summer vacations punjab

lakhot. maybe thename sounds familiar.. it figures in thepapers at least twice a year first in summer.. ..when, about a 100 peopledrop dead in the scorching heat. then in winter when another 100or so are claimed by the cold. a small, sleepy, desert town.. ..which has a world of it's own. before last diwali, whowould have thought that.. ..everything herewas about to change.

like they say, creation ispreceded by destruction. it hadn't rained a dropin three years and this.. .. town was starting to feellike my life - dry, withered.. .. ineffective and thirsty. and just like my life, work onthe new canal had also stopped. maybe, that's how deserts are born. "this is a dream.." "this is a betrayal.." "this is a game of life.."

"the path of lies.." "even life partner is a betrayer.." "the caravan ofthis world is farce.." "millions of peopleare traitors here.." "even today it is sold.." here's a truth about the desert.. ..many things lie hiddenunder the surface here. often, what seems like an illusionturns out to be real and what seems.. .. real turns outto be an illusion.

like there under a grey,cloudy sky.. ..right in the middle of the road.. seducing meyana gupta. "love is life.." "friend is a betrayal.." "the whole world is betrayal.." "nobody belongs to anybody here.." "nobody belongs to me.." satya veer-ji

yes bihari-ji..you wanted something? new motorcycle? what do you think? loan or installment? single payment. single payment? single payment!just what i thought. congratulations. listen.. babloo'smessed his pants again!

coming.- come and help me. what was bihari lal saying? nothing.. just. where's raju? he's gone for a birthday party. i closed the parlourearly today.. tea? no. your editor called.something about some deadline.

oh. and your press card arrived. did they publish your story? yes, page 22. is something wrong? come, sit.. what happened? did the suspensionorder come through? this afternoon.

for how long? pending investigation. you are so gullible. the whole department's on the take. and you are the onlynaive idiot who gets caught. where's the remote? mummy-ji had warned me, i shouldhave married that boy from jaipur. the family had four sari stores. but i had to get stuck witha junior engineer in the pwd.

why does your press cardsay; "surendra mohan upadhyay"? it's my pen name. pen name? why doyou need a pen name? and go easy on the water. your in-law's aren'tgifting us a water tanker. 'there comes an age inevery man's life when.. .. he can't recognizehimself in the mirror.' as a kid, i thought i'dbe really famous some day. not a famous filmstar or detective.

just a famous writer. and 'manorama'- my 'great' novel,my grand chance.. .. my one last hopeeven that had failed. the biggest washout inthe history of writing only 200 copies sold. and a year later, where am i? neither here nor there.. in the middle of thisgod-forsaken desert.. .. leading a petty,nameless existence..

.. with petty problems,taking petty bribes. are we going torohtak for diwali or not? brij can't go either.. .. all because ofthis canal issue. you know, i think thatastrologer was right about you. what did he say papa? quiet. which astrologer? that fellow yourmother took me to.. ..he said that you've beenpursuing me from a previous life.

don't try and change the subjectare we going to rohtak or not? we'll have to waittill the enquiry is over. that means no. you promised we'dplay snakes and ladders. i didn't promise snakes and ladders. yes. you did. it must have been ludo. snakes and ladders. ludo.- ok. ludo.

ok. tomorrow.- no. not fair. who said life's fair. later.. ok? it's all because of your new bike. it just drew attention. you are acting as a very rich man. but do you ever listen to anyone? can we go for aride on the motorbike? come, raju.. it's time for bed. my tv show's going to start.

you know what she says? if iravati was so bothered,she wouldn't be sitting in delhi. i am seeing.this house has become hermitage. why don't you gowrite or something? don't feel like it. you never feel like it these days. so, you are here, iravati. and not just your writing.. is satya veerrandhawa-ji there, please?

satya veer-ji? i need to talk to you.. .. alone. it's very important. come in. this way. please, sit. sorry!- no! please, it's ok. excuse me.

yes, tell me? nimmi, keep your voice down.she'll hear you. so? i don't care. who is she? what does she want? nimi, please. i don't know.look, she's a stranger. she's waiting, i'm going back in. so go! were youlooking for permission? i'm going!- go! i can't see your book anywhere.

oh sorry. i don't have a copy. not a single copy for yourself? no.. please.. sit. okay. your photo on thebook's back cover.. you look just like it. manorama is one ofmy favourite books.

your herodetective raghu.. he must be based on you? uh, no. anyway he's just a character. and one can't hire characters,but creators.. i'm sorry i don't understand you? have you heard of p.p. rathore? the mla.. ? the stateminister for irrigation? the ex-raja of lakhkot?

do you know of his wife? i'm mrs. p. p. rathore. and i need your help. how could i help you? it's a matter of some delicacy. yes. i think my husbandis having an affair. i need proof and i wantyou to get me this proof. i want you to follow my husband.

