Leave for Marriage, Year 1958…..!
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Loading ...Leave for Marriage, Year 1958…..!
This is a year 1958 office incident
When Big Bosses were still Western,
In most Indian Foreign Concerns.
A senior clerk, Mr. Betrabet
Very simple and honest,
Engaged to be married soonest,
Applies for Leave, for One Month,
Reason: getting married.
Application forwarded through
The Departmental Head, an Indian,
Mr. Jamanalal Bhajanlal Gomad,
To the Boss, a Scott, Mr. P.K.Heavengate.
With full recommendation & note
That two months unavailed PL is
Already lying to the credit of Mr. Betrabet.
To the surprise of everyone,
P.K.Heavengate flatly refuses,
& writes, he can sanction
Leave only for 2 or 3 days,
In place of 1 month,
For Betrabet, for his marriage,
And which he can take, if he pleases.
Mr. Betrabet & also Mr. Gomad,
Feel stunned. Can’t understand why?
Both very upset.
Mr. Gomad consoles Mr. Betrabet,
Becomes quite concerned & vocal,
Says, “These British people,
What they understand, our marriages,
Our customs, our religion, our sentiments,
As compared to theirs,
No wonder their marriages are failures,
With all sort of rotten divorces,
They don’t regard marriages,
With sanctity & respect it deserves.
Like ours, and may be,
He himself is against marriages.
Don’t worry Mr. Betrabet,
Wait, we will decide, what to do,
& will find a way out of this mess.”
Mr. Betrabet feels some reassurance.
Next day, Gomad & colleagues console Betrabet,
Advise him to personally meet Heavengate
Explain him & make the request straight.
So courageously prepares poor Betrabet,
And seeks appointment with Mr. Heavengate
In his meeting nervous Betrabet, explains,
And requests for One month’s leave,
Heavengate is very adamant & says,
2 or 3 days is all he can give.
Betrabet brings it down to 2 weeks,
This also is refused.
So Betrabet says he is canceling his marriage,
And withdrawing his application request.
Heavengate is stunned and asks
What date the marriage is fixed
Betrabet tells the date.
Then why can you not join office the next day.
Well we have some religious ceremonies,
Which go on for 2 days.
O.K. That’s why I am sanctioning the leave for 3 days,
You can join after that.
But, sir, thereafter I with my wife have to visit
Our native place, some temples etc,…and…and
Go….for holidays, we both only.
Do you mean Honeymoon? Mr Betrabet.!!
Betrabet is shy and says “Yes…sir”
Then why did you not say in your application.
That you wanted leave for Honeymoon.
“One month” leave for “marriage” is silly.
So here I am now sanctioning your leave,
3 days for Marriage, and, not one,
why ? take…Two Months leave
for your Honeymoon, if you want.
And also advising Accountant
To give you Advance salary,
whatever you want…….!
And Mister Betrabet,
Since that day, In office,
Became a hero,
From zero……….!
“ VishVnand “
(This is based on a real incident in the office in the year 1958. Names obviously are changed to hide identity. Putting the incident in this form is an experiment, and suggestions/ comments from members regarding this format’s appropriateness (or otherwise) and for improvements are eagerly solicited.)
10 Comments
I always like to see skills of people when do story telling in the form of a poem……….The poem has come out good.
I have tried it out many times, but cant be good at serious stories, fun stories come out good……
I Liked it……..as story telling is very difficult form of poetry, you have managed to come out pretty good sir…..
I read the whole thing and the folowing lines are beautiful…….
In his meeting nervous Betrabet, explains,
And requests for One month’s leave,
Heavengate is very adamant & says,
2 or 3 days is all he can give.
Stars = * * * *
A great attempt and it has turned out quite good.
Read it till the end and liked the ending too.
A different style and quite refreshing. I would love to try this.
What a sexy blog, love the theme, what are you using?
Vishvnand Reply:
August 10th, 2009 at 9:30 am
@Anika Thank you very much for your comment. I am appreciative of your unique way of looking at the event and the write.
Simply Awesome!!!
Vishvnand Reply:
August 10th, 2009 at 9:35 am
@Roopradhika
Thank you so very much for your comment. Your delighting comment has made me revisit the write almost after a year. It was posted at site on 28th August last year.
Medhini, Krishna, Parikshit
Ulhas, Suresh Mangalore
Sorry for my Belated Thanks to you all for your valuable comments and encouragement on this poem “Leave for Marriage, Year 1958…..!” posted on 28th August 08, which through oversight remained to be acknowledged thus far.
Roopradhika’s comment now made me revisit this poem when I realized this lapse on my part.
Retired senior engineering, marketing & operations management Executive with Passion for & deeply interested in reading & listening to all varieties of poetry & songs and in particular those rendered in Hindi/Hindustani. Also interested in & love reciting & rendering my own poems/compositions & songs on various subjects, composing tunes for songs and singing. Love to & adept at playing Harmonium as accompaniment to singing & also as accompaniment to others performing.
.......Location: Pune & Mumbai
I am NOT inclined to blame Mr.Heavengate,typically British.
His sanction of 3 days for marriage was based on SPECIFICS.
His sanction for 2 months for Honey Moon is NOT understood,
beacuse it usually lasts one week. May be, he was in a humourous mood, or have you given it a subtle turn ?
Regards
Suresh Mangalore
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