Page.9.

Chapter 22. THE CASH COW.

He was travelling from Delhi to Madras by superfast express.He deposited his things in his coupie and went ahead to the pantry car. He saw her, on entering the car. She was seated in a corner. She was busy reading some paper-book, sipping tea. She must have seen him entering. She behaved as if she had not. He also ordered a tray of snacks and tea.Then he turned and stared at her.
She was conscious. It means contact was done. She crossed her legs. She tugged her skirt down and continued reading. His presence was marked.

The diners braced them against the lurching of the superfast on a curve. Then it seemed to shake itself straight again, it picked up the speed. Beneath, the iron wheels clacked on the tracks returning to normalcy. It was the movement of the train that made him behave so. It is observed that when one is on a moving vehicle, say a car, a bus or a train or an aeroplane, they are sexually stimulated.

She closed her eyes and gave herself to the memory of good old days. She was lost in the past. It was about ten years back.
She was just seventeen and in the first year of the college. He was the College-General Secretary. He was in his last year. It had begun with the annual function celebrations.
She was cast as Portia in the "Trial Scene of the Merchant of Venice," to be staged and performed with renaissance costumes and all that. She possessed that air of superiority and self-confidence rarely seen in a teenage. She appeared like an honourable lady commanding and demanding respect wherever she happened to go. She was the daughter of an international art-dealer. She had accompanied her father last June to Europe during the vacation. She was not an ordinary Tina Meena or Reena. She was a celebrity's offspring.

In the first instance she had refused to play any part in the social activity. He insisted that she would volunteer herself for the try-outs and rehearsals. Principal Kotwal and the Head, Mr. Buch persuaded her and assured her of all the facility and arrangement of timing would be made as per her convenience. It was just for fun. It would be fun. It would be good to get out of the house in the evenings under the pretext of preparation for staging the one piece scene from the Merchant of Venice and rehearsals. But she had remained adamant. The matter seemed to have ended there.

One evening he intercepted her. He said that the girl who was selected in her place was poor in dialogue-delivery. He asked her to shelve all her misgivings about social activity and for the sake of the reputation of the college. She should return and agree to perform the Portia part as the lawyer in the Trial scene against Shylock, the adamant Jew merchant. She would be a perfect match against Shylock.

On her part, it seemed she was not in a position to endure the monotony of the house caged all evening in attending family affairs and all that. She said she would consider.

She recalled now, how there was suspense all around, about the success of an English drama being staged in renaissance costumes, make-up and in an atmosphere of the Shakespearean stage. What had attracted her was the creativity of the entire episode and the veterans, Dinesh, Mulvant, Rehman sisters, Arvin, Mayur, Hena, selected for the roles of Shylock, Antonio and the Duke, Bassanio, Nerissa, etc.

Antonio is the rich merchant of Venice. 

Antonio, the merchant of Venice, in order to help Bassanio, borrows three thousand ducats from Shylock. He lends him the money under an agreement that Antonio shall forfeit a pound of his flesh in default of payment on the day the bond falls due. Antonio signs the bond thinking it a mere form of no significance. Antonio's ships are reported wrecked and all cargo lost in the sea. The Jew insists that he be given a pound of flesh of his body and nothing else.

 Portia as a lawyer, pleads the cause of Antonio, with such eloquence and logic that Shylock not only loses his case, but also has his property confiscated for plotting against the life of a Venetian.

In the initial days she thought of him as unattractive and average boy with normal standard of intelligence and bearing, although his speech was quiet and charming.
On the stage he had an air of a leader. He made every one of them toil and shed tears for slight mistake. He made each of them seat before him in the folding chair and read their respective part again and again. At times, he paced up and down the stage lost in thought.

She was annoyed and she did not sleep for the night. She asked her brother to be with her. They caged themselves in her room. The brother made her stand before the mirror.
She virtually crammed her lines of dialogue by heart. The brother helped her wherever she faltered or missed the lines. They performed for few hours straight non-stop. Again in the morning after breakfast they redid the same thing again. Now she felt the lines of dialogue come to her lips automatically. Again in the afternoon, they repeated the same. She gained some confidence. Next day she reported herself at the time of the rehearsal.

He ordered that rehearsals will take place six days a week, non-stop. The rehearsals were in progress in the auditorium hall. After one such session, he asked her to go with him for intensive personal coaching. His manner was impersonal; although he never stopped staring at her with those burning eyes of dislike for her. Script in hand they had gone to his room. She found him friendly, than she had ever seen him. He was telling her of his life all the ups and down and his success and all his failures. He told everything. She on her part had opened up herself. She told him everything about her life from the child hood days to the days of being a maiden virgin. She was still a virgin and had not tasted the fruits of love in conjugal unity of man's body with her. She long back anticipated it.

