Chapter 16

Chapter 16

May 16

Master woke up Kalu Yadav at five AM. “You must listen to my Poem. It is just born.”
“A sucker is born.” Kalu Yadav said.
Master was deeply hurt; he had tears in his eyes.
“I said a succor is born.”
Light and smile reappeared on Master’s face.
Kalu Yadav left the cot and turned on the gas stove and started making tea and Master was reading his poems.
Doorbell rang.
A whole army of servants walked in, two cooks, two peons, two cleaning men, two gardeners, six were Kalu Yadav’s gunmen and four were Master’s. Another ten policemen occupied two security posts on both sides of house.
Kalu Yadav made thirty cups of tea.
Master said, “We only got four cups.”
They all took turns to drink tea from four cups.
Two more people showed up, they were his drivers.
“Sorry. No milk left for the tea but I will make you lemon tea.”
Kalu Yadav made tea again.
Now many people were hungry.
Kalu Yadav said in anger, “We have only four eggs. I am not making breakfast for everybody.”
Master looked at the state of their house affairs, a poem was taking a birth in his heart.
Kalu Yadav had to alter a speech to accommodate that poem.

2

In the same morning, night manager of hotel ‘Golden Star’ was brought to Police HQ. A well-known Neurosurgeon, Amnesia Specialist examined him and asked him about fifty questions. At 9AM addressed to a group of police officers.
Neurosurgeon pointed to Manoj Kumar. “Gentle this man is perfectly healthy but.”
“What but?” Head of the group asked.
“Well it is difficult to explain but an example could help you all in understanding the matter.” Neurosurgeon said, “I need two volunteers.”
Superintendent of Police pushed two men forward.
“Your names?”
One said, “Chamanlal Charlie.”
Other said, “Gopy Nath, MA.”
“Mr. Charlie.” Doctor said, “You woke up in the morning and arrived here.”
“Yes Doctor.”
“Tell us everything you did since you woke up today and Mr. Gopy Nath will write everything down on a paper.” Neurosurgeon added, “Each events in a new line.”
“I woke up in the morning, used toilet and brushed my teeth. Went to the kitchen, made a cup of tea. Watched the TV and then arrived at the police station.”
Surgeon said, “Now Mr. Goopy Nath please read the paper.”
“I woke up in the morning. Used toilet and brushed my teeth. Went to the kitchen. Made a cup of tea. Watched the TV. Arrived at the police station.”
“Yes read reverse. Last line first and first line last,” Surgeon ordered to Gopy Nath.
Gopy Nath read, “Arrived at the police station. Watched the TV. Made a cup of tea. Went to the kitchen. Used toilet and brushed my teeth. I woke up in the morning”
Everybody was laughing.
“Gentle men this is exactly what has happened to this young man.” Doctor clapped Manoj Kumar’s shoulder. “His recent past memory is chronologically reversed.”
Superintendent of Police said, “That is why his story begins where actually it should end. He begins his story with Inspector Daya Ram.”
“Exactly! Exactly!” Doctor replied.
Everybody in the room applauded. Doctor had to wait for five minutes when clapping stopped.
“Gentle men you must not confuse Mr. Manoj Kumar. You need a great patience. He will recreate the whole situation and then you reverse every incidence.”
Police was very happy. Everybody was smiling now.

3

Roger’s sisters and most of the relatives left early in the morning. Roger came home at sunrise accompanied by his CEO. Same evening they had to submerse Bishambar’s ashes in the Haridwar, in the Ganges. Then they had to reach Uttarkashi before dusk.

Roger’s Mumbai CEO saw Rishi and Hermit were sleeping on the grass in the lawn. He was about to pass them but Rishi saw him.
“Hey Sanjay, how are you?”
“I am fine,” CEO said, “so you are going back to Uttarkashi.”
“I am not going,” Rishi, declared, “I am busy here. I need your help.”
Sanjay felt shivering in his back.
“A melon falls on the knife or a knife falls on a melon, it is the same thing.” CEO said, “I have small children.”
“Three years ago I read in the Financial Times that you have just one boy.”
CEO laughed but then again instantly he was again worried.
“You mean, you will be staying in Mumbai?”
Rishi said, “Now cheer up I am leaving Mumbai with Roger.”
Colors returned on CEO’s face.
“But still I need a favor from you, another passenger will accompany us to Uttarkashi. Please make arrangements to bring him to airport.”
“May I ask why?”
“No.”
“I will ask Roger.”
“Do not ask him, tell him.”
CEO was not in the mood to argue so he walked away. He was very busy because he was to accompany them to Uttarkashi.
Roger was to meet Prime Minister there, he had already transferred a hefty sum of money to ruling party’s accounts and Prime Minister was to pay it back in the form of concessions. CEO was the in charge of the whole arrangements.

