Chapter 4

Chapter 4

May 04

On the rugged road in the deep mountains in Himalayas, Bishambar and his son Sonny both vomited several times on the way to Uttarkashi. Just before the dawn, lights of Uttarkashi of were visible ahead in the valley. They were badly tired of the grueling mountain ride. Bishambar smoked his last cigarette, he asked the driver to stop the car at some place where he could buy another pack. Driver stopped the car at a high point on the road where whole city was visible from the height of the place. A roadside teashop was open. Bishambar bought a cigarette pack and they had tea and mountains were turning golden in the rays of dawn.

2

Roger had a sound sleep after a several days. Morning call of a rooster woke him up at 6am. He woke up refreshed. He stepped out and was hypnotized to see the scene round him. Birds were chirping and golden sunrays were hitting at the snow-capped mountains in the north. He could see and hear the roar of the Holy River Ganges. River and the suspension walking bridge were surrounded in a mist. He started doing stretching exercise and Rishi also came out of his room. They saw each other and smiled. Roger was happy to see his face in the morning and it was a good omen.

3

Bishambar asked to the taxi driver, “Is that town Uttarkashi.”
“Yes.”
“The ugliest place I ever saw.”
Sonny said, “Indeed, it is the ugliest place but Uncle Richie smelled money here, let’s follow him. Only one thing he is good at is smelling money.”
Father asked driver “And is that the River Ganges.”
“Yes, she is Mother Ganges.”
“Or muddy Ganges,” Sonny said.
Bishambar said, “May be Roger seen Gold in the mud.”
Both father and son laughed.
“Where do I take you sir?” Driver asked.
“That we have to find out.”
Bishambar punched his cell phone but it didn’t work.
Driver said, “Sir it would work after another kilometer.”
Sonny spilled the tea on the ground and spat.
“What do they make this tea with, the mud from the Ganges?”
“Take us in the dump where this bloody phone works.” Father said.
At a place phone worked, Bishambar dialed numbers of his facilities in Uttarkashi, it was too early and nobody answered.
“Lazy bastards!”
Then he dialed the only cell phone number in the list. A lady said, “Yes.”
“Listen carefully, I am Bishambar, Do you know who I am?”
Lady on the other side was confused.
“No sorry, I think this is the wrong number?”
“Yeah, the wrong number, I own your phone, I am Bishambar, the director of your company.”
“Oh yes Sir, now I remember.”
Vinita was very confused. She knew of some Bishambar who was the director of her company but she never met him or saw him. She didn’t know that he was Roger’s brother.
Bishambar said, “We are here in Uttarkashi.”
“But why ….. ?”
“Why are we in Uttarkashi? Do we need your permission to come here?”
“No Sir, but if you had told me earlier I would have made arrangements.”
“Where is Roger?”
Vinita was not sure if the person on the phone was really Bishambar and also she was not instructed not to disclose Roger’s presence in Uttarkashi.
“Sir, please call me back in five minutes. I am disconnecting the phone.”
“Hey, you bitch. Don’t you know who I am?”
She came out of her room and took stairs to the terrace, there she saw Rishi and Roger. She whispered in Roger’s ears, “It is Bishambar on the phone, one of our Directors, he is nasty and rude. He is here in Uttarkashi. He is asking for you, I asked him to call me back after five minutes.”
Roger whispered back, “Do you have speaker on this phone.”
“No Sethi it is a basic Nokia set.”
Phone rang again; she took the call.
Roger joined his own ear with the cell phone. He could smell Vinita’s lipstick he felt thrilled.
Bishamber was shouting, “Bitch, how dare you to cut my call.”
She said on phone, “Sorry sir, what were you saying?”
“I was saying that your job is on my mercy.’”
“Sir, please don’t talk to me like this.”
“I hire and fire whores like you with the blink of my eye.”
“Sir, I am on leave of absence for few days, you can contact or visit office at nine. Now please excuse me.”
“Where is Roger, we know he arrived in Uttarkashi on a helicopter, tomorrow evening.”
“Sir, our office is not aware of Mr. Roger’s arrival.”
“Hey don’t bullshit me, you bitch.”
“Sir, please mind your language.”
Bishambar said, “What did you just said? You are fired. Bitch you are fired.”
“You can not fire me; there are laws.”
“I am the law, I can buy your or dispose you, one way or other. I can get you fucked. There may be labor laws and my money can make your life miserable.”
“Goodbye” Vinita disconnected the phone and started crying. Rishi placed his hand on her shoulder. Roger was plainly shocked and held her hand.
Then he said, “Insult to the injury is that he is my brother, he has brainwashed my mother and sister too and set her up against me. He is nothing but problem.”
Rishi was smiling.
“What do you have to smile for,” Roger said.
“You are lucky that your brother is here, you can solve this problem for good.”
“This problem can never be solved.” Roger declared.
Rishi announced, “We will solve it today?”
“What you mean by we?” Roger asked.
“Me mean, Ganga Mai, you, me, Vinita the victim.”
They all laughed.
“He will call again,” Rishi said.
“Do you think so,” Vinita said.
Rishi said, “Sethi, tell us little more about your brother.”
Roger told them the story, how he always bailed out Bishambar, made him director of his all companies in India and everything about Bishambar. He also told them that just few days ago Bishambar’s son Sonny raped his employ and he was sleepless for several days.
Rishi said, “I bet they are here for more money.”
“Yes, I know. They will put up a drama, they always did. Usually I never argued with them but handed them whatever they asked for.”
“There you caused the damage, unearned money ruined their life,” Rishi said.
Roger was now very sad. “I wish I was poor.”
“You must thank God Sethi, you have a talent to make money. What you need is the talent to use your resources in such a way that you do not cause and damage to yourself, environment or somebody. You can do good things with money.”
“Rishi you are my charioteer, like Krishna drove Arjuna’s chariot. Please help me solve this problem today.”