catch him red-handedand take photos. but, why me? it's obvious.this is a small town. i can't get a private investigator. the closest i can get is you.. .. the man whocreated detective raghu. you. i will pay you foryour services, of course. ten thousand. once the job is done,i'll pay ten thousand more.

is twenty thousand enough? i've written down allthe relevant details. when the assembly is in recess.. ..my husband spends his weekendsalone at our ancestral home. i suspect that's theonly opportune time for.. .. him to conduct his "affair". can i ask you a question? how come you don't havea copy of your own book? just thatit reminds me of my failure.

now you want to play detective? are you nuts? i want to go torohtak, not the loony bin in agra. you know, i had somegreat marriage offers too. oh great at least we'llget to see the taj mahal there. down with the irrigation minister! down with p.p. rathore! long live the peoples united party. the canal is a death trap. down with the canal.

the canal will kill us all. down with the irrigation minister. we agree that theregion needs water.. but what will be gainedby fleecing poor farmers? when we all know thatthe water will never come.. why are they taking our land away? these feudals just wantto lord over us again. i've taken some photos ofyour husband with the woman. they were havingsome sort of argument.

i was too far awayto hear the details. well then.. i'm leaving. there was one other thing.. was there something else? the photo studio was shut.. so i couldn't get thephotos developed. sorry. that's alright. don't mind me! i'm just the maid!

quarter kg carrots. and half kg peas. the whole world stands one sideand wife's brother goes to malpur. it's said that there was atime when the people of lakhot.. .. believed in love, not war. the world may have changed.. but there's one man whohas kept the tradition alive. every morning, a bigbite of a sweet pancake.. .. finds its way into his mouth..

and two words of love spill out. are you trying to feed me left-oversfrom your father's wedding? what are you saying inspector? you know my pancakesare my best-selling item. there's no questionof them being stale. the question hasalready been raised. are you calling me a liar,a cheat, a fraud? why don't i just arrest myself? come now, inspector. try one more.

so this is sub-inspector brij mohanmy brother-in-law and best friend. oye, brother-in-law,on for tonight? you know the trouble with women? if they can't snare a good husband,they'll cry for a lifetime. but if they are luckyenough to get a good one.. they'll make himcry for a lifetime. know why i haven'ttasted the fruit of marriage? why? so that i could savorthe sweet pancakes of life!

no woman, no problems. single and happy. nimi's not that bad. really? you've married a demon. that makes you ademon too, doesn't it? so, have i everclaimed to be a god? did i ever say it? never. she's just been under a lot ofstress, lately and so have i. go away for a dayor two with nimi..

.. take her for a what's it called?a second-hand honeymoon. second honey moon.yeah that's what i mean. it'll make a world of a difference. i'll keep raju. did the astrologer really say that? astrologer? about our past lives? he did. your mummy-jitold you, didn't she? so we've been togetherfor two lives, at least? no. he said you'd beenpursuing me in the last one.

you only managed toget me this time around. oh really? stupid! show me that blue one. you won't find a sari like this.. .. anywhere else in jaipur.- i'm just going outside. ok.. and don't smoke. show me that one..- yes. one pack, please.

madam.. meenakshi-ji.. see! i bought the blue one. doesn't the colour suit me?- yes. were you smoking? um. just one. naughty boy! youpromised you wouldn't. that reshma will be so envious!see, feel it, it's so soft! see!- yes.. he has been chosen forthe post of prime minister.

now we have to waitto see who will be.. ..appointed as thepresident of india.. in rajasthan's lakhot district,the construction of a new.. .. water-sports complexfor children commenced today. the state ministerfor irrigation.. .. mr. p.p. rathore waspresent on the occasion. the foundation stone was laid by.. .. the minister's wife mrs.meenakshi rathore. mrs. rathore is rarely seen inpublic due to health reasons.

however, she said thatany development efforts.. .. for children must besupported in every way. we'll give mummy andpapa this tea set on diwali.. they'll be so happy. i wonder what brij'sbeen feeding raju.. ..or teaching him. he himself barely scrapedthrough school by cheating.. poking your nose inaffairs of the ministers.. .. and messing up with adog is not a very good idea.

if you do, then in thefirst case you have to inject.. ..yourself for 14 timesand the second, you are ruined. but since the entireincident is in the past tense and.. .. the lady in question haspaid you for your services. i suggest you forget the matter.it doesn't matter who she was. there was something else.. what? i think someone saw me that night. papa!

raju! come here.. how are you? brij. not in front of the kid. on the contrary, i amof the opinion that.. .. children should beexposed to the realities.. .. of life as early as possible. right, raju? yes uncle! but who was she?

what do they say in english? curiosity kills the cat. is there another bottleor did you drink it all? can i ask you a question?- yes. do you remember that condom ad? a little bit ofcaution goes a long way! satya veer!satya veer, please stop! my life is in danger. please if..- just a minute. sorry.

just making sure you're real. been imagining allsorts of things lately. please.if something happens to me.. you know, there's this girl i see. no it's a woman. no, a girl. i see her. i need you to remember my namemy real name is manorama.. ..just like your book.. hold on. sorry for interruptionbut did you really like my book?

