Achieve Two Goals At Once

  The employees of Hotel Parijat were on strike and shouting outside 

'Down down Pankaj'. They were holding placards 'no justice no peace.' The purpose of the agitation was non-payment of their salaries for three months. The hotel was once famous in the tourist town Pavanpur. The business of the hotel declined after a decade of its inception and was virtually on the verge of closure.  

The hotel owner Pankaj Kumar Shanubhog was a young dynamic man who took responsibility for the hotel from his father one year back. Last year, he completed his MBA in hotel management.  He was under terrible pressure from the bank and financiers to settle the loans. A legal notice was already served to him. With folded hands, he requested the staff to bear with him for some more days as he was struggling hard to set things right. He further requested them to stop the agitation and continue the duty. He also invited suggestions from the employees on how to improve the business. 

Initially, he took the responsibility. He had devoted day and night to setting things right.  During his final year of MBA, he successfully completed projects on the hotel business. Pankaj was selected as a  Manager in a star hotel with attractive pay and other packages.  He rejected the offer and joined his father's hotel. His sole objective was to upgrade the status of the hotel. He approached Harihar Murthy, manager, of Surya Kiran Bank and submitted an application and project report with a request to sanction a limit of rupees five lacs. The project report was realistic and wonderful.  He was impressed and called Pankaj to the bank for discussion. Pankaj met him at an appointed time.

"Pankaj, be seated," said the manager

"Thank you, sir, " replied Pankaj.

He was surprised to see his classmate  Surabhi already in discussion with the manager. Pankaj was still surprised to know she is the daughter of Murthy.

"I have checked your project report. I would like to ask you a few questions," said the manager.

"Yes sir"

"How did you arrive at the amount of the loan?

"Do you think your assessment of achieving the target is possible?" 

"How do you say with confidence that your hotel regains its earlier position? Whether your projected asset and liability statement, profit and loss and balance sheet are nearer to reality? How do you clear the outstanding loan with the bank and with financiers? "

Pankaj answered all the questions in just a few words.  

"Sir,  I adopted new technologies, keep standards of excellence, maintain strong financial discipline, planning, teamwork, embraced challenges etc. My theoretical knowledge certainly helps me to achieve the goal."

 Pankaj was advised to wait for the next call after a fortnight. Surabhi was patiently listening to the conversation between Pankaj and her father. Surabhi had completed MBA along with Pankaj.  After a fortnight, Pankaj met Surabhi accidentally at Pavanpur railway station. They were proceeding to Bengaluru. Surprisingly their berth number was 40 and 41. Murthy was present at the station to see off Surabhi. The train was five minutes late. Until the arrival of the train, Murthy asked Pankaj about his family. Pankaj revealed about his family. Surabhi told her father that Pankaj was an expert in cutting jokes in the college. 

Pankaj started telling the jokes.

"A friend of mine quit his job as a reporter and left town by railway. It was an ex-press train." 

"I asked the train engineer how many times his train had derailed. He said, ``I am not sure, it's hard to keep track."

Murthy and Surabhi both were laughing. Passengers standing there also enjoyed the jokes along with the dad and daughter.  The train arrived and departed. Murthy wished both a happy journey.

Surabhi and Pankaj occupied their respective seats. For a moment both were silent. Who should start the conversation first was working in their minds. Ultimately, Pankaj took the initiative and commenced talks. 

"Madam, if you don't mind, shall I say something to overcome the boredom?"

"Yes sir. I like any topic except useless gossip." 

"May I know your favourite topic?"

"Sir, any topic on which you want to talk about."

"Instead of madam/sir let us address each other by name. It will create affection."

Surabhi said okay.

Pankaj continued, 

"Surabhi, I had a dream of becoming a successful star hotel manager. You know, I did an MBA in hotel management with first class. Now I have taken up the challenging job of upgrading the facilities to the attraction of tourists to Hotel Parijat and making it one of the prosperous hotels. You also know Pavanpur is a famous tourist centre in South India."

"Pankaj, your goal is challenging and adventurous. Like you, I am also interested in taking up a business. I don't know which type of business I have to choose? My good wishes to you in your laudable project."

"Surabhi, why don't you join me. Let us put our efforts jointly to reach our goal. I hope your knowledge and my experience would certainly give good results."

She agreed to join him, with one condition.

What was her condition?

"I love you, hope you too love me."

Pankaj was surprised to learn of her sudden decision. Observing his face, she asked,

"Pankaj, are you in a dilemma? 

"Surabhi, I appreciate your boldness. I love you too. But my priority is to improve the hotel business."

"Pankaj, there is no hurry. I will certainly join you."

Their conversation continued till 10 in the night. Surabhi had formed a good opinion of Pankaj. 

The long conversation between them resulted in closeness. But it was not an easy task to become life partners. There were so many hurdles. Both decided to concentrate only to achieve the goal of reaching the hotel's business to greater heights. She was impressed by the way in which he was explaining every issue with authority. While getting down at Bengaluru city railway station, both promised to meet the next day at hotel Indraprastha, Malleshwaram at 8 pm. Surabhi was present in the hotel at the appointed time. But Pankaj didn't come even after a 20 minutes delay. Surabhi lost her patience in waiting. She was about to leave with great disappointment, Pankaj arrived and begged sorry for the delay.

After about one hour laterr, both tasted sumptuous food.  The love birds' conversation was interesting. One month had passed after coming over to Pavanpur. There was no communication between them. Pankaj was much worried about the business. One person, who was close to her family, prevented  Surabhi from meeting Pankaj. Who was that person?

He was Aniruddha, owner of Hotel Dwaraka and a relative of Murthy. He wanted to marry Surabhi. But she disliked him. Because he was responsible for spoiling the business of Pankaj. Murthy advised his daughter to marry Aniruddha and stop loving Pankaj. She tried to explain to her father about the crookedness of Aniruddha towards Pankaj. Murthy tried to convince his daughter that the issue was between Pankaj and Aniruddha and let them solve it. 

  

Murthy came to know the criminal minded nature of  Aniruddha and gave a green signal to her to go ahead with Pankaj.  Aniruddha denied all the charges against him. Pankaj collected the evidence of his misdeeds and filed a case with the police. One day,  Aniruddha was arrested. After this development, Pankaj and Surabhi worked hard and build a good business. Pankaj was able to set things right. After six months the hotel business increased beyond expectation. Lovers were successful in achieving two goals at once, taking the business to greater heights and tying the knot.