" Your name please?" " Mr  Mrs.S. Subramaniam." "I'd like a couple of seats on the flight tomorrow afternoon, please." "You're waitlisted # 4." "We'll inform you in case of any cancellation." " What's the ticket number please?" " 541234." " Please try to let me have 2 seats." " That's my job, Sir." "Thank you very much." "I'm on the flight to Madras departing tomorrow at 8 am." "Here you are... please see to his booking on the Air India flight." " What have you brought?" " Here you are." "Great!" "And I'm going to score a century with this bat on Sunday." " Is that you, Ravi?" " Yes, Mother." "It's Ravi." "Your Ravi!" " I seek thy blessings." " Where have you been?" "I'd been to the market." "And here's the wool you wanted." "I'd asked you to get a dark grey shade." "That's all I could find." "Use it." "It won't make a difference." "You're the one who's going to wear it." " Do you want a cup of tea?" " No." "I'll settle for dinner." "I've paid the grocer already." "He'll deliver the supplies tomorrow." "Oh!" "I forgot!" "Here's your spectacles." " I'll try it later." " Not later." "Now!" "Let's see how you look." "Can you see anything?" " Looks like an expensive one." " Stop bothering about money." "Wear the spectacles and get me something to eat." "Hey!" "What are you up to?" "!" "You'll smash the panes." "Where's Renu?" "I've bought a lot of joke books and comics for her." "Hey Renu!" " Have you just read some new joke?" " She's out of her mind." " It's a lovely joke." " I'd like to hear that one." "Hold on..." "let me tell you." "A man tells his neighbour that a fuse has blown in his house, and asks for some wire to fix it." "The neighbour..." "And the neighbour tells him that..." "That's a good joke!" " What a shot!" " Thank you Billoo." "That was a "national" shot... take a look at an "international" shot." " I see." " Keep seeing." " D'you see that coin?" " Yes." "And now, take a look at this!" "What's so "good" about that?" "That coin was lying right in front of him." " She loses her cool while losing." " Oh yes!" "Shut up!" "You just lost a game with a zero score." "What am I to do now?" " Go for the red now." " Oh yes." "The red!" "Go on." "Take it." "But you don't have a cover." "A cover... well." "I arrange for the cover somehow." " Here's your cover." " There it is!" "No!" "That coin wasn't there." "You hadn't any cover!" " But that coin was here." " I remember that it wasn't!" " How could that be, Renu?" " You're upto mischief." " When did I?" "You're making it up!" " I won't let you play that one." "You don't have a sporting spirit." "Put that coin back on the board." " Not that coin!" " Dinner is served!" " You've been cheating!" " Dinner is waiting." " Come on." "Let's eat." " You're cheating a lot nowadays." " Granted that the coin wasn't there" " No!" "It wasn't!" "I just wanted that for a cover." "Now stop chewing my ears off." "Let's eat... great food." " What's in here?" " Raita (A yoghurt dish)." " Did you go over to Neela's place?" " How could I?" "There was so much of shopping." "I got late." " Why didn't you go?" "And she'd asked you repeatedly to go over." "She'll give you a piece of her mind the next time." " Will she?" "I'll take care of that." "Where are you off to, so early in the morning, Neela?" "To the beach for a morning walk." "It's a good exercise." "You'd told me that Ravi would be coming yesterday." "I waited for him." "Don't mention him!" "I won't meet him ever again." "Another quarrel?" "!" "Please forgive me." " Please listen to me, Neela." " That's what you say always." "Didn't I tell you that I don't want to talk to you ever again?" " Listen to me, Neela." " No." "Please forgive me, Neela." "I got delayed at work." "How could I help it?" "I don't want to listen to anything." "And don't pursue me, Ravi." "Don't!" " Here you are." " Thank you." "Excuse me... you see, it's my first flight... is it scary?" "No." "Not at all, Sir." " Won't it be a bit scary?" " What's there to be scared about?" "Now you are in Bombay... and, you'll be in Madras in an hour-and-a-half." "An hour-and-a-half to Madras flying at high speed!" "It's going to be scary." "If it scares you too much, you can open the door and get off." " That'd help you get off the scare." " But the plane flies so high!" " Yes." "Some 25,000 to 30,000 feet." " 25-30,000?" "!" "That's quite high!" "And it does scare one." "Lord be praised!" "Protect me, Lord." " Are you Ravi Khanna?" " Yes, Sir." "I'm Inspector Khurana from the Central Investigation Department." " And he's..." " Kulkarni." "We'd like to speak to you." "It'll take 10 minutes." "I'm on duty just now." "I'll take a break for lunch in 10 minutes." "If you could wait in the room nearby, I'll see you in 10 minutes." "I'd like to know something about the late Mr. Surendra Sinha from you." "But I've already informed the police of all I knew." "That was 6 months ago." "I have read your statement." "I'm investigating the case." "And, I'd like to have your statement once again." "As you please." "I was on night-duty that evening." "It was raining heavily." "It was then that I met Mr. Surendra Sinha for the first and the last time." "I was about to leave the office when he opened the door and walked in." "I'd booked a seat from here on the flight tonight." " Your name, Sir?" " Surendra Sinha." " Here you are." " How much for the ticket?" "Lock the office." "You won't find a cab." "It's raining so heavily." "Where do you want to go?" "Come..." "let me give you a lift." "Please stop here." " Do you want to get down here?" " Yes." "Thank you." "I learnt later that he was kidnapped that very night and that a ransom of 500,000 was demanded from his brother Narendra Sinha." "Narendra Sinha was willing to pay the ransom for saving his brother." "The abductors broke the contact and there's no news of Surendra Sinha yet." "I've told you everything I knew." "I've read about that in the police files." "But, there's something amiss." "6 months ago no one had asked you;" "and you didn't care to tell us either." "Where did you go after you alighted from Surendra Sinha's car?" "Where I had gone..." "It happened 6 months ago." "It's difficult for me to remember so