Maid to Serve

[admin]

For the second consecutive growing season, the monsoons had failed to arrive over the Indian rice paddies. Without the heavy annual rainfall, the Nalwali family had been unable to produce their customarily bountiful crop of top quality rice. It was the proceeds from the rice crop that allowed the Nalwali family to not only survive but to provide the resources to keep the land they farmed. For generations, the Nalwali family had produced some of the most successful rice crops in their region. They were a poor but hard working farm family, and the second year of drought had added to their desperate situation. This year, like the last, was going to be a disaster for all the local rice farmers, including the Nalwali family. Without the normally heavy rains that flooded the rice paddies during planting season, production was going to be barely above that which was needed to feed the family and hold a bit in reserve for next season?s planting. In the more bountiful years, Mr. Nalwali had sold nearly his entire crop to Mr. John Price. Mr. Price was aptly named. He was the Vice-President for Purchasing of a major American food manufacturer based in Chicago. He was tasked with obtaining the raw materials from which his company made their food products. His position required him to travel all over the globe representing his company to the farmers in their fields. Mr. Price was in his mid forties and had been with his employer ever since his college graduation. In the past twenty years, he had used modern technology and personal contacts to fill his employer?s needs for thebest raw materials available from around the world. He had always worked hard to get his employer the best commodities at a fair price. Therefore, his Board of Directors had given him a free hand in negotiating for the commodities they needed from the producers. Mr. Price?s employer preferred purchasing their raw materials directly from the producers rather than on the open commodities market. Buying through a broker at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange would have been much easier and somewhat cheaper for them. However, the company executives believed they could get a superior product at an economical price by going directly to the producers. They would have little control over the price and quality of the products theyneeded if they bought on the open market. In spite of being in his forties, Mr. Price was in excellent shape. He worked out regularly, and weighed just slightly more than he did while in college. Dealing with farmers in their fields around the world had helped keep him trim and well tanned. His deep blue eyes were as sharp as ever. His full head of dark hair had recently begun showing just a bit of gray around the edges. Mr. Price had always negotiated firmly but fairly with the producers with which he dealt. He was no happier about Mr. Nalwali?s drought induced situation than the farmer and his family. Although he had been forewarned of the drought like conditions through satellite recognizance and local harvest projections. He was nonetheless disturbed by the severity of the problem. The entire region had suffered from the lack of rain. The rice that had been produced this year was of poor quality and very low quantity. With their heads deeply bowed, Mr. Nalwali and his family met with Mr. Price. Mr. Nalwali apologized repeatedly for the failure of his crop and inability to satisfy Mr. Price?s needs. For the second consecutive year, he had failed to have a good crop to sell to his long time customer. Being a strong man, he didn?t want to let Mr. Price, or his family, see his emotions, but they were just below thesurface. The distraught man was beside himself with grief and shame. ?Please Sir, forgive me. It is my fault. I should have planned for this. We not only do not have the rice to sell you, but we may loose our land if the rains do not come soon. We may have to sell part of our family?s land to cover Ankara escort (http://ankarakuryetel.com/) our debts.? Mr. Price was not an uncaring man. He also didn?t want to loose a good supplier of some of the finest rice his company used. ?Mr. Nalwali, you have no control over the weather. What could you have done? These things happen. I have a proposition for you. Have you ever heard of the futures market?? Mr. Price asked. Mr. Nalwali answered, ?No, Sir.? Mr. Price continued, ?Well, in brief, at the farm level it works like this. I can prepay you for your future rice crop now, and you provide the rice at harvest time next year.? Mr. Nalwali had never heard of such a thing. ?You will pay for rice I don?t have to sell?? Mr. Price explained further, ? Yes, something like that! You don?t have any rice now, but I am confident you will have some next season. I have the authority on behalf of my company to make such a deal if you are interested. Of course, as a representative of my company, I must get a good deal on the future rice or they will not allow the futures purchase. Do you understand, Mr. Nalwali?? Price asked. ?I think so, Sir.? ?Okay, here?s my offer. For the next five years, I will buy your entire crop of rice, except for what you need for your personal use and replanting. I will pay for half of next year?s crop now. However, Imust insist on a five percent