Hard Choices

By Ranbir Singh

Sunny, a management graduate, is ambitious, witty, and impulsive. He is delighted on getting a job in a London-based trade finance company in Bombay. In the office at first sight, he fell in love with pretty office manager Sandra. Their love, passion, and chemistry are undeniable.

He works diligently and gets quick promotions, unaware his job is on the other side of the law. Soon he gets embroiled in criminal cases that he never committed. He gets more convoluted with passing of days. And when he finds himself in a situation where no breakthrough is possible, he revolts and fights the odds in his own way. And its his formidable will and passion that steers him through misfortune and tragedy.

And at the threshold of life and death, he has to make a hard choice. It has to be worth a try.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Apr 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781482874068

Ranbir Singh

The writer is ex–bank manager and has worked in export houses for over twenty years. The novel is based on fraudulent activities of trade finance companies to cheat small exporters and banks. Although the novel is a mere piece of fantasy and adventure, it is based on actual frauds committed in local and international trade through of letters of credit, or LC, as commonly known.

Book preview

-Main characters-

1. Protagonist- Sunny is a smart, witty and arrogant young man who gets an easy job in a London based trade finance company in Bombay.

2. Sandra- is pretty office manager of the company.

3. Nandu- is accountant of the company, a common friend of Sunny and Sandra.

4. Ancy- is mysterious beautician and tarot reader. She works as telemarketing executive and personal secretary of managing director of the company. She is fascinated with Sunny and wants to seduce him.

5. Luca- is senior consultant of the company, who cheats a businessman and shifts the blame on Sunny.

6. MD- is managing director of company and based in London.

7. Sally- is office manager of company's London office.

8. Mr. Brown- is a fine gentleman and director of the company in London.

9. Wendy- is daughter of Mr. Brown.

10. Jitubhai- is a social worker who helps Sunny getting job.

11. Madam Deepika Sawhani- is director of one marketing company.

12. Anjali- senior marketing executive in Madam Deepika Shawano's office.

13. Nancy- is daughter of Sunny and Sandra.

14. Imran Khan- is notorious con and fraudster. He runs a big business of cheating and money laundering in Delhi.

15. Zarina is daughter of a notorious don.

1

It was ten to nine in the morning when Sunny jumped off the local train before it fully stopped at Church Gate station of Bombay and started walking briskly towards Marine Drive. Another passenger had given him his directions. Soon he reached at a distance he saw the sea. On a different day, he thought, he would have been mesmerized, but today, he just walked like most of seasoned Bombay locals.

Almost at nine o' clock he entered in the office Sealand Trade Finance Limited. He was meticulous young man in early twenties, anxious and excited. Today he had doubly ensured that his clothes, his shoes and his handkerchief were up to minute as he was on some dress parade. After completing his MBA in marketing it was his first day in job. He was handsome, witty, charming, and had a killer smile that had drawn the attention of many girls of his age.

Born in a village of Punjab and son of an army officer Sunny had good physique, healthy habits, straight body, high chest with appearance of nobility and intelligence. He was bright, idealistic, and achingly young. In college he was captain of hockey team and had actively participated in many boxing competitions. He was tall, always ready to strike, and walked gracefully. He had quick eyes and keen ears and his excessive energy sometime give appearance of fidgeting, but it was an easy graceful fidget, never disturbing.

He had an air of confidence and there was something so basically kind and gentle about him. He had an aura of a highly trained racehorse always straining at the reins, arching to go faster, farther, to do more to fight time, and to conquer odds beyond hope. Being very ambitious and restless his senses always tell him a thing should be done, and he rushes headlong into action. He always remained in a thrilled position as if he lives in some kind of adventure and gave the idea of one who has not a single care in the world.

He always wanted to be one decision man, which do not permit small things to interfere with. He thought man's biggest problem is the problem of decision making and answer of every question in life is either Yes or No, and there is nothing between these two options. Most of the things that steal our time, strength, money and energy are due to indecision. He always thought if you are not decisive, you will never hew anything worthwhile in life.

Having grown up with the notion that he always has to be number one, he always believed in hard work is secret of success, and often he won but not always. And that irked him. It was the cause of sorrow deep within him. His lightening like liveliness on face and body, and his instant reaction to everything was giving impression of speed thinking, though he was aware that his quick thinking does not make him think better, and he needed to slowdown.

