Daddy's Girl by Swati Chaturvedi

Author:Swati Chaturvedi
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789352140510
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2016-08-24T04:00:00+00:00

15

Asthachal Rai fondly called ‘Ass’ by friends was a lady at large and she lived up to her name and billing.

She lived next to Meera’s house in Chanakyapuri and her father was the senior-most official in the Delhi police. And Meera, compelled by the loss of Singh as a source, went calling ostensibly to see Asthachal, who was universally shunned, but actually to pump her father for information.

Asthachal, who was a Sanskrit scholar, was suspicious from the word go. She figured that Meera had an agenda. While talking to Asthachal in the living room, Meera smiled sweetly and asked, ‘Has Uncle left for work?’

Asthachal, who hated Meera, bridled at her question and said, ‘No, he is actually home; but why do you care?’

Meera tried to pacify her by asking about her boyfriend, the philanderer of the colony, but that provoked Ass more. She thought she was being mocked.

As the atmosphere became more strained, her father, the senior Rai, came in. On seeing Meera, he took a seat and pleasantries were exchanged. Then there was an uncomfortable silence.

But Meera had little patience. She abruptly asked the senior Rai, ‘Uncle, what is happening in the Nalwa case?’

Eyeing her suspiciously, Rai frowned and said importantly, ‘These are confidential matters; we have cracked the case.’

‘Really?’ asked Meera innocently. ‘I had heard that the case was about to be transferred to the CBI.’

Rai swelled up in his usual fashion and said, ‘Really! You journalists know nothing. We are about to file a charge sheet.’

Bingo! thought Meera. Got you! Then she said aloud, ‘Actually, Uncle, I always thought the Delhi police was very competent, but all the factions create a problem.’

Rai, whose interest was always piqued by any politicking in the Delhi police, somewhat thawed and asked, ‘What factions, beta? Tell me. You know because I am so upright, they never tell me about the hanky-panky they get up to.’

Sod you too, thought Meera, but said sweetly ‘I believe Apoorva Sinha and the CP are attacking each other. The CP wants to be governor of Delhi and Sinha wants to succeed him.’

Rai was now thoroughly riled up and, scenting possible danger to his dream of becoming the CP, he said, ‘There is no harm in the CP becoming the L-G, but Sinha is extremely corrupt. There is no way he should be allowed to become the CP.’

‘I am only concerned for the force,’ he added pompously.

Of course you have no interest in the job, thought Meera, disgusted.

‘Well, from what I have heard, Uncle, if the Nalwa case is cracked, Apoorva will not stand a chance. He is currently batting for the Nalwa lobby,’ she said.

Rai replied, ‘The charge sheet is with me for final clearance and I have been so busy that I haven’t had a chance to see it. You know the HM only trusts me and I do not get a single minute off in a day.’

Which is why you are relaxing at home at 12 p.m. like a typical Indian bureaucrat, thought Meera, contemptuously.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.