Part 13 Dehat Kanpur

January 12th 2011
Kanpur
Uma Dubey's house


Uma: Radhika aaj tum tannery chali jao, kal Jal Nigam lekar jaaoongi main?
Radhika, is poring over an assortemnt of papers, 100s actually looks for a pen its stuck behind her ear. "Waise Uma Aunty, I cant change my schedule at the drop of a hat, mere saath yeh do jo aaye hain they have the script ready to rattle off at the Jal Nigam office, zyaada der ki humne to yeh sab bhool jaayenge, (looks at her assistants) Aapko pata hai Uma Aunty hame is project ki tayyari mein mahono nikal gaye, pata nahi kya progress ho paayega, (hits the space key on her iMac) Hamare paas documents bhi sahi nahi hai
Uma: Beta meri Didi to keh rahi thi
Radhika: Aunty maine unko kaha tha, I might need her if we have to picket outside the tannery, SEWA ki taraf se volunteers milenge hame? Its really important Aunty
The power goes out, comes back and the voltage dips, the tube light dims, its a cold foggy January morning
Her female assistant is on the phone, the guy is frantically taking notes, counting money and taking notes
Uma: Radhika
Radhika interrupts"Aunty hamey Dutch NGO se funding ek condition par milegi agar hum ne tannery ke maamle mein progress kiya
Uma: Thats a big deal beta
Radhika: I know Aunty but please aap haarne waali baat nahi kariye please, yeh mera 4th project hai, wholly independent, Aunty mujhe promotion se zyaada saaf paani ki chinta hai (emotional)
Peers at her screen "Beta tumhe eyes check karwani chahiye" Uma says worried
Radhika: I will do it as soon as we solve Jalaun and Dehat Kanpur's water woes
Her phone rings she jumps "MAA?"
Answers "Ji! Abhi 2 ghante mein", looks for a clock, there is one that says "Prestige" on the wall.
Ritwik ke purse se maine nahi nikaale paise "Gopi ne nikaale honge"
Her female assistant  Poonam sucks her breath in audibly in shock at that lie
Mom: Radhu tum jhoot mat bolo!
Rad: MAA Aap RITWIK ki baat sun rahi hai hai?
Mom: If you wont tell the truth, here is some reward for you. Papa ne ek ladke se baat ki hai tumhari shaadi ke liye,  IS SUNDAY ko aa rahe hain"
Her phone drops, her heart skips a beat uncharactersitically
Rad: Ive made up with my boy friend MA!!!!!!!!!!!
Mom: Koi baat nahi, ab is se bhi shaadi kar lo, Papa ki ichha hai (stern, yet sarcastic)
Rad: Ma main ATM jaana bhool gayi so le liye, ab iski saza SHAADI?
Uma rolld her eyes, notices her dhoodhwaala escorting her cow to her front gate.
Goes to the kitchen
Poonam giggles
Rad:Main Dilli se seedha Belgium (her ex BF's abode)
Mom: Chalo shaadi wahin hogi phir Papa ke pasand ladke se, galat baat beta, subah se Ritu tumhe kos raha hai
Radhika: Something new?
Mom: You are adamant, opinionated and childish, you need to grow up!
Radhika: Sure! I will put it on my calendar! Ma, mujhe Jal Nigam jaana hai
Mom: NAUKRI kar lo beta, what is this? You are putting ur life at risk
Radhika interrupts "MA Even ur life is at risk, Gargi ke DUSU members ekdum goonda hain" (giggles)
Mom: Radhikaaaaa
Radhika: Ma this is my first trip here..... pleeeeeeeeeeeeez
Mom: Papa is furious that you are so careless, UP mafia is deadly
Radhika: Iam more lethal, Ma......... Gotta go!
Click
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Circuit House
Kanpur
7:40 AM
Raghav rolls in bed, his beard scrapes the pillow, he feels the soul patch its soft and tuft like, he grins, looks at the clock, its blurred..........
Looks out the window, its a 20 acre estate lush and green
His phone has been ringing all morning
It rings for the 8th time
R: Yep??
Dad: Are you up?
R:I just answered........
Dad: Did Usman Ali show up?
Raghav: NOT sure! (flippant)
Dad: You have to meet the IP state Indl Dev Babu at 8 Dont you?
Raghav: i moved it to 11
Dad: YOU DID?
Raghav: Jee?
Dad: is this your way of saying "I dont give a shit about the work dad?" (furious)
Raghav is quiet
Dad: This is JUST not done........
Raghav: I can call you when he gets here
Dad: I am sending Ateendra at 4 then
Raghav, we'll get the keys to the tannery by then its of no use (smug)
Dad: I really wish your wife was skewering you (enjoying that painful shot)that would be just about lethal for you......(exasperated)
Raghav smiles, a glorious, satisfactory smile , he loved his Dad's sense of humor......."Lethal?" he chuckled