Chapter 3

Chapter 3

May 03

A cocktail of medicines and two glasses of white wine finally subdued Roger to sleep for three hours. Swissair flight arrived in Delhi at midnight. He was lucky to find no reception committee at the gate of aircraft. It was usual practice at Indian airports that people used bribe or influence and gain access to the passenger’s only area in Delhi’s. Line at immigration moved very slowly, finally his passport was stamped and he walked out at baggage control area. He was lucky because no body was there to bother him. He had nothing to declare and had minimum baggage so he walked to the lobby leading to airport exit. He exchanged three thousand dollars at a bank counter. At the gate he saw a suited man displaying his name on a cardboard but he ignored him and he got instantly mixed up with multitude. It was May and even at midnight it was warm. He thanked God for providing him luck, Seems like Indian financial media has not reacted to the news from Switzerland that he was arriving in India, news papers would be on the streets in few hours, then his office and other people will know that he is already in India, by the time they will look for him in Delhi he would be in the mountains. He took a prepaid taxi, it was a beaten up Suzuki car and he arrived in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. He was not even asked for any ID and he gave them a different name. He took a shower in his room and tried to sleep without success and waited for the day to begin.

At seven in the morning Roger walked to the hotel restaurant and had breakfast, then went to the travel agency kiosk where 4 travel agents were chatting with each other. He waved two fifty dollar bills and said that this money belongs to them if they could arrange him a fastest transportation to Uttarkashi. This sure started a commotion there. It was apparent that it would take some time for travel agency to make traveling arrangements. He had a haircut and neck message in the hotel saloon. As he sat in the lobby, travel agent came to him and told him, “sir there are no flights to Dehradoon; trains take five to six hours. We could arrange you an AC taxi and you would be in Dehradoon in five hours.”
“What about Dehradoon to Uttarkashi.”
“A helicopter could be arranged from Dehradoon to Uttarkashi at an unrealistic price.”
Roger replied, “Don’t worry about the price.”
Agent went back to his kiosk in bewilderment, he came back after ten minutes.
“Sir Helicopter would be coming from Bareilli and they are charging you from Bareilli to Uttarkashi for the round trip. Taxi could take you to Uttarkashi in another ten hours.”
“Book the damn helicopter”, he said.
Agent rushed back to his kiosk and dialed the helicopter company again and reappeared after five minutes.
“Helicopter would leave Bareilly in two hours from now. If you leave in few minutes, you taxi and Helicopter both would arrive at about same time at Dehradoon airport.”
Roger handed his credit card to agent. “Do it.”
Agent left happily, he already made hundred dollars and was going to make another hefty commission in the whole deal.

Roger waited for the taxi to arrive. Financial Times was lying on a table in the lobby. His picture was on the top page and the caption of the news said ‘Roger is in India’. They mentioned his new Canadian Venture’s stock rose for the second straight day. It was rumor that he is in the process of listing his new company at New York Stock Exchange. He laughed.

It was a white colored AC Ambassador Car; driver was a tall, fair colored good looking young Sardarjee (Sikh). They left immediately, after facing morning rush, they came out of Delhi and passed Gaziabad, now traffic was a bit smooth. Even in the morning May sun was relentless. He felt good to be in India, where he was born and brought up, he remembered his early life in India. Driver had some mental problem, he never tolerated anybody ahead of him, no matter who it was, a car, motorcycle, a police jeep or a motorcade of some political dignitary.
Sardarjee asked, “Do you want to eat Good Food or expansive food.”
“Good Food,” Roger replied with smile
“You want to have some fun.”
“Sure.”
A couple was going on a motorcycle ahead of them, husband was driving and wife was sitting behind. Sardarjee brought his car just few inches behind the motorcycle; in the noises of road both husband and wife were totally unaware of the car at such a dangerously close proxy.
“Now look,” Sardarjee said and pressed the horn.
Wife heard the horn and saw the car where she was even able to touch it. She screamed and husband jumped with fear, motorcycle shook violently and in a panic he drove the motorcycle out of road, in the dirt. Sardarjee was laughing and he too was unable to control his laugh.
Sardarjee said, “Today they will go to temple to thank God for saving their life.”
“Please never do it again, you may kill somebody.”
“Nobody died so far.”
“Please don’t do it again”
“OK, just once more.” They both laughed.
After passing Meerut bypass, Sardarjee again scared a couple on the scooter. Sardarjee had a good laugh but Roger didn’t like it. Sardarjee performed this trick on many bikers. For the joy of this act he had specially fitted his car with an extra loud horn.
Around Roorkeey Sardarjee stopped the taxi at a wayside Dhaba (restaurant). Roger mentioned his medical problem to Sardarjee, and he said he wants food with minimum oil and spices.
“Do not worry. I will cook your food by my own hands.”
”You seems to have a solution for all problem,” said Roger with a grin.
Sardarjee walked in the kitchen and hugged the chef who happened to be his friend. They both cooked his food.
Roger never ate such a tasty food in his life. He thanked Sardarjee and the chef.
As Roger pulled his valet, Sardarjee said, “Food is on me.”
“I insist.” Roger paid the bill, which was not even five dollars.
They passed through Haridwar, Har-Ki-Pauri and passed the ghats at Ganges, Roger had the temptation to take a bath there but he had to catch the helicopter. They arrived at the primitive Dehradoon airport around 2pm. But no helicopter was in sight. He walked in the airport building and a person said that a Helicopter would be arriving soon from Braille and they were making arrangements for its refueling. While he was trying to call Jennifer on his satellite phone, Sardarjee unloaded his suitcase from the taxi. His satellite phone was not working, probably mountains in the east were blocking the signal.
Roger requested to Sardarjee, “Would it be too much to ask if I could use your cell phone; I will reimburse you the charges.”
“Sure, but I have only two hundred rupee on my prepaid card.”
He dialed the number and woke up Jennifer.
She said, “So every body knows you are in India.”
“Yes but I escaped.”
“Good for you. Are you already in Uttarkashi?”
“Not yet.”
“Hey I have news for you, I found someone in Uttarkashi, who will take care of you”, said Jennifer.
“What!”
“She is a nice young lady, may be you would like her, I spoke to her in the morning.”
“Now they will all know that I will be in Uttarkashi. Why did you do it?”
“Nobody expect her would ever know about your presence in Uttarkashi.”
“Whatever, please don’t’ blow it up. I am waiting for a Helicopter and would be there in two or three hours.”
“Do they have an airport there.”
“Not that I know, but we would land some where.”
Prepaid money ran out and phone went dead..
Roger said to Sardarjee, “Hey buddy, I used up all of your phone time, hope you can recharge it.”
“No problem.”
Roger gave him two thousand rupee; his fare for the taxi was already paid to the agent.
Sardarjee said, “I think you misunderstood, I said two hundred rupee were on my SIM card, not two thousand rupee”
“Keep the change.”
Sardarjee gave him a big hug and drove off in the direction of Delhi.

2

It was a very pleasant morning in the mountains, roaring river was covered with fog. Hira Singh woke Rishi, he had a steaming cup of tea in his hand and a newspaper under his arm
“I apologize for my behavior last night.”
“Please shut up and don’t embarrass me, under your roof I feel I am at home.”
“It is your roof.”
“Go away, once a while let me feel that I am a tourist here, you may not charge me for room and food but at least I paid my bus fare to get here.”
“Ha, Ha, Ha,” laughed Hira Singh and went away.
After tea, Rishi tea packed a small backpack with soap, a loincloth and a small bottle of mustard oil. He left hotel to take a bath in the Indravathi River.

3

Vinita stayed awake till three AM in anxiety but then she fell to sleep, and woke up at seven in the morning.

She checked her cell phone repeatedly and luckily nobody called. She called her office and told them that she won’t be coming, they didn’t mind because everything was quiet. She intended to find Rishi in the as soon as possible, so she skipped tea and breakfast and walked fast to the footbridge, her eyes were on the signal strength symbol in her cell phone. She reached hotel and found Hira Singh in the reception.
“I am here to see Mr. Rishi”, She said.
Hira Singh looked at her from head to feet; she was pretty. He was curious about why a pretty lady came to ask for Rishi, is there an affair, or may be Rishi is in Uttarkashi to marry her or may be she is his relative. Any friend or relative of Rishi was his friend too.
Hira Singh said, “Sorry sister, you are late. He left about twenty minutes ago.”
“He left! Is he gone from Uttarkashi?” she was shocked.
Hira Singh laughed. “We won’t let him leave that easy sister, neither had he told me where he is going, he could be anywhere in the mountains,” Hira Singh continued, “I have a vague idea where he would be at this time.”
“Where and how do you know?”
He tapped his head and said, “I have this kidney here.”
She laughed.
He pointed his finger to a mountain. “Can you see a temple on that mountain?”
Vinita was not able to see any temple on that heavily forested mountain.
“That white thing?”
“No sister, much higher but just below the road.”
She saw a road but was not able to locate any temple; she gave up and said, “When would be he back?”
“He stays here; he must come here to sleep.”
He saw the sad face of the lady. May be she loves Rishi. She is pretty.
Suddenly room boy came on duty.
He whispered in Hira Singh’s ear, “This lady came last night to see Rishi but he came late.”
Vinita was nervous because signal strength was week there.
She said, “I must go. I may come again.”
“You came here for Rishi, please have a cup of tea at my home.” Hira Singh ordered room boy to bring his wife.
Hira Singh’s wife appeared.
“Kanchan, Our Rishi knows this lady, take her in the home and serve her breakfast.”
Vinita was getting more nervous and said, “Please, I don’t mind having breakfast with you, but I am waiting for a very important call and signal is week here, please excuse me and I will come again in the evening.”
Hira Singh’s wife took her hand with tender care and said, “Come on, you will find the best signal strength on the terrace. Rishi is our personal guest, he may not like that we let you go without breakfast.”
Kanchan led her to the stairs; they came on the terrace two floors above. She sat on a chair and Kanchan went to her home to bring her the breakfast. Breathtaking scenery and strong signal strength at her cell phone made her at ease. The road, which passed through the hotel entrance, made a hairpin bend and touched the hotel again on the terrace. One end of the terrace faced the river, and a low hall wall separated it from the road on its opposite side. Hotel had that wall for security reasons but no entrance was made there. Recently Hire Singh had built three adjoining rooms cum suites on the terrace. A large verandah was built in front of the rooms. So far those rooms were never used.
Kanchan came with a breakfast tray and sat with her. They ate breakfast and then room boy brought two cups of tea.
Both ladies started talking. Vinita asked Kanchan, “Who lives in those rooms.”
“So far nobody but next month they would fill up in the season.”
“Why you haven’t made any entrance from the road up there?”
“For the security reasons, otherwise guests may show up here but office is downstairs.”
“I see, that makes sense.”
Both ladies exchanged few pleasantries and Vinita left.

