“And now you drive your own cab! Very good. Everyone says America is the land of opportunities, but India can also be for those who work hard.” Anuj was sounding like a politician.
Bhola seemed almost touched by the praise. And the booze seemed to have loosened his tongue as well.
“Thank you, saab. Yes, I grew up very poor. No education. Had to leave school in 4th standard. And not many jobs except like daily wage. But then I worked hard and prayed to god. Got better jobs. Waiter, then delivery boy, some times a cook. Then learned driving. Became a driver. Saved some money. Bought a second hand rickshaw……”*
I zoned out as the other guys were listening with rapt attention to how Bhola pulled himself up by the bootstraps. I didn’t really care about that. My mind was a jumble of different questions and doubts. If he did work on that site, was he once of Sajid’s guys? If so, was him being here just a coincidence or had he or his friends gone looking for us? All that was six years ago. We had largely moved on from that phase of our lives, moved to a new city. This connection seemed odd.
No, you’re being paranoid, I told myself. Even if he had wanted to orchestrate this, there was no way he could have. My original plan was to book a tatkal train ticket. This cab had been booked at the last minute after meeting these guys. And it had been booked by Neel in his name. There was no way for Bhola to know who I was or to plan things such that I would end up in his cab. It had to be a coincidence.
Besides, I didn’t even know if he was involved in those events. It was a big construction site. With work done for a few years.*
“Very creditable, Bhola. Congratulations.” I heard Anirudh say. Even the guy most opposed to the driver’s presence was praising him. I joined in with a few words of praise too.
Soon that topic ended. Conversation moved on to other things. Anirudh starte reading out some jokes from whatsapp and we were all laughing. Bhola didn’t seem to be looking at me or even avoiding looking at me. I detected nothing unusual in his body language. My curiosity was getting stronger and stronger. Finally I decided to probe a little further.
“Bhola, it’s funny that you worked on that building. It means maybe our paths might have crossed many years ago.” I said when there was another lull in the conversation.
“Yes, it’s possible.” he said, emptying the glass. I filled it up again.
“I even talked to one of the guys there once. A foreman or something. I wanted our compound rebuilt and I asked him if I could hire some men for it cheap. But he said they couldn’t do that. Old Muslim fellow. Salim I think his name was.” I said, deliberately saying the wrong name.
“Salim….maybe saab. Very common name. There were many of us working there. It was a big project.” Bhola said. “But foreman….no….there was no foreman by that name.”
“I think he was the foreman. Short old guy. Salim or maybe Shafiq or Saeed….”*
“Sajid?” he said, raising his eyebrows.
“Maybe.” I said shrugging. “It’s been so long.”
“Oh yes, I remember Sajid. He wasn’t a foreman or anything. One of us workers, just old. But he was such a bully that he acted like a leader. And his chamchas followed along.” he said.
“Really? Yes, he did act like he was in charge. Anyway, I asked him, he said they couldn’t do the work.”
“You’re lucky.” he said and giggled.
“What do you mean?”
“He probably would have spent less time on the compound and more time after your wife.”
“WHAT???” I said loudly, acting shocked, because I had to play the part.*
“What are you saying?” Anirudh said. As Bhola and I had talked about this stuff, the other guys’ attention had wandered. But this juicy comment seemed to bring it right back.
“Wait, what did he say?” Neel asked and even Anuj looked curious.
This seemed to unnerve Bhola a little.*
“Sorry saab, really really sorry, no disrespect to you or your wife. I have just had too much to drink.” he immediately said and looked bashful.
“No, it’s okay. I am insulted.” I smiled and said. “I just found your comment curious.”
“Me too!” Anirudh said and laughed.
“But what did he say???” Neel said, annoyed.
“Tarun was talking about some laborer who worked with Bhola back in Jabalpur. Bhola says that if Tarun had hired the guy to work at his place, the guy would have been after his wife.”
“Haha, what???” Neel laughed.
“Saab really, I did not mean it as an insult to you. I promise. I don’t even know you or your wife.” Bhola sincerely said. And in that moment, I became even more convinced that he had no idea who I was. But I was interested to hear what he would say, now that the subject had been broached.
“Calm down, Bhola. I told you, I am not taking offense to what you said. Just please explain what you meant. Sounds like an interesting story.” I even rubbed his shoulder to assure him. It seemed to work.
“OK saab. Well, this Sajid guy….he was quite a ladies man. An old fart but could never keep it in his pants. He had three wives. And yet he also lusted after and banged all kind of women.”
“Interesting!!” Neel said. “Was he a handsome fellow?”
“No, that’s the strange thing. Short, slightly fat, dark, ugly. Who know what magic he had. Maybe it was his bullying personality. He banged a couple of women who worked on the site. A lady who sold vegetables. A couple of maids….and hehe…well.”
“Go on.” Anirudh said. “It sounds like you have something more to share.”
“You won’t believe me if I tell you, saab.” Bhola giggled.
“Go on.” Neel said, pouring more whiskey into the glass.