Roger’s Jet flew from Mumbai at 9am. Roger, his Mumbai CEO, Vinita, Bishambar’s widow, Sonny, his mother, Priest, Hermit and Rishi and Mahadev were the passengers. Sonny was upset to see Mahadev.
Roger called Rishi in his cabin, Sanjay was also there.
“What is this boat driver doing in my jet?”
“Ask him.” Rishi opened the door and called Mahadev.
Rishi said, “Mahadev tell Mr. Roger about why you are here.”
Rishi left the cabin and sat on the seat with Sonny’s mother.
Jennifer was on a chartered jet to Delhi and same aircraft was to bring her to Dehradoon Airport. She was expected to reach Uttarkashi at the same evening. A separate helicopter was booked for her.
They arrived in the Dehradoon at 11am.
Rishi and Hermit tried to slip away but Roger stopped them.
“You leave with us on choppers.”
“We will take the bus.”
“No you don’t”

Cars brought them to Haridwar at noon. They submersed Bishambar’s ashes with rituals, in the holy river.
They returned to Dehradoon and two helicopters brought them to Uttarkashi. Hira Singh was waiting for them with two SUV’s; he brought them to the terrace. They were mesmerized to see the scenery. Mountains in the east were of metallic green color in the orange sunlight. They all looked at the crashing silvery river and the green valley. Many birds were singing on a cluster of pine trees. Joshi the Priest went to his home.
CEO said to Rishi in amusement, “This is a beautiful place, why were you roaming in Mumbai.”
“Everybody is entitled to some vacation.”
CEO laughed.

Same evening, Jennifer arrived. Hira Singh, Rishi and Mahadev received her at the helipad.
She alighted from the aircraft. “Who is Elvis?”
Rishi pushed Hira Singh forward.
She hugged Hira Singh and Rishi placed her baggage on the back seat of the SUV.
“So Elvis how are you?”
Hira Singh said, “I me you go then up down here there yes no thank you tomorrow.”
She laughed.
They arrived at the terrace.
She was given a room in the same hotel. She hugged and kissed Vinita.”
Rishi, Mahadev and Hermit went to take a bath on the Ghat that was in the neglected state. They washed it clean. Then they took the bath.

Whole terrace was still rented by Roger. Vinita stayed in her previous room. Roger stayed in his same room where some of his belongings were still lying. Sonny took Rishi’s room. Sonali and Roger’s mother took the third room, and Roger’s Mumbai CEO occupied a room on the same floor were Rishi was staying. Mahadev also took Room next to Rishi.

Rishi, Mahadev and Hermit returned from Ghat and everybody burst in laugher because now they all knew Rishi fooled Jennifer. She asked for a room next to Rishi. She asked Rishi to take her to the Ghat and watched the Aartee performed by Gangagiri, then they went to Indravathi Bridge.

Hira Singh was very happy; Rishi was bringing him luck after luck, now Roger instructed him that he wants to rent the whole hotel. Hira Singh arranged a small liquor party on the terrace. Joshi also came back from his home.
All men except Sonny took a drink, Rishi asked Sonny to join them and handed him a glass. Jennifer too had a light drink and then jokingly she assembled everybody.
She asked Rishi, “Rishi, will you marry me?”
“Me am Rishi.” Hira Singh interrupted.
Roger yelled. “Its I who is getting married.”
There was a laugher and Sonny laughed after long time.
They had another drink.

4

Firebrand & nation’s new hero Kalu Yadav and his secretary Master the Firebrand-Poet, both had a tough day at the ruling party’s national HQ. They were now relaxing and drinking beer at their official residence.
Master said, “This beer had made my mind to run fast. Now eight poems have taken a birth.”
Kalu Yadav asked, “Concurrently or consecutively.”
“Both.”
“Tell me how?”
“Four took birth concurrently and then consecutively four another took birth concurrently.”
“Well I suggest you that you drink another beer and give birth to many poems, then at night you write all.”
“No I will write them now; they are already mixing up with each other. At night I will read them to you. Please excuse me, I am very busy right now.”
Kalu Yadav was busy too; he was standing in front of a mirror and practicing to dance his eyebrows.

A master plan was born in the head of Kalu Yadav.
Servants had shifted Kalu Yadav’s bedroom from pantry closet to master bedroom. Master arranged his library and belongings in the same bedroom.
Cook made dinner and servants served it. Master was writing poems.
It was the time for Kalu Yadav to execute the master plan.
He whispered in his servant’s ears, “I say, where you sleep?”
“We sleep in the servant quarters in the back.”
“I say, do not shout man, can you keep a secret?”
Servant whispered in his ears, “I like secrets.”
Kalu Yadav pointed to the small cot that came out of the pantry closet.
“I say you put this cot in your kitchen and I will sleep there.”
Servant was puzzled, “Sir why? Today I saw a big rat there. And there is no fan in the kitchen.”
“I have a fan and I am not scared of rats.”
“But why?”
“Don’t ask why, top secret party business.”
Servant said, “I will sleep in the kitchen and you can sleep on my bed.”

Leaders of the opposition party were watching another paid advertisement of Ruling Party. Kalu Yadav was roaring with heavy-duty facial expression, and this time his ears too were shaking like a dog.
Head of the opposition coalition remarked, “This man is very cunning.”
“He is theatrical.”