4

Uttarkashi town was spread on the both sides of river Ganges. Main town was on the left side if one faced towards Gangotri. Right side was the lesser part of the town called Joshiyara or the village of Joshi Pundits. Rishi’s hotel was in the Joshiyara. Just behind the hotel, the town ended abruptly, because one side was a steep mountain and other side was river Ganges so town had nowhere to go. Town ended and wilderness started. One has to go little further on the road and mountain gave way to another steep green valley where a bubbling small river Indravathi descended running to meet Ganges. Road passed over Indravathi on a truss bridge and then a branch road ascended to the small ancient temple where Rishi went the other day. Immediately after the bridge, steps lead to the Indravathi, which cascades into Ganges within two hundred yards. Just before the bridge a trail went to the villages situated high up in the Indravathi valley. Water of the Indravathi is always crystal clear and gentle cool; on the other hand water of Ganges is mostly gray colored and ice cold.

Rishi arrived at the Indravathi river bridge but he decided it was too early to take bath because it was still cool. He walked on the trail that led up in the Indravathi valley. After a steep climb trail passed through a very small village in the woods where many other trails crisscrossed each other, there was a tea shop serving village people who had a long and laborious walk waiting. On a teashop three people were drinking the tea and they were too willing to talk to him but he avoided any conversation because he wanted to be silent and also he knew that any conversation with him goes too far. At the edge of village, a little away from the shop there was a flat table shaped rock under a huge cottonwood tree. That Rock served as a bench to travelers, Rishi sat on the rock, a boy from the shop came with a glass of water. He asked the boy to bring a cup of tea with minimum sugar and a samosa. He had his tea and cold samosa and sat there.

Some children who were yet not of school age were playing there and he got totally absorbed in their play, Indravathi was flowing not too far away, and its noise and the noises from the village filled the space. A group of parrots were sitting on the tree; they always made a noise and then suddenly disappeared and reappeared. Time to time some lady came to fetch her kid for bath or food, kids were to be dragged to home but usually they came back running after a short while. Next to the tree, a narrow concrete lined water channel passed which fed to a small water mill where village folks took their wheat and oats for milling. Mill was still closed but water flowed, because the water also served as irrigation canal to the stepped paddy fields down the trail. Rishi sat at the edge of water canal with his hand hanging in the water; it was a very relaxing sensation. A citrus tree with huge mountain-lemons hanging on it was visible outside a home, he asked a kid if he can have a citrus, kid ran to a home and brought him a citrus; the lady of the home was courteous enough to cut it in four quarters, she also sent him some black-rock-salt on a piece of paper. This time he had a cup of black tea with lemon juice and black salt. All kids crowded him to see how he was able to drink black tea with citrus juice, he asked them if they want the tea they all were in accord and said yes. He bought a cup of black sweetened tea for all the kids and squeezed citrus juice in each cup. All children loved the tea. Now they were his little friends. These little friends had no long life history to share with him. His personality prompted people to dump their miserable story on his head.

At about eleven thirty he was about to walk back to the Indravathi river bridge, a kid appeared with a big pot filled with buttermilk. Kid’s young mother was smiling at some distance. He asked kids if they wanted to share it. Yes they all wanted to share it, but the mother intervened and yelled them that they drink it all the time; this time let uncle drink it. All kids were again in accord and uncle drank it up. His belly was full with buttermilk, a kid took away the pot and lady was very happy. He waved to the lady and walked back down to the trail in the direction of the confluence of Indravathi and Ganges..

It was noon and now day was warm, Rishi was on the trestle bridge across the Indravathi. Eleven kindergarten school children were taking bath in the clear and gentle cool water of the Indravathi. To break the flow and to deepen the river they obstructed the flow with small rocks to make a small pool. Water was flowing above their man made tiny dam, most kids were completely naked and their school bags and clothes were scattered over the rocky bank. When they saw a stranger approaching them all naked ones felt shame and jumped in the pool. Rishi smiled, it took a while for them to resume their playful bath. Rishi joined them in the pool, wearing only his loincloth. Pool was waist deep at the deepest point. He waded in the pool, children splashed water on him and he splashed it back. After ten minutes he felt cold and went to a huge plain sloping rock and lay over it, rock surface was warm with the sun and he felt therapeutic sensation. Then he started giving himself a massage with mustard oil, kids crowded him and they all shared his oil and all were having a massage. Naked kids were jumping around him as a troop of monkeys. Now they were all massaged each other, at one time he lay on his back on the warm rock and five kids were giving him a massage. After the message session was over, they all shared his soap to wash off the oil, till it was all spent and vanished. A kid asked if he has a one-rupee coin, he told kid to get it from his pant’s front pocket, which was lying, on a rock. Kids invented a new game. One of them tossed the coin in the pool and all kids jumped in it to search it. In ten minutes coin was lost in the bottom of the pool, they finally gave up the search. A boy appeared over the bridge and yelled to his small brother, all kids came out of the river and dried themselves in the sun, wore clothes and picked up their school bags and left making noises. It was three in the late noon and Rishi was very hungry. He thought of going to hotel or market for lunch but instead walked on the road to the temple on the mountain. Rishi spread his loincloth on a bush and stayed there till it dried.

When Rishi arrived at temple, he was panting, he found Priest sitting on a rock by the temple steps. They saw each other and smiled. Rishi knew that he was waiting for him. He sat with him to draw breadth.
“I knew you would be coming today,” Priest said.
“Did you watch me coming up?”
“Yes but I knew that you will come. Ganga Mai told me.”
Rishi smiled, he walked to the concrete platform and sat cross-legged, facing the valley.
“I brought your lunch too,” Priest paused and stood there thinking.
“We may be poor but we are Brahmin, you can eat the food I brought if you want.”
“Didn’t I eat your food the day yesterday?”
Priest went to his room and heated up lunch.
Lunch was simple; both ate it in silence at the platform.
Rishi took out a lemon from his pocket and handed it to Priest.
Rishi said, “Please make a black tea.”
“Black Tea! But I brought milk too.”
“You can try a new thing.” Rishi said.
Priest was happy instantly, “Black tea, No milk?”, Priest said, “Count me in, I too will drink it your way,” Priest went to his small room.
Rishi resumed his reclining position He was absorbed in the scene of the valley till Priest interrupted and handed him a cup of black tea and half cut lemon. Rishi squeezed his half lemon in his tea and Priest followed his example and did the same. Mint was growing next to the water tap and Rishi went and brought two twigs and put one in each cup. They both sat cross-legged on the platform facing the valley.
“I never ever had such a taste tea, it is miracle.”
“A cup of tea and the valley and Ganga Mai, bliss.”
Priest said, “Last time you visited, I talked with you incessantly and didn’t give you a chane to say anything.”
Rishi didn’t say anything but gazed at the valley.
Priest was waiting for Rishi to say something but Rishi stayed silence.
“You know, I felt bad that I held you for long time and ruined your day yesterday.”
Rishi knew where the conversation would lead and understood the depth of situation but stayed quiet; he was amused by the seriousness of Priest’s mind. Rishi was not a serious person.
Priest was waiting for the reply that came after three minutes.
“Your day was not ruined.” then after a pause he added, “Nor mine.” Reply lacked seriousness, it was a very vague one and Rishi was still gazing into the valley.
Priest was astounded to hear this because this just came to his own mind that the other day was the best day of his life. He still revered his Guru who put him through severe mental and physical torment and agony for his quest to Nirvana. Priest gave three precious years of his youth to that holy man and served him with heart, had slept four hours each day. Six years have passed but Priest still carried those wounds in his heart, wounds of hardship, pain and failure. He still did not know why his Guru condemned him and told him that Nirvana was not for him because he was week. Presence of this stranger was giving him peace and his Guru was never able to do this, on the contrary that holy man always interpreted his thoughts wrong. Then Priest asked himself why he is comparing this stranger to his Guru who is a famous holy man and holiness of this stranger was questionable because yesterday or even today he didn’t even go inside the temple to pray.

Both stayed quiet, Rishi was still in his favorite reclining position and Priest sat cross-legged behind him. Rishi was absorbed in the serenity of valley and the sounds of nature but Priest’s mind was busy in thoughts.
Few minutes passed and Rishi said with compassion, “Go, have a walk, return after half hour.”
Priest almost asked him why but controlled himself and went out and walked to the steps towards the road above. He went to the road and stopped for a while at forest check post because all guards respected him, then took the road in to direction of the Inderavathi valley.

Rishi told Priest to go because the disturbed mind of the Priest was interrupting the joy of just being with nature. His friends believed that he was able to read thoughts but he never tried to read people’s thoughts but always acted upon his instincts and feelings.

