Chapter 13

Chapter 13

13 May.

Udyan Express was running late by six hours. Mr. Narang, Honorable Member of Parliament was snoring loud. His gunmen were playing cards. Finally a bald man yelled them to turn off the lights so they turned off the lights. Now they walked around restlessly in the coach because they were not allowed to sleep. Train stopped at a station and they all went out to drink tea. Kalu Yadav got his chance, he replaced MP’s water bottle with the one he has prepared. He went back and tried to sleep in vain.

His village station was on the main line but expresses trains did not stop there. All expresses trains stopped at a station fifty kilometers away so his village folks either took a bus or passenger train to backtrack. His stop was three hours away. He closed his curtains and imagined Rishi’s image in his mind and prayed.

Train was running faster than usual to make up the lost time. Luckily it ran. Kalu Yadav’s village was just few miles away. He remembered his dying nephews and wept. As train was nearing his village, mercury lights on the chimneys of Narang MP’s factory were visible. Kalu Yadav wept again. Suddenly train slowed down and a conductor came rushing.
He said to gunmen, “Wake up Honorable MP, train is making a special stop for him.”
A gunman woke him up and took the water bottle and drank it half. They packed his belongings. Train stopped but he was not in any rush, his gunmen went out with his luggage but he took time and wore his shoes and then he went to bathroom and finally he alighted.

Kalu Yadav too wanted to get down, he wanted to watch Narang MP and also, otherwise he had to backtrack there anyway. He had no luggage and as train moved he alighted on the opposite side of the platform, crossed the tracks and climbed on the north-bound platform. It was a pleasing predawn. He went to the southern end of that southbound platform and sat on the last bench.

Station had the information that MP was coming and a reception was arranged. Mr. Narang MP held the train for ten good minutes. Managers of his factory and the stationmaster welcomed him with garlands. A table was already set with tea and snacks. Narang felt his chest heavy and felt he was make an effort to breathe. His manager handed him a cup of tea and he sipped it and it made him worse, now he felt a heavy rock lay on his chest.

He paced on platform with teacup in his hand with his staff walking around him singing his praises. Lights of a southbound train were approaching nearer, stationmaster warned them to move away. He tried to move but difficulty in breathing was making him dizzy and he fell on the edge of the platform. Train was nearing the platform, everybody rushed to him in horror, they pulled him away, and train ran past him just one hair away. Everybody thanked God.

Kalu Yadav was looking at the train; something hit him on the cheek. It was not a rock, what was it. He touched his cheek and it was bleeding, but no pain or scratch, why is his cheek bleeding? He wiped his face with handkerchief and bleeding stopped. Train ran past and he saw skirmish in the MP’s reception committee.

Mr. Narang was unconscious. Four people lifted him on a bench and a stream of blood followed. In a moment they discovered his right hand was missing.
Stationmaster yelled, “Find the hand. Find the hand.”
They were running in frenzy to find the hand. One gunman has first aid training, he took out his shoelace and to stop the bleeding he tied the stump. Stationmaster ran to his office to check for the next southbound train, nearest hospital was in the town, in the south where express trains stopped.

Kalu Yadav saw the frenzy in reception committee. It took him a short time to realize that Mr. Narang MP has lost his hand and everybody was searching for it. Stationmaster declared that an express train has already past the previous station and is expected to pass in three minutes. He made the arrangements to stop that train. Now Kalu Yadav knew what hit his cheek. In his imagination he saw Rishi’s face but he was not smiling.
Kali Mai disliked my act and slapped me on the face.

He ran to the place where something hit him on the face, and started searching.

Another Train made an unscheduled stop for Mr. Narang MP and they had no choice but to transport him to the hospital in the big city. Train stopped for few seconds, Stationmaster requested driver to drive fast and train sped again.

Two dogs were fighting for something, Kalu Yadav walked to them they growled at him viciously. He hit a dog with a stone, they moved away. He found the hand, with a topaz ring on a finger; he put it in his pocket and ran to catch the train. He was lucky to catch the last door of the train, a locked door of the parcel bogie.

Train raced at above hundred-kilometer speed, Kalu Yadav struggled with violent winds and hung on the doorstep. Train reached on the big station in forty minutes. One ambulance was waiting on the platform and before Kalu Yadav could reach it, it sped off. He asked people about the destination of that ambulance but nobody knew to which hospital it has gone.
What do I do now?

He entered in Railway Police Station.
A man in khaki police uniform barked at him, “Why are you here?”
He pulled the severed hand from his pocket. “This hand belongs to Mr. Narang MP, whom the ambulance took to some hospital.”
Man in khaki vomited first then he called other people. Railway police and whole Railway station authorities started calling the hospitals.

News spread on the station that a short and dark colored man has a human hand and he is looking for the hospital where they took Narang MP. Every police station of the town was informed. All newspaper reporters in the town got this freaky news; they started arriving at the station one by one.

2

Mr. Narang Member of Parliament was conscious.
He was weeping like a small child. “Why didn’t I die instead of losing my right hand? Oh God why you saved me?”
A Handless man has no charisma. My carrier is over. My opponents will laugh at me. My cartoon will be easiest to spot, just make a man with missing right hand. My hand is gone forever. It is lying fifty kilometers away and probably dogs are eating it. Now I will never be a Union Minister of India.
He imagined dogs eating his hand.
Doctor was about to take him to surgery to close the wound.
“Doctor please give me some poison, I want to die.”

