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Mating time

D. Murali

MORNINGS are colder these days, and for early walkers like me the roads are more dangerous than ever with the canines ganging in twos and threes. But, greater peril awaited me today when I took refuge in a house fearing attack by noisy dogs that jumped f rom behind the bushes in a dark street.

``I know you are a CA,'' he said, welcoming me at the portico with a tea cup in hand.

``You, a costy?'' I asked tentatively because I knew there lived one on the street.

``True,'' he said, giving me half a cup of the beverage, saving cost in the process. ``Why not sit down.''

``Thanks,'' I declined. ``You know my president did not stay for the tea session after he signed the MoU.''

``Good you reminded me,'' he said, withdrawing the half-cup. ``Do you want to read today's Patrika?''

``I would not mind,'' I said. ``Using each other's library is one of the permitted activities.''

``Tell me when I could come to your place,'' he said, ``to read your collection of books and periodicals.''

``You could say `yes','' said a new voice emerging from behind the door. ``Nothing prevents you from saying a thousand things against us later.''

``You must be the secky!'' I said, noticing that he was furiously writing the minutes of our conversation.

``Costy and I have been getting along with each other well,'' the sec said. ``It is only the ICAI which has been complaining that the relationship with us has not been satisfactory.''

``I second that,'' Costy said. ``Your president has to sink the drivers, absorb the differences and look at the opportunity gain.''

``But you pressurised him!'' I shouted.

``No, we did not force him in to the act,'' the sec said defensively, with Costy nodding. ``It was all between consenting adults, if his age declaration was correct.''

``I think he sacrificed himself to protect the future presidents of the Institute from the group game,'' I said with remorse. ``Gulati is right, our profession is going to the dogs.''

``But see,'' they giggled, pointing to the bushes, ``they are happy!''