did you even read it? manorama. and i am 32..please. remember. please remember ifanything happens to me. please. 32? it that your ageor your waist size? nimi, i'm going out. need anything? manorama. the name i was trying toforget had come back to haunt me. this time not a heroine in a novelbut a living, breathing woman. and she betrayed me once again.

raju, want some jam on your toast? mummy-ji had called.. are you listening? death of a social worker.. .. manorama shukla, whowas part of an organisation.. .. campaigning againstthe rajasthan vikas canal,.. .. was killed in anaccident on the highway. preliminary investigationshaven't indicated any foul play.. ..though the policesuspect it could be suicide.

it's her. she committed suicide. nimi, if you werecommitting suicide.. .. would you kill yourself byjumping in front of a truck? i should tell you i don't havemuch inheritance coming my way. it's all going to brij,unfortunately.. what's wrong with you?the paper said suicide. you believe everythingthat the papers print? you lied about a college education,didn't you? social worker killed..- if anything happens to me..

please remember my name..- campaigning against the canal.. my name is manoramaand i'm 32 years old. who would be againstbringing water to this desert? but we believe that theirrigation minister rathore is.. ..using this promisedcanal only to win votes. the 1981 wateragreement between punjab,.. .. haryana andrajasthan is in dispute.. and the other states arerefusing to release water.. i'm sure i'll find allthat in here. - yes.

so, manorama shukla, was shealso part of this protest? yes.. ? manorama shukla wasworking in your organisation? i'm sorry but i'm confused. what's your article about? it's about yourorganisation but we need to .. ..have a humaninterest angle as well. like the suicide. itattracts the general audience and.. ..this way we can get the readershipfor our socio-political views.

so, did she have any family here? she was from jaipur. she lived here with a roommate.. the roommate's name? roommate's name.. maybe you have itwritten somewhere.. thank you. ah. here it is. sheetal. sheetal.. and their address?

remember the readers..- yes. sure. house 105, 1st floor,talati haveli.. sheetal-ji? and you are.. ? satya veer . sorry.i needed to talk to you .. you're not some kindof salesman, are you? because i have a bus to catch. no. no. it's about manorama.. ..she was a client of mine.

i'm sorry but whatever you'resaying doesn't make any sense. look, i can't tell you more here. manorama came to meet methe night she was killed. she was in a state of panic. what do you mean? manorama's suicideis not what it seems. i'm sorry but i'mreally getting very late. my bus. was there anythingunusual in the last few days?

did she say anything? please try to recollect. this is my home phone number. if you remember anything..anything at all, call me. satya veer randhawa.. the writer? your stop, get down.come on, get in. let's go. yes. that's right. i'm her father.. gyan chand shukla. 1990year of graduation. correct. are you sure? there's nomanorama shukla in your records?

could you check 1989 or 1991? i'm sorry... there seemsto be some confusion. i'll call you back. thank you. mrs. p.p. rathore. meenakshi rathore. manorama shukla. and now apparently there'sno manorama shukla either. who the hell was she, nimi?

take this. come let's go. catch hold of him. the bastard.. get him! you scoundrel! hey, wait! stop there. shoot him. hey wait or i'll shoot you. stop there. i amtelling you to stop! stop!

i'll shoot all thesix bullets in you. yes, tell me. soldier. you know peanuts are badfor your asthma, right? yeah! i know. what did that womantell you that night? speak the truth. what did that womantell you? were you banging her?

what woman? remember now?- not so easily. can't hide your stomachfrom the midwife, jerk. won't talk? won't talk? was she telling you a joke?we want to hear it too! yeah, we want to hear it too.- tell us! nothing, she didn't say anything.- speak up. she said nothing?!- asshole! what did she say? talk!

your turn. you question him. i don't know anything. can i shoot him? are you nuts? listen.- just this one time.. just once. three here.. at least three please! idiot, if you kill him, howwill we find out anything? here break his fingers.snap them in two. i don't want to. you do it.- what?

i won't break them. do your own dirty work. you're just scared. wanna talk? she just.. all she said was thather name was manorama. and that her age was 32.that's all. i swear. 32? why would thebitch tell you her age?

you weren't filling in a damnapplication form for her. were you? how should i know! itold you what she said!! give me your right hand. c'mon! i don't know anything else. i think he's telling the truth. you shut up! stupid chicken!what do you have? what do you have there? hey. catchbike keys. you mind your own business..

