Leaning against the soft cushions, Sameer Kelkar aka Sammy closed his tired eyes. It had been a long day packed with speeches, laying a foundation stone for a hospital and then a ribbon-cutting at an art gallery. The whirlwind tours of his constituency, rallies and speeches were proving to be a bigger headache this election season. The cut-throat competition demanded devious plans. Of course, he was a master of the game. Nevertheless, the constant monitoring of the scenario, with its blame game, insinuations and mud-slinging called for complex skullduggery.
His journey from a Mumbai chawl to the parliament had all the elements of an interesting book. However, somewhere along the way, the script of his life had gone awry as idealism was overtaken by a lust for power. His transformation from a fiery college leader to a cold-blooded politician did not happen overnight: it had taken him more than twenty years. He wanted to sit on the Chief Minister’s chair someday. His shoulders sagged beneath the weight of his ambition.
Over the years, there had been numerous allegations of murder, rape and kidnapping against him but none of the charges had stuck. In a system mired in corruption, fall guys were not difficult to find. The sleek car, tailed by Sammy’s bodyguards, its siren screaming and the red beacon light flashing in the fading sunlight, tore through the countryside.
He was dying to get back to his comfortable room in the Circuit House for a shower and a drink. At fifty-two, although a tad overweight, he was indefatigable but his spirit had begun to flag. It was getting more and more difficult to keep up the pace.
Lulled by the soothing hum of the air-conditioner, Kelkar drowsed until the sharp trill of the cell phone demanded his attention. It was his private number and not many people, apart from the immediate family, had access to it. Glancing at the screen, he found it to be an unknown caller. Grunting with annoyance, he rejected the call. Five minutes later, there was another call from the same caller, and then another.
Should I block the number? He dithered. One never knew if it was an important call from an unsaved number. Besides, he rarely gave that number to anyone. No, it wasn’t right to block it. Sighing, he responded.
‘Hello …’ he growled unpleasantly into the phone.
‘Hi, Sammy,’ a voice from the past chimed into his ear.
‘Ramola?’ said the politician, unable to decide whether he was pleased or annoyed with the call. He had no wish to maintain any contact with the woman, yet he couldn’t curb his curiosity. Where was she? Why was she calling him after such a long time? After a moment’s hesitation, his fleshy lips curved in a smile. ‘After all this while … where are you?’
‘I am at a beautiful place called Ramsar. It’s not too far from the capital and your power centre,’ she chortled. ‘You will see it when you come here for a party I am throwing on 11 November. That’s my birthday, in case you have forgotten.’
The woman was stir crazy to expect him to attend a birthday party.
‘I am sorry,’ he began …
‘No, don’t refuse. It is an exclusive affair and you have to be here. For old time’s sake … just for a weekend,’ she insisted, switching on her little girl voice that he had once found irresistible.
‘Sweetheart, the elections are just around the corner and I am busy. Attending a party is completely out of the question.’
‘You are the most important invitee. I have a very important announcement to make. I can’t do it without your presence.’
‘What is it?’ he queried.
‘Uh-uh, you’ll have to come here and find out.’ Her voice turned brisk as she added, ‘I’ll email you the address.’
‘Don’t bother,’ Sammy’s voice hardened as he brushed off her request brusquely, ‘I definitely won’t be able to make it.’
‘It’s no bother. Anything for old times’ sake,’ she said and hung up.
Sighing, he picked up the hand sanitizer lying near him. Squeezing a couple of drops on his palms, he rubbed them together before sinking back on his seat once again.
She had spoken about an important announcement. The woman was full of surprises. There had been never a dull moment during their torrid relationship, he recalled. He had never understood women, least of all Ramola. His curiosity piqued, the politician let his mind wander.
What could the announcement be?