His weakness was that he always wanted change, shortsighted and egotism. To hold him back was the hardest thing to do, and this impulsive tendency had brought him great deal of unhappiness and fails to take into consideration the various elements of situation. He realized that most of times he jump to conclusion, and then was compelled to alter that lead him nowhere. He needed to have definite goal in life to progress and adhere to it with determination and hard work.

He always hated persons who are never two minutes same. He avoided talkative always chattering, making useless, light hearted comments on everybody, and those who look always happy, taking serious things lightly, and joking vulgar.

He walked into office slowly, as though in some hesitation. The office was located on the first floor overlooking sea. It was an old building, an apartment converted in to office. It was large three bedrooms suite surrounded by glass, which give clear view of sea. The drawing room and one bed room was converted in to office, another bedroom was a conference room, and the third bed room was converted as Managing Director's chamber with a bath.

The arrangement of office and general air of housekeeping indicated easy and opulent atmosphere. At reception he was greeted with a big smile by a pretty bespectacled mouse type receptionist.

'Good morning.'

'Good morning. I'm Sunny,' he introduced himself to receptionist.

'Is it your first name or your last name?' she asked surprisingly with a smile.

'None,' he said and then confessed his real name was Manjit Singh, and Sunny was his nick name.

'I knew you were coming today. My name is Patricia and I'm office assistant,' she said.

He responded her with a smile.

'Please take a seat over there,' she again said pointing a sofa, and then she ordered a coffee for him over intercom.

At this moment the door was gently pushed open and a young girl apparently twenty five entered in the office. She was strikingly beautiful and brilliant, and she appeared self-sufficient with a fascinating cool at her core. Her dark hairs were hung in curl on back of her round face like a pony tail. Her deep soulful brown vivid eyes were penetrating, full of vigor and alertness starred from beneath the rich long black lashes radiating spell so irresistible and charming. She had no makeup, perhaps she never needed it. She was dressed in simple gray suit neatly fitted on her sleek body. Her complexion was dazzling fair. She was brilliant and unconcerned, and a certain air of assurance and confidence showed that she was familiar to office. For an instant Sunny felt as if time had stopped, he sensed he knew her. He gazed at her motionless for a while.

'Good morning Sandra, today you look beautiful,' greeted Patricia.

'She always looks beautiful. What is new?' a voice came from behind. Sandra ignored the comment, and quickly marked her attendance and moved to her desk.

'She is Sandra, Office Manager, you have to report her,' Patricia said to Sunny with her broad smile.

He waited for her to settle down. A coffee came and Sunny could not resist his gaze on her between sips. She was prettier than all the pretty girls he had ever seen before. He could not cease looking at her; there was a wonderful radiance on her face. He wanted to admire her beauty for a long time, but soon realized staring like that was not good. He felt embarrassed and looked down.

'She is the most beautiful girl I ever beheld! I can spend my whole life just looking at her,' he thought.

Sunny was soon called in conference room behind reception. The room was decorated elegantly with costly furniture. A central table was like a big dining table of a palace with eight chairs covered with fine fabrics. Two sides of room had silky curtains hanging from roof to bottom and one side had a number of small cupboards for keeping company's record, and opposite side had the view of sea.

Sandra gave a series of monotonous instructions in a very refined and professional voice without looking at him. That the company had its main office in London, and Managing Director visits this office twice a year. The company was providing financial services to small traders engaged in overseas business. His job profile is to move in market, meet perspective clients and give them a presentation and then invite them in the office for further discussion with a senior consultant of company. His words for presentation and his answers to client's queries were very specific and designed by the company. He has to remember all those by heart.

Every day he is supposed to report in office at nine a.m. In evening he has to submit his DAR (Daily Activity Report) to her, and a copy to Luca. He will be provided with a company's car and driver for his presentations. The car was not allowed for his personal use. Initially he will be provided with two leads daily and in future he has to develop his own market. He will be entitled for an incentive for each sale he will make. Saturday was half day and Sunday was off. The Company had a pantry, tea and coffee was available all the time, but he has to serve himself. Lunch was provided by company on every Saturday after a weekly review meeting. One casual in a month and fifteen paid leaves after one year was allowed by the company.

He listened to her carefully, and then asked, 'Who is Luca?'

'He is company's senior consultant, he comes late by eleven, and other staffs are Ancy, Nandu and Ram Singh. Patricia you have already met. Ancy is telemarketing executive and personal secretary of MD, Nandu is accountant and Ram Singh is driver of the company. You can meet them all in the office. Ancy's desk is opposite mine and your desk is next to me,' she said hurriedly.