..from now on. ok? and with full honesty. let's go water the canal. what did you call me? chicken? yes chicken, come let's go. had a wild night, huh? you know why tourists go to jaipur? because it's the pink city. that's what we need a pink city.

nimi kept calling all night long. you owe me one brother-in-law. doctor can't we hurry this up? the entire statemachinery is waiting for you. done doctor? thank you doctor. and you know what'sthe icing on the cake? because of you, i'm notgetting any pancakes today. those two. why don't youfind who they work for.. what's the point?

the maximum charge wouldbe assault and battery. they'd be walkingfree in 15 minutes. brij. we're not talkingabout an extra pancake here. a woman's been murdered! really? and what proof do you have? any evidence? anything? as of now, the only provablecrime is one of criminal trespass. slowly sneaking into the minister'shouse illegally and spying. now, should i register a case?

we cremated her body yesterday. no family members came forward. look, i'm stilltelling you she was murdered. brother-in-law.. and i'm still tellingyou this is stupidity. go write a novel or somethingand stop playing detective. and for your kind information.. ..we released the truck-driverinvolved in the accident. it was a simple accident case.

she ran out in themiddle of the road. it was dark. he didn't seeher and she got run over. sir, the commissioner is on air. what does he want now? i'm coming. i'll be right back. jayesh. jayesh pathak. lic and general insurance agent. in today's world, one needsadequate insurance coverage.

one never knows with life. anything can happen. that's why i say what are you doing? what do you want? you could have asked me.what do you want? the truck driver's name?his number? i'll give it to you. here.

but one last timethen forget all this nonsense. look, i'll file a report forthe stolen motorcycle, ok? you won't even have tocome to the police station. no, thank you. it's ok. come on now, don't sulk. it's not that. what is it then? the thing is.. i... uh...

it was a 'gift'from sima construction. it's still registeredin their name. and with thisdepartment inquiry on.. listen! this isn't for littlefish like us. understand? these politicians are big fish. and what do big fish like to eat? little fish. that's right. tellnimi she owes me big time.

you know what mummy-ji told mewhen we were getting married? if you keep your man happyin bed, he'll never stray. you think that's true? is that ceiling fanmore interesting than me? sv, what have you got involved in? ok. whatever it is, it has to stop. they could have killed you. or me. or raju. i'm going to rohtak with raju..with you or without you.

it's not like you'reever here for us anyway. so go then.. .. without me. you're going to ridethis bucket of bolts? i thought you said youwere going to rohtak. what do you care? i called the insurance companyoffice a million times mr. pathak. we work 26 hours a day. we run a very tight ship here.

you, come here! hey you, you thinkyou're paid for smoking? you know smoking is notallowed near those drums! what's your salary? 800. 800.. here! you're fired. noroom here for your type. go. go on get lost.

that boy, how long hashe been working here? that boy? he doesn't work here. he just broughtlunch for fateh singh. shyam lowry! this is mr. pathakfrom the insurance company. tell him about the accident. ok. we were coming back from a deliveryon the old jaipur highway. suddenly this woman, she justcame running out of the dark.. ..straight in front of my truck.

i jammed the brakesbut it was too late. every thing happened so quickly. my cleaner, bhuraand i got out to check. we checked her pulse.she was still alive. we put her in the truckand took her to the hospital. butshe died on the way. was there anyone else there? where exactly on the highway wasthis? - just before sobara village. near the canal site?

this means we are not safe too.- this is astonishing. satya veer-ji!- what's wrong? some men were trying tobreak into your house. luckily i noticedand raised an alarm. nimi and raju? nimi had gone tothe market with raju. aren't they back yet? actually.. nimi said she wasleaving for rohtak.

you weren't at home soshe left a note for you. men realize the truthabout marriage too late. that its not a single word,it's an entire thesis. mr. editor. yes sir, the story's almost ready. just a few days more. no.. not later than that. seriously, without fail, yes. hello!

this is manorama'sroommate sheetal. i'm sorry to be calling solate but i'm really scared someone just tried to kill me. i came home early.. and theremust have been someone inside.. i opened the door andsomeone hit me on the head. when i came to.. did you know manorama well? just as a roommate.. it'd been only a yearsince she'd come from jaipur.

i've never met a writer before.. where do you get storyideas from? your cases? i'm no detective.. this is just.. that's pretty nasty. but it'll be fine. still, maybe youshould see a doctor.. no. i'll be fine. shakuntala! where's shakuntala?

shakuntala? shakuntala. did they take anything else? no but all my papers from work,my college degree, etc, are ruined. is this your first case? somebody may have seen something. manorama and i lived alone. the rest of the rooms are empty. where do you work?

at the rathore orphanage.i teach the kids. rathore? anyconnection to the minister? it's part of the royal trust. mr. rathore is our headtrustee and chief donor. that day you saidsomething about manorama.. that it wasn't suicide. i don't think theycame here to kill you. they were probably searching for.. ..something youjust walked in on them.

your mind is just likedetective raghu's razor sharp. what if something hadhappened to shakuntala? what if they come back? do you have family or friends here? i.. i grew up in the orphanage. maybe i could stay with you? i'm sureyou have family at home. it wouldn't beright to trouble them. i'll take that.

looks just like a writer's home. new friends. my son raju's.. he's in rohtak.. with my wife,visiting his grandparents. how old is he? four. my wife nimi. and brij mohanher brother. your moustache was quite splendid.

