Chapter 3 - Part 2

“As I told you I love children and I believe in the transformational power of the computers” He started.

She knew that being a thorough person he would build from the foundation.

“I have been toying with many ideas. From establishing a computer training institute to developing computer games”

“I thought about establishing a body that would conduct periodic competition for innovative software products that are developed by students” He continued.

His eyes had an intense look with his mind focusing on the idea that was evolving. As he was organising his thoughts his gaze was not directed specifically at anything or anybody; but appeared to be scanning something for out in the horizon.  He was again silent. She did not interrupt.

 “Now I have come to a specific idea. I plan to set up an organisation that builds educational tools for children.”

“So is it going to be a software development company?” Surabhi asked.

“ Oh! No. This company would develop a computer aided learning system that provided interactive visual and audio content to support, strengthen and complement the normal curriculum, made project works more exciting and strengthen the children’s computer literacy. It would make use of modern tools for collaboration and help unleash the hidden potential of these young minds.”

“OK” she acknowledged. She did not want to break his chain of thought. So she listened intently without making any comments.

“This is not to be just development of a software application or conversion of the regular school curriculum as a web-based presentation. It is meant to be an enabler; means to an end and not an end itself”.

“The organisation would have an exclusive development team that worked on course material, which included creative presentation of study material with innovative exercises, video and audio content that were specially developed with examples from the culture and background of various parts of Indraprasta.”

“We will continuously develop new modules which contain updates that reflect new developments in the world around. It would make use of the newer technologies and tools that are evolving, to strengthen the delivery and make the user interface and interaction more exciting for the children.”

“This sounds interesting” Surabhi quipped

“There would be a central site from which each of the subscribing school could access and update new modules. It would also provide for tutorial support to the students and the teachers so that they could use the system in a more effective fashion.”

“But where is the money honey” She asked laughingly. “Are you going to go around with a begging bowl for government aids and multilateral aid? Then you know what will happen. The same bureaucratic lethargy will determine your cash flow which in turn will determine the progress of your project”

“Don’t you know I am well aware of what my friends can do to this project if the lever is in their hand” Bhishu responded with a wide grin.

“I am going to set up a profit making entity. The initial development will be from the owner’s equity. The service is going to be priced and not a charity supported by donors. The surplus that my company makes will help me to make this service available to the poorer segment of the society” He explained.

“By the way, what are your naming your company as” Surabi asked.

“How about Surabhi Enterprise” He asked with a wink

“I know you are not that crazy” She replied.

“I will call it Indraprasta Educational  Solutions  (IES)”

“Getting out from ICS to set up IES?”

Both of them laughed.

“Come we let us go and sleep over this” She said

****

To be continued

Chapter 3 - Part 1

It was a Sunday morning.  Bhishma was sitting on the couch in his sitting room with a coffee in his hand. Surabhi, his wife, walked in. She noticed that her husband’s handsome face looked relaxed and at ease. This was a welcome change from the “lost-in-thought” looks that she often saw in the recent past.

She knew Bhishu was not at all happy with the way things were at the Ministry of Education where he was posted. The new Secretary often had some private agenda to be pushed which Bhishu could not agree with. Bhishu’s priorities were what was right and not what was convenient.

Surabhi and Bhishma  have been married for about 20 years. Soon after Bhishma cleared his ICS exam he had met Surabhi at a friend’s party. Surabhi had just joined Intercontinental Bank as an officer after she graduated from one of the top Management Schools in Indraprasta.

Both of them had pursued their careers giving each other space to grow, They were good friends and could act as sounding board for each other. Bhishu was quite athletic and enjoyed outdoor. Surabhi was artistic, loved to read books and poetry. And they respected each other for their strength.

Now that both of them were quite senior they were posted in the capital and could live together as a family unlike in the early part of the career when both were often posted at different towns and even different countries.

Surabhi knew it was better to leave Bhishu alone when he is trying to solve a problem. She knew that he would discuss with her when he was ready. But she was concerned as Bhishu was put under pressure by the secretary of the department ever since he took charge about a year ago. The secretary was not keen to have the clean and transparent administration Bhishu was running. He was often in the company of people like Ramanujam and was not averse to helping then even if it was out of place and propriety.

Looking at the face of Bhishu she realised that he was ready to talk.

“It is nice to see you relaxed and at ease. Looks like you have made up your mind.” Surabhi commented as she sat next to him.

Bhishu gave her his characteristic smile with his eyelids crinkled to a twinkle.

“So what is the verdict Bhishu” She asked

“I have decided to move on. I am quitting civil service” Bhishu replied

“I had an interesting career as a civil servant. I could achieve many things for the betterment of the society. I could survive without selling my soul. But increasingly I realize that I spent more time in playing chess with the system than doing any productive work” Bhishu proceeded.