much." "It's necessary for your sake that you recall it, Mr. Ravi." " What?" "!" " That's true." "Mr. Sinha couldn't be traced despite our efforts over the last 6 months." "But, his corpse has been found in a gutter." "Which means that Mr. Sinha was killed on the same night that he had met you." "You... are you trying to insinuate that I killed Mr. Sinha?" "I'm not saying so." "But, it's clear that the ransom letter was written by those who abducted him." "They are the ones who killed him." " What can I say to that?" " You could try to clarify your position, by stating where you went afterwards." "Now... where did I go?" "I have to think about this." "I alighted from the car..." "and then... where did I go?" "Yes." "I remember it." " Come in." " No, I won't." "I came to return the 200 bucks." "I'd promised to." " You've come all the way in this rain to return 200 quid!" "Would it have made any difference had you repaid me tomorrow?" " Not that it would." "But I'd promised." " I'm impressed!" "Now come in." " Excuse me." "I have to reach the medical store in half-an-hour to buy medicines for Mother..." "See you." " How much for that?" " 25 Rupees, Sir." " Raining heavily, don't you think?" " It'll take care of the power cuts." "That'd solve one problem and give rise to another." "You're right." "After that, I hired a cab and went home." "We've taken a lot of your time." "Had I known that a 2-minute ride on Mr. Surendra Sinha's car could cause so much trouble..." " You would've refused the lift." " That's right." " The problem is that no one knows what's going to happen." " Hello Sheila..." "Ravi speaking." " Hello Mr. Ravi." " Is Mr. Rane there?" " Mr. Rane has gone to the court." "He has a hearing today." "That's why he hasn't come to the office." "If you want to, you can find him at the gymnasium in the afternoon." "Are you blind?" "You could've been run over." "Forget him." "He's a drunk." "Find some other place to die!" "Don't put us in a fix..." "Let's go." "Would you like to take my place in the game?" " What brings you here?" " I've something to discuss with you." "Sit on the lawns for sometime." "I'll be back after a change." "In the meantime, order something for yourself." "A Coca Cola, please." "Go on." "Play." "You're no match for me." " What are you doing, dear?" " You're having a "meeting"!" "Indeed!" "You told me that you have to attend a meeting." "Is this the "meeting"?" " People are staring at us." " Let them!" "Everyone should get to know what a third-class fellow I've married." "Don't you try to fool me!" "I understand everything." " Come home and I'll fix you good!" " Please!" "Listen to me!" "I don't want to listen to anything!" "Get out of my way!" "That's the result of getting married to a rich woman." "Strange!" "Who were these people?" "The henpecked husband is Mahipat Rai." "Once upon a time, he used to manage his wife's businesses." "He seduced her and they married." "But after so many years, he's still more of a servant than a husband." "What you saw was no great shakes." "Once, she slapped him in a party." "And he took it like a pet dog." " Shame on him." "Never mind that... tell me..." "what do you have on mind?" "Do you remember the incident involving Surendra Sinha?" "Yes." "Wasn't he kidnapped?" "But, why are you so worried?" "The problem is that two policemen came to meet me again today." " What for?" " Because..." "Because, they've found Surendra Sinha's corpse." " What?" "!" " The kidnappers must've killed him." " What did the cops ask you?" " Where I'd gone with Surendra Sinha." "And, where I'd gone after Surendra Sinha dropped me." "I thank my stars that I remembered." "Else, they would've arrested me for murder." " D'you remember the events clearly?" " Of course." "I'd been to the medical store after seeing Mr. Thakkar." "Then, I went home." "What's that to be so nervous about?" "Nothing's about to happen." "You take it lightly!" "And I'm tense." "I nearly fainted on my way here." "I'm a simple person." "I don't want hassles with the police and courts." "Don't you worry." "I'm the lawyer." "And, I'll take care of it." "You aren't about to get in trouble." "Even if you do, I'll fight the case all the way up to Supreme Court." "Nothing's going to come out of it." "The cops will find out if your actions conform to your statement." "When they get to know that you did what you said, the case is closed." "Brother!" "Isn't it today's newspaper?" "Please let me have it for a minute." "It doesn't contain any jokes." "The lottery results are to be published today." "Not jokes." " That's why I want to take a look." " The lottery?" " Didn't you buy 2 tickets?" " Yes." " You could win a prize." " Any prizes?" "!" "The results haven't been printed." "Or, haven't the tickets won a prize?" "Billoo!" "Don't you!" "Go on." "Laugh over it." "When Renu wins the first prize of 250,000 she'll put it in a bank." " Oh yes!" " No!" "Why must I keep it in a bank?" " You could keep it at home." "Why must I keep the money?" "I'm going to blow it up." " Want to spend all of 250,000?" " Oh yes!" "It's your money, Renu." "You can do whatever you want with it." "But... must you spend all of it?" "There you go!" "Won't you consider the matters on my agenda?" "Well, what have you?" "First of all, I must stock thousands of books on jokes and comics." "You'll end up spending 10-15,000." "And then, comes a car for you." " I could use a second-hand car." " No!" "You should buy a new car." " A new car?" "!" "Are you going to split all the money among yourselves?" "How about a bit of it for me?" " Go on." "Tell us what you want." "I want a full set of cricket equipment... for a whole team." "Done." " Don't you understand the problem?" " What problem?" " We haven't spent even 100,000 out of the 250,000-lottery." " Hear me out, will you?" " Oh yes." " I'll hire a gardener." "And I'll convert the space outside into a garden." "It'll have a pond in the middle for coloured fish to swim in." "Red... yellow... green... pink..." "I love to see fish swimming." "I'd love to go on watching them." "They swim so gracefully." "Don't they?" "And then, I'd go to visit all those places I've never been to." "Like