Translated into English by Saravanan Karmegam.
Chapter
23: Colonel Kalik Usman .
***
The Indian Security Office was housed in Singapore’s Gadde Building. A ‘colourful’
Netaji in left profile was hanging on the wall facing street behind the
table.
Pandian entered and greeted.
After spending a couple of minutes on the pretext of scrutinizing the bundles
of documents on his table, the colonel raised his head and threw a sharp look
at Pandian.
“Yesss”
“Commando Captain K K 282. I am awaiting the orders from the higher
authority sir”
“Commando Captain! Hhhaaaaa! Hiiiihiiii. There are no commando or kamikaze
teams in the Indian National Army. It is just a plain trick to get you on the
roll. What name do you hold now?”
“Pramod Chandra Majumdar”
“Majumdar…those rice eating Bengalis!” he extended his left hand.
Pandian handed him over the cover he was holding in his right hand.
The Colonel opened the cover and pulled out the letter, read it, scribbled
something on it, opened the drawer on his left, dropped in it and raised his
eyes at him again.
“Setting aside my right as your superior officer, I would like to treat you my
equal for this task” told the colonel as he lit his cigarette. “I’ll inform you
the nature of duty assigned to us later. I believe that this sort of informal
relationship between us would help in completing that task. Please have a seat”
the colonel said.
“Thank you colonel sahib” he sat down.
“You can be frank with me whatever bugs your mind. I mean like talking to a
friend. I must know your opinions about the task we both are going to engage
with. You need a cigarette? Colonel’s hand pushed the cigarette packet to
Pandian.
“Thanks colonel sahib” he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
“A very important and potentially dangerous task would be handed over to
you. Where were you before joining the army?”
"I was in Medan City, Sumathra”
“What were you doing there?”
“I was working as a supervisor in a pawn shop. After that….”
“What! You are a Chettiyar. Aren’t you? What the heck do you buggers
think about security services? Do you think this place is the haven for those
petty business geese?”
Pandian grinned.
“It’s alright. We have to run this army only with the people who are available
to us. It is your good destiny that you were imprisoned. Or else you would have
been deported to Burma by now. The action heroes would meet their definite
death there. Before I came to Malaya, I was of the opinion that Tamil men are
only fit for eating rice and working as clerks”
“It is true anyway” remarked Pandian.
“No…now I have changed my opinion.”
The colonel was watching the smoke emitted from the cigarette in his right
hand silently for a while. His eyes narrowed.
“Rakbirlal was a scoundrel. His wife jumped into a river and died. He was a rascal
of the highest order. What you had done is a grave criminal offence according
to the military law. You could just escape as the situations worked in your
favour”
He flicked the cigarette with his fingers and tapped it to remove its ash.
The task that is going to be awarded to you is relatively a tougher one.
But it is a very rare opportunity to prove your mettle. Are you aware of our
General Shivnath Rai, a modern era Napoleon?”
“I have heard about him”
“A military affairs expert opined that if the panzers deployed in the
central divisions of German army had been commanded by General Shivnath Rai
instead of General Heinz Guderian, Mosco would have fallen by now. Do you know
who that expert is?”
“I know. It is General Shivnath Rai”
“haa Goshhhh…you are right.”
“Why isn’t he going to the war front leaving his idle sitting in
Singapore?”
“It is because he couldn’t find a suitable, courageous guy to look after
the rice godown. Now let me get to the
point…What I am going to tell you is extremely a secret and a complicated one.
You shouldn’t tell this to anyone without my permission. General Shivnath Rai- Yes…that
rice vendor has lost an important letter from his custody. Are you with me?”
“Yes…I am getting you Colonel Sahib”
“You should find out that letter and bring it to me”
“O.K. How to identify that?”
“It was actually written by Aungsan, the Chief of Burmese Army of
Independence to Netaji. It is yellow in colour. Written in Bangla script…”
“How come Bangla script!”
“Aungsan knows Bangla language”
“But I am not familiar with Bangla language.”
“What sort of a Majumdar are you? I guess you don’t know how to eat fish
too”
He leaned over, pulled out the drawer on his right and took out some
stencils of Bangla language and papers written in Bangla and pushed them to
him.
Pandian glanced at them and gave them back.
“Keep it with you”
“Thanks.” He kept them in his trouser pocket and asked, “May I know when, how
and why that letter was lost?”
“Within one month it went out of a chest kept in our General’s room. Why does it assume importance? It is because the contents of the letter are against the Japanese”
“Pardon for my impudence. Who does our rice vendor suspect?”
“He suspects Churchil. Hahhaaaa….” He burst out laughing. “It is of no use
knowing the suspicion of our General. It is quite possible that he could have
eaten that letter under intoxication”
“Can I discuss this matter with the General? Can I visit the spot?”
“No…No…You are just a lieutenant. Napoleons are very particular about their
rank and status”
“If then, you can talk yourself”
“It is true that I am a colonel. But a General to a General. A Colonel to a
colonel. Besides, our General doesn’t like me. So there would be some unnecessary
disputes. If Netaji himself passes such an order, you get immune and can
enquire it directly.”
