A Story for Christmas
One of the most prominent shops on the Route Royale was the iron mongers A.H.B_ & Cie, Quincaillerie. You could find most building materials there, paint, cement, nails etc, but also books. Because the proprietor Hassam Seth loved books. He had a rare reputation for fairness, and was said to pay his employees quite a bit more than similar concerns. But this did not stop thieving.
Kissoon was a Hindoo, but Hassam Seth, a devout Muslim did not exclude others, which was not too common in the Mauritian society of those days, when people tended to favour their own co-religionists. The boss had often noticed how hard-working he was. He was not a casseur-pose, a slacker, taking five minute breaks whenever his back was turned. So he was very surprised when Dawood, who was about the same age as Kissoon, another odd-job man approached him one afternoon, and begged for a rise. But I pay you the same as Kissoon, Hassam Seth said, and that’s already above the going rate, I mean you know that. Why doesn’t Kissoon ask for a rise? Dawood cackled. Kissoon is a débrouillard, a bit of a fiddler. Hassam Seth was shocked. Dawood, I don’t like insinuations, do you mean he steals? If that’s what you mean, say so. Boss, I didn’t want to sell my fellow worker, but you asked. Yes, I saw him put two tins of paint in his tente bazar last week. Next day he summoned Kissoon.
Was it true that you put away two tins of paint in your bag last week Kissoon? Please don’t lie.
Yes boss, last week, but I have stolen six altogether. And he began sobbing quietly. I’ve never stolen a pin before that.
Don’t think that if you cry I’ll overlook thievery. I run a business, and if I can’t trust my own workers_
Kissoon interrupted his flow. Patron, if someone like me steals, it is really because there was no other way. I am not a thief, but what does one do when one simply cannot go on. Bhagwan is generous, but sometimes he does not listen.
Look, Hassam Seth said, I pay you Rs 175 a month don’t I? Others would give you Rs 125, or at best Rs150, are you aware how lucky you are.
Seth, everybody says that you are the most generous employer in Port-Louis, but … and he started sobbing again.
You understand that if you steal you have to go, you leave me with no choice. Kissoon nodded, and reined in his tears.
Boss, he said, I know you’re a busy man, but my life is finished now, can you not give me five perhaps six minutes so I can tell you about my situation.
Kissoon I can give you all the time in the world, but nothing justifies theft.
Seth, I know that in some ways I am better off than many. I have a job, and I thank Bhagwan everyday that at the end of the month I receive a fair salary. So many of my friends are unemployed, or get a pittance. When I pay our loyer (rent), I am left with Rs150. Seth, I swear I don’t drink. The electricity bill keeps rising, it’s now six rupees every month. We cannot afford fish or chicken. The last time I tasted chicken I was thirteen. We live on rice and dal, giraumon manzé fou (pumpkin), once or twice a week we get fifty cents of snoek. Otherwise a chatini pomme d’amour, bouillon brede martin, touffé malbar. Brede Mourounge is gratis, but you can’t eat it everyday. Sometimes a neighbour would give us a few mangoes or a papaya. I have to provide for my mother-in-law, a bewa (widow) who lives with us. And our four children. Bhagwan rewarded me by making my Veena come sixth in the p’tite bourse, and she’s going to Lorette, and gets Rs10 every month, but which she gives us for our housekeeping. We need twenty-five pounds of rice every month. And oil, and coal to cook. The money is all gone, and I haven’t mentioned medicine. My wife is bedridden, she is too ill so we need to buy milk powder for the baby, she needs Dagenham pills everyday, my mother-in-law croaks like a frog, I buy her a little jar of thermogène every month. Then comes the biggest item of expenditure, the younger son’s écolage. Although he is a good student, he came eleventh in the p’tite bourse, which means I need to send him to Bhujoharry’s, and Missié Alex gave me a discount of Rs1 on the fee, so I only pay Rs11 every month, but Seth there’s books to buy, Rodney Stone was Rs2.25 at Venpin’s. People say Anand doesn’t need to go to Bhujoharry’s, that he can find a job somewhere, as an apprenti. Where? But I’d die before I withdraw him from school. What do I do Seth when they need shoes? clothes? What will I do next year when Vijay needs to go to Secondary if he doesn’t get a bourse? Ayo patron, I had no choice when my friend, I can’t tell you his name, said he wanted to repaint his house, could I get him some paint for half price? I was so angry, but I owed two months’ rent, and the propriétaire was threatening me with eviction.
Kissoon, the Seth said sternly. I cannot overlook theft. I won’t sack you, but I will decrease your appointement to Rs150. The fellow did not know whether to be happy or to grieve.
But, added the Seth, from now on, I will pay the school fees and books for your Anand, and if the younger one fails to get a bourse, let me know. Also tell the pharmacist to send me the bill whenever he does a prescription for your wife or mother-in-law.
Dawood was greatly chuffed when he heard Kissoon was getting his appointement reduced.
