The Chronicles of Chatur Bahadur: Episode 3 - The Facilitation Fee
Episode 3: The Facilitation Fee
The government hydro project was moving slower than Chatur Bahadur liked. Permits, inspections, and bureaucratic delays were piling up like silt in a dam.
Chatur knew that a little assistance could accelerate the process — and he had the perfect line item to hide it.
“It’s not a bribe,” Chatur told himself as he drafted the ledger. “It’s facilitation.”
The Transaction
Chatur’s accountant was instructed to book the payment discreetly:
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Dr. Miscellaneous Expense – Project Facilitation 75,000
Cr. Cash Paid 75,000
On paper, it was a minor expense for “project facilitation.” In reality, the cash greased the right palms to clear approvals and inspections.
The Cover Story
Every payment had documentation. Every envelope had a receipt. Auditors would see miscellaneous project expense, nothing more.
Meanwhile, permits moved faster than the river currents. Hydro machinery that had been delayed for months was now being installed at record speed.
The Aftermath
The project was back on track, and the government officials smiled as if nothing unusual had happened. Chatur leaned back in his leather chair, lighting a cigar, and mused:
“In hydro, timing is everything. And sometimes, timing needs a little… encouragement.”