discount from the price of rice at the time the crops are harvested. The discount will be applied when you harvest next years crop of rice and the balance of the contracted price is paid. That way my company gets the rice they need at a bargain cost, I provide them with a steady supply of top quality rice, and you and your family can continue to farm your land. You will have the incentive to work hard because the more rice you produce, the more money you will make. Do we have an agreement, Mr. Nalwali?? Mr. Price extended his hand to seal the deal. Mr. Nalwali thought for a few seconds then excitedly took Mr. Price?s offered hand and shook it vigorously. The deal was done. Over the years, Mr. Price had found that local farmers around the world were very much alike. Lawyers were seldom needed to make a binding agreement with them. However, his company?s lawyers would not acceptsuch a handshake agreement. Therefore, the standard contract would be pulled off Mr. Price?s laptop and printer when he returned to his hotel room later that day. He could also get final authorization for the deal at that time as well. He would bring it to Mr. Nalwali the next day to be sighed. Besides, if the weather or Mr. Nalwali failed to produce a crop of rice next year, no further money would be expended, and another supplier could be found at that time. All parties were happy with the deal. As Mr. Nalwali continued to shake Mr. Price?s hand, his mood visibly cheered. ?Mr. Price, please sir, allow me to introduce my family.? ?Of course! I would enjoy meeting your family. After all the years we?ve been dealing with each, I have never been properly introduced to your lovely family.? Mr. Nalwali pulled a reluctant woman who seemed to be hiding behind him to his side. ?Sir, this is my wife, Maina.? Maina bowed deeply and quickly stepped back behind her husband. The two oldest children, young men, stood ridged as they bowed and shook Mr. Price?s hand. They were introduced as Mantu and Rega. Next, Mr. Nalwali introduced his twin girls. They appeared to be about eight years old. They bowed as their father introduced them. Bitu, a boy, was next. He was probably ten or twelve. He then introduced his youngest daughter. ?And this is my little queen, so we call her Rani.? Rani stood tall and proudly stuck out her hand. With a wide grin on his face, Mr. Price grasped Rani?s hand. The older man bowed deeply and shook the young girl?s hand. The twins and Rani then giggled and ran from the room. Laughing and returning to a standing posture, Ankara escort bayan (http://ankarakuryetel.com/) Mr. Price asked, ?And whom do we have here, Mr. Nalwali?? Mr. Price indicated a young woman standing behind her mother. ?She is a very lovely young lady.? The girl stood with her head bowed as her father introduced her. ?This is Naina, Sir.? It was evident by the look on his face, Mr. Nalwali was very proud of his entire family, especially Naina. Even though she was wearing a scarf over her head and was modestly dressed, Mr. Price could see she was very lovely indeed. Her rounded face was surrounded by dark brown hair with light brown highlights. Herbrown eyes seemed to sparkle. With a broad grin, Mr. Price presented his hand to Naina. ?Such a beautiful young lady should not be hiding herself. How do you do, Naina?? Naina nervously raised her head, took Mr. Price?s hand and shook it. In almost perfect but accented English, she replied, ?I am very well, Sir. Thank you.? The connection between Mr. Price and Naina was immediate and electrifying, especially to Naina. At the touch of their hands, a shiver ran up her arm and spread over her entire body. She knew instantly something had just happened. Just what it was she did not know. Mr. Price had felt it too. He smiled broadly at the young lady. With a glint in his eyes, he said to her, ?It is indeed a pleasure to meet you, Naina.? When Mr. Price released her hand, she bowed herhead and again stepped behind her mother and father. Mr. Price then took his leave from the Nalwali family and returned to his motel in the nearby city. Within an hour of arriving back at his motel, his maid and personal secretary, Abby, had the needed future?s purchase authorization from the company?s headquarters in Chicago. With the authorization and printed contract in hand, Mr. Price only needed Mr. Nalwali?s signature to finalize the deal the next morning. Mr. Price woke early the next morning. He would be flying home as soon as he concluded his business with Mr. Nalwali. He had Abby pack his things and load them in the car that had just arrived. She also called the airport and had his private jet fueled and prepared for the flight home. The Gulfstream jet had a range of a little less than 7000 miles. That long range was one of the deciding factors in his decision to purchase that model over several other fine aircraft. He knew he would beusing it to travel all over the world and needed something that wouldn?t need to be stopping too often to refuel. He had leased the aircraft to his employer. Through their monthly lease payments they were in effect paying for the jet. They also picked up the fuel and maintenance costs as well. In effect, thanks to his employer, Mr. Price owned the Gulfstream free of costs. Upon his return to the Nalwali home, Mr. Nalwali