Suddenly a door opened violently.
A dark color man appeared with a polythene bag in his hand.
Police Head of the city entered in the room behind him followed by press reporters.
Dark man placed the bag on his bed.
Kalu Yadav turned and went out in silence.
Deputy Commissioner entered in the room that was already crowded with all high-ranking officials of the town and their bodyguards.
Police Head rushed to catch Kalu Yadav. “Wait.”
Police Head pulled Kalu Yadav’s hand and brought him back to room.
He said to Narang MP, “He caught the running train and hung on the last parcel door with your hand in his pocket.”
Narang smiled, “Thanks.”
Doctor picked up the polythene bag and moved Narang MP to the operation theater.

It was early morning and Kalu Yadav was an instant celebrity. He was very uneasy, he wanted to slip out silently because he was carrying a vast amount of cash on him but press reporters surrounded him.
“I hate Narang MP because he poisoned my family and village. My little nephews are dying, because of him.”
“Why you saved his hand.”
“Mother Kali asked me to do this.”
Everybody stared him in bewilderment, including Police head and Deputy Commissioner.
Kalu Yadav turned and walked away.

A gunman whispered in his ears, “One very important person wants to meet you. Follow me.”
Gunman led him to a very expansive looking car in the back of the hospital parking lot. Other gunmen prevented the media to follow Kalu Yadav. A man wearing very white cotton Jodhpurs was sitting in the back seat. His face looked familiar.
He gestured Kalu Yadav to sit in the car.
“Many very important people want to meet you. At this time they are running to Delhi Airport. Another plane is coming from Hyderabad.”
“Who are you?” Kalu Yadav asked.
“I am your deputy Chief Minister. I happened to be here.”
That’s why his face looked familiar.
He shook hands with Kalu Yadav. “It is a pleasure to meet you. Why you have blood on your shirt?”
“I put Narang MP’s hand in my front pocket.”
“Keep wearing this shirt because National Televisions want to see you as you are? Help us to assemble the coffin of Narang MP’s political career. I belong to his opposition party.”
“But I must go, my nephews are dying they have no money for treatment.”
“National Television will accompany you to your village. I will accompany you too, but you wait. We have a plan. Military Airport here is making arrangements for the landing of several civilian aircrafts. Elections are coming, you help us and we help you.”
Kalu Yadav smiled.
He was taken to a posh hotel. Three men including Deputy Chief Minister stayed around him like a shadow. Kalu Yadav was not allowed to take a bath but he was allowed to eat a hearty breakfast.

At noon Television crews started arriving, and Kalu Yadav was taken back to the hospital where a team of doctors has just reconnected Narang MP’s hand, luckily no bone was damaged, operation was successful. MP was still under sedation and was expected to awake at anytime.

From New Delhi, a high profile member of the opposition party and few other people arrived on the airport. They rushed to the hospital. Kalu Yadav was summoned in a van for additional makeup and rehearsal for the political drama.

High profile Members of the Ruling party were also assembling there, they too had a plan.

3

Sonny’s mother Sonali sensed Vinita was depressed she sent her to Alipore with a maid. Rishi, Hermit and Joshi went on a long walk on the seashore, when they returned they were surprised to see her.
She burst into tears upon seeing Rishi.
“You disappeared for two days.”
“But I went fishing.”
They laughed.

4

Danny called Don in Dubai.
“Big brother, our cartoons are on the front pages of newspapers. Everybody is laughing at us; our people and relatives are abandoning us. Police is not our friend anymore.”
“Yes I know it is bad, I watched it on the TV, it said Alibaba robbed fourth thieves. Our diamonds were auctioned in the Brussels.”
“Yes big brother, those were our diamonds.”
Don started weeping.
“Big brother, Mulchand called from Pattaya and then Omar called from Pattaya.”
“Danny, one is swine and other is vulture. Who knows, may be Rishi is also with them.” Don sobbed.
“Big brother, God brought us in a dog house,” Danny sobbed.
“Even worse Danny; even worse.”
“I am going to sign the documents to sell our home and get some money to leave the country. We are very unsafe here.”
“Go with God, even he abandoned us. We made so many alums to poor and needy.”

Danny ended the call and his son handed him cordless phone connected to land line.
“Papa, it is the devil Omar from the Thailand.”
Omar said in haunting slow voice, “Dannh-neee! Dayn-neee! Dayh-nnyee! Da-nnnnn-eeeeee..”
“Omar, please leave us to our misery.”
“Dannnnneee! Rishi wants to grill you alive. He wants to eat your sandwich.”
“Omar we don’t believe a word you say.”
“Daiee-neieee, remember you gave a two kilo RDX to Sonny.”
Danny was now curious, “Yes what about it.”
“Dann-neee! Daayye-neee! Sonny was acting on Rishi’s behalf.”
Ground slipped from Danny’s feet.
This cannot be a lie.
“Why he wanted the bomb?”
“Dayyneee! Didn’t I tell you that Rishi is hungry for your grilled sandwich?”
“We want to find Rishi?”
Omar laughed. “He too wants to find you; I gave him your address.”
Before Danny could say more, he heard an explosion and half of his house collapsed. Plaster from the roof fell on him. His son came to see if he was fine, two servants were also safe. They made their way out from the debris, dust and smoke. Bomb was planted in his imported Cherokee Jeep that was now lying in the form of mangled metal, at the place where kitchen used to be.

Danny called Dubai after two hours.
Bomb was planted in our jeep, luckily we are safe but our home is destroyed and our passports and documents are burning. Fire brigade deliberately showed up late. Buyer backed up from the deal.”
“Big brother, please wire us some money, you can borrow it from your friends.”
“Danny, I had few friends here, they too are laughing at me. I am very sick, I begged Abdul to take me to hospital instead he dismantled my split AC condenser and took the AC condenser to the hospital. Heat has made my conditioned worse.”
“Big Brother, Omar says Rishi has used the same bomb in our home that we gave to Sonny.”
“This Rishi is bleeding us dry.”