Vinita’s cell phone rang again.
Vinita handed phone to Roger, “You talk to him he is your brother.”
Roger handed the phone to Rishi, “Now it is you and Ganga Mai, after this, I don’t want to listen to his voice again.”
Rishi pressed the button and said, “Hello”

4

Bishambar said to his son in anger, “She hung up upon me, she dared to hang up.”
“I will call the whore,” Sonny yelled angrily.
Bishambar said, “Let’s wait till office opens.”
“This same bitch is in-charge of the office. What difference it makes.” Son said.
“Oh, her days are over, she is finished. Even if I can’t fire her she would be packing up for Nagaland,” Bishambar said.
They came out of car and walked around aimlessly.
Sonny punched the number.
A man replied, “Hello.”
“Who are you; give the damn phone to the bitch, she works for us.”
“Now she is directly under the command of Roger.”
“What!”
Sonny was very scared now. He handed the phone to his Pa, he was so shaken up he didn’t even tell his Pa what the person on the other side said.
Bishambar now tried a different tone and said, “Hey woman, look, I give you a second chance, you behave and meet us in your office in few minutes, we have to talk to you about an important matter. If you cooperate you stay on this job. Otherwise you know what I said earlier.”
Rishi said, “Hello Mr. Bishambar, Roger happened to listen to both phone calls, and.”
Bishambar felt ground slipped away from his feet and felt pain in is chest and phone fell down from his hands.
Sonny picked up the phone and said, “We will call you again in few minutes.” He was about to disconnect but Rishi said.
“Are you in Uttarkashi?”
“We are very close, and who are you?”
“Look Sir, My name is Rishi and I am Roger’s messenger. Meet me at the public ghat, near suspension bridge.”
“I dunno where this suspension bridge is, wait a minute is, I will ask our driver.”
“Give the phone to driver.”
Driver talked with Rishi and handed back the phone to Bishambar. They sat in the car and it drove off to the town.
Bishambar placed a nitro pill under his tongue. His hands were trembling.
He said to his son, “Looks like this time we are in trouble, this Rishi says Roger has heard our talk with this bitch.”
“If Uncle Richie refuses to give us money, I will get a bullet in my head in ten days”
“I wish you were born dead. The only difference between me and Roger is that I have a bad son like you.”
Son rested his head in his hands. “I am very scared.”
Bishambar cell phone rang, it was his wife, “Where are you, did you find Roger.”
“Get off the phone.”
“Did you see today’s Financial Times?”
Bishambar yelled in anger, “There are no papers in this dump hole, what is in the paper?”
There are four pages of paid advertisements from business houses, all welcoming Roger to India. Government of India ran a full page welcoming advertisement. They say a Hero is visiting his home.”
Bishambar was even angrier. He disconnected the phone.


5

Roger and Vinita were listening attentively to Rishi’s conversation with Bishambar. When the talk was over Rishi gave the phone back to Vinita.
Hira Singh brought the tea in a tray.
Rishi said, “Your brother brought his son too.”
“I do not wish to see their faces. I came here to relax and it appears I have no such luck.”
“Sethi, leave your worries to Gangai Mai.”
“Thank you Rishi, please take care of this matter. I will abide by all your decisions, even if it costs me ten million dollars. Money comes and goes but solve this problem for ever.”
“I have no right to make a decision but I will consult you, I want them to leave Uttarkashi today.”
Roger said, “Amen!”
Rishi went to his room and came out wearing a loincloth. They again laughed.
Vinita said, “Are you are going to see the director of my company wearing this loincloth?”
They laughed again.
A donkey cart stopped at the new opening. An iron grill gate was lying over it. A mason and a labor also came with it they started installing that gate on the new opening in the wall.
As Rishi walked through the new opening, Roger yelled, “Good luck and be careful, they are dangerous people especially my nephew.”
Now Vinita and Roger were left behind. Vinita told Roger about her last night’s meeting with Rishi at ghat and how Rishi influenced her to checkout from her paying guest’s home.
“So he helped you to break that vicious circle.”
They sat in the silence and suddenly Roger said, “Let’s break my vicious circle too. It is now or never.”
“What do you mean?”
“I should go to the Ghat to settle this all by myself, you should come too.”

6

Morning sun was emerging from behind the mountain in the east. Rishi arrived on the ghat from the suspension bridge and greeted Hermit.
Hermit shouted, “Jai-Ganga-Mai.”
Rishi shouted back, “Jai-Ganga-Mai.”
“Your own a loincloth, I though you are a bum.”
Both laughed.
“You know I owe you the ghat washing,” said Rishi, “Last evening I got stuck.”
Hermit shook his head. “You owe me nothing,” he said, ”but certainly you owe Ganga Mai a bath.”
Rishi took the end of guard chain and entered into the roaring waters of Ganges one step at a time till he was in waist deep water. Water was even colder in the morning.
Hermit threw a bucketful of water over him and he was almost frozen but he knew Hermit did this on purpose to soak him complete otherwise it was too easy to get sick.
Rishi took a dip in the water but the chill of water stung him. He came out of bath and started washing the Ghat.

Roger and Vinita were over the bridge. Roger was thrilled to watch thundering and bubbling river under it.
Vinita pointed to the ghat, “This is where I sat with Rishi last night.”
“So this was the place, where Rishi pulled you out of that vicious circle.”
“Last night I learned that all vicious circles suck you in but one must break the pattern.”
Roger said in excitement, “Look Rishi is washing the ghat.”
Rishi was all wet in loincloth; he was filling a bucket from the river and was throwing it on the steps above.
Roger was amazed, “Why is he washing the ghat?”
“Probably he enjoys doing it.”
Rishi saw them and waved them to come down. Roger knew that his brother and nephew would be arriving there in few minutes. But actually he was having cold feet to confront with them.
They went to ghat and Rishi met them at the first step.
“They would be here soon; first let me do the talking,” Rishi said, “Let’s listen to their story, unless you want to see them first?”
Roger said, “They are dead to me. I am thorough with them.”
“Roger they may be dead to you, they threatened me with rape they are very much alive to me,” Vinita said.
Rishi said, “Well, leave all this to Ganga Mai.”
He turned to Vinita. “Give me your cell phone, they may call again.”
Roger and Vinita walked to the last step near the water and sat there. Rishi handed the phone to Hermit and said, “Gangagiri, please let me know if it rings.”
He resumed his Ghat washing.
Hermit never touched a cell phone so he started playing with it immediately.

