Achi news desk-
3 minutes ago
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When Mandira Garg took over as District Officer in Ambala, there was a crowd of people congratulating her. A woman IAS had come to his city for the first time. This was a source of pride for other women who work in the government service. But it is still difficult for men to easily accept the promotion of women to high positions in progressive society. But whether you like it or not, when a woman orders them, you have to stand with folded hands in appreciation. An IAS officer has great prestige and respect.
However, everyone knows that the state government continues to transfer the District Magistrate and the District Collector. The District Collector, who is the main caretaker of any district, supervises the departments and is responsible for law and order. If seen, after the District Magistrate, the office of the District Collector is important.
“Congratulations Madam,” said District Collector Navneet Pandey while offering a bouquet of roses to Mandira Garg.
“Thank you,” Mandira smiled and folded her hands. Her assistant quickly took the bouquet of flowers from Navneet Pandey’s hands and placed them on the table, where many bouquets and boxes of sweets were already kept.
“We are happy that the District Magistrate and the District Magistrate are young in our city,” said a senior officer, stifling a laugh. Chamchagiri sugar was mixed in his voice. After everyone left, Navneet Pandey kept talking for a long time on law and order and other revenue matters of the city. Mandira was listening to him very attentively. His style of speaking and keeping order was impressive. It will be fun to work with him and the city will also be able to develop. If there had been a middle-aged district collector, it would have been difficult to understand and explain,’ thought Mandira.
You must be someone thirty-two or thirty-three years old, that is, one or two years older than him. Wearing a sky blue cotton shirt and blue trousers. Simple dressing. Looking smart and elegant, Mandira mentally gave 100 percent marks to her dressing sense. He does not like people who live in a free, carefree manner, especially not in the office.
When he started looking at some files given by Navneet Pandey, he got a chance to observe Mandira Garg. An IAS officer stamp is enough to make an impression. But the decency with a dash in Mandira’s personality attracted him. She was wearing a printed pure cotton saree and a matching blouse. The pallu of the saree was sophisticatedly placed on the shoulders. The hair was cut, but the locks were not hanging here and there so that one could continue to waste time fixing them. The face was very bright … not a single layer of makeup. Diamond tops were ringing in her ears. There was a watch with a brown strap in the left hand and a gold bracelet in the right hand. Even without any superficial makeup, she looked like a sculpted statue…not a woman with a beating heart. ‘Soft spoken, decent and attractive,’ Navneet embellished her with these adjectives in her mind.
“Ma’am, we work hard, but we also take some time to have fun on Sundays. It is a small town, so the families of the officers are familiar with each other, so we meet in the club,” said Navneet Pandey cautiously after an evening meeting, after a few days. During the last two months, a natural feeling had developed between them and they used to talk apart from work. Mandira liked talking to Navneet, otherwise she didn’t know anyone else in this unknown city.
“You mean fun?” Mandira was frowning. “I like to stay at home on Sundays. I read a book, otherwise I go out shopping. I have no time to waste.” Navneet Pandey flinched for a moment at the harshness of her voice.
Standing up from the chair, he began to prepare to go home. This also signaled to him that he could leave.
“No, no madam, fun doesn’t mean making any noise. It’s just our club. They sit there and chatter. Understand that renewal is happening and women who are not working are having an outing.
“You can call me Mandira.”
“Mandira, Mandira ji…” It will take time for Navneet Pandey to take the name without adding ‘ji’. He understood that it was not right to take names too soon or to attack you.
“Not for me. Ramdeen, put all this in the car.”
The peon went out with the bag and files.
“I insist. Come once tomorrow. The fourth Sunday of the month is special.”
“Let me see,” he said and walked out of the room with a steady step. He laughed while sitting in the car. Navneet Pandey himself is a district collector, but he hesitates when talking to him. Does she really seem like a very strict and disciplined type of District Magistrate? It’s okay, he thought. But for some reason she decided she would go to the club tomorrow. Because of Navneet Pandey’s stubbornness or because he is a civilized person? He is perfect in his work, has no record of corrupt behavior or dishonesty and also appears to be a stable person. He doesn’t even seem like a flirt type.
Although during our conversations he had said that the wedding had not yet taken place. And Mandira is also unmarried, this fact was also not hidden from anyone because people are more curious to know about the marital status of women than men.
I’m going away. On this pretext, you will have the opportunity to know the families of other officers. Good relationships are also important for the smooth running of the work. Mandira had gone wearing a cotton kurti and a palazzo. In appearance very simple, but the women present there were laden with heavy sarees, jewelery and make-up. There was a typical club like atmosphere of fireworks, a couple dancing to music, drinking and drinking. He was getting VIP treatment only and men and women circled him. She knows this is incredible because of her situation.
“Now everyone is getting ready for your special event,” Navneet said in a slightly dramatic manner on the mic. “Mandira ji, you will definitely like this new kind of experiment that everyone is eagerly waiting for, especially women. Every Sunday we crown an officer’s wife as ‘Beauty of the Month’. This event takes place on the fourth Sunday of each month. By Taj, I mean she is forced to wear a beautiful silk stole and given a gift. A garland of rose flowers is also worn. This time we want this honor to be given to Mrs. Duggal out of your hands.”
Mandira was surprised to hear this, but quietly at the time Mrs. Duggal in a stool and garland and gave her a gift.
“By the way, how is ‘Beauty of the Month’ decided? Mandira asked when Navneet Pandey came and sat at her table during dinner.
“What looks most beautiful is done.”
“And what is the definition of beauty?” Navneet was shocked to hear the question.
“One woman looks beautiful and the other doesn’t, this is not fun, it creates a humiliating situation,” said Mandira angrily.
“No one feels bad. “With this excuse, women get a chance to dress up,” Navneet tried to convince him.
“Okay, from next time we will also give the honor of ‘Smart Man of the Month’. Men should also know that there is no standard of beauty or cleverness.”
At first Navneet Pandey was shocked to hear this, then looking into Mandira’s eyes he said, “There can be no scale for anything, especially where emotions are running high. I will wait for you to put a garland of roses around my neck, Mandira.”
Mandira felt as if she was drowning in his eyes. Navneet Pandey is very smart!
-Suman Bajpayee
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