Free Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup Page B

Meditation Centre in
Mathura?'
    'Yes.'
    'Is Swami Haridas there? Bhaiyyaji wants to speak to
him.'
    'Bhaiyyaji? Who is Bhaiyyaji?'
    'Are you new there? Don't you know that there is only
one leader in Uttar Pradesh who is addressed as Bhaiyyaji
and that is Home Minister Jagannath Rai.'
    'Oh! Home Minister Sahib? But Guruji is in the middle
of his discourse. We cannot disturb him.'
    'Tell him it is urgent. He never refuses Bhaiyyaji's call.'
    'OK. Please hold on. I am going to the lecture hall.'
( Pause .)
    'I am passing the line to Guruji. Please put Home
Minister Sahib on the line.' Beep. Beep. Beep.
    'Namaskar Guruji. This is Jagannath.'
    ' Jai Shambhu! What is the big emergency, Jagannath,
that you forced me to interrupt my discourse?'
    'Guruji, there has been a disturbing development. I need
to consult you urgently.'
    'Is it about Vicky? His case is coming up for a verdict,
isn't it?'
    'No, Guruji. I have managed Vicky's case. I am more
worried about the case against me.'
    'There are so many cases against you. Which one are
you referring to?'
    'It is an old murder charge, dating back to 2002.'
    'Whom did you kill?'
    'It was Mohammad Mustaqeem, a worthless heel who
had dared to challenge me. The prosecution case was very
weak, based only on circumstantial evidence. Now suddenly
a new witness called Pradeep Dubey has come forward,
claiming that he saw me shoot Mustaqeem. The court
hearing is on the fifth of next month. If the judge convicts
me of murder, it could be curtains for my political career.
As you know, Guruji, the Chief Minister is already biased
against me.'
    'According to your horoscope, all this is the result of
Saturn sitting in the fifth house. The bad period will last for
another four months. After that all your troubles will
disappear.'
    'So what should I do during this period, Guruji?'
    ( Laughs .) 'You know what to do. After all, the entire
police force is under you. But start wearing blue sapphire. It
will counteract the influence of the malefic Saturn.'
    'When I talk to you, Guruji, I feel at peace. I really
believe all my troubles will disappear.'
    'That is what gurus are for. Can I also trouble you over a
minor matter?'
    'Tell me, Guruji, and I will attend to it personally.'
    'I bought a small plot in Kanpur, some twenty acres.
Now I am told squatters from a nearby slum have erected
their huts on part of the land. I am leaving very shortly for a
world tour. If they could be evicted before I leave it
would—'
    'Say no more, Guruji. Tomorrow I will have the
bulldozers sent in.'
    'Good. Give my regards to Vicky. I hope he is
wearing the coral ring I got specially made for him.'
    'Of course, Guruji. Till his case is resolved, he dare not
disobey your advice.'
    'OK, Jagannath. I have to go now. Richard Gere is here
to meet me.'
    'Who is he, Guruji? Some car manufacturer?'
    ( Laughs .) 'No, he is an American actor. Bye now. Jai
Shambhu .'
    ' Jai Shambhu, Guruji. '
    *
    'Tell me, Mr Tripurari Sharan, are you my chief sidekick or
am I your sidekick?'
    'What has prompted such a strange question, Bhaiyyaji?
Have I done something wrong?'
    'But of course. Since eight o'clock I have been waiting
patiently for your call to find out if you managed to speak
to the witness, but you did not phone. So I am phoning
you.'
    'I was going to call you in the morning, Bhaiyyaji. I
didn't want you to have a disturbed sleep.'
    'So the news is bad, eh? What happened? Was Pradeep
Dubey not available?'
    'No, I met him. He seems to be an idealistic young man.
I offered him a lot of money to keep his mouth shut, even
went up to ten lakhs. But he refused to budge. Said he will
definitely testify against you. My hunch is that he has been
put up by Lakhan Thakur.'
    'Hmm . . . ( Long pause. ) So Lakhan is playing games
again. He has not heeded my warning.'
    'Why should he? He fancies himself as the next
Jagannath Rai. Hard to imagine that five years ago he was
just a petty gangster. Ever since he won the assembly
election, his star has