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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

The Kleptomaniac


The tempers were running high! Everyone was speaking animatedly, as the visibly agitated crowd in the office gathered around the table of Neha grew! She was sobbing, and looking blankly towards the crowd.
‘I had just left my mobile phone a few minutes ago on my table, and now I have been searching for almost half an hour ‘she blabbered in between sobs. ‘Who could have taken it’? She said.
The team of coworkers searched vainly for another half an hour with no sign of the mobile phone.
‘It is sad, these things are happening in the office’ lamented Arvind. ‘This is the third time this has happened in last two months’ he remarked.  
The office was cleared and despite the combing operation by team from HR and security, no clues could be found. Neha lodged an internal complaint and after about an hour, everyone was back on their seat.
Vikram was the Head of Facilities and was under fire over the spate of the robberies in the office and had evaded the police interference on the two earlier occasions but this time it appeared that the situation had gone out of hands. The internal security had been beefed up and the vigilance mounted to look for the offender.
Harsh Bhargava was the Head of HR and had just called Vikram to his cabin.
‘Damn it! What the hell is happening? He thundered as he stared at Vikram’.
‘Sir, just give me a day, I will try to have some answers by tomorrow morning’, he muttered meekly knowing that the management meant serious business and he had a tough assignment at hand.
‘Tomorrow morning, at 9 AM, come and brief me! I want answers’ Harsh raised his voice and shooed away Vikram.
Back in his room, Vikram tried to put his thoughts together and then walked up to Ganga Singh the Security Chief.  They both discussed for half an hour and then Ganga Singh, suggested that they review the video footage of two months. Next three hours they pored over the videos and could just see the regular office staff working, leaving for coffee, lunch, gossip but nothing unusual. It was almost 7 PM and they were still clueless when suddenly, Ganga Singh told Vikram to observe what was on one of the security monitor in the Control room.  They both held their breath and could not believe what they were seeing. In next fifteen minutes they had their answer.  Once more, they pored over the video footage after what they had seen, this time paying much more attention to details especially on the recordings of the two earlier days when the mobiles were stolen. They prepared the report and sent to Harsh in a crisp mail assuring of sharing details next morning.
Next morning, the office started as usual except at 11 AM there was a call for Shikha who worked as a Secretary to one of the Senior Manager in the organization. She was around 25 years old, always smartly attired and a very smooth talker. She was a favorite amongst colleagues for her jovial nature.
As she entered the cabin of her boss she was asked to sit and handed over a letter.  She opened the envelope and shook all over as she read that her services were terminated with immediate effect.  Her hands trembled, as her feet turned leaden.  She did not have the courage to lift her head as the world around her collapsed. The video footage had shown her putting the stolen mobile in her purse as she removed it from her s inner shirt while she was coming out of the lift all alone. She groggily walked out of the office and remembered her younger years when she had shoplifted several times and had never been caught! The kleptomaniac had finally met her Waterloo!  

PS : Image Kind courtesy Google


47 comments:

  1. Really interesting. Sometimes, some people just do it, even though they don't need the things they take away. It is just the kick that they get out of doing it, and as they become more experienced, they cannot control themselves.If they are smart and recognise this weakness, they would surely seek some medical and psychological help too.

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    1. Thanks Rama for describing the kleptomaniacs very eloquently!

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  2. Very thoughtful write up.
    Sometimes parents overlook these things- shop-lifting of their children, or bringing home all sorts of material from school. Children at a young age don't understand what their actions will cost them- if they like something, they want to possess it. Same builds up in magnitude as they grow up, not that they can't afford the items, just that their habits already turn into a personality trait.

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    1. True, Jemina some of these things can be handled if the symptoms are treated early in life! Thanks for liking!

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  3. Interesting story! I guess some people do such things compulsively!!

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    1. Exactly Shilpa, but those who are victims of their deeds do not really know what to do?

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  4. A very gripping narration...there is a saying in telugu which translates to "As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined"..something a person has as a child carries on as they grow up..

