The trend toward greed and avarice, on the part of those that were already wealthy and well-placed in a society that catered to discrimination and bigotry, had contributed to the imbalance in the state of the economy, resulting in more and more unrest among students who, at this point, was on the verge of resorting to open rebellion.
Maung Ba wasn’t happy in the stationery and printing shop where he worked. His boss, by the name of Laduram a member of the Marwari sect, was unreasonably selfish, as well as indifferent to his employee’s honesty and hard work. His large, pot-bellied frame alluded to an undying ego, thriving on whatever advantage he could derive from the existing bureaucracy.
One morning, Maung Ba was late for work, having missed an earlier bus. It so happened that Laduram wanted some work done in a hurry.
Maung Ba finally arrived at the shop, anxious and almost breathless, having felt overly-pressured by what he was sure to expect, when Laduram suddenly exploded in an almost violent fit of paroxysm. “Why are you so late?” he yelled.
“I’m sorry, sir. I missed the bus and had to wait for almost twenty minutes for another one to arrive.”
”You missed the bus and I missed a customer. He wanted some documents printed in a hurry. It was a major job. He couldn’t wait. Now look what you’ve done. It has cost me a lot of money, for which I will have to dock you.”
“I’m sorry about all this, sir. It wasn’t entirely my fault. I’m sure it won’t happen again.”
Laduram scratched his bald head dubiously. “You know, I’ve been thinking,” he said with a sneer. “This job isn’t really your cup of tea. You’re just not quite cut out for it.”
”Just because I happened to be late? It could happen to anybody, even you.”
”My goodness!” Laduram exclaimed, opening his eyes wide . “How dare you talk to me this way!”
“This is how I feel. I’ve had enough of your meanness. Neither you nor your money are big enough to scare me.”
“Get out!” Laduram shouted. “I don’t want you back again.”
“Oh, no! Not before I get paid.”
Without wasting any time, Laduram unlocked his safe and took out a total of twenty-five rupees which he counted more than once. “Here,” he said unceremoniously, as he grudgingly handed him the money. “Take it and get out!”
Maung Ba was about to hurl an abuse at his tormentor, but thought of discretion as being a better part of valor. Outside the shop, he suddenly realized that the salary he had earned for the duration of his service should have been thirty rupees instead of twenty-five. He thought of Ba Sein’s anger and frustration and vowed that, short of any violence that Ba Sein had advocated, he would continue the struggle toward independence.
Currently there are no comments related to "The Lion and The Sun – Chapter Four – Part 1, The British Lion". You have a special honor to be the first commenter. Thanks!
Welcome to Authspot, the spot for creative writing.
Read some stories and poems, and be sure to subscribe to our feed!
