The Institute

Origin

What?!’
Fred exclaimed.
'Is that all there is to say on this issue?’

The whole members of the committee were looking astounded because they felt he was making a big deal of the whole matter. After all, this was the normal trend of past group leaders of the planning committee and everyone was okay with it.
And so it was that he took his seat, while the secretary of the committee rounded up the meeting, he sluggishly returned to his office amidst the sneering and mocking of his colleagues.

He thought deeply and wondered why the generation of this day and age chose to live on the normal precepts and principles of the world, why was he different from others, why did he think differently, why was it he who seemed to be the ‘black sheep’ of the whole lot?

All these ran through his mind as he dozed on his seat in his office only to be awoken by a chatter, he was now hearing voices outside his door; curious, he got up slowly, in a bid not to alarm the whisperers.

As he touched the door knob, something vibrated on his chest in the breast pocket of his jacket. Alarmed, the door opened to his family house where he was born, bred and brought up, while he was trying to understand how his office had translated to his hometown with all the scenery of the vast wastelands and waterfalls in the distance and mountaintops, he heard a familiar voice behind him; turning back, he saw a familiar face. A man with a striking appearance was now approaching him, while he was trying to put together the fact that this man’s appearance was a bit confusing, because the man was looking old but at the same time he was young, his apparel was glowing, he heard his name in the distance.

‘Fred……. Fred,
Opening his eyes to the real world, one of his colleagues and best friend, Paul was standing by his desk vigorously shaking him to wake him from the deep sleep he’d unknowingly plunged into which lasted for an hour.

'O boy, are you sleeping when the C.E.O just came in and is calling for an emergency meeting of all the staff?
Paul said.

Fred, already yawning and stretching himself hurriedly grabbed his suit which was hanging on the rack and ran behind his friend Paul who was already walking so fast ahead of him to the conference room. He got to the conference room just in time to meet the C.E.O taking his seat.
The C.E.O was a very chubby man, bearded with gray hair and totally bald, most people felt his name was funny for a man of his status and repute; someone once asked, ‘are you sure you know who your father is, it’s rare to find a man bearing-Julian Planck.

Paul was already seated amidst his colleagues and was beckoning on Fred to join them in the seat he’d reserved for him.

‘What’s the essence of this meeting now, I thought we just left a meeting not too long ago?’ Fred said amidst the second yawn.
‘How will you know what’s going on, when you’ll be sleeping on duty!’ Paul fired back.

‘The C.E.O got a very disturbing, or should I say an exciting news from one of his sons abroad and now wants to share that same news with the whole staff…….wait weren’t you present in the last meeting we held at one of the hotels on the island, where the C.E.O said his days in the company are numbered and that he’d be retiring soon?’
Paul asked.

‘Remember that was the period I went for my 3 months leave now in which I even had my retreat, I told you now!’ Fred replied.

‘And I also remember telling you………’ Paul tried to reply as he was interrupted by the hoarse voice of the C.E.O who was now addressing the staff of the company.

‘Morning people of excellence, I celebrate you all greatly for your laborious effort in making this institute one of reputable influence in the society today. I specially congratulate you all on the last accreditation of our institute with the NSIC (National Specialized Institutions Commission) which we were privileged to attain through consistent hard work and diligence.