Prasad sat with head bowed. “I just couldn’t help myself, dad.” He stammered. “It just snowballed before I realized what was happening….”
“Shut up.” His father cut him off. “You are totally useless. Do you know the value of money ? Do you know how much I slog to earn my money? All these things I do for you and this is what you do in return.” He was livid.
“I’m sorry dad. I will never…”
“If you ever do it again I will disown you. You lost $20,000 betting on football ! I cannot believe you could be so stupid. And to top it, now you tell me you borrowed from the loan shark. His interest is $5,000. Unbelievable ! Now he is threatening to beat you up. I should just let him.”
Prasad’s father stomped away to his study. He was fuming inside. He had the money. But it was hard earned money. Not to be given to slimy bookies and loan sharks. Suddenly he had an idea. He would mark all the notes. He would trap the bookies and the Ah Long. The thought somewhat mollified him. He sat down and painstakingly placed tiny black dots on the corner of every note. Then he carefully counted the notes again, and put them into the envelope.
*******
Kamesh sat with Vatsala, facing Dr Purandhar. The doctor was pointing out the fuzzy images on his large monitor. “Can you see this ? The cyst is pushing against these nerve nodes. The reddish colour indicates it is well supplied with blood. It is still growing.”
Vatsala sat impassive, eyes downcast. She had been through a lot lately. She just wanted to get it over with. Kamesh wondered why the doctor was telling them all these. They already knew that the growth had to be operated.
“It is very complicated because of the proximity of the nerves. A more sophisticated procedure is called for.” Kamesh’s heart sank. He had balked at the initial cost of $20,000 which the doctor had mentioned. Now it looked like he was going to ask for more. “Tell us what needs to be doctor. I want my wife to be healthy again. Whatever it takes.” He put his arm around Vatsala, and squeezed her shoulders.
“We would need spinal laparoscope assisted microsurgery. That would minimize the risks of collateral damage to the occipital and auditory nerves. I estimate $25,000.” Dr Purandhar glanced at them shiftily. He felt a sharp pang of guilt. He lowered his eyes uncomfortably.
*******
Daniel sat leaning back on his swivel chair. He had been taken aback at the sudden request. But Kamesh was a dear old friend. And Daniel was deeply indebted to him. In fact he owed his life to Kamesh. He had promised to help Kamesh.
“Kali. Oru mukkiamana vela irukku. Meet me at Devi’s Corner, 7 am tomorrow.” Daniel put down the phone.
*******
Leo Zachcharias Chung was a thug. He ran betting syndicates, and the complementary business of loan sharking. But now, Zachcharias sat trembling. It was a comical sight. The burly tough Lion of the underworld was behaving like a frightened kitten. The tattoo of the dragon on his arm quivered like a frightened mouse. They had struck him at his weakest point. They had kidnapped his only son Michael.
*******
Dr Purandhar was surprised. Kamesh had paid by cash. He glanced at the brown envelope, mildly surprised. He slid the money out, and flipped through the stack. Suddenly he stopped and dropped the notes on the table. Stunned, he stared at the notes. He frantically shuffled them clumsily, spreading them all over the table. Every one of them had a black dot at the corner.
“Shut up.” His father cut him off. “You are totally useless. Do you know the value of money ? Do you know how much I slog to earn my money? All these things I do for you and this is what you do in return.” He was livid.
“I’m sorry dad. I will never…”
“If you ever do it again I will disown you. You lost $20,000 betting on football ! I cannot believe you could be so stupid. And to top it, now you tell me you borrowed from the loan shark. His interest is $5,000. Unbelievable ! Now he is threatening to beat you up. I should just let him.”
Prasad’s father stomped away to his study. He was fuming inside. He had the money. But it was hard earned money. Not to be given to slimy bookies and loan sharks. Suddenly he had an idea. He would mark all the notes. He would trap the bookies and the Ah Long. The thought somewhat mollified him. He sat down and painstakingly placed tiny black dots on the corner of every note. Then he carefully counted the notes again, and put them into the envelope.
*******
Kamesh sat with Vatsala, facing Dr Purandhar. The doctor was pointing out the fuzzy images on his large monitor. “Can you see this ? The cyst is pushing against these nerve nodes. The reddish colour indicates it is well supplied with blood. It is still growing.”
Vatsala sat impassive, eyes downcast. She had been through a lot lately. She just wanted to get it over with. Kamesh wondered why the doctor was telling them all these. They already knew that the growth had to be operated.
“It is very complicated because of the proximity of the nerves. A more sophisticated procedure is called for.” Kamesh’s heart sank. He had balked at the initial cost of $20,000 which the doctor had mentioned. Now it looked like he was going to ask for more. “Tell us what needs to be doctor. I want my wife to be healthy again. Whatever it takes.” He put his arm around Vatsala, and squeezed her shoulders.
“We would need spinal laparoscope assisted microsurgery. That would minimize the risks of collateral damage to the occipital and auditory nerves. I estimate $25,000.” Dr Purandhar glanced at them shiftily. He felt a sharp pang of guilt. He lowered his eyes uncomfortably.
*******
Daniel sat leaning back on his swivel chair. He had been taken aback at the sudden request. But Kamesh was a dear old friend. And Daniel was deeply indebted to him. In fact he owed his life to Kamesh. He had promised to help Kamesh.
“Kali. Oru mukkiamana vela irukku. Meet me at Devi’s Corner, 7 am tomorrow.” Daniel put down the phone.
*******
Leo Zachcharias Chung was a thug. He ran betting syndicates, and the complementary business of loan sharking. But now, Zachcharias sat trembling. It was a comical sight. The burly tough Lion of the underworld was behaving like a frightened kitten. The tattoo of the dragon on his arm quivered like a frightened mouse. They had struck him at his weakest point. They had kidnapped his only son Michael.
*******
Dr Purandhar was surprised. Kamesh had paid by cash. He glanced at the brown envelope, mildly surprised. He slid the money out, and flipped through the stack. Suddenly he stopped and dropped the notes on the table. Stunned, he stared at the notes. He frantically shuffled them clumsily, spreading them all over the table. Every one of them had a black dot at the corner.
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