Sunny was relieved but was quite surprised with her unconcerned behavior. 'Does she talk with everyone like that?' he wondered and came out of conference room to search his working desk. The office was divided into cubicles, and was equipped with latest computers. Sandra was soon busy with her computer. He looked at Ancy; she was talking with somebody on phone in whispers and smiling.

He went straight to Nandu and introduced himself. 'I'm Sunny, new marketing executive,' and he extended his hand for a hand shake.

Nandu greeted him warmly with a smile. He was unusually long and thin with thick lenses, and he was as gentle and efficient as was his height. His bones were like electricity pole, his eyes dark and impressive, and head smaller than body. He was shaking his legs at intervals.

'In case you need anything just tell me,' said Nandu.

'Yes, I will. Thank you. It's nice to meet you.'

'How do you get employment in this company?' asked Nandu.

'It's through an advertisement in Tribune. I was interviewed in Chandigarh, and was told to report at this office.'

'So you are from Punjab. It's pride of India. Once I went to Amritsar to see Golden Temple. It's so big and marvelous.'

'Of course, it is,' replied Sunny.

'You are from which town?' asked Nandu.

'I'm from Chandigarh.'

'Is it your first job?'

'Yes.'

'Punjabis are very healthy, always smiling, happy and rich.'

Sunny didn't know what to say, so he just smiled at his comments.

'Ancy madam is calling you,' interrupted Ram Singh.

Sunny got up from his seat to meet her. She welcomed him with a smile, and extended her hand for a handshake. She was in her early thirties, tall, nice curves, broad face with maroon lipstick, and a little scar under her left eye, full make-up, a real looker, and dressed in a sari with low neck blouse that partially showed her big breasts with a tattoo which looked like a scorpion. Her voice was low, little more than whisper, and while talking she looked straight in his eyes. It made him uneasy.

'I've seen your resume. It's very impressive,' she said and eyed him keenly. She again looked straight in his eyes and her hand reached up her blouse and put out a visiting card and handed to him. It was warm from her body, and slightly curved.

'Thank you, madam.'

'You are science graduate then MBA in marketing, captain of hockey team, boxing champion, hobbies-music and travelling,' she said with her raised eyes and curved lips. 'I'm really impressed, but not all these contradictory?'

'No madam. I don't find any contradiction in this,' he said, and then thought of explaining, but remained silent to avoid further discussion.

She leaned back in her chair to study him and her look made him again uncomfortable. Her phone rang on her table. She answered and listened and put it back

Sunny carefully read the card and surprised to see her home address printed on back of it. What is the sense of giving home address on a company's business card, that too by a lady? He thought.

'Are you married?' she asked suddenly.

'No.'

'Have any girl friend?'

'No.'

'Where do you live?'

'Santa Cruz.'

'So you are in my neighbor. I live in Khar,' she said pointing her finger on address back of her business card.

'Yes, Madam.'

'Are you living alone?'

'No with friends,' he told a lie to avoid further acquaintance with her, and he felt perspiration on his forehead, and he rubbed it with his handkerchief.

'You are very shy and what you're looking at?' she said looking down at her breast and then at him like a cat see a bowl of cream. 'Scorpion is my sun sign. What's your sun sign?' she asked curiously.

'I don't know,' he said nervously.

'You're an interesting guy. Just tell me in case you need anything. You can call me any time,' she said and laid her left palm on his arm.

Sunny nodded. The way she was looking at him made his silence okay. Nandu was looking at him from a distance smiled then, because he knew what was happening.

'Thank you, madam,' Sunny said after a while and returned to his working desk and felt relaxed.

'Sandra has given these files for you,' said Nandu.

'Thanks,' he said and started browsing in one of them.

Soon two men entered the office and went straight into the conference room.

'Lousy Luca,' whispered the driver Ram Singh.

Nandu smiled and came little close to Sunny and said, 'have you heard an old saying, never fight with a pig, he will drag you in mud and enjoy the fight.'

Sunny smiled and looked at Sandra. She was busy with her computer unconcerned. After some time he looked at her again and she turned her head away. He couldn't dare to see Ancy.

Sunny saw Luca through glass door of conference room. He was sitting close to other man and was discussing some subject with great earnestness. The other person was not seemed strictly speaking.