she's very pretty, your wife. i'm sorry i've putyou in a tight spot. what will yourneighbours say? and your wife.. a woman a strangerin the house.. snakes and ladders! i lovesnakes and ladders!! you? sure. i play withraju all the time. so, i think manoramawas trying to blackmail.. .. the minister withthose photos you took

and those people must havecome to search for those photos. but what was in the photos? was it something illegal? i'm sorry, i can't tell you that. professional ethics. hey fauji! fauji! at night, peopleplay bedroom games and.. ..this idiot here is playing ludo. and we are watchinga dull reality show.

shhhh chhaila. first learn the damn differencebetween ludo and snakes n ladders. oh i'm sorry. didthe tv wake you up? i just love cartoons. what are you doing? please,you don't have to do this. it's no big deal, ido it at home anyway. did you sleep ok? i was a little scared. you're safe here..

i know. breakfast is ready. you didn't even callbefore leaving, nimi. i'm sorry for leaving so suddenly. when are you coming back? why don't you come here for diwali? i can't come. i spoke to mr. sharma inthe department. he said.. .. there was no reason you couldnot leave while on suspension.

at that time.. .. i couldn't bear the thoughtof daddy-ji and mummy-ji and.. .. all the things they would sayabout my suspension. ok forget that.. just takea train and come here today. and remember that tea set wegot for mummy-ji from jaipur? get that along too,i forgot it there. nimi, i said i can't come. you can't come, ordon't want to come? so you can prove she was murdered?

no nimi.so that i can prove myself. it's the first time i'vetaken a decision in my life. my career- uncle decided that. marriage? uncle decided. the kidyou decided. the kid? my decision? really? raju was born 9 months after thewedding. that was my decision? have you ever askedme how i feel about .. ..running that stupid beauty parlour? and running about after raju?

have you ever thought that maybei had dreams and ambitions too? why will you think about me?or are women not allowed that? my decision, my foot. you should have used acondom that first night! sorry, i broke your tea set. was it very expensive? no.. it's ok. today is our annual diwalifunction at the orphanage. i don't have to getto work till later.

what time will you leave for work? i don't have to go.i'm on leave for diwali. then why didn't you goto rohtak with your wife? i had some writing to doand this manorama case.. the breakfast was very good,i ate too much. please, let it be. shall we play ludo now? uh.. i need to getthe scooter repaired. satyaveer-ji!

where's your new bike? it's at the mechanic's. nimi's left rathersuddenly .. without informing you.. is everything alright at home? yes. daddy-ji wasn't feeling well.but he's better now. this is.. sheetal. satya bhaiya's cousin.from jaipur. hello. hello. listen! last night there weresome men outside your house..

are you sure you'll be safe? here? yes, of course.please don't worry. bye. bye. my esteemed friends inthe opposition forget that we live in a democracy and in a democracy, real powerlies not with the ruling party.. ..or the oppositionbut with the people. our government is herebecause of the people. i remember an old song.

"if you listen to thepoor god will listen to you." "if you give a little, hewill give you in abundance." due to my wife'sunfortunate accident. she could not bear a child. we have.. no child of our own. considering this as god's will. we tried to immerse ourselves incommunity work for our people. and god, in his infinite wisdom,has blessed us. with the love ofthese innocent children.

this gave us thestrength to start .. .. work on therajasthan vikas canal. so that not just these children. but every single childof this state may have.. ..a brighter future ahead of them. thank you honourable minister forsparing your valuable time for us and for your inspiring words. we are very fortunate andhonoured to have you as our patron. as you know, minister sahib hasa place for these little children.

..not only in his heartbut also at his home. now, if i could request youall to pray for little deepti.. ..who has been missing for some days. "the prayers arecoming out as my desires.." "let we burn like the candlewhich gives light to others.." you were supposed todo something, right? what about the journalist?wasn't he coming this morning? i called him. the bastardwas sleeping out a hangover. he said he'd come in the afternoon.

you all stay out. what was she doing here?i told you to keep away from her. i need to get my dressing changed. come tomorrow. dr. poddar? he's at the orphanage clinic. i know, madam. actually,he asked me to speak to you. are you the journalist? early, aren't you?

i need the media's help. i want to be recognizedby my father. your father? my name is sameera rathore. p.p. rathore is my father. but i thought hedidn't have any children. well.. i didn't knowuntil a few months ago either. quite convenient torun an orphanage.. .. where you canhide your 'accidents'.

please wait in the doctor's office.i'll get the tea.. and your mother? where is she? she died when i was three. my mother was his mistress. please excuse the crude word. you have good taste in books. books? they are all anil..- dr. poddar's. give it to me. i noticed he had hurt himself..an accident?

nothing major. please sit. he cut his hand at work. and his leg? polio since childhood. i'm sorry. perhapsi'm probing too much. no. please. it's your job. journalists- always probing about sugar?- one spoon. so how did you find out?