5

Vinita asked, “Rishi what happened to your hands.”
“I was in a lake and a dog held my hands by its mouth. It was a good dog.”
Hermit contradicted, “A dog was in the lake and Rishi sahib saved it by its mouth.”
“Then how it bit the other hand?”
They all laughed except Vinita who was crying and laughing at the same time.

Shiva served them breakfast and tea. It was not hot but sunlight was bright and oppressive. They sat on chairs, under a huge and dense Jackfruit tree. Cool breeze was flowing. Hermit anticipated Vinita wants to have a private conversation with Rishi so he asked Priest to have another walk.
Rishi asked Vinita, “How is Sunny doing.”
“He got operated and is still in the hospital. Roger’s both sisters and other relatives have arrived. I was an object of everybody’s curiosity so I escaped.”
“Good for you.”
“Roger asked me if I would sign a prenuptial agreement.”
Rishi laughed. “So you feel betrayed.”
“He, kind of made a request. He said he employs hundreds of thousand people and lawyers take advantage of all situations and ruin many businesses. It is for the sake of the integrity of his business.”
Rishi looked in the direction of ocean.
Vinita cracked her fingers. “Rishi, what do you say?”
“Vinita I don’t know what future brings to anybody,” said Rishi.
“I don’t mind signing any agreement but I feel hurt that he asked me this.”
Vinita was annoyed with his silence and this time she wanted a reply.
“What would you do if you were in my place?”
“A marriage is bound to break if we already have a provision.”
“If one has a prenuptial agreement in his mind, marriage is bound to break?” Vinita asked.
Rishi said, “Of-course.”
“So my marriage is bound to break?” Vinita asked.
“Mind is an ego, which always justifies and balances and weights.”
“I didn’t ask for the definition of the mind. I am getting married second time and this time I want my marriage to stay.”
“Roger is ego, you are ego. Marriage would stay if justifications, balances or weights are taken off from it.”
“It is not I who wants to justify the separation by paying a fixed amount of money, it is he”, She said, “I want this marriage to stay. What do I do?”
“As I said marriage would stay if justifications balances or weights are taken off from it.”
“Then what do I do?” Vinita asked in desperation.
“Let’s go to Alipore and find a cyber-café and I will make a counter prenuptial agreement.”

6

Narang MP came out of the anesthesia-induced coma and looked at his hand in bandage. His supporters crowded the hospital with banners made in short time. Local leaders, two Members of Legislative Assembly and the Mayor of the town they all belonged to his own party were there in his room. They were all looking for Kalu Yadav who just disappeared.

MP ordered, “I want to pray alone. Please bring me a picture of God Hanuman.”
Soon a framed picture of monkey god was arranged.
“Bring me some flowers, incenses stick and a copper pot with water. I don’t want tap water but mineral water.”
His wishes were again fulfilled and they left the room and he prayed.
He ordered them to come inside. I want to see the dark man who brought my hand, I want televisions cameras here too, and we will gain political mileage. I will give him a reward and a job to one member of his family. I want this news on National Televisions.
“Sir that dark man has disappeared. We are looking for him.”
“What! You fool! We missed a good publicity chance, go find him.”
A man rushed in the room he was breathless, “That blackie, he is coming.”

Man from Delhi shook hands with Kalu Yadav.
“Are you ready.”
“Yes, but…”
“But we have no time for but. Narang MP is awake and his people are looking for you. We are all ready.”
“I want to pray.”
“Oh my God, you want to pray now. What would we bring you, a temple?”
“Temple is in my heart. Leave me alone for few seconds.”
Man representing the leader of the opposition party gave him few seconds, but he was nervous. Each second was critical. Elections were coming next months and they had to finish Narang MP.
Kalu Yadav imagined Rishi’s smiling picture in his mind and prayed to Lord Krishna.
You are my charioteer.

Cameras were arranged in the private room of Narang MP. He was lying on the bed, a makeup man was working on his face and Kalu Yadav was brought in.
A man handed Kalu Yadav a slip of paper with ready-made dialogues.
MP ordered, “These are readymade-dialogues. Read this paper.”
“Please turn on the lights. I feel dark in here. I don’t have my reading glasses,” Kalu Yadav said.
Narang was annoyed, he barked, “Turn on all the lights.”
A man turned on all the lights in the room.
“Still I cannot read the papers. Please turn on these camera lights.”
Narang MP was very angry, “Tell cameraman to turn on these damn studio lights so he can READ.”
Cameraman turned on the lights and Kalu Yadav read the paper.
They had a little rehearsal and then TV crew was ordered to start the paid job.
MP said, “After you are done you must touch my feet and then leave facing the camera.”
A man with the camera crew said, “Ready, one two three. Action.” -- He clapped the clapperboard

