Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup Page A

instructions. I want
Mukhtar released first thing in the morning. And
departmental action should be initiated against Brar for
insulting the Home Minister.'
    'Er . . . if I may make a suggestion, Sir, why don't we
just transfer him?'
    'OK. Then transfer him to . . . to Bahraich. The good life
in Ghaziabad has gone to his head. Let him cool his heels
for a while in the boondocks!'
    'Sir, your instructions will be carried out immediately. '
    'Good. I knew I could count on you, Maurya.'
    'If you don't mind, Sir, could I also remind you of your
promise to speak to High Command about giving my wife
Nirmala the MLA ticket from Badaun?'
    'Yes, I have not forgotten. But there are still two years to
go before the State elections.'
    'Still, Sir, preparations have to begin well in advance. I
can assure you Nirmala will be a most loyal party worker.
Actually so am I, Sir, it's just that I cannot say so openly,
being still in uniform.'
    'I know, Maurya. Now go back to sleep.'
    'Good night, Sir.'
    *
    'Mukhtar?'
    'Boss? As-salaam alaykum . Thanks for getting me out so
quickly. Now I am going after that sisterfucker
Superintendent of Police.'
    'You will do nothing of the sort. I have already had Brar
transferred to Bahraich.'
    'The bastard! He is lucky to be alive.'
    'Who was the girl?'
    'Nobody you know, Boss. Just a neighbourhood kid.'
    'When will you learn, Mukhtar? If all the girls you have
raped delivered babies, half of UP's population will consist
of your illegitimate children.'
    'Sorry, Boss. I will be more careful next time.'
    'Now listen, Mukhtar.'
    'Yes, Boss.'
    'There is a man called Pradeep Dubey who is
threatening to testify against me in the Mustaqeem
murder case. He needs to be neutralized. And after you take
care of Dubey, you need to take care of his mentor, Lakhan
Thakur.'
    'Lakhan Thakur? The MLA from Saharanpur?'
    'Yes. Why? Is the job too big for you?'
    'No, Boss. No job is too big for me. It's just that getting
rid of Thakur may be more complicated. He travels with
five bodyguards.'
    'So get rid of all of them. Come to the house tomorrow
and get the cash from Tripurari.'
    'I will be there. Khuda hafiz , Boss.'
    ' Khuda hafiz .'
    *
    'Hello.'
    'Hello. Can I speak to Prem Kalra?'
    'This is Prem Kalra speaking.'
    'Then listen carefully, motherfucker. This is Jagannath
Rai speaking. And this is my last warning to you. If you
publish one more story against me in the Daily News , both
you and your rag will be history.'
    'Such language does not behove the Home Minister of
our State.'
    'So you think abusing someone is the exclusive preserve
of journalists? I have tolerated your nonsense for a long
time, but enough is enough.'
    'At least tell me what has prompted your ire.'
    'Your latest piece, alleging that I had Pradeep Dubey
bumped off. When the police have confirmed that he was
killed in a road accident, how can you make such a baseless
allegation? I can sue you for character assassination.'
    'But the allegation was not made by me, Jagannathji.
Lakhan Thakur made the allegation on the floor of the
Assembly. I have merely reproduced it.'
    'And in the process you have become the mouthpiece of
the opposition. How much is Lakhan Thakur paying you?'
    'I don't do this for money. It is a social service that I
render.'
    'No one renders greater social service than we
politicians. The least we expect in return is some
appreciation from the media . . .'
    'I cannot promise appreciation, Jagannathji, but I can
promise restraint. Goodbye.'
    *
    'Hello. Home Minister's residence? Chief Minister Sahib
wants to talk to Home Minister Sahib.'
    'Put him on.'
    'No. You put him on. Chief Minister is senior to Home
Minister.'
    'OK, OK, no need to get angry. I will pass to Bhaiyyaji.'
( Music .)
    'Hello?'
    'Hello. Jagannath?'
    'Namaskar Chief Minister Sahib.'
    'I am under lot of pressure, Jagannath.'
    'Now what has happened? The murder case against me
has been dismissed.'
    'It's about your son. High Command is saying that
perhaps you should step down