Priest came back after about forty minutes, he was calm now, and there were four men in the temple waiting for him. Two men were there to consult him regarding his astrological advice, but he politely told them to see him some other time and attended two worshipers. Soon temple was empty again. Now Rishi was lying on the platform using a piece of wood as pillow. His eyes were closed but it was evident that he was not sleeping. Priest sat next to him.
After a moment of silence he asked abruptly, “What do you do for living.”
“I am an engineer”
“You ever followed a Guru.”
“No.”
“I have a Guru.”
“Yes, you told me.”
“He said I am week and he sent me back to home.”
“Yes, you told me this too.”
Priest asked – he was very angry - , “Why he sent me back to home?”
“Look my friend, you should thank him. He did you a big favor otherwise you never had guts to leave him. If he had not kicked your ass you would be still following him like a puppy and ruining your life.”
Priest felt a rock hit him in the head; tears started felling from his eyes but suddenly his mind calm.
Priest wanted to say something but Rishi said, “I got to take bath, do you mind if I take bath here at the tap”.
“I can warm up the water on the wood stove”, Priest said.
“Thanks, that is not necessary. I will be joy to take bath under the tap.” He took out his loincloth from his backpack and sat under the water tap, water was cold but gently.
Priest sat on a ledge and watched him bathing.
Priest though Rishi may feel cold after the bath so he went to his room and made milk tea and they sipped it in silence while sitting cross-legged facing the valley.
Priest took away both cups to wash and came back. Now Rishi was again in his reclining position but facing the temple. Priest sat in front of him.
Priest said, “You said, I had no guts to leave him.”
Rishi looked at Priest’s face for a moment then and looked back at a crow that was cawing for long time and each time it had a different kind of sound.
Priest said after a long pause, “Today I realized that really I had no guts to leave him.”
Nobody said anything for few minutes.
Then Priest said, “Today is the first day I am not angry at my Guru because I was fool, he is what he is but I am fool.”

5

It was midnight in New York, Roger’s elder brother Bishambar called Roger’s executive secretary Jennifer and woke her up in the middle of the night.
Bishambar barked, “Look I am the brother of Roger and you know very well where he is. All is want to know where he is? And what is he up to?”
“Sir, I am not in the position to tell you anything, he is on a personal visit, that’s all I can tell you. I can not argue with you about the fact that he is in India, news papers already printed it.”
“But he is my brother; I have a right to know where he is and if he is safe.”
“Sir It is my job to honor Roger’s instructions, Now please excuse me, I got to go back to sleep because tomorrow lies another hectic day and I have to run the office in his absence.” and line went dead.
“A lousy bitch”, Bishambar yelled in anger.


Seven Chief Executive Officers each belonging to one of Roger’s installation in India were sitting in a board room in Mumbai. Roger’s brother Bishambar was presiding the meeting.
“Where did he go from IGI airport, we know he arrived, we know he was to go to hotel Le Meridian but he didn’t go there.” Bishambar said.
None of the seven executives liked Bishambar but they had no choice he was on the board of each company, he called them for am emergency meeting, each ran to Airport and caught the first flight to Mumbai, and arrived there at noon. “Gentlemen please excuse me”, he said and walked to the lobby and away from everybody’s sight.
He dialed Jennifer again on his cell phone. “Look Jennifer, I am his brother and his mother is also worried, please consider this a personal call, just tell me where he is. I want to see my dear brother.”
“Sir, if he wishes to see you he would call you. This is an information age.”
“I know that you know where he is, and it is not fair. But you are running his office and he is not available so I have to discuss a small business matter with you.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Who is the underwriter for his Canadian IPO? I heard it would be launched at NYSE,” Bishambar said in a very sweet voice.
“Sir this question is out of my scope.”
Line went dead again.
“Bitch, doesn’t she know that this is information age, like I can’t find the information.”
Bishambar got very angry and felt his chest thumping and a numb feeling in his left arm. He took a Nitro tablet from his pocket and placed it under his tongue. Just two months ago he had a heart attack.
He returned to the board room and took the president’s seat.
He looked at a young man who was the CEO of Roger’s Delhi operations. “Kuldeep, Roger considers you his best friend. Didn’t he call you this time?”
“No sir, I think he wants to have a private visit and we should honor his wish.”
All six CEO agreed with Kuldeep, they all nodded.
Bishambar muttered to himself, “This son of bitch knows where he is but won’t tell me either.”
A young CEO from Calcutta said, “Sir, I have an important meeting with Bank at four and have to catch the flight, I must leave.” He rose and stepped out..
This made Bishambar angrier. I will take care of this bastard later on. He will be on the road.
Then Kuldeep said, “Sir, I will let you now if he contacts me or he may walk into my office to give me a surprise like he did it the last time.” Kuldeep too walked to the door.
“Did he walked into your office and surprised you?” Bishambar said.
“Yes sir, I better stay in Delhi, just in case he walks to say hello”. Kuldeep walked out to catch the next flight to Delhi.
Soon they all left.

Bishambar was now alone and his heart was pounding, this time even nitro was not effective. He pressed a button and asked for a cup of coffee.
With a brother like Roger, who wants enemy.
He rested his elbows on the table and hid his face in his hands. He lost most of his money recently. A director of many companies was dead broke. He wanted to find his brother to beg more money. Three days ago he was about to ask but then his son raped a female employ and she went to police.
We provide food on the table of our employees and the bitch betrayed us. It was just a rape, a physical act. We offered her money but she wanted revenge. Now that bitch is on the flight on inter-company transfer visa to work in USA.
He had to call Roger who took over and resolved the matter, bitch won but he was too ashamed to ask his brother for another favor. His son made illegal betting on Cricket Matches and lost a big amount of money, and now Mumbai underworld wanted him to pay the money in ten days or they face execution.
Roger has good luck and but my luck is bad. He was never a genius but his good stars are helping him.
He laughed sarcastically.
Roger handed me a controlling stake in all of his Indian operations to put me on the board. Do I have any real power? I am just a rubber stamp. His handpicked suspicious CEOs dance on his fingers and never ask me for advice. My good ideas always went waste.
Bishambar always dreamed of buying more shares to secure his proxy but stock was always high and he expected stock to dip. Stock market went high and low but stocks of Roger’s companies were rising steadily. Income was rising and newer deals were made. He made money too but all was gone because of his bad judgments. He tried to take over other companies with his own money just to show Roger that he is a player too but everything went wrong. Wish he bought the stock of his own companies. Now he has to find money or sell his stake in public and lose the director’s position, which brought him a fat salary too. Two days ago he sold their family home where they grew up, he never consulted Roger about it, but he had to do it. He tried to steal money from companies but Roger’s efficient system of accounting uncovered it and he had to apologize to Roger. His mother took his side because she lived with him. Two months ago he had heart attack because he was in the tremendous stress and was about to lose his proxy vote at annual general meeting of Roger’s companies in Mumbai. His mother called Roger who made arrangements and pledged more stock to him and rescued his stake.

If only I could see Roger personally. I would pretend that I am sorry, he always gave me money but only to save his own face, and would give me this time too, I will return every penny of his. Astrologers told me my luck would turn around in few more months.
Seems like Roger is onto some secret mission to make more money and is not involving him. That is why he is hiding somewhere in India.
Suddenly Bishambar had an idea; he dialed a number of a private detective whom he used before for several of his shabby works.

6

Kuldeep went to the airport and caught the next flight to Delhi. Bishambar tricked him and others to make this useless visit to Mumbai. He always disliked Bishambar.

He was Roger’s personal friend from his college days in United States. He was always responsible to clean all the messes Bishambar always made. Kuldeep had a hint that Roger may be in Uttarkashi. Roger had right to be anywhere because he too was a free citizen. Three days ago Jennifer called him and asked him if they have any presence in Uttranchal state especially around Uttarkashi. She mentioned to keep the whole thing confidential. His company had no presence in the Uttarkashi. He discovered, Roger’s Mumbai Company that was a Bishambar’s headquarter too had a unit stationed on the Tehri hydroelectric dam project and one office was in Uttarkashi. Bishambar’s son Sonny who was not even a college graduate had an executive position in that company. Somehow he managed to obtain the list of all the employs and their phone numbers in Uttarkashi and Tehri area, and emailed it to Jennifer who again remained him the confidentiality of the situation.

Kuldeep met Roger in United States where Roger was doing his Masters in Mechanical Engineering and he was doing Masters in Electronics. One day Roger walked in his electronics lab, with a dirty looking automobile alternator in his hand. He said he had a part-time job in a small factory which rebuilds auto-electric parts but their most of refurbished alternators are coming back because of some hidden electrical problem which they were not able to figure out. Company was losing money and was about to shut the unit. Kuldeep and Roger became friends at the same day. At evening Kuldeep worked with Roger in the electronics laboratory but was not able to figure out the problem then they involved a friend from the Electrical lab. One of their lecturers also took interest in the alternator and Roger brought more returned pieces of alternators and some new refurbished pieces, soon other students too were working on the puzzle. Finally they uncovered the problem. Heat and metal dust was shortening a diode. Students suggested Roger the remedy. From that day rarely any alternator was returned for the same problem. Later on Roger brought more electronic puzzles to Kuldeep and his friends, and they became best friends.

