House of Cards: A Novel Read online

  ‘Sarla isn’t like you. She’s practical. She works hard and makes money and understands the ways of the world.’

  This upset Mridula even more. Sanjay appreciated everyone except her. She snapped back, ‘I think I should have been more like your sister and spent all of my husband’s money and brought him to the streets.’

  Sanjay did not bother replying. He had wanted to push Mridula’s buttons, and he had. He started whistling. Mridula continued, ‘Lakshmi puts all her money in chits. Her friend told me. I saw her at a marriage last week. She was wearing at least ten lakh’s worth of jewellery and she told me that it was artificial.’

  Calmly, Sanjay said, ‘Mridula, you must meet Dr Ramaiah.’

  Mridula was taken aback at the change of subject. She asked, ‘Are you talking about the famous psychiatrist? Why should I meet him? I don’t have a health problem.’

  ‘Yes, you do. That’s why you should get yourself checked. Just because someone told you that Lakshmi is involved in chits, you believed that person. I have known my sister longer than I’ve known you. She doesn’t care about money. In fact, she wants to help people and loses money in the process. Why will she lie to you? Had she had your inclination to save money, she would’ve been wealthy today.’

  Mridula felt bad that her husband had more faith in his sister than in his wife. He was not ready to think for a second that his sister could have also done something wrong. On top of everything else, he taunted Mridula for saving money. Lakshmi was known to spend all the money on herself without a thought for her family. Mridula cried, ‘What a reward I get for saving for our future! I should’ve been a spendthrift instead.’

  Sanjay did not want to deal with a sobbing wife and left the room. Suddenly, Mridula felt that there was an intense vacuum in her life. The huge nursing home, this big house and its servants were of no consequence to her. Money had taken away her happiness. She could not even raise her son the way she wanted to. Her husband did not understand her. What was the use of this life?

  Later that night, Sanjay was unable to sleep despite the cool air-conditioning. He thought to himself, ‘Mridula disagrees with me about everything. She has a good house, servants, plenty of money, a great son and a famous husband. Both the men in her life are intelligent and we don’t have bad habits. People must envy her.’

  He thought about Lakshmi and felt sad for his sister. Her husband was not in a top position and their son, Anil, was not academically inclined. Sishir had told him confidentially that Anil was a chain-smoker and frequented bars. But still, Lakshmi was happy. She was enthusiastic even when she made a small gold purchase or bought a silk sari.

  He recalled the last time he went to Chennai for work. He had brought back two silk saris and given one to Mridula. She had told him, ‘I don’t feel like wearing silk saris these days. When I think of how the silk is made, I feel sorry for the silkworms. Such a waste.’

  So Sanjay had hidden the other sari and given it to Lakshmi, whose happiness knew no bounds. She had thanked him many times and talked about its excellent colour and texture. She had promised to wear it during the next festival.

  Sanjay thought, ‘Mridula must learn how to live life from Lakshmi.’

  22

  Sweet Revenge

  Sanjay’s phone rang. He thought that it may be an emergency and reached for his phone. But it was not a call from the nursing home. It was Prakash Kamat, the sales director of a pharmaceutical company. He was not unknown to Sanjay. When Sanjay was working in the government hospital, Prakash was a medical representative and used to frequent the hospital to give literature and samples to Dr Saroja. Prakash had never paid attention to Sanjay then. Over a period of time, Prakash had reached a senior position and he was calling Sanjay to discuss the next contract.

  Sanjay knew that big deals and contracts must be a win-win situation for both sides. He thought, ‘By recommending Prakash’s products, I must also gain something. If two similar products from two different companies are equally good, then I should think of what’s advantageous for me. In any business, a win-lose situation equals exploitation. And if it is a lose-win, it’s plain foolishness. Mridula won’t understand these complicated issues.’

  Prakash said, ‘Sir, today’s the last day. Please let us know your final decision.’

  ‘Let me think about it.’

  ‘Sir, our product is good and the field results are favourable. You don’t have to worry.’

  ‘That’s easy for you to say. If something goes wrong tomorrow, the patient will catch hold of me and not you.’

  ‘Sir, we have tested it thoroughly.’

  ‘Then I want to see the field trial results.’

  Prakash Kamat realized that things were not going to be easy with Sanjay. He began his sales pitch: ‘Sir, how many drugs from our company do you use every year? We’ll work to get you the best discount. We can’t give discounts directly but we can arrange to get you four international trips or something like that.’

  ‘Your company isn’t the only one that can send me abroad. Other companies are willing to give me a direct discount. I want to know the final discounted amount. Please send it to the nursing home.’

  Without waiting for a reply, Sanjay kept the phone down. He recollected his past, ‘Once, I was desperate to get a sponsorship and my case was a genuine one. I had approached many people—Chikananjappa, the Health minister’s PA and others. I remember waiting helplessly in the corridor of the government office. But ultimately, Dr Suresh got it because of his father’s ministerial connections. I could have resigned immediately and started a private practice. Why didn’t I have the courage to do so earlier? Wasn’t I aware of my own potential?’

  Sanjay felt ashamed of himself. He realized that the real courage of a person lay within himself or herself. ‘I’m my best friend and my worst enemy. I know that the courage I have today didn’t come overnight. As I started getting successful, I became more and more confident. Alex gave me my first break but the ultimate success is mine. Yet, my wife doesn’t respect me. Had she been a doctor, she would’ve been proud to have a husband like me.’

  Sanjay sighed and went back to his routine.

  The next morning, while he was shaving, the maid told him, ‘Dr Saroja is waiting to meet you downstairs.’

  He recognized the name. She was the same Dr Saroja who had humiliated him in front of everyone. She had added his name in Kempunanjamma’s case even though he was not responsible for it. She had been ruthless about his transfer. The incidents flashed before his eyes. He thought, ‘A sensitive person in my position might have committed suicide at the time. How dare she shamelessly come to my house?’

  He knew that she wanted a favour. He told his maid calmly, ‘Tell her to wait in the veranda. I’ll have my bath and then meet her.’

  He took his time shaving, bathed unusually slowly and finally came out of the bathroom. Mridula came in and said, ‘Why are you taking such a long time to get dressed today? An elderly lady has been waiting for you for a while now.’

  Sanjay did not answer her. He knew that she would not understand. Mridula’s world existed only in books. In textbooks, idealism occupied one line and took a minute to preach. But real life consisted of different kinds of selfish people. An intelligent person was one who managed all of them and got his work done with minimal conflict.

  He finished his breakfast in his room and came out and found Dr Saroja eating at their dining table. She stood up when she saw him. Mridula explained, ‘She was waiting for you in the veranda. I called her inside and gave her breakfast even though she was reluctant to eat.’

  Sanjay felt sick of Mridula’s foolish hospitality. He thought, ‘If Dr Saroja had come to the nursing home, I wouldn’t have offered her a drop of water. There’s no place for hospitality with her. But if Dr Kamala ever comes to see me, I’ll never make her wait.’

  He did not show his true feelings, however. He smiled and said, ‘Mridula, you did the right thing.’

  Th