A mere hundred rupees had unsettled me. I had lost my mind. A mere hundred rupees was enough to make me lose my composure.
Seeing my state, Gokhale patted me on my shoulder and said,
‘You seem distraught. Go home and rest.’
I took the opportunity to excuse myself and boarded the next train home. Two people came and sat next to me. One of them was carrying the evening daily. The headline screamed: ‘Man loses job for taking a fifty-rupee bribe!’
‘People who commit offences worth lakhs escape without punishment. And it’s these petty crimes that get punished.’
‘But how was he caught?’
‘The bribe was given in Andheri. An inspector followed him to his house and caught him the moment he stepped in. He found five ten-rupee notes in his pocket. They had markings on them.’
‘Such people should be caned in public. What do you say, sir?’
The last question was directed at me. Touching my shirt pocket once more, I said, ‘Yes, yes. I agree.’
The train left Matunga station. I realized a police inspector had boarded and was sitting next to me. My mouth went dry. A shiver ran down my spine. The moment the train stopped at Dadar, I jumped out and tried to lose myself in the crowd.
I ran up the three flights of stairs and latched the door from inside as soon as I entered my home. My face was pale, as if I’d seen a ghost. My wife asked, a little concerned,
‘What happened? How come you’re home early? Are you unwell?’
‘Yes, I’m a little tired. I’ll lie down for a while.’
Not long after, I heard someone banging on the front door. On asking who it was, my wife got the reply,
‘Inspector of police. Is Mr Kulkarni home?’
I could see my future clearly. I told my wife,
‘Ask him to sit. I’ll wash my face and come out in a moment.’
I rushed to the bathroom. I splashed water on my face. That’s when the realization dawned upon me: I had taken a bribe. Yes, it was clearly a bribe. The evidence was the hundred-rupee note in my shirt pocket. There was only one way out: destroy the evidence forever. I uncovered the drain and stuffed the note inside. I poured a bucket of water down it to ensure that the note got flushed. Having destroyed the evidence, I walked out of the bathroom confidently to face the inspector. It was the same one who had been sitting next to me on the train.
‘Sir, you walk really fast!’
I smiled and said,
‘It’s a habit. Tell me, how I can help you?’
‘I came to enquire regarding the complaint you’d made at Tilak Bridge Police Station the other day.’
‘What? That must the Kulkarni who stays upstairs.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry to disturb you.’
He got up and saluted me before leaving. My eyes turned towards the bathroom.
DEOSTHALI
Jayant Deosthali hung up the phone and smiled to himself.
He wanted to let out a shrill whistle, not caring about his age, position or the people around him, the way one would whistle at the cinema.
He didn’t know what to do. He wanted to laugh out loud, shriek and run across the hall. Maybe run all the way up to the terrace, above the fifteenth floor.
What should he do? He was at a loss for ideas.
He should’ve been home. You can do whatever you feel like at home!
When Chaaya had given him the good news, he’d whistled loudly and without a care, forgetting that her elder brother was home. He’d heard the whistling and come in, curious, and Deosthali had to cover up by saying that it must have been someone on the road.
He had then teased Chaaya, asking her whether it would be a girl or a boy.
He’d told Chaaya, pulling her nose,
‘It has to be a girl.’
‘Really?’
‘But of course. Apne ko chokri maangta. Woh bhi bilkul aisi.’
‘Issh. Don’t tease me.’
‘I’m not! I want a girl, and one exactly like you.’
‘And why, may I ask?’
‘So that I can see your image in her, right from childhood.’
Jayant Deosthali remembered all of this.
He couldn’t afford to whistle here. His office was on the eleventh floor, and air-conditioned at that. He couldn’t tell his boss that it was someone on the road who was whistling.
The phone rang again.
‘Hello.’
‘I want to speak to Mr Deosthali.’
‘Speaking.’
‘I am Sharad, Chaaya’s brother.’
‘I did recognize your voice. How are you?’
‘Chaaya has delivered a baby girl.’
‘I got the news.’
‘Oh, is it?’
‘The doctor called me a moment ago.’
‘Oh, I see. I’m sorry.’
‘For what?’
‘I was hoping to be the first one to give you the news. Congrats, by the way.’
‘Thanks!’
‘Party?’
‘Whenever you wish.’
‘See you in the evening.’
‘Sure.’
Deosthali felt a little relieved now. The tension had disappeared. He took a deep breath. He was a father now.
A father!
A few moments ago, he was someone’s husband, cousin, nephew, son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, etc.
But in a moment, he had become a father.
What exactly did it mean?
It had happened on its own. He hadn’t realized it was happening. He knew the meaning of getting promoted to becoming an officer. He could feel the difference: the way the files moved, the meetings, the discussions, the orders…
But today was a big event.
‘Mr Deosthali, don’t try to hide the good news. Where are the laddoos?’
‘Why laddoos? It could be barfi too,’ added Mr Palande. He had four daughters.
‘Say something nice, Palande.’
‘He has four daughters. He wants everyone to suffer his fate.’
‘Let it be. Let’s ask Mr Deosthali. Is it laddoos or barfi?’
‘Which one is superior?’
‘Laddoos, quite obviously.’
‘Then let’s order laddoos.’
‘Congrats! Meet the brand new father of a