5

Manoj Kumar, Night manager of the hotel ‘Golden Star’ was ready to tell everything to police.

He read from a paper, “Two good but very poor gentlemen pushed me out of the burning hotel lobby and saved my life. Then Inspector Daya Ram came there to investigate the fire. Then I called Inspector Daya Ram because he left. I called him many times. I had a glassful of Johnny walker Scotch whisky and I got drunk. I went upstairs with a drink in my hand and heard glass break. I looked under the door and a man was picking up the diamonds and other was cleaning up the glass.”
Detective asked, “Then what happened.”
“I got drunk because I had a glassful of whisky.” Mr. Chubby replied.
“Who gave you the glass of whisky?”
“The same man who gave me the wet bills. He was in that room where glass broke and diamonds spilled.”
“Can you describe that man?”
“I was drunk at that time because he gave me a glass full of whisky.”
Detectives were back to the square one.
Chief Inspector counted one to three hundred to control his urge to beat up Manoj Kumar.

Manoj Kumar now distinctly knew that he gave room to two beggars but those same beggars saved his life. He withheld that information to police because he was not going to jeopardize the life of two good men. He was still in the confusion that if he got drunk before a beggar gave him a glass of whisky or after? As far as two beggars were concerned one thing was set on the stone that they saved his life but everything else concerned with them was never beyond reasonable doubt. This time he deliberately twisted the facts and confused the police again.

6

Inspector General of Police just arrived from Mumbai. As his flight landed he found his assistant Johnny Husker standing at the gate of aircraft.
“Thank god you have arrived here? We have a very bad news?”
“What!”
“Kalu Yadav is missing from his residence. His secretary informed the police.”
“That is too bad Johnny,” Police General said, “Johnny that is too bad.”
“Sir I smell a rat. Kalu Yadav has exposed Narang MP and I fear the worse.”
“Johnny. Life is not a flowerbed. Let’s run to the crime scene.”
“Yes sir. We have blocked all the roads so you can race at the crime scene.”

Kalu Yadav was snoring in the servant quarter. He was seeing a nightmare. He picked somebody’s pocket and was running from three Police Constables and two police dogs were about to close upon him.
He screamed and woke up and saw both dogs on his chest. He screamed again hysterically. A policeman pulled both both dogs back.
Suddenly Kalu Yadav came to reality.
Master had tears of joy and a poem was born in his heart and a speech was born in Kalu Yadav’s mind. They whispered into each other’s ears, two rivers met. Media people crowded them and in front of television cameras Kalu Yadav gave another speech and this time his ears were shaking and eyebrows were dancing too. This was a confluence of speech and poetry. A blockbuster historical event was born.

Leaders of the opposition party watched the whole event on the television. Kalu Yadav gave another theatrical speech and then Kalu Yadav’s secretary, his servants, his drivers, his butlers, his gardeners, his sweepers, his gunmen, his secretary, secretary’s gunmen, his secretary’s secretary they all said on the live television that he welcomed them in the morning and made them tea with his own hands. Then he had only four eggs in the home, and he made an omelet and everybody had a pinch of it. Then he washed all the cups and dishes.

Head of the opposition coalition remarked, “Cleverer than a fox.”
“I told you that it was a publicity stunt. I told you. I told you. Didn’t I?”
“Now he is a Messiah of poor.”
“What a cunning man, a meticulous planner.”
“What we thought a dog of a small area turned out a dinosaur.”

7

To Kalu Yadav a new worry was born.
Kalu Yadav and Master were together on the same bed, head with head and shoulder with shoulder. Conjunction of jasmine and coconut aroma gave birth to a new aroma.
A new poem was born too.
“Why you ran away from me?”
“I never ran away from you.” Kalu Yadav replied.
“They why you were sleeping in the servant quarter?”
“I guess I walked in my sleep.”
“My mother-in-law also walks in her sleep,” Master said, “She lives five homes away in the same street.”
“Where does she walk to?”
“She comes to our home and knocks our door at midnight but now my wife gave her our key.”
“That’s nice Master.”
“No that is not nice because her presence is hazardous to my poems. She is a dangerous person. Once she said, she will set my poems on fire.”
“You should think about some fireproof bank locker.”
“Yeah but they are too small,” Master said, “Now I must read you my new poems.”
Kalu Yadav imagined Rishi’s picture in his mind. Mother Kali, please help me.

He heard a dog howling in their neighborhood. This reminded him of his nightmare that he picked somebody’s pocket and was chased by police with dogs. Suddenly he remembered that he was a petty criminal and has a past, his chain of thoughts went to meeting with Rishi and Hermit.
“I must see the head of the party.”
“At this time?” Master asked.
“Yes at this time. It is now or never.”
“It is midnight?” Master protested.
“Look Master, I have a purpose in my life. My each and every bit of flash is dedicated to Mother Ganges and Goddess Kali. Mother has asked me to do a job.”
Another poem was born at midnight.

End of Chapter 16