The Mess and the Minister

 

The Mess and the Minister

This story has a background of more than 20 years. The value of Rs 10 for that period will cost Rs 100 now. The fall and damage of currency!

We had a Food Minister who enjoyed food, especially so if it was non-vegetarian. Rightly so, he was healthy in his body as well as mentally. No doubt he is one of the finest ministers of that day. His itinerary had the habit of entering the Minister’s chamber on time after a good breakfast and visiting the Pillaiyar Kovil on the way regularly and back home for the special lunch made ready by his beloved wife.

There happened a break to this routine one day when CM had called for an urgent meeting and hence was held up in the Secretariat. He was a little upset about his schedule change, but summoned his PS, Menon, to enquire about a good non-veg lunch to be served nearby.

‘’ Yes sir, Nair Military Mess is nearby and they will deliver us too, on time". said the PS.

The telephone message from the Minister’s office was a bonanza or lottery to the Owner of the Mess, his happiness knew no bounds. The bearer was rushed to deliver a full course of meals to the Secretariate chamber with add-ons in double the quantity usually served. Keeping aside other issues for the ensuing meeting, he fell upon the Mess menu and attacked the same with due respect. The Minister asked his PS in confidence the cost of the food and he got the answer at a fifty percent discounted price. So joyful, he placed the next order for the evening Tea with tasteful items like Cutlet, Masala Dosa, Dal Vada, and Jalebis with a good quantity of Coffee. He was charged only half the rate of the lunch menu. 

In the evening, once the official meetings were over, the Minister issued a new order, that henceforth his food menu for lunch and evening tea, etc were awarded to Nair Military Mess and whenever he had to attend the morning meetings breakfast also would be served by them. He will travel less during office hours and to the outskirts to reduce fuel costs.

The local news bulletin announced through Aakashvani in the evening, was a bolt from the blue. The custodian of Nair Mess fell unconscious and when regained thought, if he withdrew the discounts on the Menu, sure action would follow even by an order to close the residential Mess for running it as a Restuarant with of forgery to avoid taxes. His niece, an economics graduate added fuel with an advise stating if he continued the service, it would take only three months at the most to close the shop. 

Nair and his family were in a dilemma and after a prolonged discussion took advice from the local MLA of the opposition party. His commission was fixed and his plan was to rake up the five-year-old case against our Minister on the purchase of sugar from UP State at a higher price violating all tender conditions known infamously as “ Sugar Gate”. It worked precisely and within a month, the CM forced his Food Minister to tender his resignation until he was cleared of all charges.

Without knowing the back door scenario, the Minister was waiting for his lunch as usual and for the delay in the arrival of lunch. Neither Menon, his PS nor Orderly were to be seen around. But it was then he was shocked to see the note on his table from Nair Mess which read:

‘‘We do not serve subsidized food to ex-ministers, and no carrier had left to the Secretariate today as per rules of the Mess”.

It was not known when the Minister regained his senses!

😏