In those days Roger was facing financial problems and was working more and studying little. His family was unable to send him money and he had to work illegally. He completed his masters, his grades were not so good, and he was finding it difficult to obtain a job. He was still working for the same small auto unit; its owner was happy with him but was unable to hire him as an Engineer. The owner wanted to open another factory and he proposed Roger to run that factory and made him a working partner. Roger hired himself as Engineer and finally became permanent resident of United States. With the help of Kuldeep and other students he designed innovative circuitry for electrical-auto-parts. He sent Kuldeep to India to get those parts manufactured and marketed them in United States. Later on he started his own business and bought more factories and never looked back. They stayed friends, Kuldeep found a good job with other company. Roger’s innovative idea, talent and genius brought him success after success and one day he requested Kuldeep to run his operations in India and Kuldeep agreed. They were still best friends; Roger never treated Kuldeep as his employee, whenever Roger visited to India he always visited his home.

Plane was about to land in Delhi; stewardess interrupted Kuldeep’s though and told him to wear seat belts. In his thoughts Kuldeep was comparing Roger with his brother Bishambar.

7

Roger had to wait for one hour at Dehradoon airport and a blue painted Bell Helicopter landed at the paved floor near the terminal airport its rotors stopped and dust settled. It was already 2.30pm and there was no other activity at the sleepy airport. A fuel truck approached the helicopter to refuel it. A Nepalese looking Pilot jumped out of helicopter and Roger approached him, pilot shook his hand and carried his suitcase and stowed it in the luggage compartment in the back of helicopter. He asked Roger to take front seat and went to the terminal to use bathroom and to do paperwork. He returned after ten minutes and found Roger looking at his maps.
Pilot Said, “Hello my name is Vikram Thapa, I hope we would reach Uttarkashi in less than two hours, I expect weather to be good in this time of the year, it is a high altitude flight and please tell me if you have any medical condition.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Is it your first helicopter flight?”
“No” Roger’s had several helicopters on his disposal.
“OK, are we ready?”
Roger nodded. Pilot handed him a headphone.
They took off and headed towards mountains and gained height fast and in few minutes they were over the mountains. They were still rising to cross a mountain lying ahead. Suddenly Roger felt nausea and chocking sensation, his face was wet with sweat and felt his heart was beating too fast. He told Pilot about it.
“We ascended too fast, seems like you are sensitive to high altitudes, sure you have no heart problem.”
Pilot instantly brought his bird down, they were close to a dry valley, he could see a village and some cows were grazing down, he immediately felt relief.
“Now we would climb slowly, and avoid high passes.”
This time they climbed slow and approached the mountain from the side where it was low. This time Roger again felt breathless but not that severe. As they passed the mountain pilot again brought him down and relief came immediately. Another mountain was visible which was even higher, and it was apparent that they had to pass it too. They started climbing slowly again, and his nausea and breathlessness returned again. Finally they were over a town on the ridge of the mountain.
“That is the Town of Chamba. Because of your medical conditions I am not going in a straight line but taking this longer route.”
“Thanks.”
“Now we will descend and follow Ganges. Have you ever heard about the Tehri dam?’
Roger nodded.
“Keep looking at your right, you would see it soon.”
Now they were again descended and Roger felt relief instantly and he was breathing normal again.
In five minutes he saw the holy river Ganges in the wide valley. Pilot bowed his head in respect, joined his hands in Namaskar and murmured a pray. It was a beautiful scene; pilot turned the helicopter towards the huge rubble wall blocking the valley
“That is Tehri dam, the biggest in the world, and that is the town of Tehri which would be drowned when water fills up the valley.”
They turned towards the upriver and followed the valley. In half hour Uttarkashi was visible. Now sky was blue and mountains turned densely forested and lush green. A wall of Ice capped mountains was visible in the north. A road was going towards Uttarkashi on their left bank of the river.

They were among in high mountains and weather was cool. A makeshift helipad was visible by the river, just before the town and they descended.
Town looked too picturesque from the height and missing the end of flight, also he was feeling dizzy due to sudden height changes he had faced.

Vinita spent most of her afternoon on the ghat or walked around aimlessly and now and then she kept her eyes on the signal strength in the screen of her cell phone.
Finally her cell phone rang; it was the call she was waiting.
Jennifer, Roger’s executive secretary said in the sweet voice, “Honey, how are you?”
“Fine and thanks for asking.”
“Roger would arrive in Uttarkashi on a helicopter in two to three hours. I do not know where helicopter would land and I believe Uttarkashi is a small town so you must watch the sky.”
“Does he know that I would be there to receive him?”
“Of course dear, but he is a harmless person. Make sure he finds a good hotel etc, remind him to take his medicines regularly.”
“I will do my best.”
“Thanks dear and bye.” Jennifer hung up.

8

Vinita knew of just one helipad or rather a recently cleared dirt ground near the hydroelectric projects near her office. She had to hire a taxi. She went to her bank and withdrew money. She needed to hire a car, she thought of going to Hira Singh for help but there was not enough time to explain all to a stranger so she walked to the taxi stand. She asked for a car till dusk a driver took her to his car but she did not like the look of the car. Finally she selected a new looking Ambassador car but Taxi Union guy told her that she must abide by the turn of driver. After hard negotiations she settled for that new car and asked driver to take her to the makeshift helipad. They crossed the river from a bridge situated on the down river, and arrived at the makeshift helipad. She had to wait for about two hours and a blue colored helicopter appeared on the horizon. It approached nearer and nearer and descended to the helipad. Arrival of helicopter attracted children and passer byes. A guy appeared with a red flag from nowhere, and directed it to come down. A whirlpool of dust obscured everything on the ground. Finally rotors stopped and dust settled, pilot alighted and opened the passenger’s door. Passenger alighted.
She recognized Roger. Mighty Roger, whom picture she saw on many news papers, magazines and television.
Her heart stated beating, she leaned upon car’s hood support and made an enormous effort to not to faint. She was having a panic attack, but then she realized her obligations to her employer and she walked nervously to greet him.

Towering wooded mountains surrounded the valley. Roger felt the soothing effect of fresh mountain air fresh air and luckily his tinnitus was also bearable. A crowd of local people came to watch the helicopter, they all stood at a distance but a young lady walked to him. She was in her late twenties, pretty, slender, with sharp features and without any makeup. She walked to him and then joined her hands in Namaskar and said in accent-less English, “Welcome to Uttarkashi. My name is Vinita.”
Roger took off his headphones and looked at her with a smile.

Her short hairs covered the back of her neck neatly. Her clear brown eyes gazed at him in surprised and a smile displayed straight white teeth. It was her radiant smile that had caught his heart. Vinita too was astonished, she never expected Roger to be such a young man and gentle looking. She found him elegant. He was tall, handsome and fair colored. She was not nervous any more and it was apparent that Roger was very tired. He had black rings around his eyes like hasn’t slept for days.
”You seem very tired Roger,” words just came out of her mouth.
“You ever been in a Helicopter,” he asked and took her hand and started shaking it.
“No Sir.”
Then he shouted to pilot who just removed his suitcase and was standing with a paper in his hand. “Give us a tour over the city,” Roger handed him two one hundred dollar bills.
Pilot was double minded, he had just enough jet fuel to reach back Dehradoon, but the bait of money won.
“OK. Get in,” Pilot replied meekly.

Pilot knew he was not dealing with some ordinary person. He was running low on fuel. His helicopter had a capacity of three hundred liters of jet fuel and his range was about three hundred knots. Sickness of his passenger made him to hover low and high and his bird consumed more fuel than he expected. He had just enough left to make his trip back to Dehradoon. Same late evening he had to touch Dehradoon to refuel and then to Bareilly where his company leased this chopper to Indian Air Force, where he was ordered to standby for army duty, and out of greed his company dispatched him to Dehradoon.

Roger and Vinita sat in the back seat. Helicopter took off again and she watched the dust storm below. In few seconds they were flying over the river and the town. She was in Uttarkashi for the last six months and never knew the town could be so beautiful if seen from this height. It looked completely different. Pilot took them over the river and made a big round to turn back. From that height she saw a small temple that Hira Singh was trying to show her.
Rishi might be there.
She tapped Roger’s shoulder and pointed to distant white structure situated high on the mountain. She had to shout to be heard, “Roger I want to show you a beautiful temple.”
Roger nodded to the pilot. They turned and started ascending. Pilot saw sweat on Roger’s forehead, so they descended down back and then started ascending gradually. Initially he was not sure about where to take them but Vinita again pointed in the direction of temple. In a minute they were facing the temple. Roger loved its situation immediately. He turned his head to watch the valley and the town below. Everything was beautiful.

From the helicopter window, Vinita saw Rishi standing in front of temple. Instantly her mood was filled with joy. Hotel Owner was correct in his guess. Rishi was also looking at the helicopter. She opened a small window in the door, and whole cabin starting vibrating with thunder of the machine noise and the gust of air; her hairs were all over her face. Maps in the cabin flew and Roger struggled to catch them. She waved her hand and Rishi waved back.
I saw you tomorrow, washing the ghat; just the sight of you brought me further luck. Today I am in this helicopter with a great man who single handedly built a financial empire. Not a single day in my life passed without your thought. Not a single day in my life passed without your memory.
There was another person laying on the platform, but noise woke him up and he too was now with Rishi and gazing at the helicopter. Pilot was annoyed at her opening of the window and yelled her to shut it down. Hovering and slow ascents cost him even further fuel, he was risking his carrier; he had to get back to Bareilly. He turned the helicopter and the descended fast towards the makeshift helipad. It was 5.30pm and sun was about to go behind a mountain in the east.

9

Mumbai underworld Don was busy in Dubai, with his Spanish language tutor in his air-conditioned villa. An international gang of human smugglers and crooks had helped him to obtain a passport from Panama, based upon forged documentations and identities. Now he was a Pakistan born Panama citizen who was a rich diamond trader with offices in Panama City, Dubai and Brussels. Canada Immigration procedures required him to provide background checks from the both Pakistan and Panama. All was arranged. Spanish was the official language of Panama so he was learning Spanish to fit himself as a Panama resident. Now his ill-gotten gains too were make-believe legal.