Narang MP’s had glycerin-assisted tears. Mostly he spoke and Kalu Yadav listened. He thanked Kalu Yadav several times. Narang MP handed Kalu Yadav a bundle of one-lac rupee bills as reward. Only front and top bills were real, rest were blank cut papers obtained from a printing press. MP offered him a low class job in his factory. Kalu Yadav was only supposed to nod his head. Finally Kalu Yadav touched his feet and MP blessed him with his left hand.
Five retakes were taken and finally Narang MP was satisfied.
“I give you half hour to edit it and then show it to me.” He barked to hired television crew.
When camera crew left the room, Narang MP asked Kalu Yadav to return the bill bundle.
Kalu Yadav pretended that the bundle fell on the floor by accident. He picked up all white papers.
“You can take two real bills and go. I have to rest,” Narang MP said.
Kalu Yadav turned and left.
“Wait.” Kalu Yadav heard Rishi’s voice.
Kalu Yadav turned back.
“Please leave because I have very important things to do?” MP said.
Kalu Yadav imagined Rishi’s smiling face.
Lord Krishna the charioteer has turned my chariot.
“There is one thing I must discuss.” Kalu Yadav thundered to MP.
“I said I have to rest.” MP was annoyed.
“Hey you listen to me Narang MP. Two dogs were fighting to eat your hand but I brought it for you. I am regretting that I denied breakfast to the beloved animal of Mother Kali. Your factory killed my parents. My little nephews are dying a slow death in front of my family. You have poisoned our water. My half village is dead and rests of them are suffering. Take your two thousand rupee, I spit on your money, it has our blood on it.”
Kalu Yadav threw two thousand rupee on the floor.
Narang MP was very angry. He picked a glass flower vase from the table and threw it on Kalu Yadav, which hit him on the shoulder.
Narang MP screamed, “Throw this son of a bitch out. These small creeps live on our pieces and bark on us.”
MP’s man entered in the room and shoved him out of the room.
A hidden camera recorded everything in the bright light.


7

Narang MP had approved a three minutes video clip for the broadcast on National TV networks. They promised him that it would to telecast in two hours. He lay on the bed in anxiety, ten people were sitting around him, and hospital had to arrange chairs for honorable MP’s guests and media advisers of the National Ruling Party. His supporters were standing outside of the hospital with get-well banners and crowd was growing.
Mumbai Underworld inter-gang violence was the headline news of the day.
Narang MP said, “Soon my news will be the national headline news, gang war will be second next.”
Everybody in the room nodded in approval.
Narang MP was excited. He wanted publicity badly and luckily his hand incidence turned out a lucky one for him. This time he will become Union Minister in Central Government of India.

Finally his face was on the television screen.
--We have important news about Narang MP.
We will show it after the break. --

One of his men went out to the hospital entrance, and shouted MP’s supporters that the news is about to come, lots of people ran to hospital lobby where a TV was playing.
Whole town was glued to the TV because the news concerned them all. Narang was their MP.

After the break the news came. Everybody in the room froze with horror.

It was not the three minutes clip but ten minutes news. It showed the rehearsals, glycerin tears, and retakes.
--Hey you listen to me Narang MP. Two dogs were fighting to eat your hand but I brought it for you. I am regretting that I denied breakfast to the beloved animal of Mother Kali. Your factory killed my parents. My little nephews are dying a slow death in front of my family. You have poisoned our water. My half village is dead and rests of them are suffering. Take your two thousand rupee, I spit on your money, it has our blood on it. --
Then MP threw glass vase.
--Throw this son of a bitch out. These small creeps live on our pieces and bark on us. --
Kalu was pushed put.

Horror did not end there.
--Now we will take you to Narang’s factory and the town he has poisoned--
From a hovering helicopter, television was live broadcasting MP’s factory and the village it has poisoned.

All people in the room rose and walked away only his factory’s General Manager stayed.
Narang MP screamed, “This is unfair, this is gross injustice. This is a set up.”
After fifteen minutes his General Manager’s cell phone rang.
Manager said, “Yes.”
“What!”
He looked at Narang MP and said, “Our power grid is turned off and work in our factory has come to an end.”

His surgeon came. “People are throwing stones on our windows. Before they trash this hospital I order you to leave immediately. You can recover at home, get out of this hospital.”
Doctor pulled out IV line from MP’s left arm.

Kalu Yadav was watching the same TV channel in the hotel room with Deputy Chief Minister and other VIPs. They allowed him to take a bath now.
“You went beyond the instructions and did a superb job. You outperformed.”

In Delhi, National Leaders of the Opposition was also sitting with his best lieutenants and they too were looking at the breaking news. Video clip was already available to the public on a website. Media jumped over it like a vulture. It was already headline news on websites.
“We laid political carrier of Narang MP to rest. His constituency is ours.”
They laughed and clapped their hands.

8

As Kalu Yadav served the purpose of the opposition party they let him go. He walked out of hotel alone.
“Wait.”
By a jeep another man was standing with six gunmen.
Now Ruling party had a plan to counterbalance the sting operation of the opposition party.
“Prime Minister of India wants to talk to you.”
That man handed him a cell phone.
Kalu Yadav talked with the great man and then handed the cell phone to its owner.
“What do you say?”
“First I want to pray.”
“We will take you to any temple in India on an F-16 military fighter. Tell me where you want to pray.”
“Temple is in my heart, please leave me alone for a minute.”
“You got two minutes.”
He walked away.
Kalu Yadav closed his eyes and imagined Rishi’s picture. Rishi was smiling.
Oh Krishna, my charioteer! You brought me here.
He opened his eyes and shouted, “My answer is yes.”
“Congratulations! Hop in the jeep.”
“Who are you?”
That man laughed and his gunmen laughed.
Kalu Yadav had no time to visit his village; he was taken to a government guesthouse.