the Tajmahal, the Red Fort, Ajanta, Ellora, Kashmir Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Darjeeling." "Someone told me that the sunrise is beautiful in Darjeeling." "When the sun rises above mountain peaks, the snow turns into gold." "We'll go there... won't we?" " Of course, we will." "Why not?" "Won't we go there, Mother?" " Oh yes!" "And we'll climb up the hill to where the snow has fallen." "Yes!" "We'll go there too." "Where the snow lies in long stretches... the colour of milk." "And the peaks that touch the sky..." "it'd be fun!" "And we'd play in the snow..." "roll over it... run about!" "Oh Sister!" "How could you do that?" "!" "You can't even walk." "But..." "Oh yes..." "I can't walk, can I?" "So what?" "I'd take you out there." "I'll carry you in my arms." "Look at you!" "Such a brave girl!" "And you cry over such small things." "Now, let me see you smile." "If you don't... the smile will crawl up to you." "The smile walks up your hand..." "comes to your elbow climbs up to your shoulder..." "and reaches your neck crawls around your ear..." "and creeps up to your lips..." "Here it comes!" "She won't smile, will she?" "!" "Do you think you'd need an oxygen pipe too?" "Only if you think it necessary." "Incidentally, I know as much about fish as they know of me." "Using an oxygen pipe, you needn't change the water except after long intervals." "It also gives the fish a longer life." "And, I'm not about to charge you too much." "It's 52 bucks, all included." " May I write the check?" " Go on." "You're a specialist, aren't you?" " Yes." "Tell me... which one is a male?" "And which is a female?" "Simple enough, Sir." "Mr. Fish is a male." "And, Ms. Fish is a female." "I see!" "Here are 52 Rupees." "When can I expect the X-ray report, Doctor?" "Come around tomorrow evening." "You can take a look at the X-ray report." "What can I make out of a report?" "You're the one who can cure me." " Why do I get these attacks?" " There might be many reasons." "I can tell you only after I've seen the X-ray." "Since when have you had this problem?" "I've had minor headaches earlier." "I didn't pay attention to it." "But, this has started happening since a few days." "I keep fine." "But, all of a sudden, something explodes inside my head." "And, it feels as if my head is going to split open." "In a couple of minutes, it's as if nothing happened." "I'm back to normal." "But the pain is acute over these two-minutes-or-so." "What time is it?" " Do you have to go anywhere?" " Yes." "I've an appointment at 6." "What?" "!" "I'm not complimenting you." "Look... over there." "Fine!" "Even at this age!" "That's being lively!" "When you grow old, you're going to become a mean, irritable old man..." "and the children will tease you." " We'll see when I get old." " Shall we?" "You won't find another dear old man like me." "I would've retired to a cosy lifestyle by then." "I'd get up in the morning... do a bit of gardening, water the plants and I shout some at the gardener." "Then for a light lunch and a nap." "In the evenings, I'd go for a walk on the beach carrying a walking stick." "Would you like to take a walk?" "Never mind then." "I'll take the walk myself." " When I return..." " Fix your programme after 50 years." "D'you remember tomorrow's appointment?" "I remember tomorrow's, as well as I remember today's." "And, now you must be on your way." "For, I must go elsewhere." " What next?" " See you tomorrow." "Yes, see you tomorrow." " What time?" " Around 8.30." "I want to meet Dr. Shah." "I have an appointment at 6." " Are you Mr. Ravi?" " Yes." "The Doctor is waiting for you." " In already?" " It was a 6 o'clock appointment." "Here I am." "Punctual as always." "And how are you?" "Now, you must tell me how I am." "What's the hurry?" "Would you like to have a cup of tea or coffee?" "No, thank you." "What about my X-ray report?" "That's the X-ray plate." "I was afraid that the X-ray would show up an empty skull." "Something at least seems to be in there!" "I'd suggest that you undergo an operation." "An operation?" "!" "What are you saying?" "An operation for a simple headache?" "!" "It isn't really a simple headache." "Medical science has progressed very far." "And every illness can be cured." "What's my illness, Doctor?" "You can be cured, Ravi." "I'd like to know what I'm suffering from." "Do you see this spot at this part of your head?" "It's a brain tumour." "It's an inflammation." "It's growing slowly." "And it can burst open anytime." " You have 6 months at most." " 6 months?" "!" " What if the tumour bursts?" " It'd be like a bomb in your head." "The tumour is a dangerous bomb." "And you're carrying it." "Only 6 months!" "Are you saying that I'll die after 6 months?" "No, Doctor!" "You must be making a mistake." "I'm a fine, healthy person." "I'm not old." "And I haven't had any ailments." "It's a simple headache." "And you tell me this!" "Could it be by mistake that the X-ray is someone else's." "Could it be that your X-ray machine is out of order?" "Could it have been a error?" "I regret that there hasn't been any error." "No error?" "!" "But please, Doctor!" "I've a mother." "I have a crippled sister." "And I have a young brother." "He goes to school." "I have responsibilities!" "I have no right to die!" "Only 6 months!" "And is there no cure?" " You told me about an operation." " It can be done." "Go ahead, Doctor." "I'm ready for it." "I'll undergo the operation." "No matter what." "It isn't quite as simple as that." "You're an educated young man." "And I wouldn't like to deceive you." "Science knows little about the human brain." "The operation might ensure that you live." "But, you might go blind." "Or, you might turn mad." "Or, your limbs could be paralysed." "I cannot say how this operation might affect you." "Might I turn blind or mad?" "!" "It could also be successful." "You could also be cured completely." "That could well be." " The other might as well be!" "I'd advise you to..." "...undergo the operation?" "Don't you understand?" "An operation could give you back your life." "And, what kind of a life would it be?" "That of a cripple?" "!" "A cripple who can't do anything for his