Freshly back from my morning run, I heard noise outside my window. I peered out to see what was going on and saw Willy and Chhotu in deep conversation beside the Mercedes. Chhotu smoked a cigarette and listened. Willy seemed perturbed about something. Business perhaps. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, except for the stray word here and there. Something about the king.

Chhotu nodded and threw his cigarette to the ground, not even bothering to crush it with his shoe. After a few moments, they shook hands, and Chhotu stuffed himself into the back seat of the car. A man I hadn’t seen before appeared and climbed into the driver’s seat. I learned later that he was Shankar, Willy’s driver. He started the engine, shifted into gear, and drove off toward the gate, where the guard stood and saluted the departing guest.

It was Monday morning, and I needed to phone the office to let them know I was not coming in. It didn’t look good to call in sick twice in the first two months at a new job, but I didn’t have a helicopter, so I was stuck.

I dressed and was heading to the dining room for morning tea. That’s when I noticed the envelope on the stone floor just inside my door. Dan was scrawled across the front in a man’s script. It smelled strongly of cloying cologne.

You should exercise greater caution in your nighttime assignations. Not everyone sleeps as soundly as your host. I have a proposition for you. Perhaps you’d like to invest in securing my discretion.

Till Wednesday, when I’ll be back.

Chhotu

Another trunk call. Twenty minutes before I got Girish on the line. He seemed unconcerned about my health and any damage I might be doing to my career by missing work. I told him I had interviews in Juhu Tuesday and Wednesday for my film story, so I wouldn’t be in those days either. He said he’d inform Frank for me.

I ran into Willy, who had Kamal prepare me some tea and biscuits. Breakfast would be later, at ten. Then he excused himself to do some important work.

Shankar had left the house to drive Chhotu to the station, and Willy was shut in his office. I didn’t know where Govind was, but he didn’t seem to be around. As far as I could tell, the only other person in the place was Kamal, and I could hear the pressure cooker hissing in the kitchen. She was at work preparing breakfast. I went looking for Sushmita.

She’d told me the day before which room was hers, then made me promise never to try to sneak inside. I sensed she didn’t trust me to be as careful as she was, but this was an emergency she needed to know about immediately.