Luca was short and stocky with thick bushy eyebrows. A square shouldered man with large arms, muscular head, thick neck and square face. He was almost bald, and much overdressed in a gaudy T-shirt His hands were plentifully decorated with rings and he wore a heavy gold watch. The chain of watch was loose, which during conversation he was in habit of flourishing and jingling with evident satisfaction. There was a demonic grin on his face, and a look of cunning in his dark eyes. He was talking with all his might and his square fingers were moving with forceful decisive movements. His conversation was free, loud, confident and assuring.

Soon they had coffee and left office. Perhaps he couldn't do anything lightly, thought Sunny. He again looked at Sandra, now she was searching something in her drawer.

Ancy had plugged her both ears with headphone and enjoying some music. He asked Nandu about Ancy.

'She is a clever bitch. She openly confesses her affairs with MD. She'd travelled all over world with him. It is also rumored that she has many husbands. She is uncanny and terrible, be careful of her, everyday she passes office information to MD on phone,' he said.

After a pause Nandu again said, 'best person in this office is Sandra. She is quite simple and straight forward. Her father Dr.Batra was a renowned doctor in Civil Hospital in Poona.'

'Whether she is Punjabi?' asked Sunny surprisingly.

'Yes, her real name is Simran Batra and she is MBA with Finance,' said Nandu.

And then looking Sunny confused he amusingly said, 'In this office everyone is given a western name by MD.'

'Simran is Sandra.'

'Anushka is Ancy.'

'Luca is for Loknath.'

'What about you?'

'No, I don't like western name. I am Nandlal Sharma,' he said proudly. 'But, every time MD call me, N-A-N-D-U in some western accent and enjoy it,' he said smilingly.

'What about Patricia?' Sunny pronounced her name with difficulty.

'It's her real name,' said Nandu.

At this moment Sandra came and handed him a folder and said. 'This is your presentation kit. You've to read it carefully and remember it by heart. Answers to all general queries of clients are also clarified in it,' she said. 'I have ordered for your business cards. Tomorrow you're coming with me for a client's visit.'

Next day Sunny was excited that he was going for his first visit to a client and that too with his soul mate. On the way Sandra quickly briefed him about meeting.

'The person we are meeting today is a big businessman dealing in import of cutlery and decorative articles from France. Some six month back we opened an import Letter of Credit or LC as it is commonly known for him from a London bank for his supplier. The French supplier subsequently demanded an amendment in LC, which our company first agreed but couldn't deliver. LC got expired and this client suffered loss,' she said and then paused for some time and again said. 'Now this client called me yesterday for a new LC, and I talked to Sally, she is our office manager in London, that this time we will give him special discount in our charges.'

Sunny wanted to ask her some questions, but remained silent and listened to her like an obedient student. Meeting was successful. Sandra handled all queries efficiently and to the point. A template for new LC was prepared and a cheque of five lac rupees towards commission was collected from the client.

On the way back to office she said, 'Don't discuss anything about this meeting with Luca.'

'Why?' he asked with a surprise.

'This client doesn't like him.'

Sunny looked at her and wondered what she thinks about him, and whether she likes him, attracted to him? I think she's not, but I always hope for it. I know she directly stares into center of my brain. She can read my thoughts, and I know there's a connection now. I know there's some kind of conduit running between us. She knows what I'm thinking, and how I feel about her. The connection between us is undeniable. She can access my every opinion about her and my every true feeling I'll feel for the rest of my life, he thought.

At this moment a corner of her dress touched his hand, and he shivered with a pleasant thought of her and closed his eyes for a moment to rejoice it. He was fascinated with her charming beauty from the first instance, and from that moment he couldn't help himself thinking about her.

Next day was Saturday and Sunny full of anticipation of a delightful day reached office. All staffs were dressed in casuals. Luca was missing from office. Ancy was chatting with someone on computer and smiling. Patricia was busy preparing menu for lunch. Ancy had already given her choice of food. Nandu was pure vegetarian, and wanted his food packed separately.

'Are you vegetarian or Non-vegetarian?' asked Patricia.

'Both,' he replied amusingly.

Patricia looked at him and moved a menu to him to select his meal.

'Your choice, please?'

'Chicken Biryani and coke,' he said.

'What about you?' Patricia asked Sandra.

'Cheese Pizza with Limca,' she said hurriedly looking at a file on her desk and then she called Sunny in to conference room. She discussed some fine points for closing sale with him, clarified his doubts and assured him to support him whenever he needed.