But today his mind was not in Spanish lessons, because he got the news that Indian born American billionaire Roger has arrived in India. He resisted his temptation to excuse his tutor because he was running on the tight schedule and he must learn Spanish in short time. Finally his lesson was over and tutor left.
Don said to Abdul, “Did you call Poppy?”
“Yes Sir, he says he has successfully evicted ten families of the slum in just three days.”
“Is that’s all he said?”
“Yes sir.”
“Call him again and ask him about the status of Sonny.”
“Very well sir.” Abdul picked up the cell phone from his table. Cell phone always stayed in Don’s sight, but he rarely touched it himself.

Don was working on a vicious plan to evict a slum in Mumbai. Three months ago he bought that slum land on fake identities. It was next to impossible to evict about four hundred families or four thousand dirt-poor people from that piece of land so it was available for almost free. Local authorities were never interested to evict slum dwellers because they were the vote banks for the corrupt politicians. Mostly rag pickers lived in that slum. He had handed the slum eviction job to his bright lieutenant Poppy who had already made his home on an isolated one room home on the edge of slum. Poppy was a soft talking but very cunning criminal; he was an expert in using violence and terror tactics.

But today Don was not interested in that news. Poppy was handling another delicate matter for him that was obtaining the money from Sonny who was American Billionaire Roger’s nephew. Sonny’s father Bishambar was on the board of all Roger’s Indian companies. They were extremely rich people.
So Roger is in India, he would never like to see the dead body of his only nephew. Money would be coming very soon but how soon? I need it now.
Don walked out of his air-conditioned room and started pacing in the verandah. Abdul followed him with the cell phone; he was trying to access Poppy.
Don picked up the newspaper from the table and looked at the Roger’s picture and the story about his Canadian Venture.
He smiled, and then to practice Spanish he repeated the same sentence in Spanish, “Hola Roger, nos vemos en el Canadá.”
Abdul finally got Poppy on the line and spoke with him.
“Boss, Poppy says that Sonny’s father is trying to access his brother Roger.”
“A brother is trying to access a brother. Is that what he said?”
“Yes Sir, that’s what he said.”
“These damn filthy rich people,” Don cursed.
“Sir I must check your blood pressure and blood sugar.”
Loud speakers from a nearby mosque indicated that it was prayer time.
“First I must pray the almighty God.”
“Very well Sir.”
“Abdul, I think you are already done with your prayer.”
“Yes sir.”
“You are a good man Abdul. That’s why I trust you. Religious men are always trustworthy.”
“Thank you Sir.”

In the evening Rishi said to Priest that he wants to take a walk but promised that he will come back. He wandered on the heavily forested road that led to villages, one side of the road was mountain and other side was sheer drops with the view of the Uttarkashi town and the holy river. At one road bend he sat on the grass and watched the valley for some time. Some distance away a waterfall was visible on the mountain and a trail lead to it. He climbed to the waterfall and drank water and then walked back to temple.
Priest was cleaning the veranda with a broom. Rishi went to the platform and sat on it. Priest washed his hands and joined him. One could tell that Priest was very happy.
“Look what I got,” Priest had a lemon in his hand.
“Don’t tell me that Ganga Mai gave it to you,” Rishi smiled.
Rishi replied with astonishment, “Wow Tea time!”
Priest went to his little room and Rishi sat cross-legged at looked at the town in the valley. Priest returned with two cup of black sweetened tea; he put a twig of mint and squeezed lemon in both cups.
Both had tea and both felt that it was even tastier then the one they had in the morning.
Priest abruptly asked Rishi, “Are you enlightened?”
Rishi looked in the valley; a Helicopter was flying above the town but way below the height of the temple, it looked like a hovering dragonfly.
Rishi said, “You said, today you have realized that you had no guts to leave your Guru.”
“You don’t want to answer my question.”
“I am answering your question.”
Both were silent, Helicopter was coming in their direction and it was on ascending slowly. Now both can hear the distant rattling of its rotor.
Priest said, “Today I realized that in fact I had no guts to leave my Guru. I wanted to leave him but never had courage. I was scared, my friends and family would make fun of me. More time I invested there more I feared the failure. I carried that burden forever but today it was gone in just a second.”
“So you are enlightened to one fact and now you are free from it and it happened in just a moment,” said Rishi.
Priest’s mind went numb and he was unable to think. He lied down on the platform with closed eyes, he was not even listening the rattling sound of the helicopter.

Helicopter was ascending gradually and was coming in their direction, Rishi felt strange, why it is coming up so slow, in about three minutes it came to their height and Rishi could see it clearly. Helicopter came nearer and now he could see three people in it. Pilot and two people in the back seat, a man and a lady.
Now helicopter was hovering in front of them. Lady opened a small window and her black hairs were now flying over her face. From the small window in the door, lady started waving her hand to them. Rishi waved her back and suddenly helicopter leaned and flew back in the south and disappeared at the side of mountain.
Priest said, “This is strange. I never saw a helicopter from such a close proximity.”
“Do they know you?” Rishi asked.
Priest laughed, “I though they came to fetch you.”
“I told you a lie,” Rishi said in serious whisper.
Priest got serious too.
“What did you lie and why.”
“My real name is James Bond but you can call me Bond.”
Priest laughed.
Rishi was also wondering, how come helicopter came so slow and hovered exactly in front of them and lady waved to them and it flew back fast. Yes there was no doubt that lady waved to them. Who is she and why she brought the helicopter to the temple?
Rishi said to Priest, “I got to go; I want to take a bath in the Ganges, if I walk now I will reach there before sunset”.

Priest watched Rishi descending on the trail; Rishi took the short cut and disappeared from the horizon into berberis bushes. Priest sat on the platform watched silvery Ganges in the evening sun. Sun was about to go behind the mountain in the west but he was sure that Rishi would take his bath in the holiest of the holiest Ganges before sunset. He was happy and again he felt ecstasy. He inspected in himself again and again and found no trace of the hurt in his heart. For years he carried that wound in his heart and wept almost each day. Perception of a fact washed away all his anger and frustration. A rock was taken off from his chest. He felt pity on his Guru and said to Ganges, “He did not know what he was doing and neither did I.”
He had tears in his eyes and he wanted to laugh so he laughed, he laughed at his own folly, and he laughed and laughed and felt lighter and lighter.

Hira Singh’s servant came running to him, and gave him the news that the lady who came in the morning was in the helicopter that was hovering over the Ganges just in front of the hotel. At that time the helicopter was moving up towards the mountain slowly. In few minutes helicopter was just in front of temple and hovering there. He was sure that the lady on the helicopter was looking out for Rishi. Hira Singh was surprised about what is going on. He told his servant to race to the temple on the mountain, and sent a boy to the ghat to check if Rishi went to either place. They were to find and bring Rishi to hotel.

10

In Mumbai, at about 4 PM Bishambar was sitting with a mean faced man in his office. A bundle of currency notes was lying on the table. Both were smoking Cuban cigars. Mean faced was the lead detective in a private detective agency; two years ago he retired from Central Bureau of Investigation or called CBI in India and found this job was waiting for him.
Detective said, “He is not really lost, any effort to investigate his whereabouts would open a can of worms.”
Bishambar said, “Yes I know.”
“Just two months ago our Prime Minister met him in New York?”
“Yes I know. Two months ago at the same day I had a heart attack.”
“Did you read today’s news papers?”
Bishambar nodded and he took a long puff from his cigar.
“He is in all papers.”
“How much money do you want?”
“Forget it, I spent thirty years in police, rich and powerful people run the show, we are only rats. We only tortured small guys to extract confessions. That’s all we did, that’s all we could do.”
“Yes I know”, Bishambar said this third time. A pill of 5-milligram alprazolam made his mind numb and drowsy.
Mean looking man didn’t even touch the bundle of currency notes; he rose and walked to the door.
Bishambar said, “Let’s say no money is enough for the job, I can arrange a US visa for your son as a trade off.”
Detective collapsed on the sofa again.
Six months ago, a travel agent promised him to smuggle his son to USA, but let him stranded in the jail of Turkey. Agent robbed him off his whole life’s savings and ran away; He had to borrow serious money to get him back to India. Detective was in serious debts. Now his son was using and selling opium on the streets.
That bastard agent didn’t even spare a poor retired police officer.
Bishambar grinned, “So you are in.”
He felt a relief that his money was spared, and he could easily arrange a package of make believe documents on one of his company’s stationary, he did that in the past and actually his son Sonny was now good at it. Thought of his son brought his anger again.
Detective replied, “OK, I will try, but no promise.”
“You know Roger, he goes to the best hotels, he travels on his executive jets and helicopters, you can easily find out where he has gone?”
“Mr. Bishambar, I will do my best. But making an effort to trace him may unleash a truckload of troubles for me. It is like pressing the button of a siren.”
“Bring me your son’s passport tomorrow.”
Detective said in hoarse voice, “Yes.”
He shook hands with Bishambar and left. It was four thirty in the evening. Once out of the building detective started playing with his cell phone.

At 6 PM, detective called Bishambar. “Your brother is gone to Uttarkashi.”
“Tell me about it,” demanded Bishamber.
“A travel kiosk in a five star hotel arranged a taxi to Dehradoon and then a Helicopter took him there. I spoke with control tower at Dehradoon airport and they are expecting the helicopter to be back before dusk for refueling, it would be flying back to Braille tonight.”
“Why did he go there?”
“That is your concern; tomorrow my son would be seeing you with his passport.”
“You have to wait because I have to go to Uttarkashi.”
“I can wait, when are you going there?”
“Now, how do you suggest me to reach there fastest?”
Ex-police man knew everything about travel in India.
“No scheduled flight goes to Dehradoon, you can charter a plane, then a road takes ten hours to reach Uttarkashi only if you are lucky and there are no landslides on the roads.”
“Or a helicopter?”
“Of-course.”
“Can you use your police tricks to stop that helicopter, till I get there?”
“For how long?”
“Just stop that damn helicopter. I want to talk with the pilot and also I may use the same helicopter to Utterkashi.”
“OK I will stop it, but I doubt if helicopters fly in the mountains at night.”
“Money will make any helicopter fly at night.”
Bishambar disconnected the phone.

