Pinto Has An Idea

by Rajeev Saxena

  ‘I guess all these organizations have registered their demands and trade-in requests on the Exchange. I think the picture is getting clearer and clearer. Would you draw it, honey?’

  ‘Sure, using its smart algorithm, the Exchange created a plan. Let me draw it.

  Splash Kashmir gives its rice to Mercy in Delhi. Mercy transfers its toys to Tribant in Chhattisgarh, and so on. Finally, Serenity sends its rice to Splash in Tamil Nadu. Hyderabad to Tamil Nadu could be covered in less than a day and will not be very expensive. Also, as the Exchange is the guarantor, all these transactions can be started in parallel rather than waiting to be completed in a sequence. Splash is in urgent need due to emergency so that can be done on priority with them. ’

  ‘This is a super-smart solution. Go ahead, Pinto, launch it.’

  ‘What should we call this?’

  ‘Paropkar… another name for charity,’ said Lavanya promptly.

  ‘I like it.’

  Pinto decided to launch Paropkar outside the Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi, when big charity organization executives and political leaders were discussing how to eradicate poverty and world hunger in a conference. Pinto told Lavanya, ‘It’d be a right response for these folks to do the groundwork rather than discussing problems in air-conditioned rooms.’

  A journalist asked Pinto, ‘Why do you think that Paropkar will work?’ By way of answer, Pinto narrated—what else?!—a story. ‘In my early days in the US, I was posted in Chicago working at the famous Sears Tower. My first impression of the US was that nobody was poor here. Every day I took the L Train from Downers Grove suburb to downtown Chicago and then walked to work. Winter is so cold there, if you take your hand out of your glove, it’ll quickly freeze. In this icy weather, an old guy used to sit by the building selling newspapers. I never saw him absent from his spot, rain, snow or shine.’

  ‘Amazing…’

  ‘I started buying a newspaper from the man just because I felt sorry for him. Society is highly generous in the US, so I used to ask myself why this person had to sit and sell newspapers at his age and in such harsh weather.’

  ‘Poor guy…’

  ‘People bought newspapers from the old man but nobody bothered or talked about him at work. One day, although it took courage, I asked my colleagues why this guy had been reduced to such circumstances. The simple answer came, “Well, he didn’t save for his future. If you play away your life, that’s what happens.”

  ‘But what were his options,’ I persisted. ‘How else would he eat? What would he wear in this cold if he didn’t work?’

  ‘The plain answer came again, “The man could go to a church where they would give him food and shelter. No questions asked.”

  ‘Why doesn’t he do that?’ I wanted to know all the facts there and then. The US was appearing to be a different country to what I’d thought. ‘If it is so easy to get food at a church, why would he sell newspapers in the bitter cold?’

  ‘There could be two reasons, my colleagues told me: “He has too much self-respect or he didn’t like the food at the church. You have to eat whatever’s given to you in the church.’’’

  ‘Sad story,’ said the journalist, having heard Pinto out. ‘But how is it related to Paropkar?’

  ‘Maybe it’s a bad analogy,’ replied Pinto, ‘but the same limitations apply to charity organizations. They have to accept donations in whichever form they come and in whatever quantity they come in. If a big farmer, like the sarpanch of a village, wants to make a donation to the local branch of the orphanage, the easiest thing for him to donate would be the last crop he harvested from his farm. A charity organization cannot turn down a donation of rice just because they already have plenty of it and need lentils instead. If a charity organization rejects donations, their donors probably won’t return to donate again. That’s the reason organizations need to use “behind-the-scenes” infrastructures, like Paropkar does.’

  ***

  Lavanya and Pinto were sitting in their hotel room after the launch of Paropkar. ‘I am so proud of you,’ preened Lavanya. ‘I feel so lucky to have you for a husband.’

  ‘I am happy for you that you are luckier than I am,’ Pinto was at his wicked games again.

  Lavanya, fortunately, didn’t catch the joke. Soon, they revived their private discussion on charity. ‘Why couldn’t we do more charity in India?’ was Pinto’s next question.

