Gerald D'Cunha

Pic.: Uaha Prasadh S ome years ago, one morning, I was in the office of a  Co-operative-bank manager. As I was talking, a very fierce-looking man - with a huge built and army-mustache – came in. “Sir, the fellow is sweating; scared to come up,” reported the man to the manager. “Tell him, manager is a nice man… doesn't have an army-mustache like you,” manager teased the man, “Give him a soft-drink or coffee… and cajole him to come up. Don’t scare him more.” By now, I knew who the strong-man was, and why the other man was frightened to come up to the bank manager… A few minutes later, the strong-man came back, accompanied by a taxi-owner, who seemed to be in his late fifties. The man stood there with his folded hands, and began to give reasons for the default, narrating all his problems and, finally, the assurance. The manager made him sit on one of the chairs, heard him gently… and, finally, explained to him about his own limitations and duties...