House of Cards: A Novel Read online

  When Dr Kamala had gone to the income tax office, the inspecting officer Louis had felt awkward. His daughter Mary had been Dr Kamala’s student and had great regard for her. Softly, he had told Dr Kamala, ‘Madam, your reputation precedes you. My daughter was your student.’

  Then he had got some coffee for her. After the verification, Louis had said, ‘Madam, please know that we’re only junior officers.’

  Dr Kamala had asked him, ‘Can you please tell me who sent you instructions to audit me?’

  ‘Madam, please don’t ask me that. Here, even the walls have ears. I hope you understand.’

  When she had returned to the hospital, she had met Lata who had smiled and innocently asked her, ‘Madam, you’re looking exhausted. Have you come to work just now? Are you unwell? Do you want to go home?’

  Dr Kamala had replied, ‘I don’t harass others just because I have power.’

  Lata could not face Dr Kamala after that. She had looked at the floor and walked away. Afterwards, she had behaved as if nothing had happened.

  Though Dr Kamala had given her only a week’s vacation, Lata had sent a medical certificate of ill health through her father and stayed six weeks in Singapore for a family holiday. She had brought gifts from Singapore and given them to the people who would be of use to her in the hospital. That included the lower staff such as clerks and the cleaning ladies. She wanted to keep them happy so they would not complain about her long vacation or her laziness. Dr Kamala knew all this but had been forced to keep quiet because she had no support from the hospital.

  She thought, ‘How can Sanjay understand all this? It’s difficult to explain. Twenty-five years ago, I was just like Sanjay—contented with work and believing in idealism. Life has taught me big lessons. If a person is intelligent and an idealist, then he will be a good teacher. And if a man is intelligent and selfish, then he can go to any extent to get money. In the end, it is a personal choice about how closely we follow our own principles.’

  Sanjay was unaware of what was going on in Dr Kamala’s mind. He was thinking about the sponsorship and how he could get it. He wanted Dr Kamala to recommend him to any drug company. Dr Kamala knew what he was thinking. She also knew that no drug company would sponsor Sanjay because now, nobody would listen to her. All the company medical representatives were aware of her impending retirement and were concentrating on pleasing the next head of the department, Dr Saroja.

  Instead of talking about sponsorship through drug companies, Dr Kamala said, ‘Our Health minister is the chairman of the WHO fund in our state. Why don’t you go and meet him? I can put in a word for you.’

  Sanjay nodded. He thought he should try that route too.

  A few days after Dr Kamala’s suggestion, Sanjay decided to go to the Health Secretariat. He entered the building. It was a sultry afternoon and Sanjay was sweating despite the numerous fans around. There were people standing in front of the Health minister’s personal assistant. Others were standing in the hallway, smoking and talking. Everybody seemed to have a problem. Some wanted a transfer while others wanted a promotion. Sanjay felt lost. It was the first time that he had entered a minister’s office asking for help.

  Hesitantly, Sanjay went and stood in front of the PA. The PA looked at him but did not say anything. Even though there was an empty chair in front of him, he did not tell Sanjay to sit down. He was talking on his cell phone and completely ignored Sanjay. Finally, the call ended. Still standing, Sanjay greeted the PA with a namaskara. The PA did not reciprocate. ‘What do you want?’ he asked directly.

  Sanjay showed his file to the PA. The PA said to himself, ‘People greet me only when they have work—otherwise they don’t even recognize me. Why should I be nice to them?’

  He was rude. ‘Give me one reason why the government should sponsor you. You must think that the government is a bottomless treasury. You should first understand the rules of the sponsorship and then come here. You’re wasting my time.’

  ‘I’m not asking for funds from the government. I’m asking for help from the WHO funds.’

  The PA became even more angry. ‘Who gave you the information about those funds? Bring that person here. Even if I accept that they exist, why should they be spent on you? There are people more senior to you. We must give them an opportunity too.’

  ‘May I meet the Health minister?’

  ‘If you want to meet him for this reason, then …’

  Before the PA could finish his sentence, his phone rang again. The PA’s tone became pleasant and he started speaking politely into the receiver. ‘Brother, please don’t misunderstand me. I have told our Health minister already. She is very strict. When she is in a good mood, I will give her the file …’

  The conversation continued and the PA picked up the cordless phone and went to the hallway so that he could speak in private. Sanjay did not know what to do.

  Meanwhile, a man had been observing him. He walked over to Sanjay now and greeted him. Sanjay looked at him. He was around thirty-five, with a slightly chubby face, and was wearing plain and simple clothes. Sanjay did not know him. The man started chatting. ‘You may not know my name, Doctor. My wife was your patient. When we came to your hospital, Dr Kamala Amma was on vacation. So you operated on my wife and looked after her very well. You didn’t even ask us for money. We sent you fruits and flowers to convey our gratitude. But you didn’t accept those either.’

  Sanjay could not remember him. Many patients came to a government hospital and it was difficult to recall all their names. Had the man told him what kind of an operation it was, Sanjay may have remembered his wife. He did not take gifts for his services, even if they were fruits and flowers. Sanjay said, ‘I’m sorry, I still don’t recognize you. What’s your name?’

  ‘My name is Chikananjappa and my wife’s name is Kempamma.’

  Chikananjappa smiled, showing his paan-stained, red teeth. He asked, ‘Doctor, why’re you here?’

  Sanjay explained the situation to him and showed him the file. Chikananjappa said, ‘Doctor, I’m a clerk—but let’s not talk here. Everybody is listening to us. Come to Chalukya Hotel at 5.30 p.m. We’ll chat over a cup of tea.’

  Without saying anything more, Chikananjappa walked away.

  Shortly, the PA came back. Many people were still waiting for him. The PA announced, ‘Madam is on a trip to north Karnataka. From there, she’ll go to Delhi. So there are no appointments available until late next week.’

  Sanjay left the building disappointed. He decided to wait and meet Chikananjappa.

  At 5 p.m., Sanjay started walking towards Chalukya Hotel. He was dejected and depressed. He thought about his selection for the lecturer’s post. It had been absolutely effortless. Dr Kamala had been in the selection committee and he had got the job without even a recommendation. But things had changed a lot in the last two years. Even though he was sincere, Sanjay found it difficult to ask for rightful credit and promotions.

  On the way to the hotel, Sanjay remained deep in thought. In the outpatient department, almost 180–200 patients came in for treatment every day. Nobody was mollycoddled like in a private hospital but at the same time, nobody was turned away either. Usually, four to six doctors were working at any given time. It was difficult to handle so many patients and their unending questions. All the doctors were taught that their highest duty was to serve the patient even if he was his enemy. But when such doctors came to government offices, the people in power, who may be less educated than the doctor, treated them very badly. Sometimes, Sanjay found it tough to continue.

  By the time he reached Chalukya Hotel, Chikananjappa was waiting for him and had already ordered two coffees. Chikananjappa said, ‘Doctor, I want to tell you the truth. You won’t get the sponsorship. Only people with connections get them. However, I want to take all your relevant details. Give me your home phone number so that I can call you if something works out. Are you aware that there are very few doctors like you in government hospitals? When a patient comes an