Aproch (Approach) [1]   By Eyn-Alef   Translated by Iraj Bashiri Copyright, Iraj Bashiri, 2003

 

The walnut conference table, in modern style, stood in the middle of the room; its surface was covered with a dark pistachio color felt. The room was cooled by a gigantic air conditioner, which working continuously, played against the decorations of the large window behind the curtain. The clock on the wall indicated nine in the morning. The staff of the “Rapid Corporation” had gathered in the corner of the conference room.

 

Dr. Baruoi entered the room and, without wasting any time on greeting his staff, hurried to the head of the table. He placed his packet of wrinkle-free Winston cigarettes and his Bic lighter in front of him. With a finger, he pulled the crystal ashtray to himself and pressed the button to summon the custodian. Placing his right hand on the edge of the chair next to him, in a muted voice, he indicated to the staff that they could take their seats. Seventeen men, some of whom had worked for ten or twenty years in the  company, without observing any professional etiquette, plopped themselves on the seats. Mas'ud plopped himself in the chair to the right of the boss. His elbows rested on the table and a kingsize cigarette dangled from the corner of his lips. Dr. Baroui said:

 

-           Uh... uh... I intend to introduce into this company a kind of uh... intelekchualiti (intellectuality) that would create a degree of koordinaishen (coordination) among the staff. ... There is no doubt in my mind that if all of you think in rialistik (realistic) terms, that is to say, if you are somewhat of an upen maind (open mind), we can solve our prablems (problems) with great ease. Sudi, isn't that so?^[2]

Sudi drew the corner of his left eyebrow and his lip together and repeatedly nodded in approval.

The custodian brought a cup of hot water along with a can of Maxwell coffee, sugar, etc., and placed them in front of Dr. Baroui. The seventeen men looked alternately at the table and the ceiling and doodled lines on their pads, lines that resembled crabs and frogs.

-           Well, now. This estaf miting (staff meeting) is arranged for me to hear your sagjesshens (suggestions). Every keys (case) can have an altirnative (alternative). What we need to do is to find out which one is jastifaid (justified).... One way of handling the situation is for us to create a riporting sistem (reporting system) and assign a hairarki (hierarchy) so that everyone is an lain (on line). ... uh... Sudi, you recall last year, don't you? You remember how it was... I mean the koursai oh and em (O and M courses)...

-           Yes. ... Particularly from the manijment (management) and otoriti (authority) points of view.

-           No!... Yes!... uh... uh... uh... I mean in a way that egzekushen (execution) and supervizhen (supervision) go hand in hand.

Twenty-five minutes later.

-           Well, gentlemen, any objekshens (objections). Please outline openli (openly) any sagjesshens that you might have ...

A pall fell on the members and the meeting became extremely quiet. They felt like foreigners meeting in a strange land. In apprehension, they looked at Dr. Baroui and then at Rafi' al-Din. Rafi' al-Din's demeanor warmed their hearts and made them hopeful. Without uttering any words, they entreated him to make their case for them.

-           Doctor, May I speak, please. Rafi' al-Din said. I thank my colleagues who have honored me to represent them. Let me address the cooperation issue. During the past twenty years, we have been grappling with...

-           Sir. Please be birif (brief)... birif... We don't have a lot of time to waste.

It was as if a bucket of cold water have been poured over Rafi' al-Din... He felt confused and, for a moment, speechless. Then, recovering his composure, in a firm voice, said:

-           Dear Doctor,... In any event, during the last twenty years, the gentlemen present  here in this meeting have cooperated and created the best possible...

-           Pl-iz...pl-iz... Don't misunderstand me. I meant koordinaishen (coordination). The keys you are referring to is not relivant (relevant) here. When we say koordinaishen, we mean... uh...

Here Sudi came to his rescue:

-           A set aff rispansibiliti (a set of responsibilities).

Dr. Baroui nodded three times and continued:

-           Of course, this too, has different aspekts (aspects)...

Another half hour went by. The gigantic air conditioner continued to cool the room. The custodian brought a round of tea for all. Subsequent to that Rafi' al-Din, with his firm voice began to talk:

-           Dear Doctor, ... we understand you perfectly well. However,  the solutions that you propose have belfi'l  (Ar., in practical terms) been implemented.

-           Belfi'l?... what is that belfi'l?

-           It means, as I said, that using our experience over the years, and through our efforts, we have created a method that works for us. A method with good results. The method that you are proposing is likely to upset our system. It might result in low productivity and, potentially, in a huge loss.

Dr. Baroui interrupted Rafi' al-Din's speech:

-           No, Sir!... No,... No,... No,... pl-iz,... pl-iz... My aproch and your aproch are as different as they ever could be. What we are talking about ismuchual anderstanding (mutual understanding). I am not imprest (impressed) by your speech at all!

Dr. Baroui then looked at Mas'ud, communicating to him his sense of disappointment. Sudi sympathized a hundred percent with the Doctor. A deep sense of loss curled his lips.

Rafi' al-Din spoke on and on, drawing on his twenty-five years of service. But as he spoke, his eyes became increasingly vacant. As for the boss's eyes, they were with Rafi' al-Din while his ear listened to the whispers of Sudi. Eventually, tired and frustrated, he shouted:

-           Sir. I said our aproch are different. You think in very rijid (rigid) terms. Your words do not leave a good impereshen (impression). You are not an lain!... My rekamend (recommendation) to you is not to be so imoshenal (emotional)... Well, gentlemen, any other business?...

The boss's last statement cancelled all that Rafi' al-Din had said. Head of the gigantic Rapid Corporation, the thirty-one year-old Dr. Baroui was clean-shaven and smartly dressed.

The seventeen tired men pulled themselves up and prepared to leave the room. Their boss took to the phone to attend to the problems of the corporation.

The staff approached the door as a group. Rafi' al-Din was bringing up the rear. Before exiting, they all stepped back and made room for Rafi' al-Din to go through and exit first. They were satisfied that, if all has been lost, their sense of tradition, honor and respect had remained intact.

Rafi' al-Din left the room. His eyes were as vacant as the Loot Desert. His image of the future had turned into a nightmare in which a man's delicate shoes pressed on his shoulders.