The Quintessential Planter

By Hashim Razvi

The author takes the readers to the verdant hills and valleys of Kerala, called Gods own country, where the tea and rubber planters toil from dawn to dusk, in rain or sunshine, to grow tea and rubber.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Feb 24, 2014
• ISBN: 9781482817607

Hashim Razvi

The author has worked in the erstwhile British owned Tea Rubber estates in South India during the 70's for a decade, and saw the transition to Indian management. The author therafter worked in an International airline for 21 years, and has traveled throughout the world. The author now lives in Hyderabad, India, has three children, a married daughter who lives in UK, and two sons who live with him.

Book preview

THE

QUINTESSENTIAL

PLANTER

HASHIM RAZVI

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Copyright © 2014 by Hashim Razvi.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

To order additional copies of this book, contact

Partridge India

000 800 10062 62

www.partridgepublishing.com/india

[e-mail]

Contents

Acknowledgements

Synopsis Of The Fiction Novel The Quintessential Planter

Dedication

Preface

1. Bostock Manor—1970

2. Bostock House

3. Legal Firm on a Platter

4. Estates Department

5. Mooply Valley

6. Growing Rubber

7. The Seduction of Rajab

8. Premonition of Ignominy

9. Rumours of Change

10. Caught in the Woods

11. Good News Galore

12. Club Night in Mooply Valley

13. Return to Nallapally

14. Rescue at Sea

15. Munnar—The Planters Bliss

16. Start of An Adventure

17. Wedding Bells

18. Date with A Tea Plucker

19. Prowling Corporate Raiders

20. Two Leaf and A Bud

21. Planters Nuptials

22. Birth of The Prodigals

23. Monsoon Deluge

24. Planter Engaged

25. Black Forest Estate

26. Rendezvous at Johnson Hill

27. A Lily in a Planter’s Life

28. Church Wedding

29. Honeymoon in Black Forest

30. Bigamy the Only Choice

31. Ruhi-Lily Gel Together

32. Language Goofeups

33. Good News at Blackforest

34. Ruhi’s Three Roles

35. Taking Over Blackforest Group

36. Forging Ahead

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

F rom early childhood reading books had been my passion, especially fiction and writing a dream from nearly two decades. Finally my cherished dream is going to come true in this fiction novel and I would like to thank a few, who had been inseparable part of my dream,

My wife Nargis always believed that my book will one day be published, and was supportive in every aspect, I can’t imagine life without her, and I drew incredible strength from her, and my fondest wish was to make her proud.

SYNOPSIS OF THE FICTION NOVEL

THE QUINTESSENTIAL PLANTER

AUTHOR: HASHIM RAZVI

W illiam Bostock is 32 years old when he assumes responsibility for running far-flung Tea-Rubber Estates in India, and other business in England, after the death of his father Sir. Henry Bostock, in a horse riding accident.

William takes the challenge of running the businesses from Bostock House in London; he recalls the aging Ian McLaren and chooses P.G.S.Hall a tall blue eyed Scotsman with twenty years of rich planting experience to take charge in India. Patrick Hall though junior to many planters, is bold and focused on a plan to rejuvenate the estates, takes on new blood, repatriating aging British planters to England.

The storyline is set in Black Forest valley on the beautiful hills of Kerala, South India, where the planters work, with grit, pioneering spirit, but some of them fall prey to the guiles of the bored planter’s wives, local women in a circle of love and deception. But among the young maverick Indians is a dynamic quartet-Sanjay Sinha, Philip Chandy, Rajab Sumsam and Krishnan Nair who stand up against the aging British planters.

Rajab Sumsam is transferred to the remote Black Forest estate, but Ruhi his newlywed wife is afraid of the jungles, and refuses to join him, and by a quirk of fate he meets the good looking Syrian Christian girl Lily at Black Forest and marries her, Lily then persuades Ruhi to come to the estate, Rajab sets about taking over from the British incumbent Watts Carter who is forced to retire after running Black Forest as his personal fiefdom for decades.

A tussle ensues between Hall and Carter, both bent on furthering their interests. To keep an eye on Hall and gain inside information, Carter turns to the young beautiful Roseamma, his wife’s sister who is in Hall’s office. Hall is full of new ideas, takes a number of bold innovative steps to rejuvenate the estates, however in the melee he falls for the charms of Roseamma, in a torrid affair that almost ruins his career, but among the quartet is a Quintessential Planter, a unique performer, trouble shooter who goes out on a limb to save his boss, rising to height of loyalty, daring, excellence of mind and leadership.

DEDICATION

This Novel is dedicated to the memory of all planters who worked in Kerala and Tamilnadu, especially to those from Hyderabad.

PREFACE

F rom early childhood reading books had been my passion, especially fiction, and writing, a dream from nearly two decades. Finally my cherished dream is going to come true in this novel, and I would like to thank a few who had been inseparable part of my dream.

My wife Nargis always believed that my book will one day be published, and was supportive in every aspect, I can’t imagine life without her, and I drew incredible strength from her, and my fondest wish was to make her proud.

The author wishes to acknowledge advice and encouragement given by Mr. Mirza Younus General Manager (Rtd) Harrisons Malayalam Ltd (of the erstwhile Malayalam Plantations Ltd)

On planting aspects of Tea and Rubber.