i fell in love. in love?- with anil. my father brought anil fromjaipur about five years ago. he is my father'spersonal physician. and he also manages theclinic at the orphanage. he told me the truth about myself. and how did he know? he stumbled upon therecords in the orphanage. anil's familythey are conservative people.

they are opposed to thematch because i am an orphan. that's why iapproached my father but.. .. he's worried about a scandal.. not just that. mymother was muslim and.. ..my father, well, as you know.. ..is one of the star politiciansof a right wing hindu party.. what did he say? what would he say? he's refused to accept me.

he rejected me.. ..didn't even let me call him papa. the very next day theorphanage records were destroyed. now let the public decide.. if i deserve the right tomy father's name or not. will you do thatfor me, mr. uphadyay? sameera yes,she grew up in the orphanage. i know her but i wasn't awareof her connection with rathore. sameera herself onlyrecently found out.

but manorama had nothingto do with the orphanage. i'm sure she didn't know sameera.. .. or her connection to rathore. and in any case whywould rathore kill manorama for some photos ofhim arguing with .. ..his alleged illegitimate daughter. are you sure there wasnothing else in the photographs? "do you realize what myeyes are trying to tell you?" "my eyes are talking, iknow you are aware of it.."

"my life isincomplete without you.." "i can't live without you.." "the desires are melting.." "..they are guest forcouple of minutes.." "let the fire of love.." "..burn in the eyes.." shakuntala will miss her new friendsso much when she returns home.. my diwali vacations start today. so the next time you go out..

..investigating or whatever.can i come along? you'll get bored. really? i think itwould be exciting. i get it. you're worried.. .. what if someonesees us together. isn't it? the sickeningly smallmentality of small towns. here, a woman's life or deathis less important.

than who she may ormay not be sleeping with. sir, tell me. the canal work is goingto start again real soon.. i can guarantee that. they've released two newland blocks for auction today. the prices willdouble in just two weeks! the canal will makethis desert the new dubai. sir, you don't have to worry. just say the word andi'll hold a plot for you.

sir, where are you going? my money! where are we going? i got a tip. a tip? are you a waiter? sorry, bad joke. gentlemen, plot number302/4 is now open for bidding. the reserve price for thisplot is rs. 2 hundred thousand. so come now, bid for the plot.who will bid 2 hundred thousand? i came to this auction today..

two hundred thousand- one. two hundred and ten thousand. two. three lakhs! three lakhs. three lakhs.. one. three lakhs.. two.. three hundred andtwenty five thousand. three hundred andtwenty-five thousand! one! three hundred andtwenty-five thousand, two!

three hundred andtwenty-five thousand, three! sold! where are you headed, grandpa? what can i say?we are just moving along. we'll go where our hungertakes us. our land is gone. what happened to your land? i'm just a peasant, son.all this land belongs to rathore. our families worked thisland for many generations.. .. eked out a livingfrom this dry dirt but now this canal's coming theraja's barren land will yield gold..

there's no room for usor our hunger here now. may god have mercy on us! shut up old man!don't talk too much. i told you it would be boring. who said i got bored? i was just passing by.. thought i'd drop in andsee how you were doing. this is sheetal.my cousin from jaipur. she's here for a few days.

from jaipur? why, forgotten me, already? but i remember you fromthe wedding very well. in that handsomepink turban of yours, you looked like you were the groom. i don't remember..it's been many years. and anyway, marriages arehardly things to remember.. isn't that so? i was just going to leave..to get my hair cut.

okay then. i'll come along andget some trimming done myself. brother-in-law, lose you hair.just don't lose your pants.. hail lord ram and goddess sita. hey wait! wait! scoundrel escaped!- so? those goons were rathore's men. i saw them coming outof the party office. manorama knew that hewas in the canal scam.

he would've tried to blackmail theminister with those photographs. so that the canalis not constructed. it is clear that water willnot pass through the canal. or the canal wouldn'tbe constructed at all. only the people will hope about it. if there is hope, then the landaround the canal will hike in price. most of the land isin minister's name. he will sell all thatand move away from here. manorama knew everything about this,so she became a danger to them.

rathore moved her from his way. yes, but the truckdriver said that.. ..nobody was present there. i think you are right.. .. you need to thinkthis over with a clear mind. hello nimi.- who? oh. brij. ..remember my aunt in jaipur.her daughter. wake up! there's call.it's the doctor. what doctor?

dr. poddar, the onefrom the orphanage! why would he call me? how did he get my number? hello? sameera-ji? is anyone there? sameera-ji. dr. poddar. take the queen, dear.

careful. careful. i'll not let you win. you are a good player. i hear there's been afire cracker of a murder? double murder!a doctor and his fiancã©e. happy diwali! happy diwali! happy diwali! the maid saw the murderer. damn idiot must havebeen counting his loot.

