ON GETTING PROMOTION

Suresh is a very simple person, always satisfied with his lot. Whatever comes his way he accepts cheerfully. He is always known to look at the brighter side of things. That is why he is nicknamed ‘Mr. Bright’.

That day, Suresh was very excited. From office, he hurried home in a jubilant mood and why not, he had a very cheerful news to convey to his wife.

“Look, I got promotion. Now, I will be a Senior Executive” He declared breathlessly with a beaming face. Quite naturally, his wife and children were elated.

“Thank god! What a good news!” Sujatha, his wife said with sparkling eyes. “This really deserves a celebration. At last now we would be able to afford certain things which I had been postponing since times immemorial.”

Suresh looked uneasily at her. “For example.....?”

Sujatha settled down on the old rickety folding chair and started counting her fingers. “First, let us purchase a decent sofa set, then a home Theater, a music system, a second double cot for the children, mattresses.....”

Suresh cleared his throat and said in a very cautious tone, “Of course... that is.... if you really think.... if we really need.... may not be immediately.... but we will buy..... oh, surely we will buy.....”

Sujatha glared at him. After twenty years of coexistence, she very well understood the outcome of such incoherent words. It clearly means that as usual, whatever she proposed will be postponed indefinitely- promotion not withstanding. But she did not like to argue, not today. Which wife wants to spoil the mood of dear hubby on the day of promotion that too as a senior executive? More time for that later on.

So she smiled sweetly at him. “At least, I will be able to employ a full time cook-cum-servant now - won’t I? With my rheumatism and asthma I am unable to cope with the household work..” She looked at him coyly.

His heart sank. He knew very well the exorbitant wages demanded by domestic servants. Although he was sympathetic towards his wife, who had been managing without a servant for the last fifteen years as an austerity measure, he knew very well that they would not be able to afford even a part-time servant, leave alone a full-time one. But he did not want to dampen her spirits. So he mumbled something unintelligibly. But she was clever enough to decipher his mumblings and she sighed.

Another thought occurred to her. “I hope we will be able to shift to a bigger house with a spare room for guests.” she said hopefully. At present they were staying in a three bedroom house. But she was always annoyed with the lack of exclusive guest room. Suresh groped for words. “With the revised rules and with the fancy rental rates, I am afraid, now we can afford a two-bedroom flat only.”

This time she could not control her rage. “When you were junior officer, we used to stay in three-bedroom independent houses. Now, after all these promotions, are we not in need of at least three bedrooms, leave alone a guest room. Being a senior executive, will you force your teenaged children to share a room and your guests to sleep in the drawing room?” She demanded.

“Daddy, we very much need separate rooms.” His teenaged son and daughter pleaded. “It will be awkward for us to share a room. And if we have any guests, which is very frequent, we will be disturbed a lot and our studies will suffer.”

Suresh looked helpless. “I will see what I can do.” As an afterthought he added cheerfully, “At least, this way you will have to sweep and mop a smaller house. It will reduce you workload.” It is not for nothing that he is called Mr. Bright. He is always able to discover a silver lining in everything. But nobody seemed to appreciate his point.

On the other hand Sujatha fumed “Will you be able to buy a car, at least?”

Suresh pondered a little. “I am afraid no, darling. With the escalating prices of petrol, what is the point? We will not be able to afford it.” he shrugged.

“But you will get the allowance.......”

“No, no it is paltry. It will not be sufficient to meet even the repayment of the loan. Moreover, office will provide conveyance for me.” He intended to say in a proud tone but he sounded sheepish.

“But what about me?” lamented Sujatha. “..... and me?’
...... and me?” two more voices echoed.

Suresh fumbled with his shirt buttons and tried to reason. “Look. Stop thinking about what we are getting from the office. Start thinking about what we can contribute. Why don’t you realise that this promotion means I will be holding a very responsible position. It is a reward for my hard work and sincerity and indicates the trust and confidence the office is having in me and my talent.”

“Talent, My foot!” Sujatha hissed. “Does it atleast mean a reduced workload for you?”

Suresh thought about his hard working colleagues and sighed. “On the contrary I may have to devote more time and attention to the office.......”

She interrupted. “That means you will spend less time at home with us by going early, sitting late, carrying files home.....?” Suresh nodded nervously. Sujatha shook her head disapproving. In a sarcastic tone she inquired.

“Forgive my ignorance. But I am curious to know. Will you get any increase in your salary?”

Suresh swiftly calculated and with a broad ear-to-ear gim he declared “Of course, why not! After the additional tax deductions and other things, I will get a raise of eleven rupees and sixty five paise”

“What” Sujatha screamed “A promotion and an increase of only ELEVEN RUPEES and sixty five paise! Pray, tell me, what for this promotion about which you are so excited?”

Suresh was deeply hurt and wanted very much to silence her with a very convincing justification. But how much harder he thought, he could not find any. In a dejected tone he repeated ,“Yes, what for?” and continued to think, think and think. And still he is thinking unsuccessfully. Will anyone please help him?