A small man entered the office, he was in native garb. He handed some charts to the Bara Sahib and left. Later I found out he was the 2nd clerk. The Bara sahib beamed with confidence when he saw the charts, it was supposedly the best days in a long time and he was happy. It was good for me because that meant the Bara Sahib would be in a good mood. He was jovial all evening. We went for a tour of the factory again, but this time I observed a master doing his work. He knew what he was doing and with an air of confidence he went through the whole factory. Correcting some things and congratulating some people when things were right. Everyone was trying their best. Finally he tells me to come with him for a drink as he needed one. He had to celebrate the garden doing so well and laughingly he put it that I brought luck to the garden. Obviously that was said to please me as it was not true at all. I had nothing to do with it but benefit. I could join in the celebration and it was an honor.
At the bungalow I saw that we were not alone. There was a burly looking fellow who looked he had just come out of the army and an equally large fellow with an air of confidence about him. These I found out as I was introduced were the garden Asst. Managers. Tapan and Alok. There were a lot of drinks. The Bara Mem Sahib was directing the whole thing and everything was running like clockwork. I was handed a glass which I was told was cognac. It was my first drink and at first it did not taste so good, but as time progressed I kind of liked it. I did not want anyone to know it was my first drink but I had not finished the first, the others had downed about 4. The Bara Sahib came over to me, putting his arm around my shoulder and said in a booming voice "What is the matter boy, is the drink not to your satisfaction". I sheepishly told him that it was fine; I was busy taking in the whole situation. Then calmly in my ear he said "Don't worry I had the same experience with my first drink" and smiled at me. I knew then he was a very observant man. Later I would find out that it was easy to tell that, even though in my eyes at that time supposedly I was hiding it well.
The evening turned into night and I still had my first drink. Everyone seemed happy and the drink was getting to me. I did not want to appear drunk the first night I was meeting everyone. I noticed that no one was forcing me to have another drink. The beautiful surroundings about me were turning foggy. It must have been the effect of the drink as it was a clear warm night. I decided I could not have any more so I set my drink down and took some of the snacks. I was wondering when dinner would be served. As if the Bara Mem sahib heard my thoughts she asked the bearer to put the dinner on the table. Then she looked knowingly in my direction and with a smile said "you must not have eaten much today, dinner will be served shortly".