Bishambar called a travel agency and asked for a charter air taxi to Dehradoon, he was lucky that a plane was ready to fly but suddenly a cancellation came up. He used his company’s account to charter the jet. Agent checked and said yes Dehradoon airport has night landing facilities. Agency also gave him pilot’s cell phone number. He told pilot to file flight plan for Dehradoon.
Bishambar called his son Sonny who was waiting for his call, “Hey good for nothing, get ready and see me at the airport with my and yours stuff.”
“Did you find Uncle Richie?”
“Yes, you are going to see your rich uncle.”
Bishambar disconnected the phone and called back the detective.
“We would be there in four hours.”
“Helicopter is on the way back to Dehradoon.”
“Are you holding up that helicopter till I reach there?”
Detective might have said, “It is an easy job.” Instead he said, “I can only try, this is a very difficult and risky job.”

In the taxi to airport Bishambar was busy making inquiries that if his company has a presence in the god-forsaken place in Himalayas called Uttarkashi?
His secretary called him back, “yes we have an office in Uttarkashi. A lady runs it.”
“Do you have their phone numbers?”
“No.”
“I need their phone numbers, especially that lady’s home phone number.”
“That could be a problem, offices are closed.”
“Go wake up the people, I want the phone number tonight.”
“Why.”
“It is a confidential company business.”
Bishambar disconnected the cell phone.

11

Roger signed the charter bill and handed it to the pilot and helicopter flew back in no time. Vinita asked a kid to put Roger’s suitcase in the waiting white taxi. Vinita was his employee and she was about to sit next to driver but Roger asked her to sit in the back. They moved away from the helipad.
Roger was look, it was a valley and surrounded by green walls of mountains.
“Vinita,” Roger said, “well I am here. What next?”
“Sir, I had no time to book you a hotel, it is a very small place and there are small basic hotels.”
Roger smiled. “Please call me Roger. Please keep my identity confidential and just take me to any peaceful place to stay.”
“I happen to know a good hotel here, I will take you there.”
Roger nodded. They were passing by the river that was tumbling down with huge noise. They felt mist on their face.
“Driver, please stop the car here.”
Driver stopped the car in the open grass ground by the river. He got off the car and Vinita followed.
“Vinita, I just like to watch this place.”
Driver was watching them; just to get rid of the driver he said to Vinita, “Can you please ask the driver to bring us a coke.”
She gave money to taxi driver sent him to bring coke.
They sat on a ledge beside the roaring river. Roger was relaxed.
“May I call New York to tell Jennifer that you have arrived?”
“I will call, may I use your phone please.”
“It is your phone, you company owns it, and I work for you.”
“I want you to be me friend, not an employ.”
With a blush on her face she handed him the phone.

Roger’s call woke up Jennifer in New York and he gave her the news that he arrived in Uttarkashi and a beautiful young lady has just received him and all is well. Jennifer informed him that his offices in India are scrambling in frenzy and calling her about him but she told them strictly to keep out. His brother Bishambar called her repeatedly. Tanzanian ambassador in USA called in his New York office and mentioned that Tanzanian premier happens to be in Delhi and wants to meet him but she told him that he is on a strictly private visit there.
As he was done with the call he found Vinita sitting on a parapet facing the thundering Ganges.
Roger said in embarrassing tone, “I need to use bath room.”
Vinita was embarrassed too and said, “Roger this isn’t America, find a place.”
Roger disappeared behind a rock to relieve himself. When he came back he found Vinita looking at a whirlpool in the Ganges.
Roger walked around and did stretching exercises.

12

Shortcut trail was very steep and dangerous but Rishi was not new to mountains. He thought about the priest, laughed and felt light. He was still wondering about the helicopter. He saw a snake, he stopped, it was a beautiful creature, both cautiously looked at each other, and it disappeared in Euphorbia bush. Then he walked again on the steep winding trail. Walking was slippery due to the pine needles. Valley was crimson in the evening sun. He saw a boy was coming running up on the trail; boy already saw him and was shouting. He walked down and met the room-boy from the hotel, boy was panting because of the run on the mountain.
“Yesterday evening, a lady came to the hotel to see you. Today morning she came again to see you, but you were gone,” boy stopped to inhale air. “Same lady was on the helicopter, she was looking for you in the temple.”
Rishi was surprised. It was clear that lady knows him and she brought helicopter to the temple just to look for him, she was friendly so she waved to him. He was not of kind who takes thing seriously or worries, but he was curious.

At the hotel entrance he found Hira Singh waiting for him sitting on a Motor Cycle. Without a question Rishi sat behind him and they raced in the direction of helipad that was just about two kilometer on the down river. No helicopter was present there, they asked a person about helicopter and its passengers he replied that a white car took them away and turned towards hydroelectric colony. They raced in the direction of hydroelectric colony. A lone ambassador car passed them. Far at the ledge facing the river a Vinita was sitting on a rock and a man was doing stretching a bit away from her. Hira Singh decided to ask them. He stopped the motorcycle in front of the Vinita, who was completely absorbed in the sounds and scene of the roaring river. He pressed the horn and caught her attention and her face turned and she saw Hira Singh and to her utter surprise Rishi was there too. Vinita screamed in joy and took Rishi’s hand. They hugged each other. She immediately felt relief, now Rishi was there so she was totally secure.

Roger watched a motorcycle coming and then a person gave hug to Vinita. He was curious and wanted to know about what is going on but he had no right to interfere in Vinita’s personal life so moved even further and continued his excursuses.

Rishi said to Vinita, “Nice seeing you after many years. You are prettier.”
“How are you Rishi, come, I want you to meet someone.”
She led him to Roger who was looking at them with curiosity. Hira Singh stayed on his motorcycle; he too was very curious about everything that was happening since morning..
Rishi instantly recognized Roger and anticipated the situation. Before Roger or Vinita could say anything he broke in and whispered in Roger’s ears, “Roger, it is a pleasure to meet you. Leave your worries to me.”
Before anybody could utter a word, Rishi called Hira Singh and introduced him to Vinita first, “Hira Singh, she is Vinita.”
Then Rishi put his hand on Roger’s shoulder. “Meet the Seth from Bihar, and guess what? His name is also Sethi. Sethi Sahib is a filthy rich man, he owns coal mines in Bihar, he came here to find more coal in the mountains, look at black around his eyes, and it is because of coal.”
Hira Singh joined his hands in Namaskar and said, “Sethi Sahib, I am your Dog.”
There was a burst of laugh. All four laughed, Roger doubled up with laughing. It was his first laugh after a long time.
Rishi said to Hira Singh, “Do you know any coal around here; Sethi Sahib may give you a commission.”
There was a bray of laugh again. Roger liked Rishi in the same moment.
Taxi driver came with three bottles of Coca Cola. Hira Singh took all three bottles and tossed them in the back of the car, and ordered, “Get in the Car. Vinita and Roger sat in back and Rishi sat with driver. Car Driver knew Hira Singh, whole Uttarkashi knew him, and he followed Hira Singh and they arrived at the Hotel.

13

Helicopter pilot Vikram Thapa was richer by two hundred dollars but he was rather worried than happy. Of-course he needed the money but he was running low on the fuel. Uttarkashi had no refueling facility. Bell helicopter had three hundred nautical miles range; it was not the first round trip he made to Uttarkashi, one tank full was enough to make a round trip. Unplanned descents and slow ascents burned additional fuel. To earn two hundred dollars he could not refuse his client’s request for the valley tour so more fuel was burned. He flew back from Uttarkashi with anxiety. It was almost dark in the mountains; his company strictly prohibited him flying night in the mountains. He was always to fly by VFR (Visible Flight Rules). Under no conditions he was to follow instrument guided flight, neither he was trained for that nor he was equipped. He had to reach Bareilly otherwise his company will face breach of contract with Indian Army and his job would be in jeopardy.

Vikram Thapa decided to take a straight high altitude flight; in the way he had to cross two ten thousand feet high mountain range. His un-pressurized helicopter was designed for maximum ceiling of twelve thousand feet and his own lungs were designed for a way higher altitude. He spent ten years hauling mountaineers to dangerous high-altitude flights in the Sagarmatha region (Mount Everest Base Camp area). He ran several sorties each day to and from Katmandu to Namche Bazaar, Lukla and even to Kala Pathar; there he took his bird even above its recommended highest ceiling. Several times his passengers fainted almost each day due to sudden altitude change in the un-pressurized helicopter. Luckily it was full moon and after passing a high mountain he was to find Yamuna River shining in a deep valley. If all goes well, he would see the town of Mussoorie and follow the lights of Dehradoon to the airport. Hope they will refuel him in that hour. He was nervously looking at the fuel gauge and climbed slowly; he noticed the lights of the Town of Barkot at his far right side and then saw the Yamuna River. He relaxed a bit, after some minutes he passed over the mountain town of Mussoorie. In another twenty minutes he saw the lights of Dehradoon. He informed the control tower and landed at airport.

As per plan his helicopter was to be refueled there and he was to fly out without delay, but a nasty surprise awaited him. Airport manager informed him that he must stay at the airport on the order of Central Bureau of investigation. His helicopter will not be refueled till they clear up the matter. Some one will be arriving there shortly to question him or arrest him. Vikram Thapa was now nervous. He was thinking did he transport a criminal or smuggled something to Uttarkashi, unintended?