The author also wishes to acknowledge assistance, in editing the Novel given by Prof.Gopal Sharma, Professor of English, Jaipur University-India, former Professor of English, Wollega University, Ethiopia.

Hashim Razvi,

Hyderabad, India

January’ 2014

CHAPTER 1

Bostock Manor—1970

B ostock Manor in Thurnham, was four miles north east of Maidstone, in rural Kent. A vast six hundred and fifty acre stud farm in the lush green English countryside. It was seven in the morning, had started drizzling when William and Elizabeth returned from their daily horse ride. He astride his prize stallion Seawind and she gracefully mounted on her favorite filly Bertha. Both were a marvelous sight, he a well built strapping youngman sitting ramrod straight in his saddle, and she blonde smartly attired in her riding habit blouse, tight breeches tucked into knee length shining brown leather boots.

There was a slight nip in the fresh country air and it blew their blond hair and the drizzle wet their faces. They quickly reined their mounts outside the cavernous stables handed over the reins to a stable hand and walked quickly to the manor house side entrance through a covered raised walkway. They were greeted by Jenny, their elderly Jamaican housekeeper, at the manor house side entrance door.

‘Good morning Mr.Bostock, ma’am, I see that you are a little wet’ said Jenny.

‘Morning Jenny, Oh it was good’ Elizabeth said stretching her arms wide and taking off her fox collar tweed coat.

‘Is mum up yet/? Asked William.

‘She was up a little while back and I just took her tea’ said Jenny

‘Will she be down for breakfast? Asked William then as an afterthought said ‘Jenny, please give her a tinkle on the phone, and ask her to come down for breakfast please’

‘Yes sir, then I better rush back to my kitchen, your mother is very particular about her breakfast’ Jenny said rushing to the kitchen, tying on a starched white apron.

William went to the toilet to take a cold shower, a habit ingrained in him through his boarding school days. He winced as the sharp cold water struck his face and muscular body. He quickly scrubbed himself with soap-sponge showered, wrapped a white terry towel around his waist, and proceeded to shave with his straight razor made of Sheffield Steel. Picking one from the seven set box, each gold plated handle marked with the day of the week, a gift he cherished from his late father Sir Henry Bostock.

William Bostock was Managing Director of the Bostock Group, thirty six years old, six feet two inches, smart, broad shouldered, handsome, sharp aquiline features, blond hair, always nattily dressed, educated at Eaton and Oxford. He was the scion of an illustrious aristocratic family, his father Henry Bostock died prematurely in a horse riding accident seven years back. Since then William was inducted into the business, and was surprised to know that the vast business was spread in India, Malaysia, Thailand, Ghana, Australia and other countries. He lived on their stud farm Bostock Manor where they bred prize racing horses. All in the able hands of Benjamin Stuart, who was the chief trainer and manager of the stud farm. Besides being his father’s close friend, neighbor and his father-in-law, being father of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth meanwhile took a leisurely piping hot shower as was her daily custom letting the hot vapor invigorate her, wash the horse sweat and refresh her for a new busy day.

Elizabeth Bostock was thirty years, five feet nine blonde beautiful, the eldest daughter of Benjamin Stuart, William had courted her for a short two months though he had known her since his school days. They had many things in common, several ideals that matched, and she shared his love of outdoors, was a keen horsewoman and had similar down to earth values, and in quick succession gave birth to three bonny boys. She cared for the boys with love with the help of a nanny, yet she was equally at home in the company board room and the party circuit, which she had come to avoid lately to spend more time with her sons. She loved being with them and took pride in looking after them, fascinated at watching them grow. William was a doting father.

The couple went straight from their separate washrooms to their common dressing room where William put on a light blue Van Huesen office shirt and grey wool worsted business suit, and Elizabeth dressed in an informal skirt-blouse ensemble and he went straight to the huge paneled dining, picking the morning papers and mail on the way from the mantel piece to wait for Ruth Bostock, while she went to the attached bedroom to check on her boys and she was relieved to note they were all fast asleep.

‘Are they asleep’ asked William as Elizabeth entered the dining room to take her place beside him on the dining table.

‘Yes they are the darlings’ replied Elizabeth smiling at him.

‘What are your plans today honey’ said William turning a page of the paper.

‘I am taking the boys out to a picnic by the lakeside’ said Elizabeth looking papers page 3 column which was the first thing she read.

‘Don’t allow them to enter the water’ said William

‘Oh no! In this weather,’ exclaimed Elizabeth

It was then that Mrs. Ruth Bostock entered the dining room, immaculately dressed in a light blue printed frock, and her low heeled black patent leather sandals.

Ruth Bostock the family matriarch was a tall graceful lady, who still looked nearer forty than real age of fifty six. She was a regular at church, very active locally with her charity, social work, besides sitting on the governing board of a public school; she was also Chairwoman of the Bostock Group after Henry Bostock’s death. However the board meetings were the only occasions, when she visited Bostock House the company head office in London preferring to stay all the time at her country house Bostock Manor. She doted on her son William, and her three grandsons, and was friendly with her daughter-in-law Elizabeth, quite contrary to convention; they shared the same interests and went for shopping and social events together whenever William was not around.

‘Good Morning you two, the weather is fine today’ said Ruth taking her seat at the head of the table

‘Good Morning mummy, I was talking about not letting the boys swim in the lake in this weather’ added Elizabeth

‘Still sleeping are they?’ enquired the matriarch with feigned surprise

‘Let them sleep, they were up late last night, any way they don’t have school today’ added Elizabeth

‘Jenny, can I have my usual please’ said Ruth turning a little in her seat.

