Hard luck.

I was in my second semester of BBA and I came up with a thought of opening my saloon, just for some part-time bucks. I learned haircutting for months, a while back. The only thing left was a dare, a push which I got from my friends, Dipesh and Prabin. But of course, my family won’t allow it. So, we decided to go to the bank for a loan.

I, Dipesh, and Prabin went inside the bank. Cashiers, Accountants, and staff, dressed in fancy suits, the best way to establish goodwill were a Namaste. So I greeted them all with namaste except the head manager. He was wearing shorts, I thought he was the cleaning guy. And to make the situation worse, I pointed him the dust on the chairs and said, “Looks like one of us isn`t doing our job properly.” He acted confused and left.

I headed towards the reception while my friends leaped to the corner. The receptionist was hot but I was too focused on my goal to hit some lines on her. I told her about the loan. She picked up the phone and rang, maybe to the manager. Next, she pointed me the door to the manager`s office. I “gun-pointed” my hands and exclaimed “gotcha” but the look on her face replied, “It is not cool.”

(Inside the manager`s office)

I double knocked, and he turned his chair to face me.

“Woah. How do you even have the courage to sit on the manager`s chair? Did you even put out the dust I showed you before? You know you may be the reason I might have second thoughts about business with this bank.”

He goes, “Wait. I can explain.”

“What? What possible explanation can you have? That your lazy ass can`t work?”

His look changes. He starts getting angry and as I go on criticizing him I realize maybe, I had already fucked up my goal.

I maffled, “Youre the manager, arent you?”

He smirks, “Damn right, I`m.”

I felt betrayed by myself. I look down and murmur, “What do I do now?”

He says, “Today was my day off and I came back here after just hitting the gym for an emergency.”

“Look Im sorry. I didnt mean what I said earlier.”

He smeared, “Oh really?”

I couldnt control but said, “Well youre the one wearing the shorts.”

“Do you really want to go that way to start a business talk? Its a waste of my own time. Now get the hell out of my office.”

I was afraid. “No, no, just listen to my ideas. Please.”

(Outside)

Prabin was already bored. He looks around and says to dipesh, “I dare you to steal the tied pen on the cashier`s desk.”

Dipesh mumbles, “What? Why would I do that?”

Prabin, in a manipulative manner, “ Its a dare. You dont question a dare. Just admit youre afraid.”

“But look up, there are CCTVs covering every corner of the bank.”

“They are up just for a show. No one watches it live. Don`t be a pussy now.”

Dipesh breathing in, “Naah. I can do it easily. Keep your eyes open and see me pull off a heist.” and he walks towards the cashier. Reaching there he engages a conversation with the cashier, trying to untie the pen from the thread.

(Inside the manger`s office)

“Here, Ive brought my ideas and the rest of the information.” I slide the file across the silver glass table. “I have even mailed it to the banks account, you can look it there too.”

“Alright let me take a look at these papers.” He opens the paperwork but his eyes stuck on the laptop`s screen and he exclaims “ What the hell! What is he doing?”

I ask, “What is who doing?”

He looks at me and says, “He came with you. I saw you enter the door with 2 others and one of them is this idiot.”

“Are you calling my friend an idiot? I stood up and walked towards him, “You have no right”….and as I saw the screen myself I went, “Oh you goddamn idiot. Is he? Is he really trying to steal the pen?”

The manager says, “No, he cant. Look at him, hes afraid of being caught. He can`t even untie the thread.”

I look directly into the manager`s eyes, “Wanna bet?”

He calls, “If he does manage to steal the pen, we have a deal. But if he doesn`t…”

I interrupt him and say, “ I`m gonna walk back empty-handed.”

5 minutes pass and he`s still playing there with the string and the pen. Now, the cashier is also giving him a suspicious look. I murmured, “Bella Ciao Bella Ciao Bella Ciao Ciao Ciao. You can do it, you son of a bitch. You were born to do this.”

But soon after, Dipesh wipes out sweats off his face, leaves the pen there, and goes back nodding his head to Prabin.

The manager shouts, “Yaaaasshhhhh!”

I couldn`t believe what I saw. I needed a chair to sit down. I lost. I felt it was my bank and it fell to the ground.

The managers still laughing. “Off you go, shoo. Close the door on your way out.” And he adds, “Talk to your father about your ideas first, these finances arent that easy and you need proper guidance.”

I leave the office and we walk out. I told them I have to discuss it with my father first and then only propose a loan.

Prabin says, “Oh okay.” And he adds, “Listen while you were inside the office…..”