakrishnan Purely an amateur. Was a salesman in a tea company and after experimenting with business ideas which failed, settled down as a front office executive of a brokerage firm. In my late forties am now free as a bird, having resigned from this job, spending lot of time with the TV, FB and Whatsapp. Sheer love for the language is the force that drives me to write though I know that I have miles, miles and miles to go before I can even be considered a good disciple.
THE BREW 