‘Yes ma’am, coming up in a jiffy’ said jenny setting up a big bowl of porridge, an equally big pitcher of fresh orange juice, and a wicker basket with slices of fresh toasted homemade bread, with margarine in front of her, and bacon and eggs in a platter in the center on the table, with economy of moments from long years of practice.

Ruth had a lean supple body rare in her age group maintained by a strict diet regimen of porridge, toast with margarine, and fresh orange juice for breakfast. She shunned meat and took boiled vegetables and non fat portions of it for her lunch and dinner. While William and Elizabeth took regular breakfast of bacon and eggs, with toast marmalade washed down with fresh orange juice, followed by tea.

‘What was it you wanted me down for, Willy’ said Ruth looking at William Bostock.

‘Mum, I wanted to discuss the restructuring plan, of the our Asian companies’ said William forking bacon in his mouth

‘Oh Willy, why me, there is a board to look after these things I suggest you put the proposal first to the board for their views’ said Ruth sighing

‘Those stuffed shirts don’t know a thing about tea and rubber mom’ said William taking a sip of orange juice.

‘Then why don’t you induct someone useful on the board’ said Ruth between mouthfuls

‘Who do you suggest’ Asked William

‘Well I suppose somebody from the estates department, there are some very senior people out there who would love to be back in England’ Said Ruth

‘Mom, I don’t want to upset the estates departments, its functioning like a well oiled machine’ said William helping himself to fresh fruit laid on the table

‘Bring that fellow Ian McLaren, he writes good reports, besides he has stayed a very long time in India’ said Elizabeth contributing an opinion for the first time.

‘Oh I see that you are taking interest in company matters’ said Ruth looking at Elizabeth

‘Mummy, don’t forget that I am also a director on the board’ said Elizabeth sipping her orange juice

‘How about Mr. McLaren mom ‘asked William looking sideways at Ruth

‘He is an old hand from your father’s times though I have never met him personally’ said Ruth ‘except perhaps once when he was visiting England on his furlough years back’ Ruth added furrowing her eyebrows.

‘I will sound him out if he wants to be back in England’ said William getting up

‘Who wouldn’t’ said Elizabeth

‘Then that’s settled’ said Ruth

‘What’ said William?

‘Ask Ian McLaren to come home’ said Ruth

‘Just like that mom ‘said William

‘Really Willie you still haven’t got used to your powers, you are the managing director of the company’ said Ruth looking at William with an admonishing look ‘and stop giving me that helpless look’

‘Mum, I was just letting my guard down’ William said putting on his coat and thick tweed overcoat

‘Well don’t, take your own decisions and its time I quit the board’ said Ruth

‘Jenny, is Hubert around? William asked the housekeeper. Hubert, Jenny’s husband was the general handyman cum chauffeur at Bostock house, and drove William the short distance to the railway station, to catch the morning eight fifteen Folkstone-London intercity express, that William took daily to Paddington station, a short walking distance from his London office at Craven Road.

‘Yes sir, he is waiting by the car;’ said jenny

‘Well I am off’ said William pecking Ruth and Elizabeth on their cheeks in a quick foray.

William went outside the palatial house porch, to find Hubert polishing the already shiny black jaguar tourer

‘Good morning Mr. William’s sir’ said Hubert doffing his peak cap

‘Morning Hubert ‘replied Williams getting into the rich comfortable leather bound seat in the back of the car.

The powerful tourer moved quietly along the dirt road from the Bostock House towards the gate which was a good half a mile. William for the umpteenth time admired the greenery, the verdant lush English country side landscape, and the horses trotting near the stables, and a lightning like flash of black, and Brown as two horses were in full gallop on the long race track, under the watchful eyes of Benjamin Stuart-the trainer-who was astride his chestnut mare stopwatch in hand, racing binoculars hanging from his neck, beside the white track rails near the road. Stuart waved at William with his leather gloved hand and William rolled down the car window to wave back at him.

Finally Hubert wheeled the car at the station entrance, and William quickly got down unfurling his umbrella, and hurried inside the station to the platform. He had just begun scanning the newspaper headlines, when the train pulled into the station, right on time at eight fifteen. William took his usual window seat and read the newspaper while the fast train rolled over the Kent countryside making its scheduled two minute stops at a few places en route and the only passengers were office going crowd heading for the city and finally at eight forty five it pulled in with a swish of steam into the huge cavernous Paddington station at London.

William got down from the train quickly, and took the main exit at Paddington among the bustling office crowd, and proceeded to walk quickly rolled up umbrella in hand and bowler hat on his head, and within five minutes he reached Bostock house on craven road.

*     *     *

CHAPTER 2

Bostock House

B ostock House on Craven Road-London was the office of the companies founded by Sir. Henry Bostock. The legendary planter who founded Tea and Rubber plantations in India, it lay about five minute’s walk from Paddington station, and was a staid six storied white office building. Half the ground floor was leased to Midland Bank, the other half was occupied by P & O Shipping Lines, and quant glass fronted antique shops. The first and second floors were occupied by the law firm Rose, Duncan, Walters, Baines and Bostock, William Bostock was a partner in this law firm,

The Bostock group occupied the top four floors of the office building; it was from here that the far flung companies, of the Bostock group of companies were managed. William Bostock took the side entrance of the building, on the side street which lead, to the small foyer, and took the lift to the top sixth floor of this building. This was the headquarters of the widespread Bostock group of companies.