When he suggested drinks, she accepted. She never drank. She was nervous and afraid. She was at an unknown place at his mercy.

One glass turned into two. Two became four and like that. Rehearsal had been forgotten. She was sitting beside him. She was not afraid. He was more friendly than he had ever been. He was telling her, about his life right from childhood days to the time he came to this college. On her part, she was engrossed in telling him her part of life in detail as much as she could but there was no hilarious experience and suspense in her straight and smooth life. She tried to bring colour to her narration by emphasising certain details about the neighbourly boy who was mad after her and all that.

She was unprepared for him. She felt him much older and mature and dominating. It happened so gradually and normally that she accepted him as one of the facts of life,
One of the accredited member of her life to whom she could tell anything and everything.

After a few visits to his room, on one occasion she was surprised to find him leave his chair and come to her and comfort her and hug her in token of appreciation of her work.
How it happened, she could not really, say. She now openly poured out her hurts and objections her limitations about the role and all that.

Sometimes he held her in his arms till she sobered down and resumed her dialogues. He would gently massage the back of her neck until she relaxed. In time, the physical interludes, with him became more important to her than the moral support he extended to her in enduring her short-comings.
She began to dress now for those moments, when he would touch her. Button front sweaters were replaced by black or red turtleneck.

At the end of the rehearsal, he would take her in his arms. Then the stroking fingers, would find the way to the narrow gap. In the meantime she would hear the familiar honk of the car horn from downstairs. It was time to leave. Her driver had come to take her home. It became a practice to bid good-bye.

One evening she appeared in pleated skirts with starch-white top tied with a lace which meant the message was clear. Wordlessly he pulled her towards him.

Both turn by turn narrated even smaller events in their life in detail. She did not remember when he had taken her hand and she even today cannot remember whether she had kissed him or he had kissed her first. She only felt that both had remained in each other's embrace for all the time and that she held his hand tightly when both of them walked into the inner room.

The voice she heard about the honking of the car horn. She paid no heed. He can wait. That is his job to wait on her.. She took her own time. She left without any further talk.

Next day she attended the rehearsal as usual. She performed normally and with self-confidence. He behaved as natural and normal as he had always been. He found some improvement in her performance. He wanted to depict the role of Portia as a tough and mature type of a lawyer and there should be so much of force and authority and weight in her words that the rough and tough Shylock should be subdued and silent and at her words. She had to control that rascal character of Shylock.

He had wanted to transform her overnight in a match for the brutal tactful tactics of that Jew merchant. She had complied with all his suggestions and adapted herself to the role of a mature seasoned lawyer named Portia. Again a few days later, she attended one more rehearsal at his room. She was amazed herself, she could perform normally. On his part, he was a normal self pure businesslike and annoyed and worried about the outcome of the show.

Again, one more day, he signalled her to wait for him. He got busy in winding up the affairs of the hall and they left like an elderly couple going for a walk.

This time they did not drink and hardly spoke and this time it was not a suspenseful event. It was a routine event. Returning from the rehearsals, her flash gave off a new and unknown receptiveness that could be sensed and seen how so ever she tried to act normal and natural in the midst of her members of her house.

Finally the rehearsals ended. The show was scheduled to be held on the Christmas Eve. A large number of audience had gathered out of curiosity about the outcome of the programme. Big dignitary like the Governor and the Mayor were the Chief Guest. Many filmdom celebrity were scheduled to attend.

The curtain opened with the Duke of the Court of Venice and all parties anticipating the Trial of Merchant of Venice. Antonio was handcuffed and stood with a policeman in a sort of wooden cage. The Duke called the court to order. The Duke was sorry for Antonio that an upright man like Antonio was brought in the Court to answer a stony adversary and inhuman wretch of a man like Shylock. The Duke asks Shylock to shed cruelty and show mercy.

Portia enters the court and takes over the proceedings. Antonio accepts that he had made the bond. Portia pleads Shylock to bestow mercy on the man. The Jew counter-questions as to why he should show mercy? In the court-room, pandemonium broke loose when Portia rose to her full height and confronted him:

 Portia: -
" The quality of mercy is not strain'd
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven,
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes,
The throned monarch, better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherin doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this scepter'd sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice,. Therefore Jew,
Justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice, none of us,
Should see salvation; we do pray for mercy."

