Quite amazingly everyday after the lunch break the otherwise soundless office -room is filled with the laughter of my colleagues. The Indian cricket team lost how many cricketers in a single over, how the boss reacted when he was handed over the bulky envelop, what items were served. For dinner last night -all these topics take over the office work.

I am the oldest working staff in this office - the senior most only four years left for my retirement. I have served almost 29 years left in this years in this office and from my vast generation have turned lethargic. They found. It difficult to work. They enjoy wasting time relaxing in the office chair, gossiping about others, criticizing what others do. But the situation was quite different when I joined the office. All the employes, right from the Boss to the peon were dedicated to their works. They broke all relations with the outside worked and buried themselves into the office files right from the morning. But alas! The present generation. The clock hardly ticks 12-all my colleagues retire from their work as if an old diseased dog counting his days sleeping amidst a heap of ash.

"What ?"-the shrill voice of Dutta brought me back to the present world from my imaginations.

A young boy was standing in front of Dutta. He was clad in a very modest dress, wearing a sleeper that has not visited the cobbler for years.The boy again picked up some courage and asked Dutta about something. Dutta replied in his usual harsh tone. "Not today, meet me tomorrow morning," The boy seemed frustrated. Unwillingly and hestitatingly he left the office. Why had the boy come? This question troubled me that night. His lean and thin figure and helpless face came to my mind. His maintained back crossed hair, his half torn clothe depictes clearly that he is not from a well to do family.

The rough voice of Dutta also came to my mind. What a character he is! The same person turns very modest and polite in front of the Boss. With a mixed felling of grief and anger I fall asleep. My son, Dipu was busy in his studies in the next room.

I parked my bicycle in the parking standand entered the office room. Dhani was busy dusting the furniture. The boy who came yesterday, was sitting idly on a bench facing the entrance waiting patiently perhaps for Dutta. He eagerly looked at me. I moved towards my table.

"Sir, has the post for typist been filled up?"-he asked me politely.

"What is your name?" Iquestioned back.

"Bhabesh Deka." He replied.

He lived in a village about 150 KM from the city. He had applied for the post of typist in our office. From the last one month he has been visiting our office regularly enquiring about the post, with a hope to get the job.But till today, he has not been able to receive any reply from our side.

"You better contact Mahesh Kalita. He usually come to the office at 11 AM. You wait for him that bench."

Quite un-necessarily I talked to him so long. I realized that I have gathered some sympathy for him in some soft corner in my heart.I do not know wheather it was for his humble nature or for his innocent face. May be for his financial crisis.

With a woolen hand bag and declaring his presence in the office room with his hard and noisy shoe, Abala Gohain entered the office. Baruah, sitting next to me sneezed loudly. Mahesh Kalita was yet to arrive.

Hours passed by. Again it was the usual gossip hour of my colleagues.To my astonishment I saw Bhabesh Deka still waiting for Mahesh Kalita without any sign of disgust on his face.

Bhabesh was staring at Gohain, Baruah and others who were busy gossiping. With a bit of hesitetion, from time to time he was also looking at me. One while he was exchanging a look with me, I called him with a gesture.

'Sit here,' I showed him the hair facing me. He was staring at the calender hanging on the wall behind me.

"Mahesh Kalita has not arrived yet. I think he won't turn up today. You better come again after ten days. By then, I will ask him in details about the post." Having said this I stop expecting some reactions from him.

He replied something like 'O.K.' in a very low voice and was still sitting on the chair as if he was hesitating to tell me some thing .But was unable to disclose it me.

"Do you want to say something?" I made the situation comfortable for him.

"No sir, I doubt if I will get the job". He answered.

"How was your interview? What was your typing speed?"

"It was so-so.I could type around 45 words in a minute". He answered proudly.

"Well than, it is very good. I think you should get the job." I was so loud in praising him that Saikia, who was busy gossiping suddenly looked at me. Bhabesh said, "I will be blessed if I get the job. My family members are expecting much from it. Even if I can't save much from my earning atleast I would be able to help my brother complete his studies and arrange my sisters marriage in a respectable family".

I pitied Bhabesh who was getting emotional. The financial crisis of his family was clear to me. I could imagine his mother waiting for her son to some. His sister waiting for him clad in a discoloured torn mekhela and his brother perhaps waiting for him at the bus stop. They are anxious why Bhabesh has not return till now. As if just got up from my sleep I replied in a low voice, "Ok, you need not worry. I will ask Kalita in details about the post. You better contact me after a week".

After few days back Bhabesh came to our office with a hope that it will be possible to him to get the job. Just after entering the office he came to my table, stood behind me with a polite and obedient poster and asked me - "Excuse me sir. Will you please give me the information about the job on which we have discussed earlier......". I was unable to say anything. It was not possible to me to allude him that the job is already allotted to the son of Mahesh Kalitas brother. I can not say or disclose about the black episode of our department. Instead of this, I reply - "Bhabesh this profession is not for you, the man who has strength and zeal in his sprit, he should go and engaged himself in the fertile land. From which he can get golden hopes by exploiting the resources, what the environment and he has".