The Unbroken Bond (750 words)

Rajan recently took over as Secretary of the central government and moved from Gujarat to Delhi. 

He had been busy going through the files on a touchy issue that had come up in Parliament. The minister was to make a statement in the parliament. The issue had occupied centre stage with both visual and print media, seizing the matter and discussing it animatedly. As he was sifting through the files, he found a note where the issue had been brilliantly analysed threadbare bringing out the several aspects in proper perspective. 

That note was from a lower-level officer. Rajan was very much impressed. He asked about the officer from the Additional Secretary and the Joint Secretaries who were with him. They gave a good account of him. Curious, Rajan called him to his room not only to see him but also to get one particular point clarified.

A lean man with bright eyes stood before him. Clad in white in half shirt and pants he appeared to be in his early fifties like him.

“I have just now read the note you had prepared. It is excellent and shows your intimate grasp of the subject. I need a clarification on one point” Rajan said sharing his doubt.

The Under Secretary in his squeaky voice instantly clarified the issue and showed some relevant correspondence on the subject. Rajan noticed a large circular pinkish mole on his forearm. Highly satisfied with the explanation, Rajan asked him, “What is your name and how long have you been in this ministry?”

“I am Ganesh and working in this ministry for five years. Earlier I was in Commerce ministry” he said.

Rajan then continued the discussions with his senior officers and got busy with other matters.

It was in the evening as he was returning home in his car, the face of the Under Secretary, the large mole and his squeaky voice came to his mind. He was taken back to his younger days at Kumbakonam. Rajan’s father was a struggling lawyer unable to make ends meet. Life was hard. Rajan was studying in Town High School and his best friend was Ganesu. The latter was very bright and always topped the class. These two were inseparable and very fond of each other. 

Rajan had frequently visited Ganesu’s home and was treated to delicious snacks. He remembered Ganesu’s mom and on one Deepavali occasion, she gifted him with a new shirt. Ganesu had a chubby face and long hair. But this Ganesh whom Rajan saw in the morning was bald, thin and wore thick glasses. But the mole was unmistakable. He wondered how come he, a school topper, was still relatively in an ordinary position while he had cleared the IAS examination. Doubts assailed his mind as there was no sign of recognition in Ganesh's face. 

Within a week Ganesh had gone to the Secretary’s room with some files he wanted. Without revealing who he was, Rajan asked him where he belonged, where he studied and about his family. From his reply, he turned out to be Ganesu his schoolmate. It transpired that Ganesh had one son who had settled down in the US in New York. Their conversation was interrupted as visitors entered Rajan’s office, and the moment passed.

Three months later, the Additional Secretary called Ganesh to his room and asked whether he was interested in a World Bank posting in New York. Surprised at the turn of luck, Ganesh was dumbfounded with joy. Seeing him startled, the Additional Secretary said “I was not aware of this till I saw the Secretary’s nomination of your name. I am sure he is very much impressed with you. Do you know him from before by any chance?”

“Though his face is familiar, I am unable to place him. Frankly, I do not remember whether we had met in my younger days” he replied somewhat unsure.

Six months later, Rajan was talking to the Additional secretary “Do you remember, Ganesh, the Under Secretary with a mole in his hand who has gone to the World Bank? Though he doesn’t remember me, he was my classmate in my school days and we were very close friends. He was the brightest in the class. His mom was kind to me. We were not well off then. I often ate at their house. She once gifted me a shirt for Deepavali.”

The Additional Secretary was moved as he watched Rajan take his glasses to wipe the moisture from his eyes.