IT has been a hot summer this year. Atal Santa had an invitation from his affluent friends abroad. His old friend Gerhard Sardar from Germany had called him. As they sat down with drinks on the banks of the Rhine one night, Santa recalled his efforts to mend fences with his neighbour. "I want peace but if it is not possible then I have to be prepared. The search for peace will go on. But if needed, I will not give up defence for peace". As liquor made its way into his system, he recounted, "I went to Lahore with a message of peace. But the peace bus crashed in Kargil. Then also I did not give up. I went with him to Agra. He came but went on putting conditions that could not be fulfilled and the talks broke down." Finally coming to his melodramatic best he stood up with glass in hand and declared to the fishes, weeds and insects around that he will ‘retire’ and ‘accept defeat’ if his third and last peace initiative fails.
Back in India his "retirement" wish was received with glee. His Deputy Lakki Banta, with whom he has had an absorbing relationship, went into huddle with chums. Winks, nudges and encouraging glances led to a clever formulation. Atal Santa will not just be the boss – he will be the "Vikas Purush" and Lakki Banta will not just be the Deputy – he will be the "Lauh Purush". Together they will take the company to greater heights. Atal-Lakki would be projected together.
The descriptions were not very apt, but Atal Santa was unhappy for some other reason. After all, the neighbour he was talking about the other night was none other than Lakki Banta. How could all of them back home miss a simple point! Alas, poets will always be misunderstood.
As was his wont Santa couldn’t just speak straight. Asked about his extension plan he replied "It is never intelligent to get involved in predictions in these issues." To a persistent question he made light of his yesterday’s remark -- "Apne Liye tha". Others said his remarks have been blown out of proportion and that they were not read in the right perspective. They said what he was making clear was that if his peace initiative failed then perhaps he may have to give up the efforts.
At St. Petersburg, where he was one of the 43 invitees, on the fourth deck aboard the 7-deck, 6-star cruise liner Silver Whisper, he had dinner with very important guys. At Evian he was at periphery. A group photograph showed a forlorn Santa standing on the edge almost wishing he were not there. How he would love to be in rough and tumble with Banta.
Back home, the guys at office sensed that boss was not happy. A party was arranged for sulking boss on his successful tour abroad. At the end of it "Vikas Purush" declared: "No one is tired or retired, the company is going strong. Banta ji will lead this company to greater heights after next AGM." All hell broke loose. Boss had finally thrown the gauntlet. Venga boys scampered for cover.
It was now the turn of the "Lauh Purush" to escape heat – to the US. In a reception in his honour, ambassador Man sings "Lakki is made of a special alloy’ and that he is ‘known as a man of steel". No sooner did the song end the "Lauh Purush" got the taste of metal from his hosts. He was asked to send his men to Iraq where Bush Inc.’s men had hit paydirt and now wanted some one to take the task of cleaning up the mess. He came out of the meeting, where the chief of Bush Inc. had dropped in to meet him, with badly twisted arms. Assuring that he had discussed the issue twice and needed some clarifications. Lollipop of lucrative contracts and threat of dire consequences kept Lakki on tenterhooks. Left to himself he would have gladly kept aside his self respect and be content with being a doormat at Bush’s company. However, the opposition back home would be unsparing. He has so far hedged on the issue of sending men to Iraq, where the Bush’s men are finding the going increasingly hostile.
In his first categorical statement on the leadership controversy in the company he said Santa ji would continue to be the leader for many, many years to come. To know that all is well at home Banta ji tells everybody to have a look at stickers on the windshields of his convoy of 45 vehicles.
It is a reassuring "13 Mera 7 Rahe".
— GCG