“Seeking your pardon again, does Netaji know about it?”
“I’d be happy if you stop seeking repeated pardons. When Netaji was out of
station, this letter came and handed over to someone. But they forgot to
deliver it to him after his arrival. When he came to know about this letter, he
asked them to bring it. But the letter was missing. Netaji categorically
ordered that the letter must reach his hands no matter what it would cost. But this
order was given not to our General but to me. See the travesty of justice….”
In a moment, the colonel bore the resemblance of stone of despair and waved
his both hands helplessly.
Pandian laughed.
“Don’t laugh my dear man…Don’t laugh. My heart had already sunk in despair”
“Who do you suspect”
“I don’t suspect anyone. Let’s not talk this woeful topic for now and talk
something happier. Mhhhh…Do you know one beauty known as Mrs Vilasini? She is
the younger sister of one of the most influential leaders of freedom movement
Mr B.S. Menon, Bottathu Sankunni Menon.”
“Heard about her”
“What have you heard about?”
“That, she is a whore…”
“Heiii….thchchchhch….too much of a harsh usage of language for such a woman. Very
harsh. You must learn to use refined usage of words while talking about women
of high status. She is a very pretty woman….golden complexioned…well-endowed
parts that could make men numb”
Colonel’s eyes seemed to float in the world of dreams.
“Our General is one of her customers”
“Customers! This word is also very brutish. It is alright. Anyway the cost
of his affair is very pricy. Many bales of rice for a single night! It is good
that rice godown is not under me. We can try out Mrs Vilasini to get some
information.”
“If needed, we can use force. Can’t we?”
“It’s dangerous. She has a good number of well-wishers.”
“Trying honey trap?”
“No use. I heard that she wouldn’t prefer dark men. Only White…brown and
yellow….hahahahah”
A dramatic burst of laughter filled in the room.
“Are Chinese men standing in the queue of yellow complexion?”
“Not likely. She won’t try her legs if the depth is perceivably dangerous”
“Thanks. Can I interrogate Mrs Vilasini?....seeking your pardon…I am just
asking this as you have permitted to question her.”
“Ask her as many questions as you like. What I need is Aungsan’s letter”
“Or my death. Is it? Pandian smiled at colonel.
“Not exactly. But there will be a punishment for failure. Everything has
its price my dear man. If victory has its price, failure too has its price.
Let’s put this talk aside. I repeat once again. You can ask her as many questions
as you like. What I need is Aungsan’s letter”
“I will bring it for sure”
“Very good…Belief is the first step to success”
“Who are Vilasini’s prominent visitors in yellow category that need to be
placed under close observation?”
“Japanese army Major Sadavo Yamasakki. His principle of life is damn
simple: The moment suspicion arises, award death with a bullet. Hahahahaha….a
very tough customer”
“I don’t know him”
“I’ll give you his photos”
“Let’s suppose that some misunderstanding cropped up with Vilasini and she
files a complaint. What would be the next course of action?”
“You’ll land in trouble. A very big trouble. She has a good number of
powerful people. Please restrain as much as you can not to employ force”
“With Major Yamasakki too?”
“You can’t handle Japanese army Major Sadavo Yamasakki if you are not fully
confident with your work. With him it is either victory or death. You haven’t seen
Aungsan’s signature. Have you? I’ll show you that.”
He leaned over on his right, pulled the drawer, took some photographs and
paper and kept it on the table.
“Have it registered in your mind”
Pandian looked at the signature intently, kept it in his memory and
collected those photographs and gave them back to the colonel. The colonel
locked them inside the drawer.
“Yamasakki had lived in Rangoon. So he knows about Aungsan”
The colonel pressed the calling bell. He asked the attendant boy to bring
coffee and lit a new cigarette with the old one holding it between his lips and puffed on looking up the ceiling. He then turned to Pandian and extended
his hand with cigarette box. Pandian pulled a cigarette and lit it. Cigarette
smoke was coming out of his mouth in curls. Pandian was trying to dig out
whether colonel’s words of mockery had something hidden inside- was it just
acting? Or was it just his nature of speaking? If acting, was it just to
entertain me or just being deceptive? Talking comically to see one’s depth of
things….”
Coffee came and they poured it in glasses and drank it.
“Mhmmm….Mhmmm…” colonel leaned back and stretched out his legs fully. “ So,
what we have inferred with the available information is….”
“The letter is lost. Honourable Mrs Vilasini could have stolen it from our
Napoleon either at the behest of Yamasakki or to get financial favours from the
Major with that letter. Or she could have trapped our Napoleon in some way and
asked him to hand over that letter to Yamasakki. Or the letter could have been
lost somewhere inadvertently. Now, the Japanese are damn tired. Let the things
happen as they are supposed to.”
“Great inferences anyway. What is Aungsan doing now?” asked Pandian.
“Ah…it is top kept secret. How come did you know it?”
“This is London calling in the….”
“What! Radio in the cells!...”
“One of my friends who used to listen to BBC news unfailingly has been
sending me messages daily.”