9

Rishi and Vinita reached Alipore and found a cyber-café near beach.
She checked her emails and he typed a document and obtained the printout.
She was curiosity. “Let me see it.”
“First let’s have lunch.”
They ate lunch in a restaurant.
“Let’s walk to beach,” said Rishi.
They walked to the marshy beach, lined with a strip of shady trees and mangroves; they sat under the shade of a tree.
A boy came with the thermos flask and disposable plastic cups, they bought the tea.
Rishi handed her the rough draft of the document he typed in the cyber café.
She read it and had a hearty laugh.
“Is this is a joke?”
“No.” Rishi shook his head.
“It only says that if Roger fails to bring me to Uttarkashi, for three weeks, each year then our marriage is a day to day contingency affair. I will walk out with just my suitcase that I am bringing from Uttarkashi. I refuse to accept even a penny.” Vinita said, “It is a basically one way oath.”
“No it is not a one way oath. Roger is a man of ego. This breaks his justification. He would never let you go for free so you will never leave.”
“So I won’t sign his side of prenuptial agreement but he signs mine.”
Rishi said, “No, you sign his side of prenuptial agreement without even reading that.”
“This only means that if I walk out I will be on the road.”
“Exactly. That is the Roger’s worse nightmare. He would never let you walk out because it is your term.”
“I am confused.”
“In the prenuptial agreement, Roger would offer you a specified amount of money upon the divorce, and your agreement would void his agreement.”
“But I will be on the road,” said she.
“If he a husband takes his wife to a quite place, marriage would never break. Think about it and I am going for a walk.”
He wanted to give her the time to meditate upon the situation.
Camel carts were taking tourists on a medieval fort situated on a rocky island situated in the tidal basin so he went there. High walls of the fort offered vast vies of ocean and the surroundings.
He returned after an hour and she greeted him cheerfully.
“I will sign this agreement. Thanks.”
“Now listen, catch him unattended. First you sign his agreement and then hand him your own oath.”
“I will sign his agreement and my oath in Uttarkashi, Mother Ganges will be my witness.”
They laughed.
She said, “Good enough and you didn’t take me to the fort.”
“Rush up because high tide is about to come, or we would be spending the night in the marsh.”
They visited fort, then they walked to the fishermen’s colony. Fishermen just arrived from the sea; they were unloading and dividing their catch.
Rishi found a piece of rusty black rubber pipe in the trash.
“Why you picked this stinky junk?” Vinita asked.
“Because I need this.”
She laughed. “Scavenger.”
Rishi coiled that pipe and tucked it in his pants, under his shirt. Vinita laughed again.
It was evening. They took an auto rickshaw back to the property.

Vinita went to bathroom to wash-up her face. Hermit was watching TV, Rishi sat with him.
“Rishi sahib, you triggered a gang war in Mumbai.”
Rishi laughed.
“Rishi sahib, our friend Kalu is also on the TV.”
“Tell me about it.”
“They are repeating this news after each half hour, sit here and watch.
Same news came again and there was another addition to it.
Prime Minister was addressing the nation.
--We are deeply shocked and ashamed at the acts and behavior of Narang MP. His is dismissed from Party Membership; this automatically cancels his ticket to contest elections from out side. Tomorrow morning I am going there to access the immense damage that Narang MP has caused to our environment. Villages will be relocated and everybody will be compensated. We have shut down his factory and frozen all assets. Police and environmental agencies have registered cases against him and he is absconding. We will bring him to justice. --
A reporter asked, “What are you going to do with this man Kalu Yadav.”
“We have offered Mr. Narang’s seat to him. He will contest election on our party ticket. He has already joined our party.”
“Jai-Ganga-Mai, Jai Kali Mai.” Hermit shouted.

They all walked on the beach.
Priest said, “Rishi sahib, you said mind is a thought.”
Rishi replied, “Joshi Ji, tell me about recent changes in your mind.”
“Well, I am lighter and more observant these days. Endless chattering of my mind is almost gone. Now the image forming mechanism is gone too.”
Hermit said, “Yes same has happened to me.”
“It has happened to you or is happening to you?”
“It is happening to me.” Replied Joshi.
“What you think about yourself,” Rishi turned to Priest.
“I love, hate, get angry.”
“Is anger a thought?”
“I think it happens biologically and then thought jumps in and perpetuates it.” Hermit replied.
“And how about love, hate or other emotions?”
“Yes that what I am seeing recently, we get a wave and then thought jumps in. Otherwise wave comes and leaves.”
“So you say that you are feeling lighter, or your mind is feeling lighter, because you have fewer thoughts.” Rishi said.
“Yes, mind is feeling light.” Priest replied and Hermit nodded in agreement.
Vinita was listening to all this and she said; “You said mind is feeling light because you have fewer thoughts. If you have no thought do you think the mind would be gone?”
“Rishi knows the answer.” Priest said.
“Questions may be useless or wrong. You may get the answer and then the mind works to verify it. Mind must discover itself.”
Vinita said, “Rishi you say that mind must discover the answer?”
“No, mind must discover its functionality, its network of thoughts.”

A seagull dived in the water, it took off with a small fish in its beak. It flew and the huge ball of red sun was in the background, Priest heard the flutter of its wings and saw the spray of water. He felt energy burst in his head and he sat down. His ears became a vessel to the sounds of environment, eyes were seeing everything around him, and nose smelled the smells of the environment. His skin too was feeling the air and vibrations. Watcher was gone and watching or a feeling of timelessness happened.
He had no idea for how long it went but thought interfered to define his experience, and he was back in the world of thoughts. He tried to recreate the experience but he failed in frustration because he had a vague remembrance. Mind ceased to record it.
He found Rishi. “I found it.”
“No you didn’t.”
Priest was puzzled. “So it was just my imagination?”
“It happened, because you were not there so you didn’t’ find it.”
Priest laughed.
“Rishi sahib, do you think it will happen again?”
“Do you want it to happen?”
Priest nodded.
“What exactly you want to happen?”
“Timelessness, thoughtlessness and desirelessness.”
“Then it won’t happen. Because desire it a though too.” Rishi replied.
Priest laughed again and said, “It was worth to take birth in this world. I got blessed.”
They assembled together and walked back to the property.

They cooked dinner together and had another long walk. Joshi went to sleep immediately because he went to bed early and he was an early riser.
Vinita, Rishi and Hermit sat on the deck.
“I am coming in a minute.” Rishi went inside.

