House of Cards: A Novel by Sudha Murty

Author:Sudha Murty
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9789351181774
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2013-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

When he reached his desk, the transfer letter was lying on his table. The letter contained the sentence, ‘For the benefit of the people and service towards them, you’ve been transferred to Bellary.’

As he was taking it all in, Dr Saroja walked into the room and said, ‘Sanjay, I’m so sad. You’re my right-hand man. I don’t know how I’ll run the department without you. But your services are needed more in Bellary. It’s a beautiful place. I wish you all the best. You’ll enjoy your stay there.’

Dr Saroja knew that the transfer would not be cancelled unless a bribe was paid. She herself had got her transfer cancelled the last time by paying a bribe to someone through Lata. Lata was the one who had initiated Dr Saroja’s transfer to keep her in her place and had later pretended to help her by cancelling it. But Sanjay was not aware of these secrets. Before leaving, Dr Saroja said, ‘You’re relieved of your duties from today. Go home Sanjay, and prepare for Bellary.’

Lata also showed her sympathy: ‘Sanjay, you’re an honest person. Had they transferred me to Bellary, I would have gone. But the government requires your services. A sincere person like you will serve the poor people with focus. You work there for a year. After that, I’ll tell my daddy to get you back to Bangalore and I’ll go there instead. Mutual exchange is allowed in government service.’

Dejected, Sanjay headed home. What would they do about their apartment? Sishir was going to school in Bangalore. Mridula’s job was also here. He did not know what to do.

Mridula consoled him, ‘Shall we go to the minister and meet him? He should know that other people who have been in Bangalore longer than you have haven’t been transferred. It’s unfair.’

Sanjay had not forgotten his previous encounter at the Health Secretariat. He said, ‘No, Mridula. It doesn’t work that way. Moreover, we don’t even know the minister. There are hundreds of people like me who want the minister’s help with their problems. You have to be recommended by an MLA to meet a minister and we don’t know any MLA.’

Mridula asked, ‘Do you remember if any MLAs or their relatives have come to you for medical help?’

‘When I deal with my patients, they are only patients to me. I don’t ask who they are. I know only Chikananjappa, a clerk in the Health department.’

Mridula was good at converting every negative to a positive. That was her nature. She said, ‘That’s excellent. Sometimes, people in lower positions are more useful than bigger connections. Why don’t you ask Chikananjappa? He may tell us how we can get to talk to the minister.’

Sanjay called up Chikananjappa and explained the situation to him. Chikananjappa said, ‘Doctor, it’s difficult to get an appointment with the minister at this busy time of the year. A small person like me can’t help you. It’s better that you go through an MLA. But don’t join your work at Bellary immediately.

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