Bombay | May 26, 1980
6:40 PM
It was another hectic day for Vasu, the lanky art director, at H&H Advertising. He calls such evenings “Ad Infinitum.” Revisions, corrections, brainstormings, and what-nots. They arrive when he is about to call it a day. Always. Looks like his date and movie at Eros have to wait for another day.
A few touches on the picture in the ad and he’s done. A little sparkle in her eyes. Some highlights on her hair. He took another squint at the layout at arm’s length. It should look great, he thought, in tomorrow’s Bombay News.
“It’s getting late, man. Hurry up.” Mohan Sharma, the account executive, pleaded for the umpteenth time. He moved about the art department humming an old Kishore Kumar melody. It broke the monotony as he paced about.
Vasu wasn’t in any hurry. It’s now too late for his date and the movie. Perhaps he would still go for a beer; only if there’s not another correction.
“Done?,” Sharma asked impatiently.
“Yeah,” said Vasu as he walked towards the door.
“Not so fast buddy,” Sharma didn’t want to take chances with the ad.
“Look for me in the bathroom.” Vasu rushed out of the room.
When Vasu returned Sharma was gone. What a relief!
•••••• ∞ ••••••
Vasu was surprised to see Arijit, the senior copywriter, in the Reception at that hour. He was flipping through an old Advertising Age. He looked up as Vasu walked in.
Is something wrong? Why hasn’t he rushed home as usual?
Vasu wondered.
“How come you’re still here? Waiting for someone?”
“Yes. I am waiting for you.” Arijit got up. “I want to talk to you something very important. And confidential.” He sounded a bit worried.
Both men walked to the elevator.
“I have a guest at home,” said Arijit as the elevator doors closed. “Let’s go to a restaurant and have some beer. How about Touché?”
“Fine,” Vasu said casually.
He was free for the whole evening anyway.
Both men didn’t say a word as the taxi sped towards Breach Candy. Though the sun had already set, the sky over the Haji Ali mosque was still aglow with orange and blue hues. A stream of devotees moved in and out of the mosque through the causeway like puppets in a shadow play.
Touché was just getting ready for the usual Friday evening crowd.
A table by the window overlooking the Breach Candy Swimming Pool across Warden Road was too inviting to ignore. It provided some privacy as well. Arijit was his jolly self after some spicy onion pakoras, a couple of Wills Flake and a large UB lager.
And he opened up.
“I told you I’ve a guest at home… Nora… from Germany. She and her husband are teaching German in a university in Kerala. Her husband’s already there… He doesn’t know Nora is with me.”
“Great!” Vasu almost blurted out.
Arijit remained silent. He fixed his gaze on the beer mug as if counting the bubbles that popped. At last he looked up.
“You have to do me a favor.” He lowered his gaze into the beer mug again. “Don’t say no.”
Vasu didn’t say anything.
He just stared at Arijit and waited to hear more.
Arijit raised his head and looked into Vasu’s probing eyes.
“The date of arrival on Nora’s passport is May 20. It has to be changed to May 30… She doesn’t want her husband to know she was already in India.”
Vasu couldn’t believe it.
“Are you crazy? It’s fucking forgery! You think I would do it? No way,” Vasu tried hard to dissuade Arijit from involving him into his scheme.
“I will do anything for this, Vasu. You’ve to help me,” Arijit pleaded.
Vasu kept quite. He looked out of the window as if searching for the right answer.
Arijit waited eagerly for his reply.
“OK.” Vasu finally broke the silence.
“You don’t have to do a thing. But..”
“Really? Oh, Vasu you’re great,” Arijit couldn’t contain his joy and relief.
“Wait,” Vasu interrupted. “Let me finish. I said you don’t have to do a thing for me. But Nora has to… …”
Arijit didn’t expect it. He didn’t know what to say. He looked at Vasu in disbelief. He could refuse. But it was not an option. That won’t solve the problem for Nora.
“She might agree,” said Arijit timidly.
By Monday the passport was ready with the new date.
Kovalam Beach | May 29, 1980
6:40 AM
The morning sun was painting shadowy images of coconut palms on the beach house when Parvathy woke up. With sleep still in her eyes she glanced over and found Max in deep slumber. It was a romantic one week. She wished if it were a month. Nora would be back in two days. Parvathy was already shuddering at the thought of going back to her flat and sleeping alone on a cold bed. With a secure job at the University and money to spend, and a husband out of her life, her only concern now was to enjoy life as much as it could give.
“Max?” Parvathy asked coyly, “When is Nora coming back?”
“Day after tomorrow,” said Max as he ran his fingers over her bare body.
Parvathy giggled.
•••••• ∞ ••••••
R-r-ring…! R-r-ring…! R-r-ring…! The door bell woke up and cried aloud.
Someone is at the door. Max looked at Parvathy questioningly. Parvathy shrugged her shoulders. “Who the hell is it?” Max exclaimed. He got up and walked towards the window to see who the hell it was. He pushed the curtain aside and looked. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Pulling luggage out of a taxi was Nora!
Max didn’t know what to do. He looked around like a lost sheep.
“What happened?” Parvathy knew something wasn’t right.
“Hell… Helga,” he mumbled. Parvathy jumped off the bed and ran to the bathroom.
Max cursed angrily, “Alle Scheiße.”* What would he do with Parvathy? Where would he hide her? There’s just one exit door. And Helga would be coming up through that door. Jumping out of the balcony into the rocky sea would be suicidal.
Max didn’t know what to do.
Helga is already in the living room.
“Was zur Hölle? Holen Sie sich das Gepäck, Max! **
She threw her handbag down and hurried towards the bathroom.
“Wer ist im Bad? Ich möchte das Bad schlecht verwenden,”*** Helga screamed like a maniac. Max didn’t answer.
Max didn’t know what to do. He looked around like a lost sheep.
** What the hell? Get the luggage, Max!
*All shit
*** Who is in the bathroom? I want to use the bathroom badly
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