Priest was not yet asleep; he heard a rustling quite close to him. Now something cold slowly, slowly drew itself over his bare leg. He felt horror of it running up his spine. He wanted to jump up and shake the creature off, but the slightest movement would have meant death, for the black snake appeared to be a cobra. He felt as if he must cry out with terror, but he kept himself motionless. Now the snake was crawling over his chest. He felt its weight and texture. As the snake crept off his body he ran out in the verandah to find Hermit the Snake PhD.
He was screaming, “Snake! Snake, there is a snake in my room. It crawled on my chest.”
Hermit raced to his room. Vinita too was shivering with fear.
As she saw Rishi coming to them, she screamed, “There is a snakes in Joshi Ji’s room. Oh! God.”
Priest was trembling with fear. “God saved my life today.”
Hermit came to them; he was waving a black rubber pipe in his hand.
“This was the snake.”
Priest screamed, “You fool this is a pipe this can’s crawl on my chest. Go catch the real snake.”
“This was the snake, look there is a thread tied to its end. Rishi sahib threw it on you, from the window.”
Priest was very confused but he finally realized the prank and he was embarrassed.
They all had a fit of laugher.
When they laughed enough Vinita said in anger, “Rishi never ever do this again. If you had done this to me, my heart would have failed.”
Priest said, “I almost died with the fear.”
Vinita said, “Now I know why you took this stinky pipe from the garbage dump. Scavenger!”
“Rishi Sahib, this kind of trick can never work on me,” he challenged.
“Gangagiri, we will see.” Rishi laughed.
Vinita, Joshi and Hermit whispered in each other’s ears and passed the punishment to Rishi.
Vinita said, “Rishi, tell us a juicy joke and if we all laugh, you are forgiven.”
Rishi started, “Sethi the coal man was walking on a deserted path in the dark of the night and four people assaulted him. Sethi fought like a tiger. He fought like anybody had ever fought. He kind of beat them all up real bad. After all they were four and with their broken bones and ribs, finally they subdued him. After thorough search they found only one half rupee coin in his pocket. Then one said to Sethi, brother Sethi if you had even one full rupee on yourself, we were dead meat. Why you went to all the extremes! Why did you do this to us? You beat four of us up so much for just half rupee! And we kept on fighting, we kept on tolerating because the way you were beating us, it seemed you are loaded with lots of stuff.
And Sethi replied…”
They all asked, “What did Sethi said to them?”
“I am thirsty,” Rishi said.
Vinita ran inside and came with a glass of water.
“That’s what I am getting at. They had tears in their eyes. They had broken bones. Sethi too was in bad shape. They asked why you beat us up so bad.”
“What did Sethi say?” Priest was desperate.
Shiva too joined them wanted to know about what did Sethi say.
“Sethi replied that it was not the matter of money. I didn’t want anybody know that I was walking with just half rupee in my pocket, now everybody knows. You ruined my reputation. That’s why I was fighting. If I had money on me I would have never fought. I would have said to you, take the money. That’s why I fought like a tiger.”
Initially they all had decided they will not laugh but they laughed for long time, especially Vinita.

10

Dr. William Rose Digitalis Junior MD FACS, (Certified by American Board of Thoracic Surgery & American Board of Surgery and Member of American Association for Thoracic Surgery, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Surgical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Fellow in the American College of Surgeons, International Society for Heart Transplantation, Society for Thoracic Surgeons and lot more.) walked in unannounced in his friend Abdullah’s place.
“What’s cooking Abdullah Khan?”
“Welcome! Dr. Bill, I made chicken biriyani for you.”
Don overheard Abdul.
He thundered in anger, “Abdul Fool! You know very well that I am a diabetic, Rice is not good for me.”
“My name is Abdullah Khan.” Abdullah yelled at Don, “You can call me Mr. Khan.”
Don calmed down. “Mr. Khan, What do I eat?”
“Your lentil soup in warming up in the microwave, the soup that your wife sent from Canada.”
“Doctor,” Abdullah asked doctor, “how you got into heart research.”
Abdulla asked this because he wanted to start his hermetic compressor research project.
“Abdullah Khan, that is the long story but I will tell you in brief. Some years ago, I married a nurse of mine and she started rerouting every penny of mine to her shopping. I kept telling her that every penny counts if multiplied enough times but she was a sump pump on my pocket. Then I wrote my own two hundred paged divorce petition and took it to court.”
Abdullah exclaimed, “Two hundred pages!”
“Yep, two hundred pages of details about my heart and how exactly she was messing around with it, supported by all clinical details, diagrams, pictures, tests, diagnostics and what not.”
“Did you win the case?”
“Judge had no medical literacy and I lost the case. I had to pay her alimony. But my petition was included as-it-is in medical journals and publications. I married three more time, lost three cases but three more research papers were born.”
Abdullah said, “Doctor I assure you that this time you don’t have to marry to create another research document.”
“No Sir! This time we two are looking for the Noble prize in medicine.”
“We will make it,” said Abdullah, “One day.”
Cardiac Surgeon said, “Abdullah, are you married?”
“No doc I am not.”
“Never marry,” Doctor suggested, “My four ex-wives were eating up all my money so I escaped from USA.”
“And I escaped from Pakistan, we have lot in common.”
“Ditto! May one ask why you escaped.” Doc said.
“Doc, I belong to a minority Muslim sect.”
“Oh! I see, you are a refugee.”
Abdullah nodded.
“Doc I will cook slow cooking kidney beans for you. It takes three days to cook it at slow fire.”
“Abdullah unfortunately in two days I am going to Canada for two weeks to presiding a conference there.”
“Doctor, wish I could join you but I don’t have Canadian visa”
“I reparied Canadian Prime Minister’s Mitral valves, he owes me a favor, I will talk to him.”
“Thank you doctor,” Abdullah said, I will serve us biriyani, I also made green mint chutney.”
Doctor said, “Excellent! Excellent!”

