|| Imprest
Account ||
Dr. ARUNSHANKAR’S
ENGLISH VERSION OF MY MARATHI SHORT STORY
॥ इंप्रेस्ट् अकाउण्ट ॥
Raghu Ajgaonkar was my classmate, and room-mate too,
in the engineering college. After clearing B.E., I took up apprenticeship with
an architect, and Raghu got a job as junior engineer in some government
department.
Nearly a decade later, Raghu got fed up with the
government’s way of working, kicked off the job, joined Bajaj Auto Limited in
Pune, and settled down there. Now both of us were in Pune, so naturally we
started visiting each other once in a while.
Raghu had been thick with Vrinda Prabhune, two years
our junior, and it was an open secret that eventually they would tie the knot.
And so it turned out. As both of them were our good friends, we were always
welcome to their home, and they to ours, for impromptu gossip sessions.
One evening, when both of them had dropped in at
ours for a chat, the talk turned to the question “Can a person survive with
clean hands in a government job?”
“Look Nana,” said Raghu, “one can be clean even in a
government job … I have been … but …”.
“But what?” I prodded him.
“But sometimes,” he continued, “the situation so
impales you on the horns of a dilemma that you just cannot even hope to survive without locking up your principles in a safe
deposit box!”
“Why don’t you own up that you too cashed in every
opportunity and lined your pocket?”
“No, Nana, no … I didn’t pocket even a Paisa … make
no mistake about that… … yet, I say, one has sometimes to lean on a lie,
willy-nilly.”
“Just not possible, Raghu,” my wife and I both
protested almost at the same time. “We are willing to wager whatever you say!”
“Done!” jumped Raghu, “Fifty bucks!! ... …all right
? Let me tell you a real incident to prove what I say.”
And what follows is
the adventure, verbatim, that Raghu unfolded
before us ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
“It was a hot, sultry evening of March 1976. With
legs stretched, I was dozing on the last seat, No. 58, in a State Transport bus
that was bouncing along the pothole-strewn road from Phaltan to Kolhapur
“Recently married, and with my wife having a bank
job, we had set up our home in a rented place
convenient for my wife. My jurisdiction extended from Karad to Shirwal, and
from Phaltan to Koyna Nagar, with the result that I was on tour for nearly 20 to 25 days a month.
“Being a civil engineer, my responsibility was to
look after the offices, depots, rest houses and bus stops, spread out over
small villages to big towns. Naturally, this included appointing contractors,
getting the jobs done in time, and approving their bills for payment after
checking them. The department had issued me a State Transport Bus Pass for free travel,
and a staff of two building inspectors, Mr Paranjape and Mr Shingte, plus four
to five supervisors and a jobber.
“Planning of the work and accounting of the jobs
done was the responsibility of building inspectors. The supervisors and the
jobber were the slave drivers for daily-wage laborers. Mr Paranjape had a long and
impeccable experience in the department and was
a tested, tried and trusted hand. Mr Shangte, in contrast, was much younger,
about 30, but as efficient as Mr Paranjape in meeting the deadlines. Plus, both
were well versed in accounting and perfectly trustworthy. So I could afford to
be carefree. All that was left to me was to check and approve the accounts at
month end and pass them up for settlement. I would therefore go around, with
either Mr Paranjape or Mr Shingte at my side, overseeing the works in progress.
The routine was well established and running smoothly.
“But then arose the day when all this underwent an
enormous upheaval, and turned into an Armageddon for me … …
“You see, if the value of payable bills was over ten
thousand Rupees, they were paid directly to the contractors by the Head Office.
We only had to verify the details and attest their accuracy. But jobs of lesser
value were considered minor, and we had to settle them in cash. For this
purpose, naturally, we had to keep an imprest amount of five to ten thousand Rupees
at hand, use it to settle these bills, submit the accounts to the department,
and after their verification and approval, collect the next i instalment of
imprest money. Thus, the cycle would repeat
every month.
“While on tour, we used carry a bag packed with
these imprest account papers, such as cash memos for materials, receipts for
laborers’ wages with their thumb impressions, ledgers, blank forms and so on.
