Vikas Swarup - Six Suspects

'OK, I'll see you there.'

'See you. '

Beep. Beep. Beep.

'Bhaiyyaji, Prem Kalra wants to speak to you.

'Who?'

'Prem Kalra. The editor of the Daily News.'

'Oh, that swine? OK, put him on.'

Beep. Beep. Beep.

'Hello, Prem. You have remembered me after a long time.'

'I will not take much of your time, Home Minister Sahib. I just wanted to get your comment on the death of Rukhsana Afsar.'

'Yes, it is very sad. She was a loyal party worker.'

'Why do you think she committed suicide?'

'How would I know? You should ask the police.'

'Do you know that she has left behind a suicide note?' (Pause.)

'What does the note say?'

'It says, "Darling Jagannath" and then it has a couplet from Ghalib. A rather good one:

'Hum ne maanaa ke tagaaful na karoge lekin

Khaak ho jaayenge ham tumko khabar hone tak.

I do agree that you won't delay,

But I will die by the time you arrive.'

'A very fine couplet indeed. But what has that got to do with me?'

'It is said that you were having an affair with her and then dumped her.'

'Lies. All lies. I hardly knew her.'

'She has been seen in your company on many occasions.'

'I am a public person. And you know in public life one meets many people, including women. Doesn't mean that I have affairs with all of them. I am a happily married man.'

'There is also a tape.'

(Longer pause.)

'What kind of tape?'

'An audio tape.'

'And what is there on this tape?'

'Plenty. It has you talking to her, quoting some rather nice Ghalib couplets. I especially like the part where you tell her your opinion of the Chief Minister.'

'How did you get this tape?'

'It was mailed to me by Rukhsana just before her death. She must have taped you when you were in her bedroom.'

'Do the police know about this tape?'

'No. It is in my custody. Do you want me to play a few snippets?'

(Pause.)

'Well, Home Minister Sahib?'

'What do you want, Prem?'

'The truth.'

(Laughs.) 'That is the first causality of journalism. Every man has his price. Name yours.'

(Pause.)

'Twenty lakhs in cash and one year of government advertisements for my paper. No bargaining.'

'I can do the first, not the second. You need to talk to the Information Minister for the advertisements.'

'Then it will cost you thirty lakhs.'

'Twenty-five.'

'We have a deal.'

'Mukhtar?'

'Yes, Boss?'

'An arms consignment has to be picked up from Nepal.'

'Might be tricky, Boss. The border is very heavily policed these days. We don't want the consignment to be intercepted, do we?'

'No problem. Use one of my official cars. The one with the blue beacon. Bring the consignment over the border and take it straight to our godown.'

'That will be perfect, Boss. No one will dare intercept the Home Minister's car.'

'Hello. This is Seema.'

'Hello, jaaneman. Where have you been? I haven't seen you for a week.'

'I was busy. Had to cover the Awadh Festival. And also the stage show, the biggest ever in Lucknow. The reigning queen of Bollywood was there.'

'Arrey, why do you run after these film stars? They have no respect. They are ready to dance like hired eunuchs at a wedding for money.'

'But still half of Lucknow was there to see the performance. I think Shabnam really stole the show.'

'Who is this Shabnam?'

'Shabnam Saxena. She is the hottest actress in India at present.'

'I don't know these new heroines at all. The last film I saw was Mother India. What acting Nargis did!'

'You don't know the names of the heroines, but your son is now a big producer.'

'Yes, Vicky fancies that line. I keep miles away from it. And for me, you are better than any film star.'

'Now don't butter me up. Tell me, have you done my work?'

'What work?'

'The liquor contract for my uncle in Phaphamau?'

'Yes, yes, consider it done. But you know it has cost me a packet.'

'How?'

'The liquor tender for Phaphamau is traditionally taken by my man Shakeel. I had to tell him not to bid this time to accommodate your uncle. I will now have to compensate him in other ways.'

'And I will compensate you in bed.'

'Yes, you'd better.'

(Laughter.)

'Can I speak to Home Minister Jagannath Rai?'

'Speaking. Who is this?'

'This is Superintendent of Police Navneet Brar, Sir. I am calling from Bahraich.'

'Oh, Navneet. How are you? I hope this stint in Bahraich has drilled some sense into your head. So are you calling to apologize for your past mistake?'

'No, Sir. I am calling to inform you that I have just seized your official vehicle. It was returning from Nepal when it was stopped at a checkpoint in my area and discovered to contain a cache of AK-47 rifles. Your driver somehow managed to escape, but I have confiscated the entire consignment and I am in the process of having an arrest warrant issued against you for aiding and abetting a criminal activity.'

'What? You are daring to arrest the Home Minister?'

'I will be arresting a known criminal who has blatantly misused his official position.'

'Navneet, do you know the consequences of tangling with someone like me? Do not be under the illusion that just because you wear a uniform, you are protected. I can have you squished like a fly within minutes.'

'What will you do? Tell that spineless Director General of Police Maurya to transfer me again? Well, that won't work this time because I have spoken directly to the Chief Minister and he has personally given me authorization to proceed against you. Fortunately, there are still a few principled politicians in our State.'

'Then you do what you want to do. And I will do what I have to do.'

(Disconnect.)

'Dad?'

'Yes, Vicky?'

'There is just one week left until 15 February. D-Day.'

'Why are you getting so worked up? I got the verdict fixed back in November.'

'I heard that some additional demands have been made.'

'That is part of the game. A lion has to feed the vultures.'

'So I can sleep easy?'

'You can. I wish I could say the same for me.'

'Why? What's been bugging you?'

'A crazy police officer has spoiled my sleep. He had the temerity to issue an arrest warrant against me. It took me two days to convince the Chief Minister that having the Home Minister of the State arrested would not be good for the party's image.'

'You need to do something about this Chief Minister, Dad.'

'I will. But first I have to do something about that police officer. I have put Mukhtar on the job.'

'Jagannath?'

'Yes, Chief Minister Sahib.'

'The death of Navneet Brar in the landmine blast has come as a great shock to me.'

'To me as well, Chief Minister Sahib. He was one of our most capable police officers. All his life Brar bravely fought the terrorists, but they ambushed him in the end.'

'Tell me, Jagannath, did you have anything to do with his death?'

'What are you saying? Everyone knows he was killed by the Naxalites operating on the India-Nepal border.'

'But you had a run-in with Brar recently. He impounded your car and was planning to have you arrested.'

'I never took it personally, Chief Minister Sahib. Don't forget, it was I who got Brar posted to Bahraich in the first place. And it wasn't really my car. The arms-smugglers were using fake number plates and an unauthorized beacon. Brar simply did his duty in intercepting the car. That is why I think it would be a very good gesture if we were to give him some posthumous honours.'

'What did you have in mind?'

'Recommendation for the President's Police Medal for Gallantry. An ex-gratia payment of twenty lakhs to the family and a Class One job for his widow.'