  It was Lavanya who came up with a simple reason this time, ‘Nobody gives recognition to charity work. Reward, appreciation, recognition and success are not regarded from a balanced point of view. The easiest way in India to become famous is to create a political party with two supporters and then make a controversial public statement. Police may arrest you but the media will embrace you, taking your interviews, and calling you for panel discussions on television shows and heaven knows what all. Something like 85 percent of media coverage is given to politics and cinema, hence it doesn’t matter how small or big you are, how new or old, or how genuine or fraudulent you are in politics, you’ll get coverage.’

  Pinto resisted, ‘But charity is for self-satisfaction.’

  Lavanya loved to lecture her husband, although she had only just praised him to the skies. ‘How many scientists’ names in the country do you know? Now, people know you a little, but more people know the whole cast of a flop movie. Do you know the inventor of the cell phone, the mouse or the computer? The media is also to be blamed for this ignorance of things that really matter.’

  Pinto opposed that view. ‘Media has to stay in business like everything else. So they’ll cover what the public watches.’

  Lavanya was not in the mood to spar with anyone, she’d much rather talk and talk. And then talk some more. ‘You may say that readers or viewers are also to be blamed. But the point is whether media has done anything to change that. The way they sensationalize film actors’ life stories, why can’t they do the same thing for scientists? Talk about their daily lives. The kind of sophisticated machines they use. The marvellous inventions they come up with. Their devotion to science and the good it can do for mankind.’

  As if talking to herself she carried on: ‘If people are interested in gossip, so be it. Do cover stories on the people truly useful to society in the form of gossip. How does a doctor work in an emergency room when he is having an affair with his nurse? Why did a pilot allow a young woman into his cockpit and entertain her there for the duration of an entire flight? Make them flawed heroes, if they want masala. That’s how people would love them and they’d love India even more. They’d be motivated and would work even harder and participate in more charity-oriented activities as long as there was recognition.’ Pinto knew that it would be impossible to stop Lavanya today. He also knew the many scientists who would strongly resist any media intrusion into their private lives or study. He smiled to himself.

  Lavanya didn’t notice and prattled on, ‘Even if a greedy businessman donates large sums, he should be recognized, as he could have easily chosen not to donate.’

  Pinto joked, ‘I think businessmen should just take a salary and donate all their profits to charity.’

  Lavanya couldn’t control her laughter. ‘You live in an ideal world,’ she said between giggles. ‘You have no idea how businesses are run. If you knew that, you’d not have passed all your ideas to Imran, you’d have made money yourself, kept it to yourself and led a luxurious life. I suppose that’s why I really love you for this project… no selfish motive there.’

  Pinto was not used to Lavanya’s lectures being of such length. He abruptly interrupted as he was getting a little bored, ‘But now I do have a selfish motive. Shall we go for a romantic dinner?’ And they started for the famous Dum Pukht restaurant in Delhi.

  TWENTY-TWO

  I

  mran called Pinto after he came back from Delhi after launching Paropkar, ‘Do have some time today?’ Pinto liked to keep even his professional relationship with his friend on an informal footing. ‘You don’t have to call me
before coming,’ he chided Imran. Anything important?’

  ‘Sort of…’

  Whenever Imran visited Pinto, it was almost a ritual to order samosa from Puttu’s shop using Goodsnet. Imran took a mouthful of samosa, ‘Pinto, my investors are complaining.’

  ‘Complaining about what?’

  ‘You are focusing too much on charity work. Your last three projects have been centred around non-profit work… Double H, Gumshuda and now Paropkar.’

  ‘So what? I am free to decide about that.’ Pinto showed a bit of anger as if someone was encroaching upon his freedom.

  ‘We wanted to launch the IPO next year. Goodsnet, SMTrex and Ghumantu are extremely profitable,’ Imran tried to explain.

  ‘Then go for it.’

  ‘If we don’t keep on innovating, Pinto, the IPO may not be successful. Investors will think our last successes were just a nine-day wonder.’

  ‘I haven’t stopped you from going ahead. You can ask others to join and help you,’ Pinto was slowly building up steam.