family..." "I'll become a burden!" " If you don't get operated upon..." " I've heard you, Doctor." "And I know." "I understand your feelings." "But, you must take a decision soon." "A decision." "Yes." "A decision." "A choice between death and a life that'd be worse." "I need time to think it over." "Good evening, Brother." "Haven't you brought anything for me?" "Here you are." "And I was thinking about you a moment ago." "May you live a hundred years." "I've started knitting the woollen sweater for you." "I'm slow at it." "But, it'll be winter in 4-5 months." "By then, I'll have it ready." "Come on, Son." "You must take a wash." "I have a complaint against Billoo." " Why?" "What have I done?" " He hasn't been doing his homework." "He's been playing ever since he came home from school." "That's homework too." "I want to become an engineer when I grow up." "Brother has promised to send me to America to study engineering." " Big deal." "He goes to America!" " Won't you send me to America?" "The grocer delivered the supplies today." "Prices are going up so sharply." "We could eat pearls and diamonds instead of rice or bread." "I'm lucky that my son is earning." "We're well-provided for." "Those who have no one to provide for them, can't survive." "Poor souls." "What's up?" "Why are you so quiet today?" "Why don't you scold him, Brother?" "He's still at the same thing." "Why are you so bothered?" "Mind your own business." "He's just come home weary after a day's work." "And you start screaming!" "Go inside." "Else, you'll go on chattering." "Go and take a bath, Son." "Aren't you going to Neela's party?" "Yes." "Everyone is asking you to sing." "Sing a song for us." "Please." "Please, Neela." "I'm not feeling up to it today." " Listen to me..." " I know what you're going to say." "You'll excuse yourself saying that you've a sore throat, or, a foul mood." "Maybe you'll say that you could sing, but you can't remember a song." "We aren't interested in listening to excuses." "We want to hear a song." "Blast it!" "You have lousy luck." " Why?" "What happened?" " What not!" " Have you read the newspaper?" " No." "I haven't." "Not much use for you." "You weren't lucky." "Saved you from getting rich." " What do you mean?" " Surendra Sinha." "He gave you a lift." " And you landed in trouble." " He was killed by someone." "D'you know that there's a reward for information on his assassin?" "500,000!" " Five hundred thousand?" "!" " Yes." "His brother Narendra Sinha will pay 500,000 which was demanded as ransom." "The reward goes to anyone who can help find his brother's assassins." "Had you run after Sinha's car that day... had you seen the killer you would've been sitting on five and five zeros!" "I want to speak to Inspector Khurana." "I can't reveal myself." "But, I can tell you who killed Surendra Sinha." "May I ask you who you are, or where you're calling from?" "All I can tell you is who killed Mr. Sinha." "And I can give you the complete evidence." " Who is the killer?" " I'll tell you, on a few conditions." "Conditions?" "Have you found out anything?" "That's what brings me here." "I received a strange call today." "The caller didn't give me his name." "But he said that he could help us nab your brother's assassin." "What's the delay about?" "He has laid down some conditions." " I'm willing to pay him 500,000." "The difficulty is that he doesn't want to come to us for the money." "He wants you to deposit the money with a lawyer he specifies." "He will leave his instructions and a sealed envelope with the lawyer." "Later, he will inform us about the killer and the evidence over phone." "I don't understand... he could've come over here instead of calling and he could've submitted the evidence and taken the 500,000." "Why is he going about it in a strange manner?" "There could be 2 reasons for it." "He might be trying to fool us." "Or, he might not want to expose himself for fear of the assassin." "We mustn't ignore the caller." "Maybe he knows everything, and can inform us about the assassin." "Maybe..." "I'm willing to deposit 500,000 with his lawyer." "If he can inform us of the assassin, I'm willing to accept all conditions." "All right." "We accept your conditions." ""The police will deposit 500,000 with you today."" ""A wanted criminal will be arrested." "But, the sealed envelope..."" ""...which I am enclosing with this letter, may be opened..."" ""...after the criminal has been punished"" ""Please remit the money to the ones mentioned after deducting your fees"" ""You may charge whatever fee you wish"" ""I repose complete confidence in you"" "This sealed envelope was enclosed with this letter." "Has no one signed the letter?" " No names mentioned." "It's quite out of fashion to sign secret letters with pseudonyms." "I wonder if this might be someone poking fun at me." "Very well." "Please come over." "Who was it?" " Inspector Khurana from police HQ." "He's coming here to deposit 500,000 Rupees with me." "Keep this envelope in the safe." "Strange!" "It's 10 o'clock already." "Khurana speaking." "We have deposited 500,000 with your solicitor." "Very well." "Now I can tell you who the assassin is, and how he kidnapped Surendra Sinha;" "I'll tell you where he held his victim and finally, how he killed him." "First of all I want to know the name of the assassin." "The name of the assassin..." "The name of the assassin is..." "Ravi Khanna." "Let me tell you how and where he committed the crime." " Found anything?" " Yes." "I've found many prints." "We found a piece of rope." "Mr. Sinha might've been tied to this pillar." " Anything else?" " A burnt shirt." "The shirt might've been worn by the assassin." "Make sure you check the marks of the laundry on the collar." "We've found some cigarette buts and an iron rod." "Surendra Sinha died of an injury on his head." "This might be the weapon." "It might well be, Kulkarni." "Have it sent for fingerprints." "I want to be absolutely sure of this." "How may I be of service to you?" " A minor matter." "Please step aside." "We suspect a particular person." "Did you see this person anywhere around on the night you met Mr. Sinha?" "No." " Sorry for wasting your time." " It's