Here the staid look from outside gave away to subdued opulence, the black polished marble shimmering entrance lobby floor, the soft thick cream wall to wall carpeted corridors and a more than life size portrait of Sir Henry Bostock in his ceremonial guardsman uniform, with sword adorned the glistening oak paneled wall, just behind the long oak reception desk.

And behind the reception desk sat Helena Parker, a remarkably beautiful cheerful young lady, with thick auburn neck length hair carefully groomed, fashionably dressed in a dark blue skirt blouse and shapely legs encased in white high heels, Helena Parker handled the multiple roles of a receptionist, telephone operator, hostess, timekeeper and screened unwanted guests. Nobody entered the sixth floor executive wings without her say so.

‘Good morning Mr. Bostock’ said Helena cheerfully as soon as William Bostock entered the reception area.

‘Morning Miss Parker’ said William equally cheerfully swinging his legs with quick long strides into the corridor, leading to his office. In the three years that Helena was working with the company, William had never got around to first names basis with her, though he had heard that the junior male staff invented excuses to come to the sixth floor just to talk to Helena; however she always gave them wide a berth, was curt and business like with all.

It was about eight fifty five when William Bostock entered his spacious corner office suite passing his secretary Mrs. May Benning; a relic of his father’s era, Mrs. Benning was secretary to his father Sir. Henry Bostock until his death, she was in her early fifties, portly grey haired, wore thick black glasses and dressed conservatively, but neatly in grays and blacks.

‘Good Morning May’ he said taking off his over coat

‘Good Morning William’ she said looking up from her desk, her glasses hanging on her nose.

William entered his office hanging hat, coat and umbrella near the door on the way and sat down in the comfortable well padded leather chair. He proceeded to go through the stack of neatly arranged unopened letters, messages and other mail which May had left on the right side of his long oak desk.

William was a creature of habit and he went thru all the stacks of letters, some were invitations from friends to dinners, parties or events, only a few of which he accepted with cautious reluctance, on most he scribbled notes to May please reply with regrets leaving her to invent any reason at which she was particularly adept, to others he noted for filing or suitable action to May or the executives in different branches of the company and some he kept separately for dictating replies personally later in the day.

By about nine thirty working diligently without any interruptions he had read all the mail and buzzed May for tea which they both had sitting across the desk which was a ritual he followed, right after that he started dictating to May who took it in shorthand and having done that he delved into the pile of opened company papers lying in his tray which May had already read while opening.

‘May is there anything urgent in this pile’ asked William

‘I think you should look at Ian McLaren’s latest report from India’ said May pointing to a thick folder

‘What does he want’ William lighting a long thin mini cigarillo

‘He wants to make staff changes towards hiring or promoting more Indian managers’ said May sniffing at his recently acquired cigar smoking habit

‘So why is he asking me? William exhaling blue cigar smoke

‘He wants to replace British Manager’s with Indians’ said May waving off the cigar smoke and pinching her nose

‘Sorry May’ he said apologetically

‘Really William! Obnoxious habit’ exclaimed May

‘Right you are May’ said William waving the smoke mockingly ‘but can’t be helped, a man has got to smoke these foul things’

‘May I ask why? Is manliness proven by foul smoke?

‘You wouldn’t understand it May’ he said condescendingly

‘Off course I won’t’ said May remonstrating

‘May, now where were we, ah! The McLaren business, yes what about it?’ asked William

‘McLaren projects significant cost savings if British Managers are replaced by Indians, and other changes to be made in the perquisites given to the senior executives’ May reading through the thick report.

‘How much saving does our dear McLaren forecast’ asked William taking another pull at the cigar.

‘As much as four hundred thousand pounds a year’ May arched her eyebrows for effect

‘Gosh! As much as that’ exclaimed William

‘That’s just in salaries, the revision of perquisites will save another two hundred and fifty thousand pounds’ added May in a hushed voice for added effect.

‘What is he planning, a mass British planters exodus from India?’ asked William stubbing his half finished cigar in the ornate ashtray.

‘Looks like that’ observed May closing and keeping the folder back in front of William who smiled at May, her preferences for everything British were well known in company circles.

‘Anything else? He asked opening the folder.

‘the usual minutes of last board meetings, the monthly reports from Ceylon, Malaysia, our auditors reports and some of your legal correspondence’ said May picking up the tea cups and preparing to leave the office room.

‘Alright May off you go, I will go through these, any appointments today? William asked picking up the papers to read.

‘Yes you have two today’ she said stopping at the door

Who are they?

‘You have Mr. Hall at eleven and in the afternoon Barrister Baines at two o’clock’

‘P.G.S.Hall, from India? He asked surprised that a senior executive from India was visiting England.

‘Yes he is going back to India this weekend after his furlough and wanted to pay a courtesy call’ she said turning towards the office door

‘Is he in London or coming all the way from Edinburg to see me?’ He asked casually

‘No he is coming by train from Watford’ May added ‘I believe his sister lives there’

‘May, please sit in and takes notes during hall’s visit, I want to sound him on some organizational changes I have in mind for the Indian estates’ and added ‘Oh May, when Mr. Hall is here please don’t mention anything about Ian McLaren proposals’

‘Certainly Mr. Bostock, I will keep my lips sealed this time, usually I spill the beans to every visitor’ May said with feigned offence

William was quick to spot the inference in May addressing him formally’ Oh May I didn’t mean that’ and ‘exasperated at this’ added jesting ‘that will be all Mrs. May Benning’

Very well Mr. William Bostock’ May gave a parting short before she sailed away from the office.