Portia pleads his case with such eloquence and logic that Shylock,not only lost his case, but also had his property confiscated.
There was an all round band of admirers and well-wishers. The Mayor very happily bestowed shower of praises for the programme.
And the show went on successfully and ended with great applause from all present. The role of Shylock, Portia and Antonio surpassed every one's expectations and proved very appealing. The applause was thunderous.

The show had ended. Now there were no rehearsals and all that meeting. Now there was no scope of regular outing and all that. Their affair became very irregular depending upon a chance if they could find. What had started, begun casually, turned out to be a serious affair. Not since the first time she had felt any pang of guilt. It was all too satisfying and full.

Today, she recalled her liaison with him and was lost in the sweet old memories. She lay on her back. Her eyes were closed. Her arms were limp. She had her one arm over her forehead. Her breath came in short gasps. Her heart hammered. She felt drained and spent. He kissed her till she had wanted that she would scream. Involuntarily her eyes had got closed. So that she could not see. So that by not seeing, to avoid being an active participant in guilt, and shame. She waited it to be done. She waited and waited and it was not done and suddenly she found herself taking the initiative and she was an active participant in the game of love without her realising so as she had never experienced and wanting it never done and never ending.

The Meaningful Beauty..

Of course, she never denied any of it aloud,

Of course she never agreed to any of it in private.

What could he make for his love for her?

He was warned of the dangers of any romantic attachment.

This was his weakness.

He was ignoring the Advice.

He had come for attending a limited issue and go back.

As fate would have it, it lasted 18 years.

Quite simply put, the very sight of her, the very sound of her

made him change his resolution.

The way she moved, her happiness, her sorrow, all this,

made him love her. 

The world was pleasant when she was with him.

He felt the food was delicious. 

He did not feel the mid-day heat.

He felt the mid-day cool and enjoyable.

He had heard her voice this very morning.

He had phoned her that he was coming.

He had caught happiness in her voice on hearing this.

Of course she made no comments about it.

He had faith some day she would truly love her.

She was an exception. 

She was perhaps the only woman on this earth

who dressed to try to down-play her beauty.

Not that she tried to look ugly but she came to

regard her beauty as dangerous for her profession. 

She dressed pure and simple in full white.

She tried to identify herself with those hundreds of

miserable girls whom mother nature did not bestow beauty.

The suppressed grace, the beauty tried to escape from bondage

and reveal to him what really she actually contained in her..

More she concealed, more it was revealed to him.

An Interview.

An Interview.

Question.          Hi long time no see?

My answer.      Sort of.

Question.          Where you been?

My answer.      Moving.

Question.          Did U find Valentine?

My answer.      Sort of.

Question.          In USA?

My answer.      Here.

Question.          Here?where?

My answer.      Here.

Question.          Where she live?

My answer.      Here.

Question.          Address.

My answer.      Ashram.

Question.          Ashram? U kidding.

My answer.      Near Asram.

Question.          Which?

My answer.      Near Bank.

Question.          Bank where?

My answer.      Bank there.

Question.          More details.

My answer.     Mehbuba’s lane.

Question.          Fixed?

My answer.      Sort of.

Question.          What is this sort of?

My answer.      Sort of.

Question.          Fix 100%?

My answer.      Fix on my part.

Question.          She agreed?

My answer.      I don’t know.

Question.          Then how U say fix?

My answer.      50% fix.

Question.          Now 50%?

My answer.      100% fix on my part.

Question.          What of her?

My answer.      I don’t know.

Question.          Really U got hit?

My answer.      Like Thunderbolt hit.

Question.          Both roamed together?

My answer.      In dream.

Question.          Then what U see?

My answer.      A glimpse?

Question.          That’s all?

My answer.      That’s all.

Question.          U settled in a glimpse?

My answer.      Sort of.

Question.          R U Crazy?

My answer.      Mad very mad in love.

Question.          But when you knew her?

My answer.      Before years.

Question.          Years?

My answer.      Years.

Question.          One?

My answer.      No.

Question.          Two?

My answer.      No.

Question.          Five?

My answer.      No.

Question.          Ten?

My answer.      No.

Question.          Twenty?

My answer.     sort of.

Question.          Where U spot her?

My answer.      Here.

Question.          Here where?

My answer.      Here.

Question.          Must be a place no?

My answer.      It is a place.

Question.          What place?

My answer.      Old building.

Question.          Old building where?

