Return of Blind Trust

 

Return of Blind Trust

Photo by Andres Ayrton:

https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-and-happy-woman-greeting-each-other-with-fist-bump-6551298/

Hashim & Kashif worked at senior posts in a good reputable production group related to Textiles. In view of their good understanding decided to join hands and start their own business.

 Hashim headed marketing department while Kashif was in charge of whole production. Both were considered to be highly efficient, hardworking, loyal to company & were thus highly paid officers.

They sat several times to plan for new business. Kashif took the responsibility of exploring and information regarding new business setup. They on weekends discussed and exchanged their views on information gathered.  

After months of working, they got registered a partnership firm with the name of Decent Traders. As per mutual understanding and agreement, Hashim submitted his resignation but as expected, it was not an easy task.

Management of Company refused to relieve him and one month notice and was delayed to seven months. This period was availed by two partners to complete legal formalities, renting of office, stationary printing & selection of very few employees. Both were very enthusiastic& promised to do neat & clean business with polite attitude with employees.  

At last night came when farewell party was hosted by management in honor of Hashim’s long dedicated services.  although all was planned and long awaited but last moments were very disturbing for Hashim. The daily routine which had been on for more than a decade was now to change. He left with wet eyes.  

 First day in own office was the most difficult one.   He was alone in a small flat with an office boy & a computer operator. The only quality officer Rana Jabbar was in field. It was complete silence in office with no visitors & no telephonic rings, no emails, no files on table& no air conditioning in office. A massive difference in environment.

Hashim was a bit mentally relaxed in next days as he was answerable to none but new challenges awaited daily which were never planned or worked out. Earning of money looked hard and utilization of time was another problem.  

Rana Jabbar worked hard in marketing although he was not hired for that purpose. Hashim used all his previous contacts to get the business. Many of the professional contacts had vanished with the old Company. Kashif helped in boosting morale and in contacting different companies. Soon the efforts materialized and Decent Traders started getting contracts from renowned     Textile companies. The business grew in next two years and so number of employees also improved.

After almost eight years of commencement of business, need for Kashif’s full time presence in office was badly felt. The daily responsibilities and decision making in business were redistributed among both partners. Rana Jabbar and his team was asked to report to Kashif. In the last years he had gained full confidence and support of both partners because of his hard work. 

One morning Kashif found an anonymous envelope on his name. It was a letter written in urdu and had some details of corruption& irregularities at Faisalabad station. Within a week two more such letters reached office through courier having more serious allegations like usage of warehouse for meetings &night stay with girls. The said station was in direct control of Rana Jabbar. It was surprising and depressing for both the owners.

That evening both sat for hours and tried to analyze from different angles. The reliability of contents of letter was no doubt a major issue but still could not be ignored. Stealing of fabric & reporting of less fabric quantity was serious but girls’ activities in company’s premises required immediate attention and investigation. The both owners agreed that any further delay could lead to consequences beyond expectations. All the matter had to be dealt in a professional way & with care otherwise there was danger of collapse of whole system build over the years.  

Next morning Mr. Kashif left for Faisalabad with two accounts officers for detailed checking of stocks. Rana Jabbar was called in Lahore office to give his report on stocks. During the day he was surprised and uncomfortable on knowing that stocks and related documents were being checked by boss in his absence. He denied any illegal and unethical activities at his station and promised to be more vigilant and careful in future.  

Kashif also did not get any information about girls as none of staff & guards spoke a single word on it. However, their physical stock checking did not match with Rana Jabba’s reports. The security guards at warehouse were changed.  

A week later, matters of stocks and other irregularities were discussed with Rana and his team at Lahore office. there was a sudden exchange of hot words among Rana team members. Although they avoided to say in clear words but owners smelled reality in allegations written in anonymous letter. Over all Rana tried to be calm and then Meeting ended in good environment on cup of tea. 

Same night Both the owners decided not to fire any employee   at that stage. Next morning Kashif received a telephonic call informing that Rana may give them a big surprise as he had felt his insult. Some days later Rana suddenly disappeared and then after two days informed about bad health of his mother and then his mobile set could not be reached for many days. It was hard for owners to understand things or to conclude at some point as Rana had always been punctual and efficient.

More than a week later one evening both the partners were working in office that some unknown guests came to meet Kashif. He took it very lightly and willingly went to meet them in meeting room. As soon as he entered in room one of guests contacted person standing outside and within flash of moment police entered in office to capture Kashif. By the time Hashim came out of room on hearing noise they all had left.