14

Lawn of the hotel faced plunging waters of Ganges. Hira Singh arranged some chairs and a table in the lawn and served them lemon-soda and some snacks. Roger liked lemon-soda and thanked god that he didn’t drink coke otherwise sleep was even more difficult, he badly needed a sleep. Hira Singh opened a room downstairs to they could freshen up or use the bathrooms. Roger went in that room to wash up his face, and Hira Singh, Rishi and Vinita discussed about Roger’s lodging arrangements.
“Hira Singh, we would like you to rent the whole terrace to Sethi Sahib, including three new suites.”
“It is your own hotel. Your friends are my friends.”
Then Rishi took Hira to upstairs and pointed to the wall, “I want an entrance here to the road that made hair pin band and passed through the main entrance of hotel.”
Hira Singh said he will break the wall in just 10 minutes to make a rough entrance and proper gated entrance may be ready tomorrow. He yelled room boy to bring him two hammers. Hira Singh and room-boy started breaking the wall and Rishi took the job of piling up the rubble at one side. In half hour a rough opening to the road was ready.

Roger’s stuff was already brought in a suite with the best views of the valley. Rishi saw Roger talking with Vinita. Rishi went downstairs and asked them to sit in the car.
“Hey, where are you taking us?”
“It is like Disney land in Orlando, they have a train and we have a car to your suites.”
Roger was still surprised but sat in the car. Car moved on the steeply ascending hairpin band on the road and stopped at the newly opened wall.
“Wow! Wow! Wow! Don’t’ tell me we are in a different hotel,” Roger was astonished.
Rishi replied, “Welcome to Sethi Residence.”
Roger realized that it is the same hotel but they are on the second floor but rather on the ground floor if looking from the new entrance. Roger could see whole town and river Ganges from the terrace or even from the windows of three suites. He could hear the noise of the holy river and feel the vibrations of crashing water. He loved it immediately; it was way beyond his expectations.
Rishi said, “Sethi, all three rooms are yours but you would be sharing the terrace with us, it is our terrace. You know the real estate laws of America, We have right of access here, I drink my liquor here with Hira Singh each evening.”
Roger laughed, “Hey Rishi, you are always welcome here.”
He went in his room and opened his suitcase and started arranging his things.
Rishi dragged a chair from verandah to the far end of terrace and sat over it. He could see the lights of Aartee on the Ghat, he missed his evening river bath.
In the lawn Vinita was talking with Kanchan, both ladies were friends now.

Roger’s unpacking his shaving gear, and lay down on the bed. He felt relieved; he never expected to find a happy bunch of people so soon in Uttarkashi. In his whole helicopter ride he was nervous that he was traveling alone. His thought wandered to Rishi.
I have seen him somewhere? Where?
Suddenly he remembered he saw Rishi from the helicopter, Vinita took him there, she is in love with Rishi, he felt a pang of jealousy in his heart.

Vinita came on the terrace and saw Rishi sitting on a chair at the far end.
Rishi shouted, “Come Vinita.”
Vinita went to Rishi and stood next to him.
“What a surprise today.”
“Yes, Rishi and thank God that you are here.”
Tell me everything. Vinita told him everything.
“You better go to Roger and give him company?”
“I am still nervous, please come with me.”

Roger saw Rishi and Vinita coming to his room. He invited them inside.
Rishi Said, “Hello Sethi.”
Roger and Vinita laughed.
Rishi continued, “Sethi, today you made Vinita very nervous. She almost fainted today.”
“But I am an extremely harmless person.”
“Poor girl was nervous because she was to receive a very great man, all alone.”
“Oh, I see.” Roger was now very serious, he continued, “I am extremely sorry.”
Vinita was embaressed.
Rishi said to Vinita, “Tell him everything Vinita.”
“Shut up Rishi.” Vinita said.
“Come on Vinita, we all are friends. Roger deserves to know all.”
Roger nodded.
Vinita feared to tell the truth to Roger, because he was her employer and her job was on stake. But in the presence of Rishi she felt confident and told them the whole story, beginning from the point when yesterday evening she saw Rishi taking bath in the Ganges. Then the call Jennifer made to her and that she was scared of the responsibility she was given so she wanted to see Rishi and she wanted to know if Rishi was in the temple so she asked him to fly there.
After hearing they all laughed.
To cheer up Vinita Roger said, “I loved that temple on first sight, and may be Rishi would take us there sometime.”
“Yes Sir.” Rishi stood up and said, “Thanks for recruiting me as a tour operator.”
They laughed again.
Suddenly tinnitus came back to Rogers ears, it was again very severe. He closed his eyes.
“Sethi,” said Rishi, “seems like you have noise in your ears.”
“What!” Roger was surprised, nobody except his doctor knew about his tinnitus.
Roger stared at Rishi, “Who told you?”
“Nobody told me.”
“But how you know?”
“That is not important,” Rishi replied.
“Yes my ears are buzzing, I got to live with this noise.”
“You must excuse me now, I am going to take a bath in the Ganges,” Rishi said and turned and left from the raw opening in the wall. It was dark now.
Roger felt Vinita was nervous again. To please her he said, “You know that I am so happy here in just few hours. I am so thankful to you, Rishi and Hira Singh.”
Hearing this, Vinita calmed down.
“How Rishi knew about my ear problem,” Roger asked in amazement.
“He is enlightened,” Vinita replied.
“What!”
“He is Enlightened, The Buddha.”
Roger smiled. “You are kidding.”
“Well Sethi this is my personal opinion and some other people who know him also think the same thing.”
Roger almost said, “Are you nuts?” Instead he said, “Some thing is not ordinary about Rishi.”
Vinita was regretting that she told that Rishi is enlightened.
“Do you love him?” Roger questioned abruptly.
Now Roger was regretting that he asked that, it was apparent from her face that she is upset.
“Everybody loves him, please don’t ask me any personal question.”
“I am sorry, that I asked,” he repeated, “I am really sorry.”
“I must leave now.” Vinita rose.
“Do you have a family here?”
“I am a paying guest with a family here, they expect me to come early. Good night Roger.”
“Vinita, thanks for everything.”
“Bye Roger.” She turned and disappeared in the stairs.
Roger instantly started missing her.

Hira Singh entered in Roger’s room with a water jug.
“Sethi Sahib, how about whisky.”
“Thanks, I never drink alone – only if you accompany me.”
Roger avoided drinks at all costs but he agreed for the sake of starting a conversation with Hira Singh.
Hira Singh laughed, “hehehehe
Roger swallowed a capsule of antacid and walked out. He had gastritis; before taking a drink he always took antacid medicine.
Hira Singh and room-boy arranged and snacks, whisky and soda on a table and then asked Roger to sit on a chair and took another chair himself. He made two drinks.
Roger was sipping his whisky but Hira Singh gulped his glass at once. Roger poured him another drink. Hira Singh was embarrassed and this time he too started sipping.
Roger asked, “You are a friend of Rishi?”
“Yes he is a dear friend. He brings me good luck.”
“Hira Singh, you can consider me too yours friend.” Roger shook hands with Hira Singh.
Hira Singh was honored to shake hands with a rich coal tycoon.
As Hira Singh was a bit drunk, Roger tactfully asked him about Rishi but Hira Singh never knew much about Rishi. All he said that Rishi is a damn good man.
At one point Roger said, “Move Rishi’s belongings to the room next door.”
“No problem, I always wanted, Rishi to take this bigger and newer room.”
Hira Singh again went to terrace and shouted for his servant.
Roger declined dinner and collapsed on his bed and fell to a deep dreamless sleep.

15

Bishambar and his son Sonny took off from Mumbai on the chartered jet at 8 pm.
Bishambar was deep in thoughts: Roger might have just arrived in Uttarkashi and probably we would find him there at morning. Why the hell he is going to a dump-hole in the good for nothing mountains, no good food or hotels there, no good roads. May be lucky-fool got religious and is going to Gangotri. No he is going to make a secret business deal there or making a secret trip to explore some mineral wealth in Himalayas, he is a greedy person and never does anything without a cause to get richer. In either case we must rely upon our luck and follow him. Rich men like Roger leave a money trail. They use helicopters, stay in expansive hotels, and use expensive cars. We will find him in Uttarkashi. It is just a matter of arriving there.

Bishambar and Sonny both rehearsed about what they would say to Roger. Sonny was to touch his feet and ask for forgiveness. Bishambar was to give him a big hug and then cry. Slowly they would come to the point and pretend that they love him, they are family. On the way they cursed Jennifer. Sonny said he suspects Roger sleeps with her and father agreed too that Jennifer is Roger’s whore.
Sonny asked to the copilot, “Is there any liquor around here.”
“Yes but you must pay for it.”
He laughed, “I know that nothing is free in the world.”
One of the pilots unlocked a closet and handed Sonny an imported Scotch whisky bottle. Sonny took the bottle to an empty cabin and started drinking it. When pilot informed them that they were about to land, Sonny was half done with the bottle. He saved the rest of the bottle in his suitcase.