Lunch was served to all on their desks, but as Sunny and Sandra was in conference room discussing, so it was given to them there only. Finding her alone, Sunny tried to ask her some personal questions, but she was too formal and gracefully refused to answer them, surely she wanted a distance with him.

'How can I create her feeling about me? She has such a personality that I could ever find a fault in her, but her professional behavior is killing me, it's unbearable. I can't live just admiring, fantasizing and dreaming about her,' he thought.

On Monday again Sandra called Sunny and briefed him. 'Today, your first call is with a garment exporter. I've fixed your appointment at twelve thirty. He needs an export LC,' she said and handed him a slip with address of exporter.

'Come here, I will tell you,' interrupted Ancy.

Sandra didn't interfered and got herself busy with a file. Sunny unwilling went at Ancy's desk.

'Do you know what a Letter of Credit is?'

'Yes madam, a letter of credit is document issued by a bank assuring payment to seller of goods or services,' Sunny replied promptly.

'But in our LCs there is no assurance of payment to sellers. Do you know that?'

'What!'

'It's an accommodation LC. Do you know what an accommodation LC is?' She took the address slip from his hand and started explaining him like teacher. 'This exporter is our old client and he wants a garment quota for export to Germany. As our government sanction quota only to exporters who have some confirmed export order or LC from their overseas buyer. We will open a LC from a London bank on behalf of his buying house in Germany.'

'Are you a new marketing executive?' now interrupted Luca rising from his seat. 'Don't worry, you will learn everything soon. I will sit with you one day and explain you everything. Today you just go and collect our commission cheque,' he proudly said. 'I've already closed your sale. Don't worry at all.'

Driver was ready with company's car and Sandra handed him one more slip with address of another exporter for his presentation. This time Luca took the slip from Sunny and proudly commanded. 'Driver know the place, you just go and give small presentation and collect his business card, that's important! And I will do the rest.'

Sunny was irritated with his behavior and he tempted to be rude with him but he controlled himself and remained calm.

In the evening Sunny called on Sandra at her seat and asked her, 'Why Ancy was telling our LCs do not guarantee payment to exporters?'

Sandra explained. 'First you understand a LC cycle in overseas business, after a buyer and seller entered into sales contracts, the buyer applies for a LC from his bank. Upon receiving the LC the seller would apply for packing credit loan from his bank, and manufactures or purchases the goods from his local or an overseas market. Then seller exports the goods and prepare a series of documents in terms of LC such as Bill of Lading or Airways bill, packing list, inspection certificate etc. proving to his bank that goods shipped are in accordance with the buyer's requirement. His bank releases money to him checking on face value that all his submitted documents tallies with the instructions on the LC.'

And then she said. 'There after seller's bank will forward the documents to the buyer's bank. In order to obtain goods from shipping company buyer will have to pay complete its payment or enter into mutual agreement with his bank on a payment date. The LC cycle is governed by the internationally recognized regulation called UCP 600, which is issued by the International Chamber of Commerce. This LC cycle is comparable to simple credit card transactions, in which a bank promises to pay on behalf of the buyer i.e. Independence Principle. This payment method is independent from the underlying business transaction. At buyer's end bank is supposed to honor the LC as long as the submitted documents, on its face are correct i.e. Compliance Principle.'

'I think it's too technical for me,' said Sunny.

'Now you have to understand the complete transaction with context to our company. We are not buyer of goods, ours is a trade finance company and in our LCs our London Company is an applicant on behalf of buyer. Now suppose if the buyer do not pay who will be responsible for the payment?'

'Surely it will be our company in London, who opened the LC,' replied Sunny.

'For that reason our London Company put an inspection clause that goods will require a quality certificate issued by our company. And at the time of export our company approaches the buyer and asks them to pay or get the documents co-accepted by their bank for payment.'

'In case if they don't do so?' asked Sunny.

'The export documents will remain incomplete and our London bank will not pay anything.'

'In case exporter's bank submits documents without required inspection certificate to London bank for payment, will they make payment?'

'No, in that case documents remain discrepant and our London bank will refuse to make any payment.'

Sunny listened to her carefully, and then said, 'So we finance without any money and without any risk! Isn't it amounts to fraud?'

Sandra was silent for some time, and then said, 'but we can't take responsibility of payment without any security.'

'In case exporter doesn't send the goods at all to buyer?' asked Sunny.

'LC will expire after its validity date.'

'And if the