Vinita tried to stand in the rushing current but she felt her feet were frozen in few seconds and she could not take it anymore and came out.
She said to Roger, “I always wanted to take bath here.”
He laughed. “Then take bath.”
“I can’t, water is freezing cold.”
Roger splashed cold water on her.
“Please don’t do this, I work for you and I am on the job.”
“In that case I order you to take bath.”
She smiled with a blush on her face.
Two other people were taking the bath and few pilgrims were sitting on the wet steps. Vinita walked down to the last step and took the guard chain and went in the water with her all clothes on. She jumped out immediately; she went pink with the cold. Suddenly Hermit threw a bucket full of water over her, Vinita screamed. Everybody, including Rishi laughed. Hermit threw another bucket full of water over her. This time Vinita felt she can bear the water. She entered again in the water and took a fast dip and then Roger helped her to come out. They sat on the last step, she was shivering but sunlight warmed her up in few minutes. She noticed that Roger was staring at her.

7

In an isolated section of road Bishambar asked driver to stop the taxi so they could change the clothes. Wish they had time to go to hotel and leave their suitcases but they were asked to come as soon as possible. Driver dropped them off at the cinema and directed them to the public ghat. They requested taxi driver to wait for them but driver was too happy to rid of them and left in a haste. They had to ask again in the market and arrived on the steps leading to the ghat.

Bishambar was confused with anxiety. In last twelve hours Sonny had a full bottle of whisky, migraine headache made him unable to think about anything else.
Bishambar lit another cigarette.
Why are we called on the ghat? Who was the person on the phone? We were pretty nasty to the lady and but what is done cannot be undone now. Hope we would see Roger and he would listen to us. I will make my best efforts to contain the damage. Hope all goes well. Is Roger on the ghat? No way! People of his caliber don’t walk on the Ghats with little people.

They arrived on the top of public ghat from the market, steps led down to the thundering waters or Ganges; a verandah was built at the beginning of steps. They dragged their suitcases to a step in the middle landing and stood there and looked around. Only few people were there; two people were taking bath in the bubbling water. A man and a lady in wet clothes were sitting on the last step near the water. Five pilgrims were sitting on the steps. A Hermit was standing near a small temple next to the river with a cell phone in his hand.
Sonny said sarcastically, “These beggars too can afford cell phones these days.”
A person was washing the Ghat and he was aware of their arrival but he continued washing. Some water splashed over son’s suitcase.
Son shouted, “Hey you blind, don’t you see we are standing.”
“Sir, please move your belongings,” Rishi said politely.
Hermit shouted to Bishambar, “This is a holy place, do not smoke here.”
“It seems like your father-in-law owns this ghat.” Sonny yelled to Hermit.
Hermit yelled back, “This is mother Ganges’s ghat. And who told you to bring these leather shoes here, are you blind can’t you read the sign? Go and remove the shoes and let us wash the ghat.”
Bishambar too was boiling with anger; he was not in the mood to take off his shoes.
He yelled, “You do not know whom you are talking? Be careful with your tongue or you would be regretting for the rest of your life.”
Hermit had no fear of them, he moved forward and yelled, “What did you say mister. You are nothing but dung here.”
Son was about to explode in anger.
Roger was aware of the whole situation but he did not look back. He wanted Rishi to handle the whole affair but Vinita was looking in their direction. Now everybody on the ghat was aware of the shouts.
Bishambar wanted to avoid any unpleasing situation so he asked his son to calm down. Hermit again reminded them to leave their shoes at the top of the Ghat.
Bishambar said to his Sonny, “Let’s wait above in the market, I am calling him.”
As they turned Bishambar called at Vinita’s number and phone in the hands of Hermit rang. Both Father and son were now staring at the Hermit in a rage. Hermit never used a cell phone in his life and was staring at it in confusion.
Father disconnected the phone and Hermit’s phone stopped ringing. Hermit took the phone next to his ears.
Father again autodialed the number and phone in the Hermit’s hand rang again.
Son yelled at his father, “That whore made us fool. Set this sting to harass us.”
Sonny jumped forward and punched Hermit on the nose and before Hermit had time to react a slap on his face came from the father.
Phone fell off from Hermit’s hand.
People surrounded both father and son, they were becoming hostile.
Bishambar yelled, “You don’t know who we are? Stay away from us.”
Son held his arms in martial arts position and people backed up.
Rishi left the bucket on the step leapt up to intervene. He picked up the cell phone.
“Gentlemen you hit an innocence person,” Rishi said politely, “this is not his phone. He was only holding it for me.”
Roger too stood up to intervene.
Hermit’s nose was bleeding and he silently walked to the water and washed his nose. People rushed to him to check the extent of the injury but luckily it was just the nosebleed. Hermit asked mother Ganges to forgive his assaulters.

Bishambar and Sonny were even angrier at the new twist in the drama. So the Ghat washer set up this sting to embarrass them. Rishi autodialed the last incoming call and Bishambar’s phone rang.
“So you arrived,” said Rishi.
Sonny nodded few times. “So you set us up with that bitch.”
Bishambar’s son had martial arts training he kicked Rishi on the chest, who lost his balance and fell three steps below. Rishi’s head hit the edge of a step and his face was full of blood instantly. Pilgrims and Roger rushed to him and prevented his further fall. In the frenzy of rush Bishambar and his son didn’t recognize Roger who was holding Rishi.
Vinita too rushed to Rishi, she was screaming in hysteria.
Bishambar caught her hairs with one hand one hand and slapped her on the face with other hand.
“So you are the whore we talked,” Bishambar said in anger, “bitch you live on our pieces and today your good days are over.”
Roger was attending Rishi, as he saw his brother pulling Vinita’s hairs he shouted to Bishambar, “stop it.”
But as Bishambar slapped her he rushed to stop his brother from further hurting her.
Sonny leapt at Roger but Bishambar recognized his brother and tried in vain to stop his son but it was too late. Son’s punch landed on Roger’s face with full force. Roger had intense pain in his eyes, he was unable to see anything and he covered his eyes with his hands and collapsed on the step.
Vinita was weeping. Now Hermit was with Rishi, to stop the blood he was pressing Rishi’s head against his own loincloth. Rishi said, “Please don’t worry, I am fine now, he sat on the ghat, he watched Roger being hit, Vinita walked to Roger and sat beside him and removed his hand from his eyes to look at. Area around his right eye was swollen and blue.
Father watched in horror. His son just hit the man whom Kings, Presidents and Prime Ministers wanted to meet.