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    1. Thanks a lot, Latha for liking! A very apt saying:)

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  5. What a lovely narration Rahul, my cousin who runs a supermarket was saying that a minimum of 10 kids who visit his shop do it everyday and when the parents are told about it, they are in a denial and refuse to advise their kids, so he fixed a camera n started showing proof :-)

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    1. Yes those in business suffer heavily due to the deeds of such people! Early treatment can help but at a later stage this can result in alarming situations, Padmaja! Thanks for reading!

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  6. I loved the narration, the smooth flow of the story ... Shoplifting reminds me of Lindsey lohain.

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    1. Welcome to my blog, Rajlakshmi! I am happy you enjoyed the read! Yes, even well known icons are known to have such tendencies!

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  7. Thats a psychological disorder isnt it Rahul sir??? very gripping story line.
    And thats very scary too! you can never identify such people.

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    1. Agree Ramya that it is a disorder but can be treated early in life! True, it is a scary situation sometimes for the poor victims! Happy you liked:)

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  8. It is a pity that they are not discovered earlier and given proper help as they need proper psychological help. Well written
    www.thoughtsofpaps.com

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    1. That is right, Asamptha that those who can be diagnosed early can be treated for correcting the disorder! Thanks for liking:)

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  9. Interesting story Rahul. It was gripping from the begining to the end. Not once did my attention waver. I also know a kleptomaniac, atleast she was one in her childhood. No idea if she has got cured now.

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    1. Thank you, Rachna that you liked the narrative! Treated early, this is curable:)

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  10. Enjoyed reading this thriller, Rahulji! I remember reading about some famous people who suffered from this disease...we have to call it disease, I think, right? Very good narration!

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    1. Am happy you enjoyed the narrative, Sandhya! Quite a few famous people have also suffered from this!

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  11. Agree, a disorder which can lead to some disastrous consequences, Ashwini!

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  12. o wow! you have narrated so well :) I enjoyed reading it :)

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    1. Welcome to my blog, Radhika! Am happy you liked the post:)

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    2. :) :)
      You can join my blog too for more!
      http://radhikachawla.blogspot.in/
      Thankyou! :)

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    3. Sure Radhika, will read your blog for sure:)

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  13. You narrate this to an elder in your family and bang will come the answer that " SANSKAR" are important for kids.
    But,where do present day parents have time for their child?

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  14. Yes i agree with all--,very well narrated.Actually kleptomaniacs are not thievs-it is a psychological disorder.

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    1. Thanks a lot Induji! True they are not thieves but it is a disorder!

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  15. Interesting & well scripted. I had a kleptomaniac fellow student during my IIT days and he was stealing small things from time to time. Once he stole a magazine in Connaught Place from a foot path hawker and ran. The hawker ran after him caught him by the scruff of his neck and slapped him many times and retrieved his magazine ! This "kleptomaniac" later migrated to the US and did well for himself in the advertising line :)

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    1. Thanks a lot Rama! So you have come across one too:)

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  16. It's a psychological problem rt ? Poor folks they need counseling and help

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  17. Very riveting account Rahul and an unexpected suspect too, one would never expect that Kleptomaniacs integrate so well with society. Thanks for your kind words...Wishing you a warm and wonderful weekend!

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    1. Thanks Sam you enjoyed the read! They sure integrate well and it is difficult to make out that they exhibit such tendencies till they are caught! Have a great weekend!

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  18. The lesson to be learnt here is that anyone can be anything. This goes both ways, sometimes people are so good that you value them only when it is too late.

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  19. It's a clinical disorder. Human mind is a scary place and there's so much we take for granted.

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  20. Agree Purba, we do take so many things for granted:)

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  21. Very well penned down Sir.
    I guess , kleptomaniacs ..they can't help it,,,,but their close ones should try helping them by taking them to a counsellor or something.

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    1. Welcome to my blog Nikhil! Thanks for liking. It is difficult to make out who these people are till they get caught! Counselling, can help if detected early.

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