Love, Corruption, Ambition

304 Pages·1980·23.28 MB·English

by  Bhagat Chetan

CHETAN BHAGAT

1? v
I>UBI IF »,TIO INIDIA
Copyright © Chetan Biiagal 2011
First in Rupa Paperback 2011
Second Impression 2011
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Disclaimer:
f-oi aachtiiocrt); mihm has used iMrneis iUiOc icM places,
upk and mst tiUicns as tht*\ ap*es»eul ul'ural 'tuit t>i todav and
Morvreii itg. Tbtre ^ no uuentioij to miulv anv*hmg eke.
Ptirmd in India by
Gopsom Papers Ltd.
A-2&3/Sector 64
Noida 201 301
To my mother
io Varanasi
the holy river
To
To the Indian student

i .clanks to i
My readers, for their love and support.
God who lodes after me,
Shrnie Antony, who remains the first: reader and editor of my books,
Aoubha Bang, for her suggestions at ail stages in the writing of
this book. Nutan Beridre, Niharika Khaima> Michelle Perelra, Prateek
Dhawa«» Zitim Dhawan and Aoerag Anand, for their great comments on
the manuscript
Saurabh Rungta and Kisliore Shanna, for their help in research.
The people
amazing, amaang of Varanasi
All the people I met during my travels and talks, who helped me
understand my country better.
My mother Refcha* wile Aiiuslia, brother Kcim for being In my life.
%
My sons Ishaan and Shyaro, who tell me. Its OK, Daddy during my
lows.
My extended family on Twitter and Facebook.
Rupa and Company for publishing me.
Thef ilmmakersw ho chose to make my stories into hlim
And once again, yon, dear reader, for wanting a revolution.

And / hopt not rust you hut oar %holc coti'iry will keep that spark ifiivt,
ijfnr: is something an>/ about sayhr; - i ujrne from the land of a bdlion
sparks Ihiif'k YOU! f mid, tiidvw nn m>*ir;ational speech at Tiluk Hall,
'Vmmmi
The daps and whistles-were my me. to leave, Security volunteers formed
;
a. humm barricade and soon I managed a neat exit from-the hail
5Thank you so much sir* someone. said right- behind me..
r
I turned around to face my host 'Mr Mhhra? I mid, T was looking for
you!
"Berne call me Gopal! he said. Ihe car is over there!
I walked- out -with the young director- of Gangalhch College, Copal
Mlshra, His Hack Mercedes whisked us amy. from the crowded Vidyapaih
Road,,
"So you saw the temples and the ghats f Gopal asked. "Ikats aB Vdrmmsi
has, anyway!
'Yeah, 1 went to the Vtshwanaih 'Temple, and Dashashwamedh Ghat at
five in • the miming* f love this -city! I said>
'Qht.goodL What.did.you like best about Varanasif*
'Whiif 0(^all0i^md;$urprmd,
;
cThe morning aarii ai the ghats, 1 saw it for the first time, all those diyas
floating at dawn. It was out of this world!
Gopatfrowmd,
'What?'I said, 'Isn't Varmmtk mrti beautiful?
"Yeah, Yeah., His.... ft is not thai! he-said, hut did not dahomte.
• <:WM you drop me M Mmada 'Hotel?* T said.
2 * CHBTANBHAGAT
'Ynui fhghl is onb1 tt<minu>n mornuii, Gopal said. "Why don't you
come hot?*1 fee doinet
'Dr/jfV be foj uiai/ btguj;
"III? uuvl U> com- home, he f ih,ve a drink together* I have the
finest wh'ski m the vorld' he said
t
i undid / snook mv 'thanks, Gopal, hut 1 don t drink
much"
4Cheim sir medrtnkH cm Mi people I had a drink with "the* Clrntm
BhagaL'
' >at^hed 1 Thais nothing to hag about 'Jdk ~oy d if you want You
hmt actuiiUv hove to drink tt ith
sNoi like that, sir. I actually nmil to !io\\ o drmk l(h you'
I sene in3 mfense eyes. He had m mv he^Uy incites in the last six
tit thihiu ihitil I finally agrn'd to cotoe / kreve he toidd persist*
Okay Jre drrddd 1 $,?td, hop***i% I ^'ouidn* regret this later,
\Excellent' Gopal said.
V»i- du^e icn kthmteiw* 'hi uti jh the J ax know Highway to
r.Kui OongiTcch. The gumds <xihiUd eis d<t > ampus gates opened, Ike car
srs to a hali at a gray bungcJcve,, tied a cutc ?it nor thai matched the
college end hostel btdhhnp.
*Vj mA m thi living rooto ck /.V pound floor it opened out to a
-»>dmmfOit court-med lamr
(Nia house/ / said a* f nd oh a cushy brown \elvif sofa, I noticed the
Ktra-high ceiling.
lfItMik>. I designed it mese'lf The u^tr.ufCf bud] iU but 1 supervised
,, e< vetting' Copal said, He proceed, d u* tin bar counter at the other end of
die room. Ids the hungolow o fan engineering college director. You and your
hu nds redded oiu , right?1
'How do you hiov/f / so id.
7 ves \ont know. Wen nod the book. Seen doe movie,
Ac i,;i/ghld He hmid/hJ me > ' r >> »/ Hi *- filled >t#fi a generous
Amount of- whiskv.
'Thank \>vu
'Sm&le i*taL, fwehe^on aid! he