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An extract from Swati Chaturvedi's Daddy's Girl

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Swati Chaturvedi
Swati ChaturvediSep 13, 2016 | 12:54

An extract from Swati Chaturvedi's Daddy's Girl

Driving straight into the long, winding driveway of the Luytens' bungalow, set opposite a beautiful tomb, after being waved through by the guard, Meera thought Rama Kaushik's house was as compartmentalised and sure as the man himself.

If you were expected, the guard was not supposed to ask you a single question; otherwise, you would not be allowed entry. Meera considered it was typical of Rama Kaushik's brilliance and, unlike the other power junkies, he had ensured that security was minimal, non-invasive and did not cost a bomb.

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He had expressed his contempt for the ostentatious security beloved by all political leaders. When Meera reached, the minister, who was possibly more obsessed with punctuality than she was, was pacing up and down the large, beautifully maintained lawn.

The grass seemed like it had been mowed to match his exacting standards. "I am five minutes early," she pointed out.

Giving her a rare smile, Rama Kaushik said, "Only two. Come in, come in. What trouble have you been creating? It's now time that you turned into a desperate housewife." "Not in this lifetime!" she retorted.

Leading her to his beautiful living room, with its mouth-wateringly beautiful, large Souza canvases, Rama Kaushik asked, "Coffee or tea?"

"I never drink that foul beverage called tea. Don't you drink coffee?" asked Meera with a smile.

"No, I like tea. Just because I am a south Indian, you assumed I drink coffee? Only lazy minds make assumptions," he said.

Then looking straight at her, he asked, "Now, tell me, why are you ferreting around in the Nalwa case?"

Surprised at being asked in such a straightforward way, Meera blushed a bright red and wondered why Rama Kaushik was so interested.

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Apart from an all-consuming hate for the PM, who had taken away his beloved finance ministry what normally occupied Rama Kaushik were stratospheric matters involving his ever-upward rise in the constellation.

Why did the mere Nalwa murder case interest him so? But she didn't take long to recover. Doing a typical Meera, she asked bluntly, "Why are you interested?" Rama Kaushik, who matched Meera dimple for dimple and who was not used to being challenged, said mildly, "I just heard about it. Can't I be curious?"

Looking her straight in the eye, he then added even more mildly, "Isn't your father in my ministry?"

Meera's hands clenched into fists as she involuntarily tensed and said, "Yes, he is. But what does that have to do with my investigation into the Nalwa case?"

"Nothing, I was just curious. You never told me."

Tossing her hair back, Meera said, "I never tell anyone I meet professionally. Why should I? I don't want the uncles and aunties to help me. I want to make it on my own."

"Quite admirable!" said Rama Kaushik, giving her a beatific grin. "Don't be sarcastic," retorted Meera sharply. "I meant it."

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"Why have you turned into such a prickly pear, young lady?" he protested. "It's most unattractive and does not suit you. As far as the Nalwa case is concerned, I have heard reports that you are obsessed with it and are trying to prove her parents are the culprits."

"Of course they are and now the whole establishment is trying to help them cover it up."

"Really? And why would they do that?" he asked reasonably. Unfazed Meera retorted, "You tell me."

"I can't tell you anything because what you are saying is not true," said Rama Kaushik, still aiming for calm and smiling at her with his trademark grin, which almost always worked as a soothing balm.

Meera, it seemed, was another matter, as she was still not seeing reason, as he put it to himself. "Look, the plausible theory here is the father caught her in bed with her cousin and probably killed her accidentally. That it was an honour killing. The wife appears to be a complete nutter who seems to think, for reasons unknown, that the sun shines out of his a** and she would tell any lie he wanted. So there's his cover-up right there!" said Meera passionately.

Rama Kaushik's beatific smile did not waver as he said, "Assuming this wild theory is true, which not for a minute do I believe, why would we cover up? It's not the end of the government if a couple is convicted for murder?"

"That's what I don't understand. Why the kid gloves for the Nalwas?" said Meera eagerly.

Yawning elaborately as if he had lost interest in the subject, he said, "I thought you were more intelligent than this. This is silly. Some dumb policeman is feeding you this tripe to try and settle scores, and maybe rip-off a rich couple. That is typical police behaviour."

Meera realised her options were running out. Rama Kaushik had warned her in his polished, gentlemanly way - the threat delivered with gentle but deadly precision.

She wondered desperately what would happen if she refused to fall in line. Smiling at him, she asked, "So, how is it going with the PM?" Rama Kaushik was too clever to press the point.

He smiled smugly and said, "I do my job and that man, who has lost all his credibility, has no option but to treat me well. You know when a man joins as economic advisor in the government, he has all his stuffing knocked out of him as he is made to realise his lowly place in the world. This one, of course, had no backbone to begin with."

Recovering his genteel manner as he realised that he had gotten carried away in his hatred, Rama Kaushik said, "I feel let down, you know, sad for the country. It is such a series of missed opportunities. We have ruined the economy, we are back at a three per cent rate of growth."

Smiling widely, Meera told him, "You should be the PM."

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Daddy's Girl; Penguin Metro Reads, Price: Rs 199. (Photo credit: Swati Chaturvedi @bainjal)

"Don't be silly. I have no ambition, never had any. I only want to teach, write and travel in the time I have left. The only problem is that the so-called mass leaders of my party know as much about policy as a telephone directory," he smirked.

Meera couldn't help but giggle at his take-down of the first family, while thinking, Of course you do, you old fraud. And that's why you have ruthlessly fu*king everyone who has come in your way. And, that's why they don't trust you an inch.

To distract Rama Kaushik further, Meera said, "Thakurji has sold you a pup, the great superstar cricketer you nominated to the Rajya Sabha. And there seems to be more than meets the eye. I am doing a story on it."

Rama Kaushik hated Thakurji, whom he considered an upstart, constantly asking for favours to further his wheeling dealing, flaunting his proximity to the first family and given to what he termed, "hearty north Indian vulgarity".

As Rama Kaushik's eyes lit up at the thought of the discomfiture of his foe, Meera stood up and cooed, "Take care. And you need to give me lunch soon."

She was mindful of the fact that Rama Kaushik, ever the lawyer, doled out his time in tiny, productive parcels. Her mind was in turmoil as she drove away, "What did the old bandicoot want? Why the mention of Papa? Had Bhagwan gone and leaked information to him?"

Meera did not know and was desperate for answers.

In a daze it came to her that people pretty much told you what they were up to - it's just that you refused to believe them.

Last updated: September 13, 2016 | 13:08
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