Bishambar screamed to his son, “Dog, look what have you done, get to the feet of your uncle and beg for forgiveness.” Then he sat on the step and started weeping.
People were surprised to see the sudden twist of events and they slowly dispersed. Son realized what he has done, but was too confused and ashamed, his mind went numb. In last twenty-four hours he had finished a full bottle of whisky. He collapsed on a step and was staring at the mountains.

It took a while for Roger to regain his senses his vision was still blurred. Hermit walked Rishi down to the river to wash his wound with cold water of Ganges. Roger and Vinita also came down to check Rishi’s injuries. Cold water of Ganges stopped the bleeding and a cut was visible on his scalp. They sat on the ghat silently and cold water was touching their feet.
Roger was too humiliated to say anything tears washed his face and fell in the holy river.
Hermit left the ghat to the home of an unlicensed medical practitioner living just about hundred yards in the market.
Bishambar put up his mind together and walked down and sat next to Roger.
“Roger. I am very sorry about what happened, there was a misunderstanding,” he continued, “I can explain.”
Roger sat silently and did not reply. He eyes were full of tears and he was very sad.
Bishambar put his arm around Roger’s shoulder and said, “I am really sorry, I am under tremendous pressure.”
Roger stepped away from him,
Bishambar again moved next to Roger.
“I am your brother, your blood Roger, there was a misunderstanding, I can explain.”
But Roger did not say anything.
“We are under intense pressure Roger.”

Hermit appeared with a box, a doctor was following him. There was no need to tell who was the patient doctor saw blood on Rishi’s back and inspected the wound on his head.
Doctor said, “Only skin is torn, if it was a serous injury. You need few stitches.”
He took a scissors from his bag and cut Rishi’s hairs around the wound and washed the area with a pungent smelling liquid.
“I do not have any surface anesthesia, can you bear the pain?” Rishi nodded. Doctor asked Hermit to hold Rishi’s head so it won’t move, and made six stitches, Hermit watched it with curiosity. It was too much for Vinita to watch she started crying again. Doctor bandaged Rishi’s head and injected antibiotic in his arm and when he was about to leave, Vinita gave him a wet hundred-rupee note.
Hermit excused them and went to the temple.
Bishambar called his son. Sonny came to him.
“Touch the feet of your uncle,” and then said to Roger, “Roger I can explain, please listen to us.”
Roger said, “Please leave this town immediately, I have nothing to do with you.”
“I am your brother Roger, your blood, these people are misguiding you here, come back to Mumbai at your home.”
“You sold that home.”
Bishambar was shocked to hear this. Roger got the news from some other relative.
“Roger, you have no business with these people, they are after your money.”
“They are my friends, you are here for money. This time you won’t get anything. Enough is enough.”
These words hit Bishambar like a slap on the face; Sonny was standing behind him.
Rishi said to Bishambar, “Sir, you go in the market and find a room and don’t get too comfortable because you would be leaving this town before evening. I will give you call in two hours. Since you are here in the feet of Ganges, you can have a bath if you wish. Now that you have come here to this holy place, I promise, you won’t leave empty handed.”
Roger shouted to Rishi, “Don’t you see what they did here today? You won’t leave empty handed. Huh.”
Rishi said, “Roger I thought you will leave this matter to me.”
Listening this, Vinita got too furious but under no circumstances she was to contradict Rishi so she stayed silent.
Bishambar and Sonny picked their suitcases and walked to the market.

Rishi, Vinita and Roger crossed the suspension footbridge and walked in the market in silence. Vinita’s was wearing wet clothes and her other clothes were still at her previous residence. Rishi was wearing only a wet loincloth and a blood-soaked bandage on his head and Roger had a black eye. People were looking at them with curiosity. Rishi saw a gray colored funny looking plastic hat hanging outside a shop; he took it and wore it on his head. It was too big to his head and completely covered his bandage.
He asked shopkeeper, “I guess you have a matching mustache too.”
Shopkeeper and they all burst into laugher.
Only Vinita had money in a little purse, so she paid for the hat.
They passed a small section of the bazaar after the bridge and they were near hotel.
Roger broke the silence. “I wish I had words to express my sorrow. I intruded into your calm life and brought the menace.”
Rishi laughed, “Hey Man you throw away your sorrow in the Ganges.”
Vinita said to Rishi, “After all they did this to us, why you promised them? They are dangerous people; they will use all concessions only to harm others. They must be stripped off everything they got.”
“Can you strip off everything they got?” Rishi asked Roger.
“I wish if I could? It is not as easy as said,” said Roger.
Silence prevailed again.
“Rishi,” said Roger, “I know they need more money. You promised them they would not leave empty handed.”
Rishi said, “My promise has no value, decision lies with you.”
“And what is your plan,” asked Roger.
Rishi said, “Vinita, Please give me your cell phone.”
“It is not my phone, it belongs to Roger and Company.”
“Yes Madam, it is Roger and Company business.” Said Rishi.
“Take it and then please give it back to Roger, it belongs to his brother’s company. I live on their pieces.”
Roger was again sad.
Rishi said, “Stop it Vinita.”
Rishi autodialed the last incoming call and said, “Hello.”

