Chapter 12 - A social visit

The balcony floor felt like burning coal, except it shone white in the brilliant sunlight. Maan and Kamala cowered in the shade where the sea breeze fanned them from time to time. The neighbor’s one-storied house had a rooftop with a solitary TV antennae stretching towards the sky and some clothes hanging from the clothesline. The wind blew the clothes and made them flutter like invisible rubbery people dancing in synchronicity. After a while both Maan and Kamala hopped out of the burning balcony in the direction of the spiral staircase.

There was a bold knock on the door. Kamala went and opened the door. Outside in the sunlight was a man of average height and build. He sported a fashionable french-cut beard and wore round spectacles. Behind the glasses two intense eyes squinted at Kamala, trying to adjust to the darkness inside the house that sharply contrasted the harsh brightness outside. He was dressed in a starched white shirt and jeans. The edges of his mouth were smeared with red and he constantly chewed on betel nuts. Tufts of hair sprouted from the otherwise smooth surface of his head, like shoots of wild grass emerging at springtime after a long cold winter. The expression on his face gradually changed from that of irritation to that of quiet composure.
“Kamala, it’s me”, he said.
“What do you want, Manoj?”
He smiled, as if the answer was something everyone knew.

“Can I come in?” he said and gradually lifted her hand, which was guarding the door. He glanced closely at her as he passed her and walked inside with a confident stride. It was then that he noticed Maan sitting on the chair.
“Oh! So you have company today. I won’t waste your time then. I am here to tell you that I am on your side.”
He sat down on the chair and scratched his beard.
“Rather hot outside, don’t you think?” he said to Maan.
Maan smiled at him, picked up the newspaper and began reading it.
“Yes, as I was saying. I am, rather, we are on your side, Kamala. I have known you and your brother since childhood. Sunil and I went to school together, flew kites together. As soon as I heard of Sunil and the issue with the Mehtas, I felt like doing something about it. No really, I am on your side.”
Here he shook his head vigorously, and appealed to Maan with his eyes and expression, realizing that Kamala was blind to all his movements.
“What can I say about Sunil? He is no doubt brilliant. No really, he is quite good. But it is not easy these days, and people in Mumbai are ruthless. You start a business and the wealthy businessmen will offer the same products at half price. And boom you are wiped out”.

Here he looked at Maan and began to address him.
“Besides somebody like Sunil isn’t really made for business. He is an artist you know. I would have asked him to join my garage but that would be a waste of his talent. We wanted him to be an artist. But that is a struggle you know. I tell you Sunil had the eye for it and such beautiful hands”. He glanced at Kamala and her hands and then looked at Maan again.
“I mean he would paint so well. But you know how it is with artists. He has this temper about him. He is the exact opposite of Kamala, you know. She is the sweetest, but he is quite crazy sometimes. He isn’t exactly very social, you know what I mean. Business requires you to be level headed and composed at all times. I meet so many people everyday. Some of them are decent people like you, the rest are pigs, I say!” Here he chuckled a bit and reached for the bottle of water on the center table.
He took a gulp and said, “Rather hot outside. Like I was saying, Kamala don’t worry I am always here. Ask Sunil to come and meet me. I can help him with money and he can always work for me at the garage you know. We are your friends.”
He took another gulp and said, “Oh another thing. You know you can help out too Kamala. Hemant and his group need a female vocalist for their show on Thursday night. They are willing to pay a lot. I will personally put in word for you. I have heard you sing, you are so good. Don’t worry. I will personally take you to the venue. "

Kamala shook her head and smiled to suggest that she saw through his ruse.
He hurriedly added, "No hurry. Think about it. Your family could use the money. And remember I am on your side Kamala.”
He let the words linger and saw it settle as a frown on Kamala's face. Obviously she was thinking about it.

Finally he got up from his seat and smiled courteously at Maan.
He walked up to the door where Kamala was still standing. “Just call me if you need anything”, he said to Kamala and gave a good long glance at her before going out into the sun.

“Guess I should be going too. Thank you so much Kamala”, said Maan as he walked up to Kamala.
“I thought you would stay for lunch. Ba will be back soon.”
“We can try lunch someother time Kamala. I have to dine with some high level dignitaries today”, he said.
“Yeah right!” said Kamala and laughed.
Maan stood for a while looking at Kamala. Moments later he stepped outside. Suddenly Kamala asked, “When will you be coming to see us again?”
“Soon”, said Maan after reflecting a bit. He gave one last look at Kamala before walking out into the long winding narrow alley that he had come to dread after his experience the previous night.
On his way out Maan navigated around people and inanimate objects that perpetually blocked his way. It was no better than last night even though he could see things better in the bright sunlight. At one point he tripped and fell down.
“Careful! Here let me help you”, said Manoj who suddenly materialized out of thin air and gave him a helping hand.
“Thanks!” said Maan.
“No problems. That way is out”, said Manoj with a chuckle.
As he walked Maan felt his knees - they hurt. He thought about Manoj a little and then tried to tell himself that what had happened didn't really concern him at all. Then he became aware of something sharp in his pockets. It was from the previous evening – an object the little girl had given him. It turned out to be a small knife. The handle had an engraving. The blade snapped open like a serpent. Its edge was sharp and glistened in the sun.