Thursday, July 1, 2010

Once Upon a Time with Shobhaa - 3

Free Style Wrestling with Haji and Rukhsana….

If the setting was surrealistic, even bizarre ( a lavish suite in the old wing of the Taj Mahal Hotel ), the people present at the ‘business meeting’ were even more so. Apart from Rukhsana, Haji Mastan and yours truly ( I pretended to be Rukhsana’s secretary ), there were five or six Bhais there. It was a chiifon and pearls meet polyester and rexine moment. Rukhsana conducted the proceedings with all the hauteur of an empress dealing with serfs. She swished her French chiffon saree pallav around her broad shoulders, played with the Basra pearls around her thick neck, constantly adjusted the gigantic shades she wore indoors\ outdoors, and talked down to Haji in a posh accent. Everybody studiously ignored me ( appropriately dressed for my p.a.’s part in a downmarket khadi kurta ). Haji paced the room restlessly, his white rexine chappals making a soft squishy sound on the deep pile carpet. The other goons glowered and kept staring at the door as if expecting a police party.
The agenda for the meeting was simple – Rukhsana and Haji were haggling over gate money. Most people outside the professional wrestling circuit did not know that Rukhsana controlled all the kusti fixtures that took place in and around Delhi. She wanted to negotiate better terms for the Bombay bouts ( his territory), and Haji wasn’t playing footsie. They were haggling over Pakistani wrestlers and their fees. More importantly, they couldn’t agree on their respective cuts. She refused to budge… and so did he. At this critical point of the negotiation, there was a knock on the door, followed by the buzzer ringing. Everybody froze! Haji’s goon squad sprang up and took strategic positions…. even Rukhsana momentarily forgot her haughty act and looked startled.
Oh oh…. something was clearly not going as per the schedule. Who was at the door? Cops? Rivals? Hotel security? Enraged wrestlers?? Would guns be pulled out? Knives flashed? Would I be killed in a cross fire between hostile underworld gangs? Rukhsana reached for the phone on the elegant, marble topped table next to her chair ( those were pre-mobile phone days, remember?). There was pin drop silence in the suite as she hit the button with a swift, smooth move of her perfectly manicured index finger. A gigantic solitaire on her ring finger, caught the light from the chandelier and flashed evilly.
“ Hello….” growled Rukhsana….as I held my breath.
This was turning out to be a chilling evening.
I said a short prayer… would it be answered?
More next week!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Background music?

ZB said...

wow, you should write a screenplay on this subject, and perhaps also direct. can guess it would be a duper hit.Sad we dont get soaps like Swabhimaan these days. Would love to see another epic soap written by you. common De, you cant disappoint your fans.

Sudhir Kekre said...

deeply engrossing. You have a narration style. :)

Anonymous said...

Once Upon A Time In Mumbai
- The upcoming movie

Once Upon a Time with Shobhaa
- The current post/s

Title very similar

sudipa said...

Searching for the right gift for your loved ones? Get into http://www.flowerdeliveryindia.com/delivery_locations.asp and send gifts to Delhi for every event. Sending Delhi gifts online have become easier, convenient and safe with us.

goodluck said...

This writing reminds me of Devyani Chaubal of Star & Style, full of anecdotes. She was a tigress who tore many a star to pieces.

Sunila Gupte said...

Wow!!! Shobha, keep it up. Too exciting and I must admire your courage.

Sidhusaaheb said...

The prayer, as we all know now, was answered. Still, the curiosity does remain and I shall await the next part of the series. :)

Admin said...

Cool shobha posting on blogspot
Send 145 Character Sms Free Online

Admin said...

Music amuses : Play Music Online

Theyoginme said...

Seriously, there needs to be some suspense music in the background as part of your blog :)

Anonymous said...

Woow can't belive it ....your blog comment place is becoming an space for online advertisement ....you should charge money from these people....lol