William smiled pensively at May’s demeanor and in circumspect was pleased at his decision to keep her after his father’s death, besides being an efficient secretary, she was very good at drafting, attention to detail, got on well with staff in the Bostock group, was unobtrusive, kept a low profile, yet was always on her toes and had proved her worth on many occasions, in recognition of all these sterling qualities he had given her a raise and inducted another girl, Sue Pearson from the secretarial pool downstairs to assist her.

William lit the half finished cigarillo again and proceeded to read all his papers marked urgent, finally he took the thick folder sent from India by Ian McLaren. It was packed with figures and justifications and envisaged changes by cutting short British Managers / Assistant Managers and was surprised to read that the executive staff in the 32 Tea-Rubber Estates in India comprised of :—

British executive staff

8 Senior executives in the Cochin head office

3 Group managers in the three planting districts

Indian executive staff

3 Executives in the Cochin head office

4 Managers

24 Assistant Managers

28 Managers

8 Assistant Managers

All the British managers were in their late forties-fifties and some touched sixties and almost all Indian Assistant Managers were in their thirties, only a few of the British executives were qualified though they were tough die hard planters, whereas most of the Indian managers and assistant managers were much younger and more qualified, were equally good planters, some with agriculture, management and other degrees.

William noted McLaren’s observation and breakdown of figures on the Indian executive’s numbers especially there being no group manager, few managers and increased number of Indian assistant managers whereas the disparity in the British and Indian pay structures and the outlay in keeping the British executives in comfort in a semblance of British life style in India away from home was quite substantial.

There were 10 points in McLaren’s management plans and all were sharp, direct and succinct:

Repatriation of all British executives who had crossed sixties.

Promoting all British assistant managers to managers & promoting senior Indian assistant managers.

Intensive management training of Indian executive staff

Increasing the strength of Indian assistant managers to beat the attrition rate of 15 % due to sacking and resignations.

Posting one/two assistants at all estates-some estates were managed by only a manager as their personal fiefdom.

Regular rotation of managers at the Estates after four years.

Cost control & cutting the perquisites / furlough facilities given to British Managers.

Manager’s performance to be on crop production / profitability estate wise.

Extensive plans for replantation of fields on all old estates to increase crop and resultant profitability.

Selling one or two unmanageable / low profit making properties to cut the losses and improve the administration.

The first three items interested him most but it was the last item in the twelve point report of his GM-India that caught his eye and enraged William, how dare he suggest selling any property even if it is making low profits, it was his primary duty as the resident General Manager to apply higher management skills and bring up the profits or quit. He was particularly peeved at McLaren using the word unmanageable which he thought was an admission of defeat by McLaren and he marked it in red ink for further discussion with Hall during his visit that day.

William also realized why McLaren was so hated among the British and Indian executives alike, in that he was totally devoid of human emotions, compassion, delicacy, and he had no qualms about reporting about his fellow British expatriates, for instance he listed several manager’s who had built swimming pools, tennis courts, cricket pitches and such other expensive additions on their estates or bungalows with company funds. He felt the money could be better utilized if pooled and spent at estate group clubs so that it can serve the wider planter community. William felt that McLaren was passing the buck to the head office, what was he doing sitting in the resident general manager’s office when all this was happening.

The rest of the voluminous report was filled with estate wise consolidated figures on crop production, expense and prices realized at local and export markets for tea-rubber and Indian auditor’s report and William made pencil notes on the side of these pagers for May to send copies of these particular pages to our auditors and cost accountants for their review and feedback.

He finished reading the last page closed the report in its folder and entered the attached toilet to wash his face and hands with soap and warm water. He then strode to the sixth floor window that looked down on craven road to watch the traffic passing below, which never failed to fascinate him he could look all the way onto the roof of Paddington station and was thinking of ringing May for more tea when the intercom buzzed.

‘Mr. Hall to see you’ announced May in her usual accented voice on the intercom.

William looked at his watch and noted it was few minutes to eleven; Hall was early he thought of making him wait but thought otherwise.

‘Sending him in May’ he said pressing the intercom

Moments later May opened the door to usher in the tall handsome Scotsman, dressed in a gray tweed suit with a red polka dot silk tie he had a suntanned ruddy complexion with clear deep blue eyes.

Mr. Hall, how do you do, welcome to Bostock House, it’s so nice to see you here’ said William offering his hand and shaking warmly

‘Mr. Bostock, How do you do, thank you for seeing me, call me Patrick’ said Hall still shaking William’s hand.

Then you can call me William, won’t you sit down please’ he said leading Hall to the overstuffed sofa on the side of the office.

That’s quite a suntan you have Patrick, where did you acquire it’ asked William taking a sofa seat opposite Hall.

‘In Spain Mr. Bostock, I took the Missus and boys on a holiday to Spain, we drove all the way and back in a rented car’ said Hall settling into the sofa

‘Good, Good, will you have some tea or coffee, Patrick’ asked William

‘Don’t mind if I do, tea if you please’ said hall diffidently in front of the managing director who was also the owner and majority stake holder in the Bostock group.