“Now remember, five or ten thousand Rupees was a
large sum those days. Our monthly salaries were just around five hundred Rupees.
Compared to them, this imprest money was an enormous liability. And that is what did me in one on
that fateful day.
“Sapped by the day’s work, the cool breeze had
lulled me to sleep in the bus. All of a sudden, Mr Paranjape was shaking me
violently, shouting, ‘Sir, wake up! We have reached Satara, and have to get
down … … quick.!! ’
“I woke up, startled, rubbing my sleepy eyes. All
Satara-destined passengers had alighted, and
those headed for Kolhapur
“ ‘Tired … aren’t you? Sound asleep, you were!’ said
Mr Paranjape in a soothing tone. ‘Come, let us have some pakodas[1]
and tea at Gundappa’s dhaba,[2] and then go home.’
“ ‘I am refreshed now, Mr Paranjape, but your
suggestion is appetizing! Come,’ I said.
“Gundappa took out a fresh batch of pakodas from the
frying cauldron and placed it in front of us. We feasted on them leisurely, and
as I was sipping my tea, a drop went the wrong way, provoking a bout of cough,
and I was stunned stupid!
“ ‘Paranjape ... !!,’ I screamed, ‘we are in a
terrible mess …!’
“ ‘What’s the matter, Sir?’ said Paranjape, ‘What a
nasty bout you have had! Have some more tea.’
“ ‘To hell with the tea!!... Our goose is cooked,
Paranjape!!... Let us rush to the bus stand now …’
“ ‘But what’s the matter, Sir? Tell me, why are you
so upset and scared?”
“Almost on a run, now, I shouted, ‘The bag with
imprest account papers … I left it in the bus … we are finished now!!!’
“Trying to keep pace with me, Paranjape blurted,
‘Sir, do you mean we have lost … the cash …
also?’
“ ‘That’s the saving grace,’ I replied, almost
running, frantically. ‘I keep the cash in my pocket … but all papers … bills,
receipts … everything is gone! What are we to do now?’
“Paranjape held on to my arm, slowing me down,
saying, ‘Sir, please calm down … don’t lose heart … let us go to the stand and
look …’
“I had broken into a cold sweat
… The specter of seven thousand Rupees to be deducted by the Head Office from
my salary had sent my head spinning, and the whole body trembling …!
“Finally, Paranjape stuttered, ‘Let’s move now, Sir.
There is not even the faintest hope of laying our hands on that bag ever again
… !!!’
“ ‘What am I to do now, Mr Paranjape?’ I wailed. ‘In
my whole career, I have never misappropriated even a single Paisa! How can I
cope with this calamity?’
“ ‘I know … I know Sir... ... just listen to me!
Don’t lose heart,’ consoled Paranjape. ‘Let’s go back to Gundappa’s dhaba, have
some tea, and think of a way out … believe me, we
will find one … In this department my hair has not turned grey in
vain …’
“We returned to Gundappa’s dhaba. Paranjape ordered
tea, and said, ‘Wait here for a while … I will be back in five minutes.’
“The tea had turned bitter in my mouth … but
presently Paranjape returned, and said, ‘I have called your home, and told your
wife not to expect you for dinner … Now we will go to my home … have dinner
there … and talk about this problem over it … My wife has already started
getting the dinner ready … Come on …’
Mrs paranjape served us a simple but tasty meal, and
as I lowered it into my hungry stomach, the tempest in my head seemed to subside
somewhat.
“Suddenly, Paranjape snapped his fingers, and asked
me, ‘When is the account to be submitted, Sir?’
“ ‘Today is the twenty-eighth … which means … latest
by the afternoon of day-after-tomorrow … without fail … What are we to do now?’
“ ‘First of all, Just stop worrying, Sir,’ said
Paranjape. ‘The account will be submitted in time. Now I will reach you home …
and you enjoy a peaceful sleep … Just leave a hundred Rupees with me for sundry
expenses … and let me see what can be done … Come now … Madam must be waiting
for you at home.’