11

A dog barked and Rishi woke up, he found himself surrounded with many dwarf black men, he was not scared but surprised, he soon realized that he was sleeping in lawn and what he though black men were the shrubs and the shadows of the trees.
What happened, I was sleeping in the room and how come I came out.
Then he laughed. They conspired together and put his bed out while he was sleeping. Mosquitoes were biting him so he walked to the door and started banging it.
Shiva yelled, “Who is this at this time. Go away or I will call the police.”
“I am Rishi.”
“Why are you are out?”
“My bed is out too.”
Shiva helped him to move back his bed inside, he in a fit of laugher.
“This is unfair; they punished me with a joke. I will teach them a lesson tomorrow.”
“They said that joke was no-good,”
This time Rishi locked his room before going to sleep.

12

Doctor William Rose Digitalis MD FACS came to see his friend Abdullah Khan again, with a file folder in his armpit.
“I spoke with Canadian Premier, Tomorrow morning, Canada will give you political asylum”
Abdullah jumped with joy and Don also smiled after long time.
Doctor continued, “I spoke with Canadian Consul General, he asked me to do some formalities. I asked me to fax him your story tonight. He needs a story, some story that you escaped persecution or you were tortured in Pakistan. He said he must cover his ass.”
Abdullah’s face hung. “Where could I get a story this fast?”
“I have the story.” Cardiologist smiled.
Abdullah again jumped with joy.
Don said, “Doctor come inside, I will make you herbal tea.”
“Super! Excellent. By the way sir, today I saw a guy on TV,” Doctor said to Don, “his face resembles with yours, some Don in Mumbai. Somebody stole and donated his diamonds to Prime Minister of India. You are just like him but he is lot healthy. That is very funny.”
Don went to kitchen, to weep and to make three cups of tea.

Doctor read the title of his divorce petition, “Dr. William Rose Digitalis Junior MD FACS Versus Virginia Hurricane Johnson”
“Now Abdullah, we will make some changes in this petition,” Doctor said, “Abdullah Khan Versus State of Pakistan. You and I have lot in common and she and Pakistan too has lot in common.”
Abdullah clapped with joy.
“Only names, places and dates would be changed, everything else stays same,” Cardiologist said, “Pakistan has affected you heart badly. Canadian Consul General said he does not care what we write but he must do the formalities.”
Don came with his passport.
“Doctor you have three more petitions, give me another one. I will help Mr. Abdullah Khan to prepare his and my own.”
Doctor said, “But you are in the Paper Pulp business in British Columbia.”
“Doc, unfortunately deal didn’t go through. I need your help to get me political asylum in Canada because I also belong to minority sect in India. I too escaped religious persecution.”
Cardiologist looked at Abdullah. “What do you think?”
“He can go to Pakistan, he and Pakistan too has lot in common.”
“As you wish Abdullah. I am going to hospital, come to my home before dawn, we will fix this petition.”
Doctor left.
Abdullah said to Don, “I forget to tell you that, some body from Pakistan Embassy called, he is coming to meet you.”

Abdullah opened the door to answer the doorbell.
He led a group of five men to the Don, four wore police uniforms and one was civilian.
Captain of the Police party said to Don, “I am giving you half hour to pack up your stuff. You must leave our country.”
Don had an epilepsy seizure and Abdullah rushed to kitchen, there he opened the window and jumped out and ran away because he was wanted in Pakistan and since now he was serving Mumbai Don so he was wanted in India too.
They all assumed that Abdullah is gone to bring him water or some medicine but finally a policeman went to kitchen.
“He has absconded.”
Captain laughed, “We are not here to deport or arrest him.”
A shoe aid was lying on the table and one man in civilian dress inserted it in Don’s mouth.
Don was normal after ten minutes.
Captain of police barked, “Pack up your stuff because you are leaving.”
“I can’t leave please. India is my enemy. They will torture me.”
The man who was wearing civilian dress said, “India’s enemy is our friend. Welcome to Pakistan.”
“I am too week to travel, I cannot pack please give me few days. Where is Abdullah?”
“He has absconded.”
Pakistani said to Police captain, “I will pack up his stuff.”
He walked around and found three suitcases; he started gathering Don’s belongings.
He opened a drawer and saw a pile of papers and a Panama passport with Don’s picture on it. He packed all documents in a separate suitcase.”
“I need insulin shot, kit is in the medicine closed in the pantry.” Don said.
Pakistani gave him an insulin shot.
He said, “I have packed up your belongings using my own commonsense.”
“I have to pack some documents in the drawer in my bed room.”
“I have emptied those drawers in a separate suitcase and we have no time. We must catch the flight to Karachi otherwise Indian authorities are about to land in Dubai with extradition documentations. In that case you will be detained in the jail till a judge decides your fate. In any case you are unwanted in Dubai. Prime Minister of India is taking a personal interest in you.”
Captain of the police party was desperate.
“We are getting late. You must leave our country before midnight.”
Don walked with them in the waiting car.

13

Kalu Yadav was in government guesthouse. Prime Minister was to come in the morning so city was busy preparing for his visit. Kalu Yadav had to see him on the military airport and accompany him to his village on military helicopter. Prime Minister was to introduce him to media and that was the beginning of his political career. He was given a readymade speech and was not allowed to leave the guesthouse.
He was given two pairs of cotton jodhpurs and a barber groomed him. His family was sent food and gifts but they must stay in the village because now party was going to make Mr. Narang a monster.

A place in his village was already cleared so the Prime Minister’s helicopter could land and his home and village was being cleaned so PM could visit there for three minutes to sees his sick nephews.