‘May can you bring some tea please’ William said pressing the intercom

‘Now Patrick what have you been up to during your stay in England’ asked William looking at the Visiting Agent/ Plantation Advisor from India.

‘Oh! The boys were rearing to see the continent and we took the car at London and crossed the channel by the Calais-Lyons ferry and spent a week touring France, and then over to Costa de sol region in Spain where we spent three weeks’ said Hall glancing sideways at the opulent huge office suite.

‘Tell me about your family’ William said offering a box of his Havana cigars which Patrick refused with a shake of his blond head.

Well I have two sons and a daughter, Timothy is twelve, Peter is ten, both go to boarding school in Aberdeen and Maryann is six years and lives with us in India’ Said Hall smiling then added’ we see the boys once a year when they come to India during their school vacations or when we come here on furlough’

‘That’s tough isn’t it, and who takes care of them in between’ William lighting his thick long cigar.

‘Oh we manage somehow, my brother is a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy and based in Aberdeen, he is married to Patricia, who is my wife Alice’s cousin, and Jennifer my sister lives in Watford and the boys spend their time at either of these places during Christmas and Easter holidays’ said Hall

They spent about ten minutes with small talk about their families, people, places and their interests William asked general questions without being unduly inquisitive and Hall answered them openly with easy nonchalance.

It was at this time that May entered wheeling a gold plated tea trolley with scones, cookies, muffins and assortment of fresh biscuits, Hall noticed that the tea service was of fine white English silver, delicate expensive as were the crockery, cutlery stacked neatly in the trolley tray below, May quietly served them tea and placed a generous helping of scones and biscuits near the side tables.

‘Oh Mrs. Benning, would you care to join us for tea and tell Helena or Sue not to disturb us please’ William said as May had just turned to go out of the office.

‘Very well Mr. Bostock’ she said smiling and sitting on the single sofa between them and taking tea for herself.

Hall noted that quite unobtrusively Mrs. Benning had taken out a white ruled pad and a pen which hung on a thin silver chain around her neck.

For three quarters of an hour William questioned Hall on every aspect of the company affairs in India, estates, staff, their lifestyles, crops, production, cost analysis, and elicited his opinion on several matters of the company, and lastly the matters raised in Ian McLaren’s report which William noted was not known to Hall, the latter was puzzled by this intense grilling, May poker faced took notes quietly without interrupting either of them.

Then he dropped a bomb ‘Do you know that Mr. McLaren’s has proposed selling Greenham and Vembadi estates’

‘Oh no’ said Hall wondering what to say

‘Mr. Hall, do you concur with Ian’ pressed William and Hall noted the change to formal address

‘Frankly no’ said Hall

‘Go on, you must have your reasons’ said William prodding him

‘Yes, because these properties have a yield potential provided we invest in replanting and new machinery’ Hall volunteered

‘And Ian does not know this’ pointed William

‘He does, but he thinks only in short term’ answered Hall wary of the drift in the conversation.

‘And you think in long term, Mr. Hall’

‘Mr. Bostock, it doesn’t matter what I think as Mr. McLaren is the General Manager-India and reports directly to you’ he said fidgeting in his seat

‘You two don’t see eye to eye?’ William said needling him

‘No no Mr. Bostock we get along fine’ Hall hastened to correct the drift of the discussion.

‘Listen Mr. Hall you can be frank with me, if you have any ideas I am a good listener.

Mr. Hall was apprehensive that a courtesy visit has turned into a brain storming session.

‘Well Mr. Bostock I don’t want to tread on other’s territory’ meaning to avoid speaking against his superior Mr. Ian McLaren

‘Mr. Hall you won’t be doing that, in fact we are looking at the prospects of bringing some dynamism and fire into the company’s belly, you would certainly help us in that direction’ said William looking at his wristwatch.

This encouraged Hall who then let loose a verbal barrage giving a precise overview of the malaise that had struck the company estates division, and he spoke for a good part of a quarter of an hour, William interrupted once or twice to ask questions but generally gave a free hand for Hall to speak, Mrs. May Benning took furious notes in shorthand flicking page after page of her notepad.

While Hall was less articulate, he finished his dissertation, then he went over his premise thoroughly covering every aspect of his reorganization plan from the plantation side and William knew that were several aspects which needed inputs from finance, costing and management side and he mentally marked to send Hall’s suggestions and views to the core team he had within the company for their review.

I was round it was half past twelve William said looking at his watch again. ‘Patrick would you care to join me for lunch, we can go to my club, that is if you don’t have any other plans’

‘I am free till about four in the afternoon when I have to catch the train to my sister’s place in Watford’ said Hall then added ‘I am staying there and tomorrow I will board my flight to Bombay from London Heathrow’ pleased that the MD of the company invited him to lunch at his exclusive London Club.

‘Then that’s settled’ said William and turning sideways said ‘May would you please arrange a car to take us to the club’ and turning again towards Hall said ‘you know I commute by train to London, as I live in Thurnam, in Kent, which is about 50 miles from Paddington, I usually don’t drive a car in London, too much bloody traffic’

Mrs. Benning got up to arrange that from her office and William excused himself to go in the attached toilet and emerged moments later freshly washed and smelling of a rather expensive deodorant.