left his fingerprints all over! and don't forget the bike! yes! the idiot ran away on foot! left his motorcyclebehind in his panic. scoundrel would'vepissed in his pants. then what is the problem. please tell brij mohan,i had dropped by. the office is closed for diwali.please come back in two days. i need to meet ms. sheetal. canyou tell me where i can find her?

ms. sheetal?- yes. i know her. i havesome personal work. don't you know? she.. she's dead. when did this happen? eight-ten days ago.. eight-ten days ago! such a happy girl.. ..but she committed suicide..

there she is.. look at that smile. that's sheetal? is there another girlnamed sheetal who works here? no, why? it's all your fault. mine? i was only sent to manorama'sflat to search for the photos.. if you hadn'tmistaken me for sheetal.. i wouldn't have hadto play this game.

you are pretty good at games. you used me for your purpose. look. rathore just wants the photos.you are in big trouble. but you can get out of all this.. ..if you just return the photos. he has the proof with him. they can prove youtried to blackmail .. .. the minister withthe photos for money.

you then tried to involvesameera in your little scheme. and when that didn't workyou killed her and the doctor. your motorbike wasfound at the scene.. you're doing this forthe money aren't you? not everything is done for money. happy diwali, chief! left high and dry are we? humpty and dumpty are here too? you'd better returnthose photographs..

i gave the roll to manorama. you know that! fond of playing detective,aren't you? so go and find the damn photos.. otherwise, i'll put amemorial photo of you on the wall. understand. hello? nimi? happy diwali. oh well.at least you remembered me.

i know it's late but i justi just wanted to hear your voice. what's wrong? nimi. i.. i think i'm in deep trouble. i told daddy to have a wordwith mr. sharma in the department. no, mr. sharma can't do anything. sv, i'm missing you very much. i wish i was there with you. do you remember our jaipur trip..our second honeymoon?

yes.. sv, please come here. nimi, i can't come. please take care of yourself.i'll call later. bye. jaipur? did you understand, jaipur? please check.. under thename of manorama shukla. around the first of november.. yes, i remember her. the lady wanted toprocess the rolls herself.

.. said the photos were private. personal. i loaded the rollsand then went outside. that's 350 for two rollsminus the advance. so 200. two rolls? she took one with her.didn't your wife show them to you? so, mr. randhawa, how was diwali? fine. please sit.

i'm trying to quit. as should i. nasty habit. well, i believe you're awriter of some repute. i like people like youwho can think. i think for my people too. and sameera. any thoughts for her? sometimes, personal sacrifices haveto be made for the common good. like building a canal thatwill never carry any water?

you're a fine one to talk. suspended from workfor taking bribes.. anyhow, let's talkabout other things. how are nimi and rajuenjoying their holiday in rohtak? like i said, i'm alwaysthinking about my people. you disgust me! you just don't get it,do you mr. randhawa? you're a small, petty man. with petty dreams, takingpetty bribes, living a petty life.

the world is divided intotwo halves, mr. randhawa. the rulers and the ruled.. the strong and the weak.. the hunter and the hunted. now, you can close youreyes and will it away but.. that's the way it's always beenand that's how it always will be. call it natural selectionor the law of the jungle. this is the naturalorder of things. and who are you totry and change it?

and what gives you the moralauthority to preach to me. truth be told, you remained apart of the system as long as.. ..it seemed to serve your interests! neetu. nice, isn't she? want her? power and money.it's all about that. is this your idea of a joke? while these photos are certainlyinteresting.

on the whole. i'm not too amused. i don't understand.. don't test my patience, randhawa. now stop messing with meand get me those photos. manorama wanted me totake some other pictures. the photos that werein the second roll.. ..that manorama took alongwith her from the photo studio. those photos hid a darker truthbut what was that truth?

where were those photos? and what was she tryingto tell me that night? my life is in danger.. my name is manorama and i'm 32. thirty two. 32. thirty two. 32. she wasn't filling in anapplication form, was she? manorama.. just like your book..

manorama! 32.. page 32. the hotel manager's leery eyes.. ..were glued tomanorama's voluptuous body. grabbing the keys, manorama startedtowards room 101 with quick steps. what she didn't know was thatthis very room of hotel natraj.. ..was going to proveto be her own coffin. 'this 2 day conference debated..

..about gasshortage and price rise.' 'the petroleum minister said thatthe government is keeping an eye..' '..on inflation and prices areraised with the consumer in mind.' 'the government will soonresolve the gas shortage issue.' 'however, the consumers arenot happy with the government.' 'the news willcontinue after a short break.' today in rajasthan,the controversy over the rajasthan vikascanal came to an end. the opposition partieshave reached an agreement with..

..the ruling coalition overthe construction of the canal. in a statement, the leader of theopposition, mr. d.k. saxena said.. ..that the construction wouldsoon resume keeping in mind.. ..certain objectionsthat the opposition had.. the fog in my head began to clear. manorama's roommate, the realsheetal, worked at the orphanage. she noticed that littlegirls from the orphanage were being sent to rathore's house. sheetal sensed thatsomething was wrong..

