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Second thoughts by Prof.Sunanda Mahendra

"We have to attend our good friend's Christmas party or his company party as he insisted that we should come somehow. So what are we to give him as a present?" My wife asked me a few days before the Christmas, about a certain annual company party for which a present was not really anticipated.

"We need not take anything, it is our presence that matters."

"The party or whatever you call, is scheduled from ten o clock in the morning till four o clock in the evening."

"The best thing is to go around eleven o' clock in the morning when everything seems to be springing up. Then there will be a few games, some drinks and then the lunch. After that we can drive back home."

"That's good. We should not miss his invitation, he is a very helpful and kind person."

The verdict of a wife should be taken seriously.

Then we drove to the hotel where the get-together was held. My friend was the chairman of five companies. Quite a number of families were seen rallying in the hotel premises.

The place which was an open space was situated a few metres off the sea beach was an ideal and breezy site. The little sons and daughters of the employees were playing around happily with baloons and toys left on tables to be taken at random.

The adults were seen seated and engaged in their chitchat. My wife and I were introduced by our friend, the chairman of the companies to his higher up officials like the members of the board of directors and unit heads.

My wife had the good chance of talking to the wife of our chairman friend, who was also seen with a bevy of other ladies presumably the wives and daughters of the members of the respective boards.

A special table was arranged for the bankers and their family members. When they came in and sat, our friend slowly walked closer to them and greeted with a broad smile cast on his face hinting how good that you are here. As usually found at the wedding ceremonies at the hotels the yellow drink or the welcome drink was served by waiters followed by other drinks and short eats and bites laid on plates.

Then an announcement followed to say that a rapid smoking competition was going to be held where the married partners as well as lovers with their partners could take part.

I wanted to see what is happening. I saw row of males including my friend standing and opposing them were seen their wives and some youngsters whom I had not met. The game was simple but rather a dangerous one I felt.

The males were requested to keep an unlit cigarette held between their lips. When the signal was given the ladies on the opposite side should run up to the respective partners and had to light the cigarettes, until they smoke it to the end puffing out smoke.

It was more than fun to watch this game as I felt in a moment that the whole place was covered with smoke and the males inclusive of old and young were not only puffing the smoke but also coughing so loud as if they were about to get killed by nicotine poisoning.

My good friend was found immediately throwing off the cigarette that his wife lit and joining the observers. It looked as if he just wanted to participate to show others that he is with them and not a stranger. The names of the winning couple were announced and all of us applauded. Followed by this game was a song sung by one of the employees. That, I felt was a good welcome interlude to the event that preceded in smoke.

Once again another game followed. That I must say is one of the most fascinating games I ever saw in my life. It was known as the kissing game. Once again two rows were made to be arranged.

On one side are the males consisting of either married partners and/or unmarried lovers and on the other side their partners. There was no one to complain as this is a game that is scheduled to be taken as entertainment.

The cosmetic known as lipstick played an important part in this game as the ladies were requested to apply that on their lips as quickly as possible. They were seen ready and the signal was given for them to run as fast as they could and plant a kiss on the face of the male partner. The quickest one was declared the winner. A young couple won the game amidst a loud applause.

"So this is what we are expected to watch," I whispered to my wife, who was seen stimulated by the game." I wish I joined the game," I told her.

She just smiled and looked aside as if to reject my comment.

Another song followed. This time, a modern love song, for which everybody joined as a crowd of singers making a loud noise instead of sound.

Then came the finest episode, where the Santa Claus came slowly with his smiling face (rather in a permanent smiling mask) offering gifts in wrapped gift papers. When he passed me he whispered and told me, "I have no gift to give you."

"I am too old to get a gift from you Santa," I said. Music followed as he was passing from one table to another. Some children, who got their gifts kept on unwrapping them to see what is inside while some others tucked them under their armpits and walked away.

There was not a moment of dullness. But I must say that I was a stranger to most of them as I had nothing to do with my friend's companies.

Then came the moment for the chairman to make his speech. That was dull at all for that have recorded for the posterity. He explained how he managed to keep his group of companies in the present order and all the rest pertaining to the welfare measures and religious activities performed so far.

There was a loud applause when he said that his employees loved him so much and that according to his moral conscience is the guiding principle behind the success. By this time quite a number of people were rather tipsy and were in a jolly good mood.

The climate of the day was unusually good as there were no signs of any rains. In the open space of the hotel premises, the buffet lunch was arranged on two or three tables. We were requested to serve ourselves leisurely as there were some more items to come before four o'clock. We had a relaxed sumptuous meal and thanked and wished our friend, the chairman and his wife all good luck in their future enterprises.

I was silently driving back home when my wife asked: "Do you know the amount of money he had spent on this Christmas party or the annual company get-together?" "No, I did not discuss that point with him."

"Mind you six lakhs of rupees.".

"But the cost-benefit can't be calculated that way as he had won the hearts of many working under him. This is one way of showing his gratitude to his employees."

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