It was so quick action that Staff sitting in office could neither resist nor ask the reason of entering office in that way. As per office guard police and persons in plain clothes   had come in big luxury cars. It all meant that some influential party had planned& was behind it. Cell number of Mr. Kashif was switched off which increased panic in office as Hashim himself could not decide what to do next. He wondered whether to inform family of Kashif or to wait till having details. There were different speculations in office that what & why all happened.  

After about thirty minutes of action Kashif’s call came on his partner’s mobile phone & informed that police were taking him to Faisalabad against charges of non-clearing of some crossed cheque of Rs 9.6million. He was talking in his usual calm & slow voice. He further informed that a FIR had been lodged in Gulberg police Station Faisalabad by some Javaid Boota. He also asked to inform his cousin col Affan Khan a retired army officer. Hashim wanted more details but line was cut off and then his number was powered off.

This information stunned Hashim & his Accounts Manager as Company had never issued such a heavy amount cheque, then who was that, Boota? The driver smelled the urgency and rushed to get the car ready. Hashim wasted no time in collecting important things & handsome cash. He while stepping out of office called col (R) Affan Khan to inform about the ugly incident. Soon Hashim accompanied by his brother-in-law col Zafar Mahmood & accounts manager was on motorway for Faisalabad. They were followed by col (R) Affan Khan along with his relatives. 

During the journey persons in both the cars were continuously busy in getting information & trying to use their contacts. Suddenly Hashim recalled that a close friend of his sister was sitting member of Parliament of ruling party. She was contacted by his sister and in some minutes DPO Faisalabad was on line. He was very kind enough to listen case details available despite distorted telephonic line because of motorway. After few minutes later, his PA’s telephonic call came informing that message of DPO sb had been conveyed to concerned police station.

In the meantime, Accounts manager sitting on front seat of car received information that Mr. Kashif had reached police station. Almost 40 minutes later both cars reached destination. Some employees were waiting outside who briefed their boss about inner situation. Col (R) Affan also shared the efforts done by him on way. Hashim stepped in to meet his partner and was shocked& disturbed to see him in lock room. He could not stay there and rushed to meet officer on duty.

One could easily feel from the pleasant behavior of the officer that some clear message had already reached him. He at once asked a man in uniform to bring Mr. Kashif. The both partners sat on one side of the officer while others sat in front of him. On enquiry Hashim confirmed that he was the one who had contacted DPO sb.

Both the partners were stunned on seeing copy of cheque as it had signatures of brother of Kashif. The bank account was of Faisalabad, perhaps that was the reason that FIR was lodged there. Hashim saw towards Kashif having several questions in mind & eyes but no one had any answer.

Some minutes later both partners left Police station under the assurance to meet Mr. Jamal Khan (ASP) next evening. On the way back Kashif & Hashim sat in same car to discuss and search the answer to What & how all happened?

It was a mystery that how a link had been developed between Kashif and Boota through a bank cheque of Kashif’s brother. After long discussion and vigorous thinking, Kashif called his brother to know about his links with Mr. Boota but as expected he neither knew any person with such name nor had ever issued a heavy amount cheque. After some minutes Kashif’s brother gave a return call saying that he had a bank account in Faisalabad but has been non-operative since long. Kashif asked him to trace its cheque book but the main questions still remained unanswered that who was Boota and how that cheque reached him? It was around midway of journey that Kashif’s mobile rang showing his brother’s name on display. On attending his voice came “I have traced old out old cheque book. The last cheque was issued in blank for closure of bank account after withdrawing balance amount. The last balance written on jacket of cheque is Rs1870/. “After some moments He spoke again” I think the last cheque was given to you more than a year back as I could not go to Faisalabad “

They both kept quiet for several moments before Hashim said “It seems that either you or me gave the cheque to Rana for account closing but then forgot. “Kashif shook his head as he remembered nothing. It clearly meant that Rana had saved cheque since long but who was Boota.  

Both the cars reached Lahore late night. All were badly exhausted and needed rest. Despite all that both partners could take sleep even for some minutes. They both had heavy brains with several questions and points.   They just did not know what will happen in days to come. One thing was obvious that Rana was in the hands of some gangster who had done all this to blackmail them.  

Next morning again Kashif & Hashim had to leave for Faisalabad and went straight to   DPO’s office. The waiting room was already full of people from different walks of life and so they had to wait for quite some time for their turn. The DPO had the last night conversation and reference in mind. He on spot sent message to Mr. Nawazish Karim (SSP) to handle case purely on merit and instructed not to touch Kashif. It gave some mental relief to both partners. 