Kalu Yadav had no time to sleep. He was standing behind a huge mirror and rehearsing the speech.
“Move your hands, show your anger. Twist your lips more.” A specialist said, “Your face lacks emotions.”
Kalu Yadav read his speech again.
“This is better, but still lacing the expression.”
“But I am doing my best.”
“Everybody calls me Master, I will read the same speech just look at me.”
Master read the speech. He thundered and wondered. He roared and shouted. He yelled and barked. He shook and waved his fists. He jumped and stomped. He paced and raced. He punched in the air and on the table. He cried and wept. He bellowed and mewed. He sang and danced. He shook his head and nodded.
Kalu Yadav was hypnotized.
Master asked. “How did I do?”
“I will vote for you.”
“Ex- ac-tly, Ex-ac-tly. That is the whole point. Now you do it.”
Kalu Yadav read the speech again. He thundered and wondered. He roared and shouted. He yelled and barked. He shook and waved the fists. He jumped and stomped. He paced and raced. He punched in the air and on the table. He cried and wept. He bellowed and mewed. He sang and danced. He shook his head and nodded.
“Not bad, not bad at all. Who wrote the speech you gave on the hidden camera.”
“Which speech? I never gave any speech in my life.” Kalu Yadav said.
The Master pulled a paper from his pocket.
He read the paper --Hey you listen to me Narang MP. Two dogs were fighting to eat your hand but I brought it for you. I am regretting that I denied breakfast to the beloved animal of Mother Kali. Your factory killed my parents. My little nephews are dying a slow death in front of my family. You have poisoned our water. My half village is dead and rests of them are suffering. Take your two thousand rupee, I spit on your money, it has our blood on it. --
Kalu Yadav said, “Yes that’s what I said to that bastard Narang MP?”
Master said. “I am a collector of speeches, I wrote it from TV. Who wrote it?”
“This came from my heart.” Kalu Yadav said.
Master looked at his face in amazement. “You! Son of a gun.”
“Then which dummy wrote this shit?” He waved the speech they were working on.
“I thought you wrote it.”
“Me! Are you kidding? I don’t write junk, I write quality stuff. Just tomorrow I sent a story to a magazine.”
Kalu Yadav said, “You write stories?”
“I wrote few of them but mostly I write poetry. I have some of my work with me here.”
He went to a room in the guesthouse and came back with a school bag and took out five thick notebooks.
“I have some of my best work here. I have more at home. You must read these. I will read some of my poems.”
He opened a thick book and started reading his long poem.
Kali interrupted him, “I think you were asking me who wrote this speech I am working on.”
“Oh Yeah! Oh Yeah! I forgot. So you didn’t write this shit.”
“Hell no. I was never a leader.”
“And I was never a poet. Two weeks ago I discovered that I am gifted and now I am looking for a publisher to print my works.” Master said.
“I have to prepare a speech.”
“Oh Yeah! Oh Yeah! I forgot. So you didn’t write this shit.”
“No.”
“Then write your own speech, you are gifted too. We will incorporate my poems in your speech. It will be a hit. People will sing your speech on the streets of India or may be in the world, my poems will get famous. We both are sons of guns.”
Kali wrote his own speech.
“Super! Super! Super!” Master said. Now let’s incorporate my poems in it.
Kali protested, “Well sir….”
Master opened a notebook selected many poems, they agreed and argued, fought and laughed, wrote and erased, torn papers and then rejoined them and finally a speech was ready. Both were beaming with happiness.
“Now let’s practice it. First I will give the speech and you will watch.”

Master read the speech. He thundered and wondered. He roared and shouted. He yelled and barked. He shook and waved the fists. He jumped and stomped. He paced and raced. He punched in the air and on the table. He cried and wept. He bellowed and mewed. He sang and danced. He shook his head and nodded.
Kalu Yadav was again hypnotized.

Now Kalu Yadav’s number came. He thundered and wondered. He roared and shouted. He yelled and barked. He shook and waved the fists. He jumped and stomped. He paced and raced. He punched in the air and on the table. He cried and wept. He bellowed and brayed. He sang and danced. He shook his head and nodded. He sat and rose. He rattled and battled. He stared and gazed.
Master was hypnotized.

“We are both sons of guns. Let me tell you one thing we both are horses of the long race.” Master declared and then he added, “I plus you -- one plus one makes eleven.”
“Now I must read you my poems.”
Wish Kalu Yadav had a choice.
First night Rishi rescued him from a monster. Second night Kali finished a monster.
Kalu Yadav has not slept for the last two nights. He looked at the poet
Please save my live. He imagined Rishi’s picture in his mind. Rishi was laughing.

Poet said, “I must go to toilet.” He picked up his notebook and rose.
He looked back, “Aren’t you coming, every second is valuable. You can stand outside while I read my poems.”
Kalu Yadav said, “No thanks. My ankle is paining.”
Master left for toilet but then changed his mind and returned, He tucked his pen in his front pocket and took his notebook.
“Why are you taking your notebook in the toilet,” Kalu asked.
“A poem has just born in my heart; I must write it otherwise it will lose its freshness.” He ran to toilet.
Kali called a police inspector, “Either this poet stays here or I.”
Kali was boiling with anger. Inspector had a good laugh.
Poet came with his notebook, “Here is my new poem, fresh as a baby.”
Inspector shouted, “There is a bomb in this building. Everybody must evacuate this place immediately.”
Master screamed, “My poems and my note books. My works.”
He ran and packed his bag in a rush and tossed it out from the window.
“My work is safe; even if I die my poems will live forever.”
He ran outside and police inspector locked the door. He was laughing.
Kali yelled, “Jai-Ganga-Mai.”
He went to sleep because he was looking forward to another long day.

End of chapter 13