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Kimbhoot investigations - Act 6

The Deal

Gunnu - (Shouts) "Photke, Ganesh, Laltoo…come here, quickly. Bring those trucks here. The sand and the stone chips first…that's right. Now remove a tenth off the top. And the other one, with the bricks, park it over there, next to the Duttas's door. Yes, you may unload the whole pile. Let the others go. Clear? Understood? Right…(yawns) I'm feeling sleepy; it's nearly an hour till dawn…" (Yawns again)

Kimbhoot - (Cautiously approaches) "Gunnuda, ahem…er…can I have a minute? Had something important to discuss."

Gunnu - "Again you! Blasted roach of a man - Sticking like a leech! Didn't I tell you that you may have your tea stall, huh? 3 by 2 and a 1/2 feet, 5000 downpayment…"

Kimbhoot - (Firmly interrupts Gunnu) "Listen to me. I don't need a stall. Not for tea, or lottery, or chowmein, or thigh soup or whatever. I need something else. I need this community."

Gunnu - (looks stunned) "You need what?"

Kimbhoot - "Yes, you heard me right. I need this locality. Pukur Mohalla."

Gunnu - (Brings his voice down) "Forgive me boss! You should've told me earlier. I didn't recognize you. I never should've called you a cockroach…it's just that; you know… you look like one, a little bit... but still. Please don't mind. Er… you work for Gojuda, don't you? What a bloody fool, I am!"

Karuna - (From the shadows) "Shame on you! Such language!"

Gunnu - "Shut up Karuna Uncle! Do that one more time, and your subscription will double."

Karuna - "Oh - Ho! Is that you Jagannath? I am so sorry, didn't realize it's you. This sugar… my eyesight…" (Karuna disappears)

Gunnu - "Just what I was saying… kimbhoot-da, do you work for Gojudada?"

Kimbhoot - "No, I work for The Devil."

Gunnu - "Devil! Ha-Ha-ha! So that's how you describe Goju Ghosh. Me too. Such sense of Humor! Anyway, listen… I could be transferred soon. They have a vacancy at Khonapukur. The Yellow Party is breathing down the neck. We may even see some action tomorrow. I have more or less wrapped up the business at Pukur Mohalla. Gojuda simply needs to fill up the pond. We have already filled up the eastern part. Goel will finance the A/C market. No problem there. What do you think, eh? Great, isn't it? The moment I shift to Khonapukur you'll have an open field. Ha-ha! Such a clever opportunist, you are! So, how did you get wind of this thing, Kimbhootda?

Kimbhoot - "Gojuda, (in Hellenese -"whoever he may be.") has a finger on every pie."

Gunnu - (In admiration) "That he has, great man! Look here... let me explain the business. Right now we have 17 stalls, 2 stalls for country liquor, 43 trucks, big or small parking at various times, the brick business, plus 2 or 3… you know. But they only stand in the shadows, and they are not local - imported."

Kimbhoot - "What - In this locality! I thought this was a decent community. What if we get the stick?"

Gunnu - "The stick! You mean from these people… Hey! They are nothing but cattle. Don't make me laugh Kimbhootda. Haven't you met the likes of Karunasundar? Hah! Empty thunderclaps, no rain."

Kimbhoot - "Still, even cattle have horns, don't forget. They might gang up one day."

Gunnu - (pauses to think) "Hrmph… Okay then, let's stop that business for the time being. The rest will do. Some of the locals are on my payroll, they will help you. Then there's Photke, Laltoo, Ganesh… and also that donkey Lotkeram. Don't allow these bloody locals to get under your skin, just keep them under your boot. What do you think, eh? Ask Gojuda to give me an estimate, and we could have a deal." (Snaps his fingers)

Kimbhoot - "Certainly, this looks quite promising. I'll convey your proposal to Gojuda."

Gunnu - "Great! Then it's nearly done. (Shakes hands with Kimbhoot) I'm feeling so sleepy. Need to sleep through the day. Like I told you, we may see some action tomorrow night. Bye." (Gunnu departs)

Kimbhoot - "Hmm… from what I see, the idea of a colony appears to be a non-starter. I'll definitely not advise The Great Lord of Darkness to land in such a mess."

Prometheus - (suddenly reappears) "Ha… you haven't seen anything yet."

Kimbhoot - "Prometheus! What a surprise! What's that with you? Good Devil! Why, why… it's the Hell-Car! Hey, where did YOU find him? Uuugh… just look at him, painted all over with green. What terrible calamity, this will fatally hurt his ego, it certainly will. Where on hell did you get the color?"

Prometheus - "Color? Oh… Tinni gave me some."

Kimbhoot - "Tinni? Who's that?"

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