  ‘No, you are unique, Pinto,’ said Imran, trying to calm him down.’

  ‘Then my work style is also unique!’ Pinto finally exploded. Innovators are like poets, writers or singers. You cannot say… “innovate”, and snap your fingers and expect us to come up with something on the spot. It’ll only come in its own time.’

  ‘I understand. Still, it’d be great if you could strike a balance between charity work and business. I am really begging you, Pinto.’

  ‘Come on, you don’t have to do that, Imran. We’re friends. I’ll try my best.’

  Pinto wanted to work on some kind of consumer product this time. Lavanya noticed a sudden change in Pinto, ‘I am surprised that you have started taking interest in household chores. Are you planning to bring in a gori mem?’

  ‘What?’ asked Pinto, horrified at his wife’s insinuation that he had plans to add a white woman to his household.

  ‘Nothing,’ said Lavanya hurriedly, seeing that her joke hadn’t gone down well. ‘It’s just that you’ve of late started asking questions about who does the laundry, how often I run the dishwasher, why the taste of the food is not the same as what it was yesterday. What’s all this nonsense? You’re encroaching on my territory. You weren’t this inquisitive or interfering before.’

  Pinto’s fame was again making her feel neglected. She was not jealous of him but his constant questioning made her feel worthless. In the past, she had tried unconsciously to create obstacles in the smooth running of Pinto’s work. It was not because she resented his success, but because she wanted Pinto to spend less time on his inventions, and more on her.

  Pinto was no fool, he’d realized she was bored. He suggested a trip somewhere for a change of scene. Lavanya jumped at the idea. ‘Let’s go to Kovalam this time,’ she said at once. ‘I heard a stay there is very relaxing.’ Pinto promptly picked up the phone. ‘I’ll make the travel arrangements for both of you,’ he said grandly.

  ‘What? Are you not coming with us?’

  ‘I can’t. I need to work on something new. You heard what Imran said.’

  ‘You have time for everyone but for us!’ Lavanya was close to tears of disappointment.

  ‘I want to make some positive changes in the world.’

  ‘First, take care of your family and then, think about the rest of the world.’

  ‘I think I’m taking care of my family. But work is also my life. I cannot abandon my life.’

  She tried to understand his passion for invention, but kept insisting Pinto accompanied her and Harsha on a holiday away. Soon enough, their discussion led to a bitter quarrel.

  ‘Am I nothing to you? What about Harsha?’ asked Lavanya.

  ‘Those things are not related to what… ’

  Before Pinto could complete his sentence, Lavanya marched off to answer the door.

  It was the driver, Ramesh, reporting his arrival. Lavanya came back and started off again. ‘Look at Ramesh. He has no worries. The only thing he cares about is his salary on the first day of the month. He buys their monthly groceries on the same day, recharges his wife’s and his mobile phones, pays school fees for his kids, and gives a fixed amount to his wife for daily expenses on fresh milk and vegetables.’

  ‘Do you want to live like that? On a fixed amount for your monthly expenses?’

  ‘As long as it is a good amount,’ Lavanya said slyly.

  ‘What happens if Ramesh’s wife runs out of money in the middle of the month?’

  ‘Nothing. If the amount she’s been given finishes before the end of the month, he just doesn’t replenish it. His family has learnt how to live living within their means. That’s the secret of his happiness.’

  ‘It’s one way to live life, not the way.’

  ‘Look at you, Pinto. You are trying to revolutionize the world. And yet, neither do you enjoy life nor do you let others.’

  ‘Very well,’ sighed Pinto. ‘Let’s enjoy ourselves a little. Shall we go to the ice cream parlour?’

  On the drive, Lavanya pointed to a newly erected hoarding by the main road, ‘Look at that. “For Sale: Fully Automated Homes! By Kera Builders”. Can we automate our home as well?’

  ‘Do you even know what home automation is?’

  Lavanya shrugged, ‘I don’t, but it sounds sexy. Can you stop the car? Let me read the details.’

