It has been a week since he landed here. Still, He does not have the courage to go back to his office. He was astonished! How can weakling, Abraham, a king among cowards secure bail? Surprising indeed! Xavier was totally exasperated. His head was heated by virtue of his thinking, day in and day out! How come Yeshwant and Kudwa turned good Samaritans this time? They always used to call Abraham names, used to side with Xavier all the time. But, now heavens have turned! Xavier was totally zapped. He thought of nourishing his drink. Bacardi with soda and a lemon slice. His second wife hasn’t come today?! Silvi had called. He had solved the problem partially, so to say. In today’s situation, many problems are solved over the phone, as well as many are created too! He poured another drink.
His doctor had warned him to be careful about drinks and food intake! No red meat, no sweets! Xavier was always conscious about his health. He knew his body well. His logic was like?. always work hard and sweat to your heart’s content! His old Mohammed Ali road days were really a blessing in disguise! He used to wake up early morning at the call of the first azaan – the morning prayers offered in the Mosque nearby. But, he used to attend the holy mass at St. Mary’s Church at 6.30 am in the morning. The brisk walk past the JJ hospital, in the wee hours of the morning was routine that he religiously followed. He had befriended the priests. He got a special welcome all the time. There were a few people who attended the daily early morning mass. Always the priests used to smile and greet him before they could meet the eyes of other people.
“Tukaram”, yelled Xavier to his domestic help. “Bring another plateful of grilled fish.” He used to order his food from Uncle’s Kitchen – Mid-Chowki. A restaurant par excellence! Xavier used to curse his age on mentioning of the restaurant by his friends or his daughter-in- law and her kids, who were very fond of this food joint whenever they were in India! Now, today, Xavier was in his element! His enemy number one was released on bail. But, He himself was not named by any witnesses or any prosecution lawyers attending the case. Of Course, his lawyer, K M Kripalani, was the top most criminal lawyer who could turn any cases topsy turvy, if required so!!
“Trnng?. Trnng ..” Xaviers mobile was crying???.
“Hello” Xavier shouted on the phone! How he hated his harsh voice?but unable to do a thing about it??.
‘Hi, Xavier,’ a very relaxed voice of Rilsy Vaz!
Whaw! How come? The saintly creature found time to call him.
Surprised out of his wits, Xavier cleared his throat?
“Hey Rilsy, where were you man, are you in prayer meetings always?? I called you many times for the last one week. You are always in a meeting or into house hold visits?.errrr?. what you call seva? a slang word for social work.” Spat Xavier in an angst tone.
“Well, brother Xavier?” Coolly spoke Rilsy. ” I have been busy, my elder son has landed a job with Infosys and my daughter is in Roshani Nilaya in her final year!
“Why these things should concern me? Xavier retorted in his customary anger. Why he should bother about what career path Rilsy’s children’s have adopted? He thought of getting thousand copies of ‘Dan Brown’s, ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and throwing in and around Rilsy’s house. Let him read and read and then dance over it. Pseudo Religious bugger!
He bottled his emotion “Well, Rilsy, Is it possible for me to get the fifty percent of the loaned money back? I had poured notes over and over, as and when you had requested. Your wife, Lolly got her father’s heart operation from my money. All your successful mutual funds and Shares dealings with mine and my friend’s money?” Xavier was unstoppable??..
“Relax Xavier? It is his wish..! He wishes us to be together..! I am into social work”
“Rilsy, do not give me crap! I need my money now. Right now, you may have swindled from your brother in Bahrain and the elder brother you killed, the one who was unmarried?.! Please be careful? I have circumstantial evidence? Your mad brother, Jozie is also against you, he has promised me and the crime branch in Mumbai that he will spill the beans about your involvement in all religious crimes?” This time Xavier had enough?
“Relax, brother Xavier??” Rilsy was calm and sounded like a monk on a piano!
“What, my dear inferno, How do you sound relaxed always? A greater scam master par excellence! Well, I will call you again, but be ready with the payment details, enough of your drama. It is really weirdo’s stuff?..” Xavier slammed down the phone.
Rilsy, after many years got a shock of his life. He started shivering?. Is it end of the story for him?.
To be continued…
Author: Donald Dsilva- Mumbai