They had just settled down on the sofa when the beautiful Helena Parker stood in the open office door to announce ‘Mr. Bostock, you car is waiting downstairs’

‘Thank you Miss Parker’ said William getting up.

‘Let’s go Patrick’ and picking up his coat and hat from the coat rack headed towards the door.

‘May, hold the fort’ said William heading towards the long corridor leading toward the lift.

‘You have Mr. Baines scheduled at two in the afternoon’ she said looking up from her desk

‘I know May I won’t be late’ said William walking briskly down the corridor followed by Hall and descended quietly in the lift to the ground floor.

The drizzle had turned into a downpour and they walked quickly to the black Jaguar parked with its powerful engine purring under a short canvass awning at the side entrance, inside was a young lad in a smart black driver’s uniform sitting upright behind the wheel.

‘Good Afternoon Mr. Bostock’ greeted the driver warmly leaning across the front seat and opening the car door for William but he ushered Hall into the back and getting inside the car from the far side ‘Good Afternoon Chalmers’ he greeted the driver warmly settling in the warm plush tan colored leather seats.

No sooner were the doors closed when the big car took off merging quickly in the traffic and sped on the main street heading towards central London and within ten minutes was pulling underneath the huge front blue canopy covered entrance emblazoned Drones Club the frequent haunt of William whenever he wanted to dine or entertain in privacy.

They were ushered by the white uniformed doorman to the thickly carpeted lobby of the club where they hung their coats, hats and proceeded to the vast dining room. William nodded to several people on the way smiling at some and stopped by to greet four elegantly dressed people. Hall glanced around the dining area and noted the well laid sparkling white tables all set with fine china and sparkling cutlery, from the high roof overhead hung huge Belgian chandeliers and waiters in their white livery were flitting silently among the diners in the elegant dining room.

A tall impressive grey haired head-waiter impeccably dressed in a black suit with a black bow tie appeared from nowhere’ Good Afternoon Mr. Bostock, and added as if after an afterthought ‘where would you like to sit sir’

‘Afternoon Edgar’ said William indicating an unoccupied corner of the vast elegant dining room. They were quickly ushered to a brightly lit table for four beside a huge glass wall looking over the inner patio which was open to the sky with rain splattering on the green potted plants and grass. Hall was visibly impressed with the appointments of the club and was looking around awe struck at the opulent atmosphere.

The waiter placed red leather gold lined menu in front of them and waited for their orders. William ordered a bloody Mary and Hall a double scotch and soda.

‘Patrick what will you have for lunch’ nudging the menu gently.

‘Frankly Mr. Bostock I am not used to this style of dining’ said Hall opening the menu

‘Tell you what Patrick, it took me some time to get used to this myself’ he said looking around the grand dining scene.

‘I sort of inherited the club membership when my father expired, otherwise you don’t stand a chance of getting entry here, the waiting list of aspiring members is longer than my arm’ said William chuckling at the anomaly.

The waiter brought their drinks and William raised a toast to Hall ‘To your success

Hall replied raising his glass a little higher ‘To our success

Hall’s diffidence was not lost on William, he had taken an instant liking to the tall middle aged blue eyed Scotsman and after two drinks, the ice was broken and they talked freely about everything under the sun, Hall mostly within specific area of interest plantations, William about his future plans of his business interests spread worldwide. The respective subjects were alien to each other, yet there was a strange common bond between them, though William was younger than Hall by a good dozen years, the latter subservient to the young man in spite of his age.

The head waiter came for the lunch order and William ordered ‘we’ll have a Chateaubriand’

‘Chateaubriand, certainly Sir a very good choice’ intoned the head waiter

‘Foi de grass,

‘King Prawns in hot sauce,

‘Steak with baby potatoes,

and ‘Kidney pie’

And Hall hesitated a little before ordering

‘Pommes soufflés

Fish fillet in wine,

Mutton chops in tartar sauce,

and Lasagna’

They nursed their drinks engaged in small talk for some time until their order was brought carried by two smart white liveried waiters preceded by the head waiter who stylishly served them from the platters and placed the dishes on a side table and disappeared, they ate quietly talking a little and only when necessary and William noted that Hall was a good eater like himself. After the meal the steward appeared again suggesting some desserts, both refused and William ordered a red wine, Hall a white clarinet and this time both took the cigars from the humidor placed on the table and lit up the cigars.

It was then that William waving away the blue cigar smoke dropped a bomb shell ‘Patrick How would like to take over from Ian McLaren’

‘Beg your pardon Mr. Bostock’ said Hall doing an intake with his lower jaw hanging open

‘Yes you heard me right, I am thinking of bringing Ian to the head office and I want you to take over from him as the General Manager-India’

‘I see’ intoned Hall still shocked

‘Off course it is subject to the board’s approval’ he said taking another pull at the glowing cigar and exhaling a thin plume of blue smoke towards the ceiling.

‘Well I don’t know what to say’ said Hall trying to conceal his surprise

‘Well say nothing now, Patrick, but when you get back to India send me a complete report of the rejuvenation plans you outlined today’ he said

‘I will do that Mr. Bostock’ Hall said boldly looking him in the eyes.

‘And please keep this confidential’ William added as an afterthought

‘OK Mr. Bostock’

‘Even from Ian’ said William emphasizing with a raised finger.