“I placed hundred Rupees in Paranjape’s hands when
he reached me home. He told my wife about the fiasco, but also assured her,
‘Don’t worry … even a bit … It doesn’t help. Sleep soundly ... And let me get
going …!’
“Turning to me, he promised, ‘By tomorrow evening,
the completed account will be in your hands … have no doubts about it.”
“ ‘Have it your way Mr. Paranjape,’ I muttered, ‘I
have no way out of this jam ….’
“ But how … in the name of God … are you going to
manage this?” I muttered.
“ ‘Please don’t ask me anything … now. We don’t have
blank receipt forms … which I will have to procure first … And one more thing
…’
“ ‘Now what … else?’ I ventured.
“ ‘Let’s have a pact Sir … … You are not to ask me …
to account … for these hundred Rupees in anyway … Be assured, though, that not
a single Paisa out of these … will end up … in my pocket.’
“I was overwhelmed by Paranjape’s honesty … and
said, plaintively, ‘Have I ever doubted your integrity? … I have
already debited this to my account as fees for learning a dear
lesson!’
“ ‘Don’t misunderstand me, please … I have served in
this department for thirty-two years … but like you … not touching anyone for
even … a Paisa. These hundred Rupees are also going … for collecting … all the
papers. Shall I be on my way, then? And Oh, I will not be in the office
tomorrow, but by evening I will bring … the accounts … all ready … for your
signatures!’
“Gratefully, I said, ‘If this is going to take till
tomorrow evening, then … have dinner with us tomorrow. We can verify and
finalize the accounts straightway … and submit them the next morning … Why wait
till the afternoon?’
“ ‘Okay, as you wish’ said Paranjape, and was lost
in the darkness. My wife lit a lamp before the idol of Goddess Mahalaxmi and
prayed … and then we entered the realm of a fitful
slumber.
“I passed the next day in the office dragging my
feet over the routine work ... totally lost in myself. Paranjape was not to be
seen anywhere … and no one had any idea of his whereabouts. As the clock struck
4 pm , I was beside myself with worry. The day’s work was already over, and
our peon Jadhav reminded me of a message from the Head Office … about the
submission of imprest account … by the next afternoon. I let out a big sigh …
and left for home … asking Jadhav to close the office.
“It was 7 pm by the time I had my
evening tea and finished a couple of household tasks. But still there was no sign of Paranjape!!!. My wife was also
now worried. Weary of waiting and counting
sheep, I went for the evening bath, and hardly had lathered myself with soap
when I heard my wife’s excited cry, ‘Can you hear me dear? Mr Paranjape has
come … with a bundle of papers.’
“Making a short shrift of my bath, I dried myself at
breakneck speed, dressed, and dashed out of the bathroom. The spectacle that
confronted me was of Mr Paranjape … slumped in the sofa chair … with hair
disheveled, eyes bloodshot … and a thick, full file in hand.
“Amazed, I cried out, ‘Holy goddess … … What’s the
matter, Paranjape? Are you all right?’
“ ‘Where the hell was
there any time to get unwell, Sir? … Have this … your imprest account … all
ready. Please check it … and sign off pronto! … No, I am all right … but didn’t
have a wink of sleep … since yesterday … which will explain this … my state at
the moment!’
“I was really overwhelmed … with relief … and
gratitude for Paranjape. My wife also let out a heavy sigh and, turning to
Paranjape, said, ‘What have you done with yourself,
eh? Go, have a good wash first, and some tea and snacks, right away. In the
mean time, let me get busy with the dinner.’
In the knowledge that the accounts were ready, the
heavy weight that was crushing us was lifted off our chests, and we partook of
the snacks and tea with a lusty appetite. Thus refreshed, Paranjape placed the
file in front of me, saying, ‘Please check this, Sir. I have tallied … the
imprest money … and expenses … of six-and-a-half thousand Rupees … to the last Paisa.!’
“I was wonder-struck and tongue-tied, both at the
same time! The tally was perfect. ... … Nothing more, nothing less. Bills for
materials worth some four thousand eight hundred … and receipts for labor for
the rest of the amount … nearly a hundred of them … some signed … and some with
thumb impressions. Shuffling them, I exclaimed, ‘You are simply a phenomenon,
Paranjape! All this? … In a day? You are indeed … my savior ... like Phantom!