  Pinto drew to a stop.

  ‘“Living room curtains and two lights automated”,’ read out Lavanya. And you can control them through a mobile app. That sounds fantastic!’

  ‘Oh! So that’s what they call automation.’

  ‘Can you install something like that in our house?’ asked Lavanya eagerly.

  ‘Sure, why not?’

  Pinto didn’t want to make Lavanya angry again so he decided to look into home-automation seriously. After spending a week looking up details, he decided to tell Lavanya all about it, again at their favourite place, the balcony of their master bedroom.

  He asked Lavanya, ‘What do you want from automation?’

  ‘I think you already know,’ she said pertly. ‘As we saw in that hoarding, a couple of lights and some curtains need to be automated… may be a couple of fans as well.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s automation. That’s like a toy for adults. Nothing more than that.’

  ‘Ideally automation should be such that I don’t have to do anything,’ persisted Lavanya. ‘Everything should be scheduled using my mobile app, and I should be able to control everything from my couch in the living room. But that’s just a dream. So I’m just giving you my realistic requirements.’

  ‘Give me some time. I’ll try to do something better than that builder for you. First, I’ll make a list of common activities you and I engage in. And then I’ll automate them, one by one, as many as possible.’

  ‘Oh, good!’

  ‘Help me create a list of activities then.’

  ‘That’s easy. In the morning I like to wake up to daylight so it would be great if my curtains open by themselves before I get out of bed. We eat four times a day and both of us have different choices for food as well as for the music we listen to during breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. During the day, there is cooking, dishwashing, laundry, gardening and a lot of other stuff to do. Plus, you demand tea throughout the day. I wish I could automate all of that.’

  ‘You already have a lot of help so you don’t need automation,’ Pinto ribbed her. But he started on the job immediately.

  He found that a mobile app-based technology for controlling light switches, operating motors for moving curtains, playing music of your choice, recording favourite TV shows using a DVR and setting air-conditioning was easily available in the market. The app could also be connected to any kind of natural language voice-command based on applications such as Siri. Though not commonly done, all appliances such as the microwave, fridge and washing machine could also be controlled using a mobile app. Still, it solved just a part of home-automation. Lavanya wanted m
ore. Pinto thought harder.

  He shared his thoughts with Lavanya again, ‘I don’t understand the usefulness of an app-based washing machine. It expects that a person who has loaded all his clothes into it, together with detergent, but who forgets to switch it on before leaving for work, should be able to log onto to the machine from his office and start it. How could an even halfway-organized person forget to turn it on before leaving for work?’

  Lavanya smiled, ‘It’s just for show-offs but I like it. You think too much. Just do whatever you can. I’m not asking for an Aladdin’s lamp.’

  ‘I’m a lazy guy. Your type of automation doesn’t help me much. We need a more comprehensive solution.’

  ‘Are you doing it for me or for you?’

  ‘It’s for you but I envision using it more myself,’ said the irrepressible Pinto.’

  ‘It’d be easier if you spent your energy exploring Aladdin’s lamp rather than trying to re-invent it,’ Lavanya said, not to be outdone herself.

  ‘I still think I can do a much better job. I swear on my lazy instinct.’

  ‘Even if you are able to figure a really advanced automation system which can do everything, there will be a lot of problems,’ said the suddenly wise Lavanya. ‘People would become extremely lazy, obese, and their health would be badly affected.’

  ‘What rubbish! I’m not inventing a toxic drug.’

  ‘Let me tell you a story which I read in my childhood.’

  ‘Story from Lavanya! The sun also rises in the West!’

  ‘A big fat lady became very ill. Doctors told her all her vital signs were deteriorating, so she needed to reduce her calorie intake and lose weight. The lady was too fond of eating and couldn’t control her diet. The doctor talked to his scientist friend who built a battery-operated machine which was directly connected to her brain through her tongue.’

  ‘It’s not possible.’

  ‘Come on!’ Lavanya said irritatedly. ‘It’s just a story. And you don’t know everything. But if you don’t like my telling you a story, for once, I’ll stop.’