Akhil Sharma - An Obedient Father

Mr. Tuli was among the BJP men. He had such a quick walk that his white hair seemed an affectation. Mr. TuH was high up enough in the BJP that he could commit the party to a decision. I moved over to him and after saying "Namaste" did not wait for him to return the greeting. "Ajay brought it on himself," I said. "He must have been taking money and making promises, and maybe the people who gave him the money realized he couldn't keep his promises." I think some irrational part of me just wanted to finish the betrayal and so had set me jabbering.

Mr. Tuli kept repeating, "God's name is Truth," but he looked at me.

I was leaning over slightly, like a pimp whispering, "Girl. Girl." "In India," I said, "it doesn't matter if you were powerful once, or famous once. That's why there are these once-rich businessmen, like the Biscuit King, who get murdered in police custody You have friends only as long as you are powerful." We had slowed down as I spoke, and now people were bumping into us. We sped up.

"It depends on the kind of friends you make," Mr. Tuli said.

I wondered if he was indicating willingness to offer friendship. "I believe in the BJP." Fear gave my voice more fervency than I had intended.

"Of course you do." We were looking into each other's eyes as we moved at almost a trot.

"I am a poor man who's had to raise three children on a peon's pay. Three daughters. Would you condemn a man for stealing to feed his family or marry his daughter?"

"You have two daughters, not three."

"But my son is stupid and so is dependent like a daughter." Mr. Tuli did not say anything to this. "God's name is Truth," I cried.

"I can't help you."

I knew the disgust in his voice could not last. "Mr. Gupta has lost the election. I have given Congress the money we stole from them. Less than we stole. I will give you the rest of Mr. Gupta's money if you promise no one in the BJP will hurt me or my family"

Mr. Tuli grimaced. "I've been loyal till now. I am only in trouble because I believed in the BJP. You don't want Mr. Gupta representing you. He's dirty all over. I am giving you his money. You can withdraw your support of him, and people will think the BJP is honorable not to back a corrupt candidate. If you don't help me, I'll have to trust in Congress."

"You believe in nothing."

We walked to the B-block bus stop without talking. The silence began making me nervous. Mr. Tuli could choose not to deal with me simply because he did not like me. After all, the money I was offering the BJP was not going into his pocket.

Near the bus stop an ambulance was standing under a neem tree. Several cars, jeeps, and vans were parked beside it. There was a water cart surrounded by funeral goers. The ambulance back was opened and Ajay's coffin was slid onto the floor. The bearers and Mr. Gupta climbed in and sat on the benches which ran along the sides of the ambulance.

"How much money?" Mr. Tuli asked. We were standing next to a white Ambassador sedan. People were within two or three feet of us and I imagined they could hear.

"Five lakhs." Being asked about money increased my confidence.

"Have you no shame or pride?" he asked, looking at me.

"I am afraid." Mr. Tuli's clean white hair, his broad, sturdy shoulders irritated me. "Will you promise me?" He did not say anything. "What use is it hating me now? The election is lost."

"Are you coming to the crematorium?"

"No." When this did not lead to an answer, I hissed, "Mr. Gupta steals from children. He should be hijacking school buses and stealing lunch money." Mr. Tuli emitted a startled giggle. "Do you want to give him the BJP's support?" Car and van doors were shutting. "Promise me no corruption charges. No beatings."

Mr. Tuli and I looked at each other for a minute. "Yes."

I was so relieved I thought for a moment that I had not heard correctly. I gave Mr. Tuli the bank deposit books.

I

Other than teUing Anita what had happened, I had nothing to do that evening. I went onto the roof and stood watching the sky tilt from blue into red. It was the first time in a month and a half that I did not think I should be accomplishing something. There was a breeze. The day's traffic noises were easing. I thought of my improving health and all the years ahead of me. I had expected to feel guilt, but did not.

We had dinner, lentils and rice, on the roof I was cheerful. "We're eating in the dark because your mother doesn't want us to see what's in the food," I said to Asha. Anita had been with Pavan most of the day and kept staring at things, the ground, a plate, and blinking slowly.

We watched the Hindi and English news on television. Anita had to be told about my betrayal because Ajay's funeral ceremonies were continuing the next day and she was supposed to attend. By then the BJP would probably have informed Mr. Gupta the party was withdrawing his nomination and he would have learned what I had done. Anita and Pavan's new friendship made me afraid that she would be angry at me instead of glad I had protected us. The television was turned off I did not tell her what I had done. Anita and Asha went upstairs to their cots.

In the morning we ate breakfast. Asha went to school. Anita dressed for the next part of the funeral.

I was sitting on my cot in my underwear and undershirt. I also had socks on because I kept thinking maybe Mr. Gupta had not learned and I should go. "Why aren't you dressed?" Anita asked from the common room.

"I gave the money to the BJP and Congress." There was no need to identify what money. Anita entered my room and stood before me. Her lips were sunk at the ends. "Seven lakhs to Mr. Maurya for Congress and five to Mr. Tuli, who works for the BJP and is reliable." Anita kept looking at me. "I'm sorry," I said.

Anita turned and left. A little later I heard the living-room fan whirl.

Neither Anita nor I went to Mr. Gupta's.

That evening Mr. Gupta called. I was in my room, and Anita and Asha were on the roof getting laundry. Only after sitting on the sofa did I pick up the phone. I had been planning for this.

The ordinary introductory hellos let me understand that Mr. Gupta was not sure what I had done. "The BJP is not going to sponsor me," he said.

I waited and then said, "I know."

"You know?" Mr. Gupta sounded surprised.

"The BJP came here yesterday and told me. They took all the bankbooks. They said the money had been raised in their name."

"Why didn't you phone me? You should have phoned immediately"

"It was done. What good would phoning you be?"

Mr. Gupta was stunned for a moment by this answer. The odd-ness of my reply, I believed, might just possibly lead him to believe I had not acted willingly. Mr. Gupta began shouting. "You think I can't count. I know. I understand. You sold me into slavery"

"Several men from the BJP came here last night. They told me."

"I can have you killed."

"They told me I had to give them the books or they'd put me in jail. You are like my older brother," I said. Anita came into the room and I repeated everything for her to hear. "There were four BJP men. They said that you weren't their candidate anymore and if I didn't give them the money, they had a police jeep in the alley to take me away in. They said they would take me, shoot me in the chest, and throw my corpse in a ditch. Anita and my granddaughter were crying."

Anita leaned into the phone. "Guptaji, it's true. That's what happened. What could we do?" I was amazed by her joining me. "One of them grabbed my neck. Asha, my daughter, was crying."

Mr. Gupta hung up. I put the receiver in its cradle. Anita smiled

nervously and sat on the bed. My heart was racing. We did not talk for several minutes.

Anita's lips began turning down. "I should go see Pavan. Maybe Mr. Gupta would have a harder time doing something then."