..in the way the ministerinteracted with the children. not only that, but the orphanagewas an accessory to the fact. sheetal voiced hersuspicions to manorama who decided.. ..to use this information to stopthe construction of the canal. she hired me but i tookthe wrong photographs. the next day, she wentherself and clicked the photographs.. ..of the minister withthat young girl, deepti. that night, somethingwent horribly wrong and.. ..the little girl died whileat the minister's house.

she was buriedin the safest place. at the canal construction site. the truth was before me.. ..the canal construction had stalled. then what was that freshconcrete block doing at the site? sheetal knew the truthso they got rid of her. manorama tried to blackmail theminister with the photographs. but he was too smart for her. ..and set his thugson her to retrieve the photos.

to acquire thephotographs from her.. ..they beat her mercilessly.. ..but before they couldlocate the photographs.. manorama escaped andaccidentally died under the truck. meanwhile sameera wasthreatening to go public. and even i was becominga headache for rathore. the minister killedtwo birds with one stone. the minister may havebought out the opposition.. ..but if these photosreach the press..

..he will be finishedforever! you're really slow on thedrinks today brother-in-law.. ..here, have one more. there's just.. ..one thing that doesn't fit. how did manorama.. .. and dr poddar.. ..know each other? how many times did i tryto make you understand..

but you just don't get it. hello. sacred heart college? records department, please. where want to go? i have something thatbelongs to the minister. you can't go inside. sir, there is somebody whowants to meet the minister.. let him in. nimmi had calledshe's returning with raju today.

i saved your life, sv. they would have killed you.and your family. try to understand. i hadto do it for all of us. welcome mr. randhawa.what can i do for you? the safety catch is on. actually, do you evenknow what a safety catch is? you forget mr. rathore. i write detective stories. mr. randhawa, usingyour pen is one thing..

using a gun quite another. i don't need to use this. your fate is already sealed. wait in my office. i'll be there. how's shakuntala? alive. and you? i am standing in front of you. i was eight years old..

this is the only life i've seen. you could have leftanytime and started afresh. who else do i have besides mr.rathore to call my own? it wasn't ever aboutthe canal, was it? manorama and dr. poddarwere brother and sister. i called the college again.manorama poddar. batch of 1990. manorama alsoworked for the minister. he needs his 'eyes' and'ears' inside these ngos.

but she became obsessed with gettingher brother and sameera married. what was it you wanted to tell me? that she was manoramapoddar and not shukla. that she didn'treally work for the ngo? in fact i was the one who.. .. planted her there. i know. neetu told me. sit. so neetu still takes care of you.

neetu, show me howyou take care of him. show me. show me! leaving already? let me know ifyou change your mind! hey engineer!look superman. you know that manoramawas trying to blackmail you. to make you acknowledgesameera as your daughter. so that dr. poddar andsameera could get married.

so? even though you beat manoramamercilessly for the photos. she still didn't tell you.. .. that dr. poddar was alsoinvolved in the blackmail plan. they knew somethingabout you that you don't. your property. being the sole heir,everything would go to sameera. and by default, to thedoctor and manorama. they were in a rush..

..and the reason for their hurry was.. ..your last healthcheck up, mr. minister. you have been silentlydying for the last six months. cancer. lung cancer. you really shouldhave quit smoking. your doctor knewbut didn't tell you. he told you that you were sufferingfrom a minor breathing disorder. those injections you were getting.. they just cover up thesymptoms of your cancer.

they wanted to let you die.. you were right. it's all about power and money. the natural order of things. and now? it's already too late now. what is it? why? what happened? spit it.

the big fish doesn't always win. sometimesthe little fish, it gets away. or an even bigger fish turns up. the wheel of lifeit just keeps on turning.. ..it just keeps on turning. fauji! fauji's dying! fauji! and that's when i realized that.. ..in this whole sordid messthere was only one innocent.

..just one and though she wasunder six feet of concrete. she too had a god.. a god who's there for all of us. and if you reallyknock hard and say loudly. "hello is there anybody home?" it may take a long time.. ..sometimes a very, very long time.. ..but eventuallysomebody's going to answer. another wild night?

"eyes.." "..are thirsty.." "..thirsty.." "rain is coming.." "in the rain of tears thereis a story of happiness.." "the flower ofhappiness has bloomed.." "beloved who was lost in the crown,i've found him today.." "this is a story of love.." "o darling, let me drink.."

"..the peg of happiness.." sometimes it rainsin november, nimi. "living with life i never realized." "when i missed it. but her glancehas secretly told me today." "she's with me." "the moment that was builtis very clear now." "maybe time had metedjustice to you." "these moments are for you.enjoy it." "smile."

"the moments are joyous asif rains are showering." "thirst is quenched. it feelsas if new hope is with me." "a new voice has kindled lightin my path." "the moment that wasbuilt is very clear now."