all right." "The fingerprints on this photograph are the same as those on the iron rod." " Are you sure?" " Yes. 100 percent." "Mother..." "I'm leaving." "Are you leaving already, Son?" "Yes, Mother." "I'm leaving." "It's a lie!" " Well then... what's the truth?" "The truth..." "The truth is that I didn't want to kill Mr. Sinha." "I just wanted 500,000." "It's true that I had abducted him forcibly." "And, I'd taken him to the ruined house and I'd tied him to a pillar." "It was I who wrote a letter to his brother demanding a ransom." "When I returned after posting the letter, I found that Mr. Sinha was trying to escape." "I tried to stop him and I hit him with the iron rod." "After that, the accused threw Mr. Sinha's body in a gutter." "For 6 months thereafter, he tried to mislead the law and the police." "I'm sure that the court will punish the criminal adequately." "In light of the circumstantial evidence and the confessions of the criminal the court concludes that the criminal had pre-planned the murder." "Under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, Ravi Khanna is sentenced to death." "I have no words of solace for you." "He has admitted his crime." " You mustn't cry for his sake." " You're right, Daddy." "I don't stand by Ravi for the crime he has committed." "But, the sentence is far too harsh." "A death sentence doesn't dispense justice." "It merely extracts a revenge." "Please be seated." "What brings you here?" " I'm Ravi's mother." " I know." "I've seen you at the court." "I've no right to come to your house." "But, as a mother, I am compelled." "You won't get your brother back if my son is hanged." "I want to appeal for clemency." "If you sign the petition the death sentence can be commuted to imprisonment for life." "It can be done only if you want it." " Is she your daughter?" " Yes." " And, who is he?" " My son." "The younger one." "You have two sons." "But, I had only one brother." "No!" "Mother!" "What's the matter?" "I'd fallen asleep." "And I dreamt of it again." "I'm scared even of falling asleep." "Don't cry, Mother." "Yes." "I can weep for the rest of my life." "If you lose courage, Mother, how will you stand by us?" "And now, we don't even have brother to fall back upon." "He's unconscious." "I think it'll be necessary to keep him here for a few months." "Very well." "When news of this case is published in journals, people won't believe it." "Who said that miracles don't occur in the 20th century?" "There are many hospitals in Bombay;" "and there are thousands of doctors." "It was a coincidence that you brought him here... and to me!" "Had you taken him anywhere else, he might've been dead by now." " How did you save him?" " He had come to me for treatment." "I knew what he was suffering from." "I have his X-ray report." "All said and done, it's up to God." "That's true." "I never smoke." "But, on days when I'm happy, I must smoke a cigarette." " Treat me to a cigarette, please." " Of course." "He'll live a long life." "He won't live for long." "He's on his way to complete recovery!" "He has been sentenced to hang." "You have been operated upon." "You're perfectly normal." " Welcome Ms. Neela." " Ravi has sent me to you." " He wants to see you immediately." " What's the matter?" "I don't quite know." "I came to see you as soon as I got the message." " But, we need a permit to see him." " I have it." "Please come with me." "We want to meet Mr. Ravi." "We have a permit." "You may go in." "Please do not take too much time." "The doctors may object." "Call up the jail authorities." "We've been permitted to shift him tomorrow." "That's good." "I was bored of this baby-sitting." "It's been 3 months." "Why?" "Why did you do it?" "It's madness!" "I had no way out, Neela." "I thought I'd die anyway." "I'd even go to the gallows to see to it that my family is provided for." "In a sealed envelope I sent you, I've named my mother as the beneficiary" "That's suicide, Ravi." "Suicide was an alternative to an impending death." "But now, it's plain suicide." "I don't want to commit suicide." "I want to take my confession back." "Please go on appeal." "I'm willing to tell everything in court." "The crime is proven." "You've been convicted." "No judge will accept a change of stance on your part." "Not even you?" "I'm your friend." "But, the law is nobody's friend." "To accept your statement, you must furnish evidence and witnesses." "The proof is lying with you." "Had anyone else sent you the envelope how could I have known the name of the beneficiary mentioned in it?" "This could've been regarded as evidence." "But you made a mistake by appointing me your solicitor." "The prosecution will contend that as I am a childhood friend of yours, I've switched the envelope to save your skin." "And, I don't have any evidence to refute that." "Must I walk quietly to the gallows for a crime I haven't committed?" "You haven't committed the crime." "Someone else has." "But, who is he?" "He escaped?" "!" "And what were you doing?" "Interrogate the doctors, nurses and the staffers in the hospital." "If we can find Surendra Sinha's murderer, you can be acquitted." "How could he escape?" "Ask the control room to mount a search for Ravi." "Immediately." "That's the only way out of this." "What are you saying?" "!" "How can we find him?" "Lookouts must be posted at airports, bus-stops, and railway stations." "It has already been a long while." "Keep a close watch on Ravi's house, and residences of his close friends." "Please allow us a few more minutes." "I'm sorry." "Besides, the visiting hour of the hospital is over too." "Can nothing be done now?" "Why not?" "You needn't worry." "Let me see what I can do." "Inspector... would you like to have a cup of tea?" "I promise to do all I can." "No." "Thank you." " Please take her away." " Come on, Neela." "Why is this stretcher still here?" "I'll complain against you for this." "I'll take it away right now." "I'll be back soon." "Please take the call." "Please see who it is." "Don't be afraid." "Take the call." "Hello... who's speaking?" "Ravi here." "I'm surrounded by cops." "I'm at Hotel Gayland." "Room No.10." "Come over immediately." " Whose