How can I ever thank you enough for this?’
“ ‘Forget it, Sir … That’s my Job,’ said Paranjape,
self-effacingly. ‘Now sign off these papers without further delay, and let me
carry the file back with me.’
“I started turning, checking and signing the papers,
one by one. Cash memos for goods … receipts for labor charges. Seeing some of
the thumb impressions, my pen paused … because they were looking … sort of …
unusual. Concerned, I said, ‘Paranjape, whose thumb impressions are these? I
hope they will not … arouse any doubts …
and fail to pass scrutiny?’
“ ‘The impressions are genuine, Sir,’ assured
Paranjape, ‘but some of them are … of toes
…!!!’
“ ‘How could you… … eh?” I protested.
“ ‘What else could I do, Sir? Where could I get
receipts from a hundred odd laborers in a day? So I …’ Paranjape left the
sentence unfinished.
“ ‘So I… what?’ I
pressed.
“ ‘So I got hold of the office watchman … paid him
twenty Rupees to open the office at night … and got hold of blank receipt
forms.’
“ ‘Okay, and then?’ I pressed on.
“ ‘Then I went home, and stamped my own fingers and
toes on a score of them ! … Ditto for my wife and children ... !!! Thus I had
about sixty receipts … still short of a hundred.’
“ ‘And so?” my curiosity was now unbridled.
“ ‘Another twenty I made with the help of our
maidservant!!!… but I was still short by a few.’
“ ‘You are a genius, Paranjape! What next?’ I
probed, my consternation now turning into admiration!
“ ‘Our neighbor has a five-year-old son … Took him
to the market … bought him some toys and sweetmeats … and secured his
cooperation to get the remaining receipts stamped!!!!’
“Slapping my forehead with my palm, I stuttered,
‘Paranjape, do you think these vouchers will pass Head Office scrutiny? Will it
not land us … in … in … … I mean ... even greater
trouble?’
“ ‘Not a chance, Sir,’ said Paranjape confidently,
‘There is only one accountant to verify the accounts of seventeen zones in the
district! He has no time … to pore over each and every voucher. You sign these
off, without a care, and don’t raise any more doubts. Leave it to me to face
any music that the Head office may play! … There are situations, Sir … when the
water rises to your nose … and you have to rise above the level … to
breathe and stay alive.’
“ ‘You think so?’ I voiced my doubts.
“ ‘Who wouldn’t? ... Besides,’ he continued, ‘we aren’t
doing anything ... I mean ... immoral ..., are we? We had used up an imprest
amount of some six thousand Rupees … and we have prepared vouchers … for just
that much amount … not a rupee more, not a rupee less … … haven’t we? … Now, here are the vouchers for the
toys, sweetmeats and other gratuities … and here is the balance amount of
twenty-six Rupees … out of the hundred you left with me. Please count and
accept these, Sir, and relieve me of the responsibility!’
”Stunned by Mr Paranjape’s unusual sense of honesty,
I again slapped my palm on my forehead, picked up my pen, and set off the
marathon of signing off the remaining documents.
“Something nagging at my conscience brought my pen
again to a halt, and I inquired, ‘But what on earth, Mr. Paranjape, prompted
you to do all this for me? … … and why?’
“A sheepish smile spread across Mr. Paranjape’s face.
‘My dear Sir,’ he said, ‘in my entire career with rotten government
departments, I have come across countless people, but very few who uphold ethics and character
above everything else … even money … … that’s why … … … So let us keep this Sindbad’s
adventure within the three of us … … all right?”
“The next day our imprest account was submitted. Not
only submitted, but also passed … without any hitch!”
Thus concluding his narration, Raghu looked proudly
at my wife and me, and said, “Nana-Nani … … are you convinced, now? That
sometimes you cannot live by principles alone, but are obliged to practice the
art of survival instead?”
I
again slapped my palm on my forehead, and slipped a crisp fifty-Rupee note into
Raghu’s palm!!!
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Dr.
ARUNSHANKAR.
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