‘That will be tough’ said Hall in a pensive voice

‘may be, don’t use your usual secretarial pool if you fear a leak, even a hand written report will suffice, I can get May to transcribe it and get it typed once it reaches London’ signaling the steward for the bill which he promptly produced as if from nowhere, William signed with a flourish and tipped a ten pound note, which the steward palmed with a well practiced motion.

After that they made small talk for a few minutes and it was about one forty when William looked at his watch and they both got up collected coats and hats, and walked to the car waiting outside the club entrance, Hall assumed that the steward would have arranged the car to be ready, visibly impressed at how the higher echelons in the head office lived and worked.

‘Patrick it was really a pleasure having you here, we hope to work together on our common goals’ said William settling into the car

‘The pleasure was mine and thank you for the sumptuous lunch Mr. Bostock’ replied Hall getting in the car from the other side.

‘Oh not at all, not at all, Patrick I hope to invite you and Mrs. Hall for dinner at Bostock Manor the next time you are in England’ William said at parting

‘That’s very kind of you sir’ said Hall

The car sped towards the Craven road office as the early afternoon London roads were bare of rush hour traffic and within minutes it was pulling up at the side entrance of Bostock House.

‘Patrick, the car is at your disposal until you board your train, the driver will take you to Paddington or anywhere you want to go’ said William getting out of the car then added ‘wont you Chalmers’ glancing at the driver.

‘Yes Mr. Bostock’ said Chalmers touching his cap differentially

‘Well Patrick good bye and have a nice flight’ William said

‘Thank you’ Patrick replied at a loss for words then added ‘good bye Mr. Bostock’

William waved and Patrick waved back smiling easily and the car took off with a smooth accelerating motion disappearing from view round the corner passing the Midland Bank in the front of Craven Road towards Paddington station.

*     *     *

CHAPTER 3

Legal Firm on a Platter

I t was about one fifty five in the afternoon when William Bostock returned to his sixth floor office from the lunch he had with Hall, he proceeded straight to the toilet to freshen himself getting back to his executive desk musing on the discussions he had with Hall when May buzzed his intercom to announce.

‘Barrister Baines to see you Mr. Bostock’ said May in her accented voice.

‘Send him in May’ said William bracing himself to meet Mr. John Baldwin Baines

He went to open the door, there dressed in black pin stripe suit stood the dapper J.B.Baines, Barrister-at-law and senior partner of the law firm Rose, Duncan, Walters, Baines and Bostock, J.B.Baines-known as JBB among the law fraternity-was an enigma, he was now nearly eighty years, was of average height a portly stooped figure, but his intellect, incisive sharp mind was respected by his clients, and hated by his adversaries, he never mixed socially with anyone least of all his law partners and led a secluded life in a modest suburban house near Croydon, just outside London, it was rumored that he was worth millions of pounds.

Years back Baines and Henry Bostock had established this law practice having taken over from the legal heirs when Frank Rose and James Duncan died, since then Baines had built it into one of the leading legal firms in England and won many high profile cases.

‘Good afternoon Mr. Baines’ said William opening the office door.

‘William my boy, good afternoon’ greeted Mr. Baines in a garrulous wheezy voice taking dithering steps.

‘How do you do Mr. Baines’ shaking his hand and leading him to a comfortable chair across his desk.

‘Not bad, not bad at all, William considering my age’ said JBB settling in his chair with a sigh and putting down a well worn brown leather briefcase beside him on his lap.

‘How is Ruth, I haven’t seen her in years’ asked JBB

‘Mum is well and comes here to attend our board meetings three or four times a year’ replied William then he added ‘though off late she has been after me to relieve her from chairperson duties due to her age’

‘Exactly my sentiments’ said JBB looking directly at William.

William was puzzled at this how his mother’s reluctance to chairmanship could match JBB’s sentiments when he clarified after a wheezing phlegmatic cough.

‘you see William your father Henry-may god bless his soul—was a pioneer, he was instrumental in setting up this law firm’ said Baines ‘and off course I was with him’

‘Yes I know’ William said nodding his head

‘He gave me a new lease of life when I was a young footloose penniless aspiring lawyer just out of Law College’ JBB added

‘Oh that was some more than fifty years back’ continued JBB’ you were not even born then’ looking fondly at William.

‘We progressed, we went up’ indicating with an upward movement of his right hand.

‘Yes I know’ William wondered where the conversation was leading.

‘New partners joined us and right now we have more than thirty lawyers working for us, no riff raff mind you, some of the best legal talents in England’ he said thumping the desk lightly

‘We have fought and won some landmark cases, even a few crown cases’ he waited reflectively and continued ‘that we have done, our case win record is outstanding’

‘Yes I know that’ William still wondering what the old man was leading up to

‘Now I want to quit’ JBB dropping a bombshell

‘What!’ William taken by complete surprise.

‘Yes I want to retire, young man, I am eighty years old ‘said Baines self righteously straightening up in his seat.

‘But why this sudden’ asked William trying to contain the shock.

‘It is not sudden, I knew it was coming’ said JBB trying to light his filled walnut pipe with shaking hands.

William waited for him to continue not interrupting and Baines did after lighting his typical Sherlock Holmes pipe exhaling the blue pipe smoke towards the office window.

‘I have been diagnosed with lung cancer’ said JBB waving his pipe.

‘Oh I am really sorry ‘said William with a pained look at the stooped old man.

‘Well I am not’ retorted Baines’ I have lived a full life, I have done some good court work over so