call was it?" " Thank you, Ms. Neela." "Please open the door." "I have to remove the stretcher." " How come you're here?" " I don't know why... but, I ran." "All right." "Come along." "They're after me." "I don't know if we'll meet again." "I wanted to see you." "No, Ravi!" "The police can never catch you!" "Let's run away from here." " Where to?" " I don't know." "Let's use the car." " Hurry up." " Yes." "Shows your sense of responsibility, Mr. Khurana." "You let him slip away." "It was a mistake." "But, it wasn't due to carelessness on our part." " Anyway, we're still trying." " Your efforts aren't effective." " There's still no trace of him." " Sooner or later, the law catches up." "No one can evade the police for very long." " May I have the paper?" " Yes." "Take it." "What's the matter, Neela?" "It's dangerous to stay here." "Hurry up." "We must leave by nightfall People might get suspicious." "Come on, darling." " Greetings, Sir." " Greetings." " Everything all right?" " Thanks to your largesse, Sir." " Is my cottage vacant?" " We don't let it out to anyone else." " What would you like to drink, Sir?" " What had you like to have?" " 2 Cokes." " Immediately, Sir." "The man who came in might recognise me." "Sit here." "I'll be back soon." " Excuse me." " Yes?" " May I take a look at the paper?" " Yes." " What are you staring at?" " I've seen this fellow somewhere." " Who is he?" " He's Ravi Khanna." "He has killed someone." "And now, the police are looking for him." "He carries a reward of 500,000." " Why are you concerned over 500,000?" "Does your wife have any less?" "My wife's largesse takes care of girls like you!" "What am I left with?" "Here's the Coke." "Go on, have it." "I'll be back after washing up." "Very few people come to this hotel." "And the best part is that there's no trace of who might've come here and who has gone." "This place is best suited for people like you." "I like it best when you're around." "Why hasn't the soda arrived yet?" "That's bad room service." "There he comes." "Who are you?" "What do you want?" "I know you as well as you know me." "We needn't introduce ourselves." "Please forgive me if I've intruded." "But, I must speak to Mr. Mahipat Rai." "With me?" "!" "What have you to speak to me about?" "You must be mistaken." "I'm an honourable person." "The broad on your bed in a hotel, and the booze prove your honour"" "Does your wife know where you are just now?" " How much money do you want?" " Keep your money, Mr. Mahipat Rai." "The lady could use your money." "And, do sit down... sit down!" "What I don't understand is why the husband of an heiress would commit murder for a measly 500,000." "Murder?" "!" "I haven't killed anyone." " Where did you get this ring from?" " It's my ring!" "Listen lady... if you try to run or, raise an alarm Mr. Mahipat Rai is likely to be defamed." "He's an honourable man." "So... this ring is yours, is it?" "Can you tell me how you got this?" "Why?" "What's the matter?" "If you reply to my questions, you'll come to no harm." "Else I won't even let you live." " I've bought the ring." " I see." "Did you buy it?" " Yes." "Who sold it to you?" "It was Prakash." "He gave it to me." " Who is Prakash?" "Prakash has a shop selling curios on Pedder Road." "He brings his wares over to me." "Like lamps." "Lanterns and statues." "Last time, he brought this ring." "I liked it and I bought it." "Do you recall that clearly?" " Yes!" "Prakash had sold me that ring." "All right." "If you don't mind it, I'd like to keep the ring for sometime." " Oh yes." "Don't you dare inform the police after I've left." "I've been sentenced to hang." "But, my last wish, before I hang could well be to inform your wife about the goings-on today." "Not at all!" "Why must I inform the police?" "I'm an honourable and a happily married man!" "Which is just why you mustn't inform the police." "Else, you won't remain quite honourable, nor married." "What can I do for you?" " I'd like to discuss business." " Go on." " Right over here?" " Who has sent you here?" " If you insist on talking shop I'd rather go elsewhere." "I'd heard that you pay well." "Listen!" "Sit down." "What business have you in mind?" "How much can you pay?" "Some prankster must've told you that I buy all this." "Well alright... show me the stuff." "Nowadays, you just can't make out who might be a cop." "You just don't know." "It's become very risky." " How much can you pay?" " No more than 5000 for this lot." " Done." "How much would this ring be worth?" "You didn't tell me how much this ring is worth." " Who are you?" "!" " I'm the one who is going to hang for what you've done... for the murder you've committed!" " I haven't killed anyone." " The man who wore this ring!" "But he told me that he merely scared his quarry with a gun." " Who told you that?" " I don't know!" "Tell me!" "Who is it?" "!" " If I tell you, he'll kill me!" "If you don't, I'll kill you!" "Who gave you the ring?" "Tell me!" "Who gave you the ring?" " Michael!" "He gave it to me." " Which Michael?" "He's a professional thief." "But, he never told me anything about the murder." "He said that he snatched it at gunpoint." "That scoundrel!" "I knew he'd kill someone someday!" "Had I known, I wouldn't have taken it for even free!" "Whom has he killed?" " Where can I find Michael?" " He must be boozing away at Raja's bar down the street." " Raja's bar?" " Yes." "I've already been convicted of one murder." "Before you squeal on me, remember that the sentence for a murder is the same as the sentence for 2 murders." "Bloody Michael!" " What's up?" " I was looking for you, Michael!" " Why?" " Because he's looking for you." " For me?" "Who is it?" " The tall one!" "Who are you?" "What do you want from me?" "I want to know how you kidnapped Surendra Sinha." "I want to know everything about where you had hidden him and how you killed him." "The need for killing anyone hasn't ever arisen." "Lies won't get you anywhere, Michael." "Surendra Sinha was wearing this ring when he was killed." "This is the same ring which you sold to Prakash." " And Prakash..." " Wait a minute!" "The person who wore this ring..." "was he murdered?" " Yes." "He was