8

Father and son carried their suitcases and walked to the market like two banished dogs. They rented the room in a decent looking hotel. Both were guilty and ashamed, they did not speak anything to each other. Events did not turn in their favor. They took turn to use bathroom. Both were evaluating the validity of ghat-washer’s promise. Bishambar fell on the bed and Sonny lied on the sofa. Both were very confused, they just they walked into the bad luck? Bishambar lit another cigarette. Sonny never smoked in front of his father but the feeling of the humiliation and the smell of smoke made his craving intense, he took a cigarette from his father’s pack and started smoking. They ordered a strong coffee.
Bishambar’s phone rang.
It was the ghat-washer whom his son hurt in the head.

Ghat washer said, “You should make a list of all the equity you have in Roger’s companies, including the stocky pegged upon your name to keep you on the board.”
“Why should I make that list? I want to talk to my brother.”
”Look Sir; please work this out this with me. It all does not go well you may go to jail today for all that you did.”
Bishambar missed a heartbeat and said, “I already apologized to Roger, I am sorry. That was a misunderstanding.”
“You and your son harassed and threatened to rape an employ of your company.”
Bishambar could hear his own heartbeat.
“OK I will make the list and will give you a call,” Bishambar replied meekly.
“You do not call, I will call. Second thing, this is Roger’s private visit, if it becomes news, it would be assumed that you broke the news.”
Before Bishambar could say anything line went dead.
Bishambar was too scared to call back. He took a long puff from the cigarette and said, “He is not just a ghat-washer. Who is he?”
Son said, “Every dog has his day, today is his day and tomorrow I will hunt him down.”
“Only if you are not dead in nine days, Roger won’t even come to your funeral?” Father took another long puff.

Rishi finished his call.
Roger said to Rishi, “Rishi that was very impressive.”
“Leave them to me and mother Ganges.”
“Done.” Roger nodded ten times.
In the hotel, Roger went to his room to take bath. Vinita went to Kanchan to borrow her clothes. Rishi sat on the chair and gazed on the mountains. He was looking very funny wearing a plastic large hat that covered his bandaged scalp.

Hira Singh’s wife Kanchan already went to Vinita’s previous residence and brought her belongings. Soon Hira Singh appeared, he was in the shock to see Rishi’s bandaged head and Roger’s black eye; he requested Rishi’s permission to teach the lesson to the people who hurt his guests but Rishi forbade him. Breakfast was served on the terrace. Vinita went to her room and tried to read a book then she remembered that she has to call Western Union agent for the money transfer from New York.
Roger was sad and depressed. He was feeling sick, his ears started roaring again and he collapsed on the bed. He wished he were back in New York where at least he could keep himself busy. He was deeply wounded by the recent events. Vinita’s sarcasm and attitude towards him was certainly not helpful.

9

In the evening Rishi again called Bishambar and asked him to come to the Ghat again. Bishambar protested because he was too humiliated to come to that Ghat again, even the though of that place made him sick. He requested Rishi to change the venue. Rishi insisted so Bishambar had no choice but to go there. Bishambar walked to the Ghat and this time he removed his shoes on the first step where other people’s shoes were lying. Rishi arrived at there at about same time he was wearing a funny looking oversized hat so Bishambar recognized him only after Rishi greeted him. Hermit was surprised to see Bishambar again and then he too recognized Rishi and yelled, “Jai-Ganga-Mai”.
Rishi yelled back, “Jai-Ganga-Mai”.
Hermit touched his hat. “So you bought a new bucket to wash the ghat.”
They laughed.
Hermit was very busy preparing for the sunset aartee so he didn’t wait for Rishi’s reply but left.
Bishambar and Rishi sat near the water.
“Where is my brother staying?” said Bishambar.
Rishi pointed to the hotel at other side of Ganges. “Don’t go there.”
“Who are you?”
“A nobody.”
“Here are the things you asked?” Bishambar handed him a folded paper and Rishi put it in his own pocket.
“I will look into it later on. Now tell me why you are chasing Roger?”
“I am in a crisis, I need money.”
“How much money you want?”
Bishambar pulled a pen from his pocket and found a paper from his valet and wrote a figure on it. “This much?”
Rishi felt a chill in his spine. He sat few minutes in silence.
“Why in the world you want this much money?”
“I can tell it to only Roger.”
“Roger has authorized me to conduct business with you.” Said Rishi.
“Mumbai underworld is after my son, he lost one illegal bet. Nine days are left to their deadline; they are charging us three percent interest each day.”
Both sat in silence for few minutes.
“I will pursue Roger to buy all your interest in his companies for fifteen percent premium, including the equity that is pledged towards your proxy vote but actually does not belong to you.”
“This means, I will lose the companies.” Said Bishambar.
“As a free citizen you could buy back the same stock from the market at anytime.”
Bishambar was shaking his head in disbelief.
“You can have a walk or go back to hotel and think about it,” said Rishi. “Meet me here at six in the evening.”
“This deal seems unreasonable. I didn’t come here to lose my companies but to borrow some money.”
“Go have a walk and think about it.”
Bishambar walked to his hotel. He wanted to smoke. He had to think. First shop he saw he bought a cigarette pack. He went to his hotel and found his son drinking, but they didn’t speak a word.
More Bishambar thought about the deal more he liked it. He made a calculation; he was getting a heavy sum of money for even those shares which were not even his own. He was always afraid of losing that money. He always thought Roger’s company’s stock was over priced. If he accepts this deal, he would be a very wealthy man. His son’s illegal betting debt was only a small fraction of the money he would be getting.
I would have money to buy back even more stock in Roger’s companies on any minor pull back or in a bear market, which is already due. Roger’s stocks are already selling at thousand percent above the book value. Of-course I would lose controlling interest in the Roger’s companies. I get no respect in Roger’s companies, everybody thinks me a freeloader. Everybody thinks that his filthy rich Roger gives me whatever I own. Every Director has few privileges in the companies they own but any time I tried to use a privilege I was seen as I was a petty thief. Each day brings me a new humiliation because Roger’s overpaid ivy-league Gestapo styled goons ran the show with iron fist. Why should I buy back the stake in Roger’s stinky companies? I would buy the controlling interest in the companies whose stock was currently undervalued. There are many other decent companies those can use my talent as a director.