“You had indulged in the act of treason bypassing the tight security
against the rules of prison. You will be tried separately for this crime. Let’s
not discuss it now. If that letter happens to fall into the hands of Japanese,
suspicion would naturally fall upon Netaji.”
“So we have to seize that letter at the earliest. Right?”
“That is it. My good opinion about Tamils gets growing every second. Only
your dark complexion seems to be unpalatable to me and Vilasini. Hahahahah….”
“The black and white are the only natural colours. Others are just
adulterated expressions”
“Hahahahaha….adulterated! adulterated! Hahahaha….Colonel burst out into
laughter. Do you mean my brownish complexion? Mind you are also not pure breed
of black. Then what?”
“Any idea to lure Vilasini?”
“Champaign or original foreign liquor will do the wonder. She is very fond
of it. But they are rare now, not easily available.”
“We can procure it. But it will be pricy. In case not available, we can make
a duplicate of it. There are lots of Chinese experts who are good at it”
“Mind another important thing. How much do you know about women? Vilasini
is an experienced lady in seducing many men. To seduce her, one needs to have a
vast experience with the art of seducing so many women. Do you have such an
experience?”
“I guess I do have”
“But you look so young”
“I started having such experience since young age”
“Fantastic...it’ll be useful for this task. It is alright. Now answer this
riddle. An innocent man marries an educated lady who had gained numerous
university degrees. Every time he returns home from office, he sees his wife
either roaming on beaches with her pet dog or some market area. She is so
audacious that she says she doesn’t know cooking and her physical appearance would
ruin if she gets children. Now, what would be your course of action to seduce
such a woman?”
The colonel leaned forward as if showing interest to listen to his reply.
“It is very easy. Very very easy. First, you must take off your shirt and
vest so that the hair in your chest is visible. Then you should grasp the hair
bun of your wife, untie it and give two tight slaps on her cheek- Guderian
style of treatment. Then two tight kicks on her butts- Rokossovsky style of
treatment. As a final blow, a kick when she falls off. Then what? She would
know how to cook, she would know how to ask what you want- is it butter milk,
or stew made with pulses or dried vegetables or mutton or chicken or fish…other
than these endearments, she would know how to ask you if you need hot water or
massage before you go to office. Then finally, the hero and the heroine would
live with one soul in two bodies getting children every year and live for ever.
The end…the end…the end…”
The colonel couldn’t control himself, laughed to his heart out as the room
shook.
“You are such a rogue doctor. Extremely a roguish doctor. It is dangerous to get
a sick woman admitted under your care”
“Rogue treatment for immediately visible output. Perhaps, you may find the
results in the medicine itself. If not treated, money will be returned for sure.
PS: There is no requirement of being disciplined during medication…mmm…the
truth behind this complex problem”
“Yes…I understand. It may be a conspiracy of northerners. You have a sharp
intellect”
He took out a letter from his shirt pocket and gave it to Pandian.
Pandian read it. The letter had been written in such a language that only
some trained persons could understand it.
“You first pay attention to Vilasini. The matter related to Yamasakki is
very complicated. I’ll discuss this matter with Netaji. We shouldn’t get into
conflict with him without categorical and direct order”
“O.K”
“You can come and directly collect the cash you need”
“O.K”
“There is no scarcity of cash in Security Services. Only those who have
guts are less in number. Another thing…Yamasakki has disappeared. Investigation
is on”
“Photo?”
“Yes…it’s here. He pulled out a table drawer and stretched him out a small
picture. “Keep it with you. He is an experienced hand in Kota Baling training
schools and was close confidant of General Doi Hara. Keep all these in your
mind”
“Seeking your pardon, why don’t you try your hands with Vilasini?”
“I tried twice but failed. Her body is something that makes men besotted.
The moment you go near to her, you forget your duty. That said, on what basis
can I approach her? Only if some violence is used, one can do something with
her. Do you think one can go near to her that easily?”
“I will try. She may spill the beans if I get her hang from the ceiling with
a couple of bashing. But it is you who insists handling her soft as if to beg a
peacock to spare some feathers”
“I don’t mean that. I am just telling you to be careful. Vilasini’s brother
is one of our most respected leaders; school mate of Netaji. Very close and
trustworthy friend of him. I think I don’t have to elaborate it more. Sometimes
the tricks you employed in Kota Baling will land you up in troubles”
“Yes…”
“If you want to meet me, you are most welcome anytime. Keep this paper with
you”
The colonel gave him piece of a card with his seal. He then opened the
drawer and took out a brown envelope stuffed with some dollar notes.
“Take it. I don’t need accurate expenditure details for this amount. Just
send the total expenses for a particular period of time. However, not indulging
in spendthrift ways is a good habit”
“Thanks colonel sahib. He rose.
“Any arms”
The colonel opened the left side drawer, pulled a green colour paper drawn
with violet patterns, put it in an envelope and gave it to him.
“You may go now”
They shook their hands.
Pandian turned and walked on paying him regards.
***Chapter 23 Colonel Kalik Usman” ended.
Chapter 24: “Vilasini” will be published soon.
