“You know” he said going for my Idly as I watched him nervously swallow piece after piece , “Yesterday!!!” gulp (sips a mouthful) “I pataoed the boss and had him khalaas, flat on the ground.”
“Oh.”
“The best way to your boss mind is through the heart of his wife, so If you ever have to impress your boss, you have to impress his wife first.”
“Oh come on!!!”
“No, listen,” he insisted. “You know his wife was here in the afternoon.”
“Yes” I nodded gulping the last Idly as fast as I could.
“Well, exactly at 2.30 he called me in his room and introduced me to his wife.”
Its true I thought, he did go in, but I cant say with any surety that it was he, that is the boss who had called him in and that to, to introduce him to his wife, nay, that’s impossible, anyway.
“You know how badly I wanted that Micro-Hydel project”. he continued
“Yes”
“Its in here,” he said flapping his pocket.
“But... how?”
“Ah, a child's play, you see; just when I had taken my seat; I noticed that she had a book by her side, some ‘ Indian Anthology of Poet’s' something like that.”
“You mean ‘An Anthology of Indian Poem’s”
“Something like that, well you know how irresistible I can prove to be with the opposite sex; actually it is all a subtle play, a trick that took me several years to master. So you see, when I saw that book, I instantly knew that this book is the key to her deepest sentiments, and I took this god sent opportunity on the stride and immediately initiated a conversation... Madame! I said, you too like poetry.”
“Yes she said, but my husband has no interest.” “Ah that’s not true" our Boss protested, "it is just that poetry is not my cup of tea.”
“Do you also write poems” I asked
“Occasionally.”
“Well” I said, “Poetry for me is like my breath, without it I will cough to death.”
“O how interesting, what have you written lately.”
“Well” I said,” it’s an existential piece, it is not complete, so I can only recite a few lines from it.”
“Please do, I would love to hear it.”
“Uhmmm I cleared my throat.”

“Why is it that our earth always has to be flat”

“That’s my poem” I said
"I know, now just listen..."

“could it not also be round
and did it ever matter much to you as to ask
as to why the bottom of the paper has to 11 inches”

"You are incorrigible" I said almost loud, "you have completely ruined my poem." Anyway, I was no longer interested in hearing another word from him, I had slogged nights on this project, how can he…never mind, "I have to go" I said, and quietly walked to my desk and Lo! On my desk was a thick green file with a note clipped to its top. ‘Start work on the Micro-Hydel project immediately
Just then, in that moment of instant, something fiendish and devilish crossed my eyes. I pick the file and quietly place it on his desk, order a cup of tea and wait impatiently for the ensuing drama.

Use your own Imagination as to what followed...as for me, I am here in the beautiful laps of Arunachal, a few kilometers from Darang, training a group of young enthusiastic monks how they can power up their monastery by using the underground stream that passes just a few feet below the ground.

I am sure you may be wondering as to what became of him. Well to speak the truth, I have no Idea. He left our firm and even changed his mobile no. Meanwhile I left this company and joined Siemens and moved from Micro-Hydels to Super Giant Turbines capable of generating several hundred megawatt's of power.

Then, one fine evening sitting in Tunga, one of the finest seafood joint, I notice some one wave at me as I cut through this extremely delicious lobster, softly allowing the juices issuing from its garlic soaked body to tingle every micro unit of my taste buds topped with tabasco tipped vodka. There somebody waved again, I raise my eyes, then lift my neck and see a black suited man walk right across and slap my shoulder “Kaise ho” (how are you).
It took me some time before full recall dawned. His memory arrived like a tube light flickering itself awake into familiarity and he looked so different in this elegant executive suit, neatly combed hair probably gelled and those golden rolex like wrist watch.
”Hi” I said, “What a surprise. Come join me.”
“Sure” he said already mouthing a large chunk from my lobster. I order another drink “Scotch” he mouths “soda and yes no ice.”
“So!” I initiate, “Where are you, you just disappeared, vanished like a legend.”
“Old story! -What about you.”
“I am into turbines now.”
“Why don't you join me”, he swished a card in his typical filmi style and handed it to me.
“Mountwell Automations”, I exclaimed, “You have joined them.”
“No” he grunts swallowing another large chunk of my lobster, “That is my company.”
“Doesn't it belong to the Thakkars” I exclaim confusedly.
“Yes, his daughter is my wife.” he sips and goes for another large piece.
I couldn’t believe my ears. “Come on, not again.”
“Come on show surprise, roll on the ground, but it is true.”
“You...married that...wasn’t she” I gulped my own words, “a model”
“Yes.”.
“Greeeat” I echoed like a goat not knowing what was happening to my voice. “Neeeice for you. But I still don't believe you”.
“Never mind.” there was silence, “How much do you get here...never mind... I want you.” There was silence as I tried to figure what the hell he was saying, after a long pause he said: “I still haven't forgotten what you did for me.”
My breath skipped a few puffs and I almost choked by gulping a large swallow of my tabasco tipped vodka.
“I did what!!!” I said in a chokefull.
“You put that project file on my desk because I had told you how desperately I needed that project.”
“I did ?” I muttered with cheeky surprise.
“Only a a real friend can do that, and what I want in my company is a friend like you. I am surrounded by wolves, all those filthy cousins of her.” I kept my glass, rested the fork and stared in silence his ruminating face. “Ok!" he broke the growing unease. "I have to go now, I will be proposing a new CEO and will see to it that they relent. I am banking on you, Call me on Monday at 9. Your card...” I sheepishly handed him one.“You haven't asked me how I knew I would find you here.”
“How?” I asked surprised.
“Never mind...remember, monday morning...see you” and he left almost vanishing through the hotel walls.

Monday morning as I drove, my mobile buzzed and danced almost jumping off the car seat. “Hello”
“Look on page 6 of Economic Times” “
Hann, I don't have One.”
“Then go get one, and call me back.”.
“I am on my way to...” he hangs.
I drive to my office, ask my peon to get me Economic Times, and in 15 minutes I read: ”Mountwell Automations have a new CEO." My hands start to shake, I go for my mobile, but then drop the idea. I get up and walk through the corridor, no one notices me. I walk down and head for the Bar; order a glass of whisky, gulp a few sips and call him up “What is this” I ask in polite anger.
“Where are you” he speaks excited and soft. “You should be in your office buddy” and hangs.
My phone goes crazy with SMS's, It never stops ringing. I feel a bit tizzy. My car seems alien to me. I search for his card, then decide to go home.

“anyone wants to be a guest, as to what followed next?” Close