GREASE THE PALM GET THE JOB DONE

Victor was a man of great principles. He was teaching mathematics in the local Government School. He taught his students to be honest always. He gave free tuition to students weak in maths. He asked his wards to be kind to fellow human beings. He emphasized that no bribes should be given or accepted for carrying out jobs for which one is paid for. He was the perfect role model.

Victor had come up in life the hard way. He had lost his father, Martin when he was five. Beatrice, wife of Martin, was left with their three children to battle it out. Beatrice somehow managed to pull along and finally when Martin had landed the teacher’s job the fortunes of the family took a turn for the better.

Martin had been the care taker of his family property of 50 cents. Though Martin’s brothers and sisters had a right to the property they had permitted Beatrice to run a farm in the property to eke out a living. There was only one condition. The property would have to be sold and the proceeds shared equally among all the nine claimants as soon as Victor completed his education and obtained a job.

Victor had the onerous job of selling the property. Buyers were aplenty since the property had commercial value. Victor managed to find a buyer who was prepared to buy the property at the high price he had quoted. The deal could be completed only when it was  registered. Victor came up against a wall at this point. The property was in the name of late Martin. Unfortunately Beatrice had forgotten to obtain the death certificate after the sad demise of her husband. Since Martin had passed away without executing a Will the Sub Registrar directed Victor to obtain the succession certificate from the Tahsildar. The Tahsildar in turn directed him to obtain confirmation of the death of Martin and the list of successors from the Village Officer.

The Village Officer asked Victor to obtain certificates of confirmation of death of Martin from three persons who had been present at the funeral twenty years ago. Victor pleaded but to no avail. The Village Officer was adamant that he would never issue the certificates unless Victor had produced the confirmation he had sought. If the deal was not completed Victor would be answerable to his relatives who had been kind to their family when they were in grief and penury. The relative who had accompanied Victor told him that the registration would never see light unless the official was paid his due. Victor argued that handing out bribes was against the principles he had professed all his life. The relative pointed out that he was in urgent need of money to marry off his daughter.

Victor waited at the office till it was closed. When the official was coming out of the office in the evening he had approached him again.He was asked why he had been waiting there. Victor took out Rs.2000.00 and tried to hand it over. The official was angry and Victor was rebuked for his audacity. He was advised to proceed to the  official’s residence.

The Village Officer was all smiles when saw Victor waiting at his residence. The money was exchanged. Victor was advised to visit the office at 4.00 PM the next day. The report and the certificates were ready when Victor had called in at the appointed hour.