Bishambar smoked many cigarettes. His mind was running fast.
All stocks move in sectors, I would buy depressed sectors and buy back my glory.
He thanked God for the opportunity, he was not a religious man but, indeed Ganges was a holy river and Uttarkashi was a place where wishes came true. In few more minutes I would be sitting with Rishi and accept the offer. It is apparent that Rishi is very close to Roger. He is probably a friend from the college or probably his new CEO for the new mining operations in Himalayas or may be in Canada. He washes the ghat for just to show Roger that he is a religious person. Religious persons are trustworthy, but this time Roger made a mistake hiring this fool Rishi, who was a nice man but a fool CEO. May be he is Roger’s chief financial officer.
Bishambar burst into laugh.
Holy Ganges! Rishi a CFO! Chief Financial Officer or a Chief Foolish Officer!
A fool and his money are always parted. This time Roger found himself a fool.
Bishambar laughed again.

I will put up a best show in front of Rishi so I could extract twenty five percent of premium on my stock.

Rishi came exactly after one hour and found Bishambar waiting. They again sat near the water.
Rishi was still wearing that hat.
He smiled. “So what did you think about the deal.”
Bishambar shook his head violently.
“I am sorry, the deal is unacceptable. I love my brother and staying with my brother’s company is like staying with him. We are a family.”
Rishi was not surprised. “OK, as you wish. In that case I will pursue Roger to arrange a bank loan with your personal equity as collateral.”
Bishambar’s mouth went dry; he could hear his heart thumping.
So this ghat washer Rishi is not a complete fool.
“Well my equity is no other then Roger’s equity, I hate pegging the family equity for a loan, and in that case I ask for twenty-five percent premium. I invested my sweat and blood to build these companies in such a short time.”
Rishi said, “Sir, you have only two choices. I am running out of time because sunset is about to happen, and aartee would start anytime. We must close this dead before sunset today.”
“OK, I accept the first option. It is understood that Roger wants to own my equity. In any case it stays in the family. He owns or I own, it is the same thing.” Bishambar said.
Rishi said, “Look Roger has no idea that I made you this offer.”
“Then who are you to waste my time?”
“I am here to solve many problems, yours, Roger’s and that innocence lady’s whom you harassed on the ghat.” Rishi replied.
“What this has to do with buying out my stake.”
“Because that lady happens to be my friend, either she stays in the company or you stay.”
“What if Roger does not agree with the deal you have just made here, in that case you had wasted my valuable time.”
“You are at a holy place by the mother Ganges. Your time is not wasted.”
Bishambar said in anger, “I am not here as a pilgrim.”
“No you are not a pilgrim, but I am. Roger promised me that he will abide by my decision but still he is the one who would decide.”
“OK,” Bishambar said in a broken voice
“We will use today’s closing prices for all the transactions,” said Rishi.
Bishambar felt a wave of relief because he watched CNBC in his room. Today was a bull rally and all of Roger’s company’s stocks closed higher.
Bishambar nodded, “Fine with me.”
“I forget to mention one small condition.”
Bishambar could again hear his heart thumping, “What is that.”
“I want your son’s resignation today in few minutes or before sunset. It is all typed here, all he has to do is to sign.”
“Why do we have to do it?” said Bishambar in sour voice. His son was engaged to a very rich family’s only daughter, his being jobless might create a nasty situation.
“I have to offer it to the mother Ganges.”
Bishambar said, “Give me about half hour to think.”
“Call him immediately or the deal is off.” Rishi took the bucket and started washing the ghat.
“Who are you?”
“A pilgrim.”
“My son needs not to resign. I can pay you the severance for your personal injury.”
“Your son’s resignation is my offering to Mother Ganges.”
Bishambar gave up, “OK, you win again.”
He called his son, “Dog, come here immediately.”
Son was drunk and he said in slurring voice, “Where.”
“There, where did you spill the blood today.”
“Oh at that Ghat”
“Yes, at that Ghat and don’t forget to remove your shoes this time,” he added, “and also cigarettes are not allowed here.”
Son appeared in five minutes, he was almost drunk.
“Because of your doings today you lost your job”, Bishambar said.
Son said sarcastically, “Who fired me? Even Roger can not fire me; there are labor laws in India.”
Bishambar said, “In that case you fire yourself.”
“Dad, what did you say?”
“I wish you had a choice, sign here.”
“I am not signing anything.”
Bishambar whispered in Sonny’s ears and his son signed the document.
A man appeared from nowhere.
Rishi said, “This gentle man is a Notary Public. He will attest this document.”
Notary Public said, “Now we need two witnesses.”
Rishi signed as first witness and he called Hermit who was about to begin aartee. Hermit put his thumb impression as the second witness.
Rishi handed the document to the Hermit who placed it next to his possessions in the small temple by the ghat.
“Hey! Wait a minute. I doubt the validity of your decision. You tricked us just to get the signature,” Bishambar said.
Hermit started the aartee.
“If that is the case you can pick that document back from the temple and now excuse me.”
Bishambar went to the temple and picked up the document, he was very confused. Then he changed his mind and placed the document back and came to Rishi.
“If it was a trick, it won’t work pall, I am no fool.”
High-pitched singing voice of Hermit and the noise of water made the conversation impossible.
Rishi shouted to them, “Go home, we are done.”

10

Father and son walked up the steps leading to market. They were in a rush to pack up and leave Uttarkashi. As they were at the last step, drunken son lost his balance and fell with a thud and rolled few steps down. Some people rushed to him but he said that he was fine. He stood up and they reached hotel. Bishambar unlocked the door and Sonny went back to his bottle and discovered that that he was not able to use his right hand. He was too drunk to notice any swelling or pain in his wrist. He used his left hand and had another drink. Bishambar was thinking of all the wealth he was about to get, only if Roger agreed. His son was engaged to a very rich family’s only daughter, seeing his son out of job they may back off the deal. Initially he was a bit disappointed but now he was feeling happy about it. If all goes well he would be free from Roger, a monster who money always overshadowed him and made him look small and undignified. His son Sonny would be running his companies rather one of Roger’s. Bishambar smoked more then twenty cigarettes. Doctor told him not to go near smoke but drink once a while. Today he wanted to celebrate. He took a glass and made himself a large drink.
He stuck his glass with Sonny’s. “Cheers! Let’s celebrate.”
Sonny was surprised. “I lost my job and you are celebrating.”
Bishambar told his son the whole story and they both were drank in celebration.
In two hours they were in no condition to leave the town. Bishambar said to his son, “Hell with Rishi, we would leave tomorrow morning.”