My answer.      Old building here.

Question.          On CG road?

My answer.      Near to it.sort of.

Question.          Is it a house?

My answer.      Sort of.

Question.          Is she living in it?

My answer.      No.

Question.          What she doing.

My answer.      Attending.

Question.          What attending?

My answer.      Proceedings.

Question.          Where was She?

My answer.      In the big Hall.

Question.          Big hall?

My answer.      Yes.Big hall.

Question.          What is big hall?

My answer.      Big hall is big hall.

Question.          Must be Sports Club.

My answer.      No.

Question.          No?

My answer.      Yes.No.

Question.          Dinesh hall?

My answer.      No.

Question.          Premabhai hall?

My answer.      Big hall.

Question.          Let it pass.

My answer.      U were almost there.

Question.          What was she doing?

My answer.      Sitting.

Question.          Sitting where? On what?

My answer.      Sitting.

Question.          On chair?

My answer       no.

Question.          Sofa?

My answer.      No.

Question.          Then on what?

My answer.      She was sitting.

Question.          Yes, on ground.

My answer.      No.

Question.          Alright let it pass.

My answer.      U were almost there.

Question.          What were U doing?

My answer.      I entered.

Question.          What U did?

My answer.      I found a vacant place.

Question.          Where?

My answer.      Besides her.

Question.          Side by side?

My answer.      No. sort of.

Question.         No and sort of? What is this?

My answer.      It is this.

Question.          U sit on chair?

My answer.      No.

Question.          U standing?

My answer.      No.

Question.          Then U sitting where?

My answer.      Near her.

Question.          Side by side?

My answer.      No.

Question.          Behind her?

My answer.      No.

Question.          In front of her?

My answer.      No.

Question.          For God’s sake,where?

My answer.      Adjacent to her.

Question.          Let it pass.

My answer.      U were almost there.

Question.          What U did?

My answer.      I sat.

Question.          What U were doing?

My answer.      Attending.Listening.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I side-glanced.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I looked on my side.

Question           when?

My answer.      After a while.

Question.          How long?

My answer.      After I had settled.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I saw a loveliest glimpse of face.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      Shocked and nervous I moved my head.

Question.          Did she know?

My answer.      Of course.

Question.          U moved head, Where?

My answer.      I looked straight.

Question.          Straight where?

My answer.      Straight there where I had to.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      Nervous, I again glanced at her feet.

Question.          Then?

Question.          Did she know?

My answer.      Of course.

Question.          What she do?

My answer.      She moved her foot.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I stared there.

Question.          You made a pass?

My answer.      Sort of

Question.          Did she know?

My answer.      Yes.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      She was shocked.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      She went red.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      She moved her foot.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I stared and stared.

Question           then?

My answer.      She showed her sandal.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      She raised her foot again and again.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I stared at her lovely ankle.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      She removed sandal.

Question.          How?

My answer.      I don’t know.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I saw her bare foot.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      Pointed at sandal with her foot thumb.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I did not understand.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      Again pointed at the sandal.

Question.          Was it a message?

My answer.      I did not know.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      At first I did not follow.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      Light dawned in me.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I withdrew.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I sat still.

Question.          Was she angry?

My answer.      She had gone red.

Question           Did she slap U?

My answer.      She would have.

Question.          What you mean?

My answer.      She could not.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I sat still.Statue.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I was nervous.

Question.          Then?

My answer.      I listened.

Question.          What she did?

My answer.      She already was listening attentively.

Question.          Which is this place?

My answer.      The Big Hall.

Question.          Big Hall where?

My answer.      In Old Building.

Question.          What was time.

My answer.      Morning.

Question.          Cultural function in morning?

My answer.      It was not cultural function.

Question.          Then what was it?        

My answer.      It is attending.

Question.          What was time?

My answer.      11.30.

Question.          What you did?

My answer.      I sat statue.

Question.          How long?

My answer.      Quite long.

Question.          Was there audience?

My answer.      It is attendance.

Question.          How many?

My answer.      Many.

Question.          Ten?

My answer.      No

Question.          Then how many? Hundred?

My answer.      Sort of.

Question.          How long U sit statue?

My answer.      Quite long.

Question.          One hour?

My answer.      No.

Question.          Two?

My answer.      Sort of.

Question.          Let it pass.

My answer.      U were almost there.

Question.          Tell her name.

My answer.      Her Real Name.

My answer.      It is all imagination.

Question.          My God! All this Fiction?

My answer.      As U like it.

                       (to be Continued…)