16

Vinita was not in hurry to reach at her host’s home but wanted to have some time with Rishi. It was full moon, from the footbridge she saw Rishi wearing a loincloth and standing in the waist deep freezing waters of the Ganges. He stood without holding any guard-chain. She walked to ghat and descended near Rishi, he was surprised to see her.
“Now come out or you will get sick in this cold water.”
Rishi came out of water. This time she was not embarrassed to see him half naked. He wiped himself with a towel and then wore his clothes.
They sat on the last step touching the water, once a while water splashed on their feet and clothes.
“Rishi anytime you come in my life you bring me luck.”
Rishi replied, “You bring me luck too.”
She laughed.
“Rishi you are free, you won’t be coming back on this earth but we all will be coming here again and again and doing what we are doing again and again. To us this vicious circle never stops.”
“Do you know the engineering definition of a circle,” Rishi said.
“A circle is a circle.”
“A circle is endless, perimeter repeats itself.”
“I saw a brutal poverty in my life till you pulled me out of it, I got married to a very bad man and finally it ended, then my mother died. So my circle will never end. Not for me.”
“Your marriage was your choice, and your first perception might have told you the man was bad still you married him. Most probably you had other choices.”
Every word of Rishi was a cruel truth. Everyday she cursed herself and everyday she cried and asked God, why did it happen to her, why?
She felt sick and cold.
“I think you resisted the divorce, you fought till all options expired.”
Vinita had tears in her eyes, “Who told you all this.”
“This is not important”, he said.
She screamed, “This is not important! This is not important! Do you know this is your favorite sentence?”
She exploded, “He made my life miserable, I wanted to teach him a lesson, I wanted him to taste the misery, I found out he loved someone else and wanted to divorce me. I denied him my consent and finally other woman left him and then I gave him my consent so he could suffer more.”
“You made your own circle,” Rishi said.
She was sobbing, Rishi held her hand.
“Rishi I got to go, my hosts do not like me to come late.”
“But you are not happy there.”
“If I ask you how do you know, you would say that is not important.”
“Yes, that is not important. Your unwillingness to go there tells me that you are not happy there.”
Vinita was not happy with her host family. Initially she though she needs to live with a family to cope with her loneliness. They started interfering in her each and every affair. Anytime she was on the phone they asked whom was she talking. They enforced their own rules and tyranny upon her. If she ate outside they got suspicious. More over her room had a small window, which opened in a dinghy street, it was always dark and she just hated it.
”God forbid if they come to know that I was alone with you or hell would break lose at that home, or may be they already know that I was in the helicopter with Roger. I hate to go there.”
“Then why don’t you break this vicious cycle today. Set yourself free from just this one problem.”
“Are you crazy, where do I go at this night?”
Suddenly water splashed over them, it was the biggest splash they had.
Rishi said, “Look this splashed water had the courage to separate itself from the rest of river. It will evaporate sooner than the river and meet the sky.”
Vinita smiled. “OK tomorrow I will start looking for other place to stay. Thanks for supporting me.”
“No tomorrow. You already waited six months, now or never.”
“What!”
“Yes call them you are not coming. Hira Singh’s wife will take care of you.”
“Oh! She is my new friend.”
“Yes today many people got new friends.”
She called her hosts and conversation took a nasty turn but she was firm. She said tomorrow she would come and pick up her belongings but they got mad at her and said she must come right now, and pack up.
“What do I do now? They want me to leave right now.”
“You already left them?”
She was surprised. “I left them already?”
“Look into you,” Rishi said.
“Look into me?” she said.
“Yes, close your eyes and look into you.”
She closed her eyes for a while and they both laughed.
She declared, “They are not in my head anymore.”
Suddenly Rishi remembered that he promised Hira Singh to finish whisky bottle with him he abruptly stood, let’s go I got to drink with Hira Singh, he must be waiting for me.
“I never knew you drink.”
“You will see today.”
“Can I kiss you?” She didn’t wait for his answer and kissed on the back of his hand.
She said, “Huh! Today I broke the vicious circle. Like the splashed water, today I detached myself from the misery I was facing for six months.”
“Good Girl,” Rishi said.
“Today I realized that I volunteered to all of my miseries except poverty.”
Both laughed and crossed the suspension footbridge.

17

Vinita and Rishi reached hotel. She went to Hira Singh’s home to see his wife Kanchan, and Rishi went upstairs to check Roger. On the terrace he found both Roger and Hira Singh drinking. Bottle was not empty yet and Hira Singh was already drunk.
“Sethi sahib wants you to stay next to him, so I changed your room.”
Rishi said to Roger, “OK, this way I have a better chance to learn about coal.”
They burst into laugher. Roger made a drink for Rishi.
Room boy came and whispered in Hira Singh’s ear that his wife is calling him so he left.
“Rishi, you don’t mind having a room next to me, or you?”
“It is a pleasure. Thanks.”
“How was the bath in the Ganges, I believe water is very cold.”
“It takes a while to get used to cold water. I love it.”
Hira Singh’s wife and Vinita appeared both had a tray in their hands.
Roger was surprised to see Vinita, “You said you are going to your host’s home.”
Rishi said, “They are very conservative people. As they knew that she was alone in the helicopter with you they kicked her out.”
It was a partial truth.
Roger was worried. “I am sorry to know this, if I were you I would not live with such a family.”
Rishi said, “Kanchan will take care of Vinita, she is in safe hands.”
Roger felt happy that Vinita would be living in the same premises with him.
Both ladies arranged food on the table. Kanchan turned to leave and Vinita was about to follow her.
Kanchan said, “Vinita you eat here.”
They ate food.

It was eleven at night, Vinita left after dinner; she was given a room next door to Hira Singh’s home. Actually it was a small studio apartment with a bathroom and kitchen. Kanchan said her that she is always welcome in their home at anytime.

18

Helicopter pilot Vikram Thapa was very worried. He was pacing around his helicopter and was smoking cigarette after cigarette. Suddenly the airport became alive, runway lights were turned on. In a minute a small jet made a landing and taxied on the runway and stopped near his helicopter. A staircase appeared from the side door of the jet. Two men alighted; each was carrying a wheeled suitcase. Staircase retracted back and door closed. Runway lights were turned on again and jet disappeared in the sky in no time. Airport was not expecting any other aircraft, to save electricity runway lights were turned off again.

Father son duo walked to the Vikram Thapa.
“Are you the pilot of this chopper?”
“Yep. Are you police.”
“You took a person to Uttarkashi.”
“Yep.”
Bishambar took out a picture of Roger and handed it to pilot, “Was this the person?”
“Yep.”
“Did he talk about his intentions in Uttarkashi?”
“No.”
“Take us to Uttarkashi now, we will pay you cash.” Bishambar tapped his suitcase.
Vikram Thapa pulled a card from his front pocket. “Call my company, they are expecting a phone call from you.”
“Don’t worry about them, take us to Uttarkashi now. We will give you good money,” Bishambar said.
Sonny who was drunk, barked, “It is police business”
Bishambar pulled him to the side and whispered in his ears, “Fool you keep quiet.”
Now pilot knew that they arranged a set up to hold him at the airport. He started dialing a number on his cell phone.
“I am informing my company and also next call will be to the police.”
Son jumped again, “Fool we already talked with your company, tell us your price. Everybody has a price.”
Pilot said, “You drunk, you are soon going to jail.”
Bishambar tried to pull the son away but Sonny got very angry. “We tell you who are we, we chartered a plane, we are not beggars, we can buy you, we can buy your god dam helicopter and your stupid company!”
“Then buy it.”
Father shoved the son. Vikram Thapa started walking to the terminal and they followed him, Bishamber was begging him not to make this matter a big deal.
Pilot said, “You arrived here on a charter plane, and no other information is needed to know your identity.”
Father was now scared he walked to Thapa and embraced him and said, “Forgive us, there was some misunderstanding, how much do I owe you for your troubles.”
Vikram Thanpa was in a hurry, his company was going to resolve the whole matter later.
“You clear me for refueling or my company would handle the whole business tomorrow.”
“OK I will clear you up.” Bishambar dialed the detective’s number and ordered him to clear the chopper.
In five minutes a person walked to pilot and said, “OK you are all clear to leave.”
It was not a mountain flight anymore he was authorized to fly with instruments guiding him.

Bishambar and Sonny asked the same person about how to reach Uttarkashi as soon as possible.
“You can get a taxi from Rishikesh taxi stand but night driving is prohibited in the mountains unless one is in emergency.”
A jeep brought them to Rishikesh taxi stand and they hired a taxi to Uttarkashi. Bishambar said to driver that it is an official emergency and their company is involved in the Tehri dam projects on the Ganges. Taxi sped up on the winding mountainous road. At night they found all restaurants closed.

19

Night was cool in Dubai. Don was sitting under his verandah with headphones on his ears. He was sipping unsweetened herbal tea in a crystal glass. He was listening to the Spanish Language lessons on an audiocassette. As he finished the tea he saw a paper sticker was still attached to the bottom of the brand new crystal glass. He turned the glass to look at it; in the Canadian Flag background ‘Made in Canada’ was printed over it.
Soon I would be in Canada. I am fed up with the dry and arid land of Dubai.
He had no future in India and he hated desert of Dubai and longed for lush green mountains and crashing waterfalls of British Columbia, Canada. A chain of thoughts brought him to Roger’s nephew Sonny.
He yelled, “Abdul.”
Abdul was preparing dinner in the kitchen, he came running, “Yes Sir.”
“Call Poppy and ask about Sonny.”
“Very well sir.” Abdul picked cell phone from the table; he got Poppy in third attempt.
As always conversation was brief and Abdul placed back the cell phone.
“Sir, Poppy says Sonny and his father are gone to see Roger somewhere in the Himalayas.”
“Good, Good! Bonito, Bonito!”
Abdul went back to the kitchen where he was cooking lamb for his boss.
Don smiled. His mood was again elated. He picked the crystal glass and kissed the sticker under it.
I love the serenity of Canada. Nobody would ever disturb my peace there. It is just a matter of some days. Let Sonny bring me cash. More diamonds and more profit.
To practice Spanish he said aloud, “Mucho, Mucho Diamonds, Mucho, Money.”
He laughed. “Damn I am good.”

End of Chapter 3