greeted him warmly. Naina was quietly standing beside and slightly behind her father. Her head was again bowed. Mr. Nalwali happily signed the contract presented to him by Mr. Price. ?The money will be transferred to your account as soon as I deliver this contract to my company?s purchasing department in Chicago. Again, the farmer bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude to Mr. Price for making such a generous bargain. The farmer then startled the worldly commodities buyer. ?Mr. Price, Sir, I have no way of ever repaying your kindness to my family. We will not loose our land now. We owe you a great debt.? Price responded, ?You owe me nothing more than a fine crop of rice next year, Mr. Nalwali.? ?With respect, Sir, we owe you much more than rice. We owe you more than we can ever repay. Youseemed to like my daughter Naina when you met her yesterday. Is this not so, Sir?? ?Yes, Mr. Nalwali. Naina seems like a lovely young lady. I am sure you are very proud of her.? Her father looked at his daughter and spoke to her, ?Naina, come here.? The girl somewhat nervously stepped forward Escort Ankara (http://ankarakuryetel.com/) and extended her hand to Mr. Price. Her head remained bowed. John Price smiled and took Naina?s hand intending to shake it as he had done the day before. He felt a slight quiver in her small hand as he gently surrounded it with his own. With a smile he told her, ?It?s apleasure to see you again, Naina.? Naina smiled but kept her head bowed as she and Mr. Price shook hands. Mr. Nalwali firmly surrounded Mr. Price?s and his daughter?s clasped hands in both of his strong and weathered hands. ?Mr. Price, you have saved my families land. You like our Naina. I have only one way to repay our debt to you. Sir, Naina is yours! I make her my gift to you.? A shocked Mr. Price stammered, unable to get his words out. For the first time in his life, John Price was speechless. Mr. Nalwali continued holding their clasped hands in his. Stammering, Mr. Price finally replied, ?Mr. Nalwali, I can?t take your daughter. That isn?t done anymore. She is just coming of age and will probably be marrying soon. She probably already has a boyfriend. How can I take her from her friends and family?? ?Sir, it is true that Naina is now eighteen. She is of marrying age and has been for several years now. Unfortunately, I haven?t been able to save enough for her dowry. Any mate from a good family would require a substantial dowry before marrying her. I have three other daughters to think about. You will be honoring me, Naina, and our family by accepting her as my gift to you. Sir, Naina is now yours.? Regaining his composure, John Price spoke in his normally controlled voice. ?With your permission Mr. Nalwali, I would like to speak of this to Naina.? Still holding their hands together in his, the older man nodded his approval. Price?s mind was reeling with all the delicious possibilities this situation presented as he addressed the teen. ?Ms. Naina, I am soon going to need a lead maid and personal assistant. The girl I have is going to retire soon. Would you be interested in serving me as my maid and personal assistant in my home and perform other duties as I may direct?? Naina answered excitedly, ?Oh yes, Sir. If that is what my father wants, I will obey his wishes. My father has always done what was best for our family. If my father wishes I should go with you, then I will go with you. I will do my best to be a good servant in your household. I will do whatever you require of me.? The girl raised her head slightly and smiled at Mr.Price. ?Have you talked this over with your mother? It may be years before you return home to see them again.? Naina began to answer, ?We have...? Mr. Nalwali interrupted his daughter. ?The family agrees this is for the best and we will be happy for Naina! It will be an honor if you would accept my daughter as a servant in your household? She will work hard for you. Sir, she will make a good maid and do any other tasks you require of her.? He then released his grip on Mr. Price and Naina?s hands. Smiling at Naina, Price bowed and kissed her hand still in his. Naina giggled and smiled back at Mr. Price. With a few seconds further thought, Mr. Price bowed to Mr. Nalwali and agreed to take Naina with him. ?Mr. Nalwali, Naina will make a wonderful addition to my household staff. I am sure she will serve me well.? Mr. Price then stood up straight and addressed the teen. ?Very well! Gather your things, Naina. We will be leaving in just a few minutes.? All three of them smiled broadly. Naina almost instantly produce a worn cardboard fruit box. It contained everything the teen owned. After a tearful goodbye with her family, Naina carried the box out toMr. Price?s car. She was followed closely by her new employer. The car?s driver bowed and took Naina?s box of belongings. He quickly stowed the box in the car?s trunk. Due to the car?s darkened windows, Naina hadn?t seen Abby until the driver opened one of the rear doors. Naina nervously settled into the car?s rear seat next to the middle-aged woman. Mr. Price then introduced the two women. ?Naina, this is Abby. Abby is my present maid and personal servant. Unfortunately, she will be leaving me soon. She will be training you in your duties as her replacement.