Who is Ram Persad and what relationship does Balram form when him when they first meet?

Ram Persad is introduced once Balram comes to work for the Stork's household. He is a senior servant in the household of Mr. Ashok and Pinky Madam - specifically, the senior driver. When Balram joins the household, Persad has a lot of status over him, and seems to take pleasure in exerting the power associated with that status.