They finished up the bottle and ordered another one.
Bishambar’s phone rang; it was a call from the law office, which dealt with Roger’s stock underwriting business deals in India. Their lead attorney was on the line. “I believe you have agreed to relinquish your whole interest for a premium of fifteen percent at today’s closing prices.”
Bishambar said in excitement, “Yes, that is correct.”
“We will have paperwork ready by tomorrow noon, walk into our Delhi office anytime after tomorrow noon.”
“I can do it.”
“And I want to confirm that your son has resigned.”
“Yes he has.”
“Just to inform you; his resignation is effective immediately.”
“I see.”
“See you tomorrow.” Line went dead.
Bishambar said to himself, “Is this a dream or what. Finally I am rich and on my own.” He lit another cigarette and fixed a big drink. There was a big mirror in the room, he walked to it and touched his glass to the mirror and said to himself, “Cheers!”
It was very difficult to have first million and then money arrives by a pipeline.
Sonny went to the bathroom to relieve himself.

11

Rishi walked to the hotel and found Roger sitting alone on the terrace.
Roger said, “So how did the things go?”
“Be happy Roger, The meaning of the Uttarkashi is the place where one gets answer.”
Roger was too eager to know the outcome of Rishi’s meeting with Bishambar.
“I am going to find Vinita.” Rishi took the stairs and went to Vinita’s room she was helping Hira Singh’s kids in their school homework. She was happy to see him.
“How did it go Rishi?
“Come on the terrace. I have news for you too.”
Rishi turned back to the stairs and Vinita followed him.
As they were in the stairs Rishi said, “Vinita please take care of Roger, he is vulnerable. Don’t hurt his feelings. He likes you.”
Vinita was stunned to hear this and she abruptly stopped.
“What do you mean Rishi?”
“He likes you. Cheer him up and give him peace.”
“You mean he wants to marry me.”
“Marriage is not the only relation between a man and a woman.”
She did not reply.
Rishi found Hira Singh at the hotel reception.
“We want a bottle.”
“We, me and you?”
“You and me, Sethi makes three.” Hira Singh had another belly laugh..