They then reached police station and met investigating officer Sub inspector Haroon but his behavior was altogether very discouraging. He treated Kashif as some old culprit. His behavior was not only insulting but also threatening. It looked either he was heavily obliged or bribed by other party. Things then looked very difficult & dark. Then they decided to contact their influential customers in city with whom they had close business relations.    

In the evening both partners walked to Mr. Jamal Khan (ASP) office with heavy heart. On entering a big neat, clean and carpeted room they saw a young & smart police officer in chair. The other party comprising of three persons was already there. The investigating officer was busy in writing something. Mr. Jamal Khan (ASP) looked at Hashim & Kashif with deep eyes and then turned towards other party to hear their point of view.

Mr. Jamal Khan seemed to be a professional officer but the question was whether he was honest or not. Both partners sat on opposite side of other party. 

A fatty person sitting in center who seemed to be Boota told ASP that he had received four cheques of small denominations having different dates from Kashif against sale of fabric. When those cheques were not cleared by bank then in a meeting held at their premises Mr. Kashif gave the particular cheque with clubbed amount in exchange of previous cheques. This was the short story narrated by Boota.

On hearing it ASP simply asked that why they accepted one big cheque when Kashif had failed to clear small amount cheques. They kept quiet and were puzzled.

To make things clearer Jamal Khan (ASP) decided to ask some questions from them one by one. For that he sent two of them outside with police men and with the instructions not to allow them to talk with each other. Some of the questions asked from Boota were. Which item was sold? From where did they buy that item? Where was the contract of sale & purchase signed? Copy of contract?  Who were present in that meeting? What were the denominations of cheques given by Kashif? Copies of cheques? Bank account in which previous cheques were presented? When & where was the last meeting held in which that particular cheque was given? Name of other persons present there? What was interior of room where meeting was held? Date & Time of meeting? What was Kashif wearing on that day? Dresses of you & your colleagues? What you served? In which car he came?

Boota was puzzled and ground slipped from his feet after each question. All those questions were asked from other persons one by one but as expected their answers did not match.

The investigating officer sat idle, tight lipped and helpless. Boota and his fellows were in miserable condition. They could not find way to run from room. Despite good air-conditioning in room, Boota cleaned his hands and face several times with his handkerchief.  Mr. Jamal Khan had handled the case smartly & in a highly professional way. Kashif tried to explain his position but next date was fixed for his turn.

On coming out of ASP office Boota & his colleagues went straight to investigating officer’s office and stayed there for quite some time. Kashif & Hashim stood outside. They afterwards just shook hand with him and once again placed handsome amount in his hand. A small smile came on his face for the first time. It was a hard day with many ups & downs.

Next evening both partners again travelled to appear before ASP. The other party had not come as expected. After giving his point of view, Kashif applied for copy of two days proceedings there and again obliged Investigating officer.  

In the next day’s Boota tried his best to influence ASP& investigations but truth prevailed and the FIR was declared false& fraudulent and thus cancelled.

In next days a FIR was registered against Rana Jabbar on stealing & misuse of cheque & blackmailing. The police were sent many times to his house for his arrest but he every time managed to escape. During this period, he involved many persons of his village and community to settle & resolve the issue.

Both partners used to sit almost daily to analyze the developments. They had been severely disgraced, insulted& sent to lock rooms because of an employee that they now wanted to drag & teach him a lesson for rest of his life.

 Few weeks later, one evening office boy came in room and informed that Rana Jabbar is on door with his wife & daughters to apologize. Kashif & Hashim looked at each other as it could have

been some other bad move After thinking for some moments Kashif allowed him to come inside. His wife badly wept &cried for mercy. His wife said that her husband had no job. No one was ready to employ him in those circumstances. They did not have any money for food& house rent.

Kashif thought for a while and decided to wind up purely on humanitarian grounds and as a lot of time & money had already been wasted and there was no end to it. They took Rana & his family to the police station where FIR had been registered against him. There he & his wife got noted their apologetic statement under oath. Rana also wrote that from that day he would have no link with company’s matters, owners & its employees. On its Company withdrew all cases against him. 

Next night Hashim & Kashif went out for dinner with their families as after several months they felt relaxed.

The issue was discussed in detail in next days and it was concluded it as Return of their blind Trust. They also agreed that all happened due to blind trust and undue confidence & the leverage given to an employee.