killed." " I understand." "This is the first time that I'm holding a gun." "But, I know that a bullet will be fired as soon as I pull the trigger." "It'd be foolish of you to shoot me." "Because I'm the only one who knows that you are innocent." "I can give you information." "But, you must return the revolver first." "Had you not returned the revolver, I wouldn't have told you anything." " What if I'd shot you?" " You couldn't have." "Because the revolver is always empty." "I know that you haven't killed Surendra Sinha." "If this ring belonged to Surendra Sinha, I've seen the murderer." "Where did you see him?" "It was raining heavily that night." "And I'd improvised a roadblock using 2 empty drums." "Anyone driving down, was bound to stop." "Presently, I saw the headlights of an approaching vehicle from afar." "And I stood at a ready, poised with my empty revolver." "The driver saw the drums and braked hard to stop the car." "As soon as the car stopped, I jumped to, and stuck my revolver under this driver's ear." "He didn't have anything on him, as he was dressed in a sleeping suit." "I saw a person lying on the seat behind." "The driver told me that it was his friend who had taken ill." "He said that he was taking his friend to a hospital." "I argued that his friend would have something to spare." "The driver turned in his seat, drew a ring from his friend's hand, and gave it to me." "I removed the gun from his ear, and he drove away." "Get that?" "Understood very well." "The person lying on the backseat was no sick friend." "He was Surendra Sinha." "And, he must've been dead by then." "The person in the sleeping suit, who was driving the car was Surendra Sinha's assassin." "I can never forget someone I've seen for even once in my life." "I can pick him out in a crowd of millions." "If you want to, Michael, you can get your hands on 500,000 quid." "There's a reward of 500,000 on the killer." " 500,000?" "!" " Yes." "And, you may keep the ring too." "You could perhaps sight him again." "I'll see you in another day or two." "Don't come here." "If anyone recognises you, you'd be caught." "Every morning and evening, I'm at Prakash's shop." "You can find the telephone number in the directory." "I have heard of thieves being principled." "You've heard the right thing." "It's only the thieves who are principled." "The person you saw wearing a sleeping suit doesn't carry a reward of 500,000 on his head." "The reward is on the one who is on the run from the cops." "He's the one who has been convicted of Surendra Sinha's murder." "Get it?" "Do you want me to sell out on an innocent man for 500,000?" "I'd sell my mother for 500,000." "Think it over, Michael." "It's 500,000!" "You can go straight for the rest of your life." "Let the cash come in, first." "Your life of thievery; hunting for preys by the dark of the night; and trying to keep off the cops... it'll come to an end." "So it will, at the cost of the life of an innocent who will hang." " But..." " Everyone who is rich must've done it by crucifying the innocent." "Whoever has made money going straight?" "I'm a friend." "And I'll advise you not to waste a golden chance." "Go over to Surendra Sinha's brother and strike a deal." "I want to meet Mr. Narendra Sinha." " He's busy." "Can you come later?" " Tell him that I can help him find his brother's killer." " What?" "!" " That's true." " Please be seated, I'll send him down." "Do you want to meet me?" "I'll shoot you if you try to drive away." "Now, roll the window down." "Out with the cash." "I'm Narendra Sinha." "D'you know where the assassin is?" "Surendra Sinha's assassin is standing right in front of my eyes." "What?" "!" "Utter nonsense!" "Who are you?" "You might've forgetten me, Mr. Sinha." "But surely, you can recognise the ring." "You'd given me the ring that night as a gift." "I concede that you're a clever one." "I'm beginning to understand it all." "You killed your brother." "And you dumped the corpse in a gutter." "To avoid suspicion, you produced a letter for the police." "The letter stated that your brother was kidnapped." "The abductors demanded 5,00,000." "Else, they'd kill your brother." "Fact remains that you had had the letter written for you." "And you told the police that you were prepared to pay the ransom." "That put you above suspicion." "The police tried to trace the kidnappers." "But, they couldn't find them, as there were none." "One day, your brother's corpse was discovered." "To strenghthen your stance, you announced a reward of 500,000 for information about the assassin." "For the sake of 500,000, Ravi confessed to the crime." "What more could you want?" "Everything had turned out fine." "But you had committed a fatal mistake in meeting me while you were going to dump your beloved brother's corpse." " Shut up!" " If you insist I can bottle-up for ever." " How much money d'you want?" "Not much. 750,000." " 750,000?" "!" " Yes!" "250,000 is for keeping quiet." "You've already pledged 500,000 for information on the assassin." "I can do it for you." "Ravi, who has been convicted of your brother's murder is on the look-out for the real assassin." "You cannot afford to rest at peace till Ravi hangs." "I can get Ravi for you." "And 750,000 isn't asking too much for all that!" "All right." "You'll receive 750,000 tomorrow, on the condition that I get Ravi." " Let's exchange performance and price." "Let me tell you the spot where the exchange can be carried out." "On the way to Kasara, you will cross a small bridge." "After that, you'll find a dirt track leading to the right." "Leave the car and walk up the dirt track to a riverbank." "You'll see a small collage in ruins standing on the riverbank." " See you there at 11 am tomorrow." " Very well." "Make sure that you carry the cash and nothing else." " Understand?" " Understood." "I'll expect you at 11 am tomorrow." "Aren't you ashamed to call me your brother?" "Do you take me for a fool?" "Am I blind?" "!" "I'm not!" "I've been suspecting the two of you for sometime." "My trip to Delhi was a ruse to catch you red-handed." "It was foolish on my part to marry a fallen woman." "I was blind." " But you are my brother!" " I'm ashamed