Rishi found Vinita and Roger talking and laughing on the terrace. He took a chair next to them..
Hira Singh appeared with a bottle and glasses.
Vinita was not happy to see the liquor said to Rishi, “Now I get it, you went to ask for a bottle.”
Hira Singh said to Roger and Rishi, “Now is the time for you both to tell me who beat you up and why? Nobody tells me anything.”
Rishi said, “Sethi’s nephew beat us up.”
“Why?” Hira Singh was bewildered.
“Well you know, Sethi has tons of black money and money is the root cause of all evils.”
Vinita and Roger again burst into laughs. Only Hira Singh was serious. “I didn’t know Sethi Sahib has black money, he looks straight to me.”
Rishi said, “Well, it is black money because it came from the coal, not the other hidden black money.”
They laughed again.
“Why the nephew beat you up.”
“Well Sethi handed his brother a coal pit to run. Brother dug it up at wrong place but found just mud and lost money. He asked Sethi for more money and Sethi ran here to hide but brother had the sniffing dogs chasing Sethi and they found him and beat us up.”
Roger and Vinita were not able to control their laughs.
Now Hira Singh was also laughing. He said, “I though Sethi Sahib is here to find more coal.”
“Oh our Sethi Sahib is a Marwadi, he always hits two birds with a single stone. No matter where he goes, he is always on a look for more coal.”
Roger and Vinita were still laughing hysterically. Vinita started coughing and she said, “Stop it Rishi, it is enough.” Then she said to Hira Singh, “Rishi does not always tell truth.”
“But why Sethi Sahib’s nephew beat you up, you have nothing to do with his coal.”
“That is a very long story.”
Now Hira Singh was laughing, hardly he was able to say, “You guys just met yesterday evening and already it is a very long story.”
“They thought I am ganged up with Sethi against them so I got beaten. You know; a bad habit of mine to poke my snout in other people’s affairs.”
Vinita’s laughter turned into cough. Hira Singh gave her a glass of water.
She said, “Hira Singh, Rishi Sahib does not always tell truth.”
Hira Singh said to Roger, “is it true, Sethi Sahib?”
Roger was laughing so he was unable to reply.
Hira Singh put whisky in three glasses. He took his own glass and said “cheers! You guys have a good time. I have many things to do.”
Rishi said, “You can stay here Hira Singh.”
“I will come back after a while; don’t finish up the whole bottle.”
Roger was calm now he said to Hira Singh, “I just bought some coal mines, and Rishi is not telling you a complete lie.”
Hira Singh left merrily.
Roger and Rishi said cheers and sipped their drinks.
Vinita laughed and said, “Sethi’s black money. Hope you didn’t make Sethi poor today.”
They laughed again.
Vinita said to Rishi, “I don’t like people drinking.”
“Me too.”
She laughed. “You fool! And then why are you drinking.”
“Oh, I said people. Not me.”
Roger said, “It was a hell of a day.”
Vinita asked Roger, “You didn’t tell us how much money you lost today.”
Roger said, “Well! I won’t lose any money, there won’t be a street sale but companies will buy back the stock and price would go up further because it shrinks the number of shares in the market and investors feel that company has faith in its own stock.”
“Then stock will be dumped back in the market at higher price,” Rishi said.
Roger said, “It is just a game.”
“Jai-Ganga-Mai,” and Hermit appeared from nowhere.
Rishi shouted back, “Jai-Ganga-Mai. Did you jump from the sky?”
“No I took the stairs.”
They all laughed.
“How you all are,” Hermit said, “Today was a very bad day.”
“Have a seat, Gangagiri . We are here in the feet of Mother Ganges. No day is a bad day here.”
Gangagiri didn’t show any interest in taking a seat but said to Rishi, “I have to talk with you in private.”
“Have a drink Gangagiri. You used to drink,” said Rishi.
“Who told you? Nobody knows this in Uttarkashi.”
Vinita looked at Rishi with a smile “That is not important,” she said, “See I saved you a breath.”
“Yes! That is not important,” said Rishi.
Gangagiri was clearly in a shaken up condition.
“But how do you know,” he said. Before coming to Uttarkashi Gangagiri was a heavy drinker.
Rishi ignored his question and said, “Would you like to care for a drink.”
“I was a heavy drinker. I was a kind who knows how to open a bottle but was unable to stop. Ganga Mai gave me will power. Now I am complete drink free. May Ganga Mai would set me free from the bondage of life and death.”
Roger and Vinita were listening to Hermit with interest.
Rishi said, “You said, you were a kind who knew how to open a bottle but was unable to stop.”
“Yes.”
“Ganga Mai gave you will power,” Rishi said.
“Yes.”
“Today. Can you start and stop at will.”
Gangagiri was trembling. Rishi rose and brought chair to him and he sat.
Rishi put his arm around Gangagiri and said very politely, “It you can’t? That is no willpower Gangagiri.”
Vinita broke in, “Rishi stop it, Gangagiri-Ji please tell Rishi that drinking is not a good thing.”
“Rishi Sahib is right, I have no willpower,” Hermit said, “I came here for some thing else. Actually what am I going to say concerns you all here.”
“What is that Gangagiri-Ji,” Roger asked.
“Today morning when that boy hit me, I asked mother Ganges to forgive him. But when the boy hit Rishi Sahib, I got very angry. I performed black magic on the boy.”
Rishi said, “What do you think black magic would do to him.”
“His right hand would damage. That’s what my intention was.” Gangagiri said.
Rishi said politely, “That is no good Gangagiri.”
Nobody said anything for a minute.
“Can you undo it,” Rishi asked Gangagiri.
Gangagiri nodded and said, “The way we undo our black magic is that we request our supreme deity to fail the curse.”
“Ganga Mai is your supreme deity.” Rishi said.
Gangagiri nodded.
“Please undo it Gangagiri. Do it immediately. Leave the judgments to the Ganga Mai.”
“Yes! You are right. Ganga Mai will take the revenge.”
“No Gangagiri. Never ever use the word revenge. Whatever happened today was arranged by the Ganga Mai.”
“Yes in that case revenge has no meaning.” Hermit had tears in his eyes and he left.
“Do you really believe in Black Magic,” asked Roger.
Rishi replied, “No.”
“Then why you asked him to undo it. He was very disturbed.”
Vinita said, “He was visibly shaken.”
“Because he believes in it, he had a burden on his consciousness that’s why he came here,” said Rishi.
Vinita said to Roger, “Rishi helped him to relieve that burden.”
Rishi said, “He had a burden, that’s why he came here.”
Roger laughed, “First he did the one foolish thing and now he will do another foolish thing.”
“Rishi,” Vinita said, “I am unable to understand one thing. You said to Hermit that whatever happened today was arranged by the Ganga Mai, but you yourself took the whole affair in your own hands or as you said, you and Ganga Mai.”
Rishi replied, “I have no burden on my conscience but Hermit has. Hermit did not dedicate his act to mother Ganges; he had revenge in his mind.”
Vinita smiled.
Suddenly it started raining and they moved the chairs in the Veranda and room boy said dinner would be ready soon.

12

Bishambar heard a thud from the bathroom. He yelled, “Not again you fool.”
Son came out of bathroom and he was holding his badly swollen blue looking right hand in his left hand. He tried to make another drink.
“Oh My God!” Bishambar jumped from his chair and looked at his son’s hand in horror. It was hanging from his arm.
He used hotel phone to call reception, “I need an ambulance immediately.”
Desk clerk replied, “Sir, I doubt if we can get you an ambulance.”
“Then call a doctor.”
A doctor came in about half hour. He saw the patient and injected an anti-inflammatory drug in his arms and said, “He needs a surgery. We have very basic facilities here, I suggest you to take him immediately to Dehradoon or Delhi or he may lose his hand. First you must see an orthopedic surgeon here so he could access the damage and made some temporary sling etc.”
Bishambar begged to doctor, “Please find orthopedic surgeon. I will pay you for all of your troubles.”
Now Sonny was also worried about his hand, he tried to make another drink but father slapped him hard on the face. It was midnight they woke up an orthopedic surgeon and but the X-Ray technician took away X-Ray room keys; he lived in a village on the mountain and had no phone. Orthopedic surgeon told them to go to Dehradoon immediately, which was a six-hour mountain drive. Surgeon temporarily immobilized his hand by a piece of plywood and a sling.

Bishambar had his travel agent’s business card in his valet, he called that number but call was gone unanswered. Luckily travel agent returned his call after half hour and Bishambar told him that he needs a helicopter in urgency. Travel agent again called back after one hour and said, “A helicopter would be coming from Bareilly. They said it could only fly in daylight. They expected it to arrive in Uttarkashi at seven in the morning.” Travel agent already had his corporate credit card number and payment was good as gold.

13

Don was pacing nervously in the verandah of his Dubai villa.
Cell phone rang; Abdul took the call, it was his brother from Mumbai.
“Sir, we got happy news from Sonny. He says, money would be ready in a day or two.”
“Good, Good, Good. Bonito! Bonito! Bonito.”
“Sir, Danny asks what to do with the money.”
“Tell him to send it to Nigeria immediately. Dealer is ready with another consignment of uncut diamonds.”
“Very well sir.” Abdul gave the message to Don’s brother Denney and placed the phone back on the table.
“Abdul, bring my Spanish learning kit.”

End of Chapter 4