“Now that you are senior, the stakes associated with the initiatives that you take are much larger. This means that there would be many interested parties who want to exploit or who want to hide.  You are not willing to pay ball with such scoundrels. So naturally there would be resistance”  Surabhi responded.

“It is true. So I decided to get out and do something myself” Bhishu declared

His face look determined and his eyes were confident.

Surabhi was happy. She knew with Bhihu’s intelligence and drive he could build something big and meaningful.

“Yes it is a good idea. As I am working and the children are already in grad school we can afford to take this plunge. We can stay in my staff quarter” Surabhi remarked

“What are your thoughts about the venture you would like to consider” She asked

“I am toying in my mind many ideas. I love children and I would love to do something for and with them.”

“Of course I know you love children. If you could have your way you would have had a dozen at home” Surabhi quipped with a naughty smile.

He responded with his charming smile and a wink.

“I believe in high technology. I am convinced that I want to work with both; children and high technology, in some unique way that would make a difference to the children of Indraprasta.”

 “This is one of the most critical needs for the country. It could make hell of a lot of difference to the growth of the country and provide opportunities for the children to grow up to face the challenges of the day ahead.”

“Exposing the young mind to the powers of information technology would help Indraprasta to excel in a world in which Indraprasta was considered a laggard.”

He seemed to have honed on to the sector he wants to be in. Surabhi mused. Surabhi being a banker could see the future potential of Bhishus’ dreams

“These are just some loose thoughts. Let me think about it. In the meantime I am putting in my papers today. I would be released in three months”

“I would place a request in my office that I would now want to avail of staff quarter so that we could be ready by the time you have to move out” Surabhi’s mind was in motion for the change in their life.

***

“Surabhi come over to the Balcony. I will join you in a minute with some coffee. I have prepared your special filter coffee” Bhishu called out to Surabhi.
It was about 10 pm in the night. She was in the study reading a novel. From the tone of Bhishu’s voice she realised that he had something serious to talk about.

She took a shawl to wrap around. It would be chilly out there in the balcony. As Bhishu was a senior civil servant they had a flat up at the 20^th floor near the sea. That was one of the perks of working with the government.

When she walked over to the spacious balcony he was still not there. She stood at the doorway of the balcony looking into the sitting room. She liked what she saw. The sitting room in the dim light was elegant as always. It was her decoration. She had taste and she liked to indulge in decorating her home. Bhishu encouraged her; but never interfered. He knew that it was not his forte.

The sitting room had an elegant leather sofa set with on one side.  On the other side there was a diwan that had a black cover with white designs which gave a gentle contrast to the sofa. There was beautiful Persian carpet at the center on which stood a coffee table. At the far corner  a few of her priced bonzai trees were arranged with an arch light at the top high-lighting them. Bonzai collection was something that she had nurtured over the years as a serious hobby. She had a large collection out in the balcony which she rotated in and out periodically. This helped to give a different look to the room.

Beyond the sitting area was the dining area and beyond that the kitchen.
She saw him coming out of the kitchen with two coffee mugs in his hand. He was wearing a denim shorts and a polo T shirt. The dining area was in semi darkness as the only light was in the sitting area. That too the spot light above the bonzi collection. In that dimly lit background his body looked as if it was carved out of marble. There was no trace of fat in his well exercised body. Even after 20 years of marriage he still brought a gasp in her.

As he came near her, she reached across and give him a kiss on his cheek. 

“You seem to be ready for a long talk honey” Surabhi said.

“Not a long talk; but a long discussion” He replied.

“First let us sit down and enjoy our coffee.” Bishu said and extended her the cup.

They sat down on the cane chairs and started sipping their coffee. Bhishu appeared to be organising his thought. Surabhi was in no hurry. She knew that being a meticulous and organised person he will take few minutes to start. Then the thoughts will flow with such logic and clarity to leave no doubt in your mind about his line of thinking.

There was nip in the air and she covered her shoulders and head with the shawl. But the cool wet air from the sea on the face was refreshing.

Bhishu appeared un-perturbed by the chill. Surabhi sat gazing at the beachfront. The road along the seafront still was crowded and active. Many a car parked along the road. From up here in the 20^th floor the cars looked  like the toy car collection of her son. The people moving around in the beach appeared almost ant like. Beyond that the sea. With the full moon she could still see the the waves reaching over, with its silvery hands ,the sandy beach as if attempting a deep embrace. She was transfixed by  the sheer magnificance of this view.

“I have been thinking about what I should do after I am out next month. Eventually an idea has started to evolve in my mind. I want to brainstorm a bit with you so that we can refine it” he said suddently. She was startled as she was completely engrossed in the scenic beauty around her.

“Ok Go on. I knew you would have honed something good soon. Now share your secret”

To be continued