of this!" "It's I who am ashamed of having picked you up from the streets." "You were starving, you scoundrel!" "Had I picked up a dog instead it would've been faithful to me." " Brother!" "No!" "I'm not your brother!" "And neither is this your house!" "Get out of here!" " Scoundrel!" " It's you who are a scoundrel!" "What's the matter, Narendra?" "This fellow has come to know everything about us." "What are we to do now?" "A hundred lies to cover one..." "and a hundred murders to cover one." "Do you want to kill him to?" " Yes." "But how am I to do it?" "He's a cunning fellow." "He warned me not to carry a revolver or a pistol." "The revolver could perhaps reach there before the appointed hour." "You're right." "The revolver could reach there before it's time." "I'd like to speak to Michael." " It's him." " Give it to me." "Michael speaking." "I've found the one you're looking for." "You aren't joking with me, are you?" "All right." "I'll be there at 11 O'clock." "Tell me, at least, who he is." "You'll see for yourself when you arrive." "You know where the place is..." "11 sharp." "What are you up to?" "Why are you calling both of them?" "It's all right." "I'd promised Ravi that I'd lead him to the killer." "And I'd promised the killer that I'd lead him to Ravi." "I will have fulfilled both promises." "And I'll make 750,000 in the bargain." "750,000?" "!" "How would it look like... the 750,000?" "Not that I know." "But, there's a question that's nagging me." "I know that Sinha's brother killed him." "Why did Ravi confess to the crime?" "He might've been compelled to do it." "Why must we bother?" "All we're concerned about is our 750,000." " Forget everything else." " I can't forget it." "I'm a thief." "I peep into people's pockets and lives." "Can we get hold of Ravi's address?" " Whom are you looking for?" " I'm Ravi's friend." "Ravi's friend?" "I see." "Please have a seat, Son." "I'm Ravi's mother." "This is Ravi's younger brother." "This is his sister." "This is Ravi's friend." " I haven't seen you before." " I live in East Africa." "I'm Michael D'souza." "Ravi is an old friend of mine." "I had come here after a long time." "And, I'm going back tomorrow." "Maybe that's why you don't know that Ravi..." "How could he know when brother is expected back from work?" "He returns home early on other days of the week." "But on Tuesdays, as today, he is expected in rather late." "He has to put in a night-duty every Tuesday." "Please have tea with us." "But, I'm not sure when brother is coming back." "And, you're leaving tomorrow." "But, never mind." "I'll tell him you came." "Mother... how about some tea for Mr. Michael?" "Brother will be angry if we neglect his friend." "Brother rarely gets angry." "I keep on fighting with him." "The poor fellow is tired by the time he comes home after work." "But as soon as he comes home, he starts making us laugh." "We laugh!" "Oh yes!" "We do laugh a lot!" "We do laugh!" "Don't cry, Sister." "Don't." "Don't cry." "I swear by Jesus Christ that your brother will return." "And, you can laugh as you always have." "Why are you insisting like a child?" "Anything can happen out there." "I know." "That's why I want to go with you." "It's not right of you to go there, Neela." "I won't let you go all alone, Ravi." "You're punctual." "It's 11 sharp." "Where's Ravi?" " He should be here any moment." " Have you brought the cash?" " Yes." " Is it the full amount?" " Take a look for yourself." "D'you keep your cash in the safe?" " Let me have it." " No!" "You'd spoken of an exchange." "A give-and-take." "The one you want to meet is inside." "Let me introduce you to him." "I haven't ever killed anyone." "If you move an inch, I'll have to kill you." "Come over here, Ravi." "Surendra Sinha's brother killed him." "It's him." "Narendra Sinha." "I'm the only one who was a witness." " Let me take you to a hospital." " No." "It's difficult for me to get up." "The swine shot me thrice in the stomach." "My guts are in a mess." "I don't think I'll survive." "But, if I die, you're as good as dead too." "You must bring the doctor here." "Till I live, I won't let him budge an inch." "A doctor is miles away from here." "What if something happens to you?" "Nothing's going to happen." "Hurry." "Hurry, Ravi." "I'll take care of him." "Go on, Ravi." " Can you help me take off the coat?" " Yes." "Let go!" "Wait..." "I'm wearing socks." "Soak the sock in alcohol." "No!" "A cigarette... it's in my pocket." "Take it out of the pocket." "A match." "Give it to me." " Come with me." " Where to?" "!" "Someone's life is in danger." "Come on." "Why am I sweating so much?" "Water." "I'll fetch water." "Drink it." "Lock the door from outside and come in through the rear." "Didn't you hear what I said?" " Drag me over to the open door." " All right." "Hold on..." "Drag the chair." "Give the revolver to me." "No." "Michael can manage." "Lock this door from outside and run away." "No, Michael." "I won't leave you alone." "He'll be here any moment." "He might not be able to reach in time." "He will arrive, Michael..." "any moment now!" "No." "Go away... go away." "Go away!" "Go away!" "Go away... go." "Michael!" "The doctor is here." "The doctor is here... here..." "take your things, Doctor." "No!" "Don't shoot me, Ravi." "You can't die so easily, Narendra Sinha." "You have to await your death in a prison cell." "The police are coming here." "Let me go." "I beg of you." "Please forgive me." "Even God won't forgive you Scoundrel!" "Who are you?" "What's going on here?" "He wants to say something." "I'm Michael D'souza." "I want to make a statement." "Michael has given us his statement." "It'll help prove your innocence." "He wants to meet you." "Hurry!" "He has little time left." "Don't worry, Michael." "Michael isn't scared of death." "It's death which is scared of me." "That's why it's late coming to me." "Can I do anything for you, Michael?" "Tell me... d'you want anything done?" "I've been a blackheart." "But, the day I went to your house I'd felt as if..." "never mind all that." "Now, all of you can laugh together... once again." ""I swear by Jesus Christ that your brother will return"" ""And you can laugh"