Read Online Murder with Bengali Characteristics by Shovon Chowdhury - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shovon Chowdhury
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Li. He knew enough not to hesitate.
‘Do you ever wonder whether he treats me well?’
‘Does he?’ asked Li.
‘Like a queen mother,’ she said, giggling. ‘Isn’t that great? I never got to be the class flower. I never even finished school. But now I’m queen mother! Aren’t you happy?’
‘I wish you well, Gao Yu,’ said Li, with a touch of formality, ‘But I have to get back to work now.
‘Did you expect me to live on buns and water?’ demanded Gao Yu. She was unpredictable. Life with her had been like walking on eggshells. ‘Just because it doesn’t matter to you, nobody else should care?’
‘You shouldn’t drink so much,’ said Li, and disconnected. He pressed the button gently. I should have said something about her hair, he thought.
The boys were watching him sympathetically. They respected him tremendously for having such a hot ex-wife. They knew most of the details. It was only a matter of time before they started offering advice. It was at times like this that he needed to be businesslike. He sprang out of his chair and put on his hat. He was light on his feet, thanks to his father. His father used to be a boxer at the old Bison Club, a Beijing brothel that did boxing and betting on the side. It was a strange combination of fights and floozies, and his father had felt the shame most keenly. But he had always done his job, which was boxing. He had always put on a good show. He had passed on a few tips to his son, standing there panting in the back alley after fights, sweat pouring down his body, reeking of spilt beer and cheap perfume. He had planted in his mind some thoughts. He had shown him some moves. He had also told him to stay away from brothels, which Gao Yu had found extremely funny.
‘Come with me,’ he told Phoni-babu. ‘We’re going to Elgin Road. Chen, you take the Department of Fisheries, where the victim used to work. And for God’s sake tell Sexy to stop singing in the mirror and go talk to Crazy Wu, while he still has enough brain left to form sentences.’
‘Yes, boss,’ said Big Chen, glad he had never married.
11
‘When we talk about strangling, we mean it purely in the metaphorical sense.’
‘We are now entering Elgin Road,’ said the car. ‘The name Elgin is synonymous with the destruction of historic monuments. The father dismantled the Parthenon, while the son razed the Forbidden Palace. It is presumed that the family had no further issue, as most other irreplaceable landmarks across the world remain intact.’
ZAF Lounge flashed by, followed by Chaska Café, Desi Cuisine, Cream Centre, Nick ‘N’ Nack, Juicy Fresh, and the New Saurashtra Nimki House in quick succession. Like the rest of Calcutta, there was no lack of eateries on Elgin Road. It was the main reason why Bengalis had no money. There were a few other establishments in between the eateries, such as the Netaji Research Bureau and the Catholic Mission High School, to provide them with customers. Apart from this there were several malls, filled to the brim with more places to eat in, and the dilapidated husk of an abandoned bookstore. ‘Crossword’ said the sign. It hung crookedly from one hinge.
The car stopped in front of a simple three-storeyed building with bilious green window shutters and bougainvillea on the balconies. The walls might once have been pink, although most of them were now covered in slogans. ‘The sun moves around the earth,’ said one. ‘Tank Man was executed!’ said another. Along one entire side, covering it from top to bottom, was a crudely drawn pig smoking a cigar.
The front door was almost flush with the street, just a couple of steps between them. The steps were provided for public seating. Young men often sat there discussing heroines and football. Every house in Calcutta had them. It was a matter of civic duty. A brass plaque on the door said ‘Amalendu Lahiri, BA, MA, LLB. Convenor, New Thug Society.’ There was no power, as usual, so Li knocked on
‘Do you ever wonder whether he treats me well?’
‘Does he?’ asked Li.
‘Like a queen mother,’ she said, giggling. ‘Isn’t that great? I never got to be the class flower. I never even finished school. But now I’m queen mother! Aren’t you happy?’
‘I wish you well, Gao Yu,’ said Li, with a touch of formality, ‘But I have to get back to work now.
‘Did you expect me to live on buns and water?’ demanded Gao Yu. She was unpredictable. Life with her had been like walking on eggshells. ‘Just because it doesn’t matter to you, nobody else should care?’
‘You shouldn’t drink so much,’ said Li, and disconnected. He pressed the button gently. I should have said something about her hair, he thought.
The boys were watching him sympathetically. They respected him tremendously for having such a hot ex-wife. They knew most of the details. It was only a matter of time before they started offering advice. It was at times like this that he needed to be businesslike. He sprang out of his chair and put on his hat. He was light on his feet, thanks to his father. His father used to be a boxer at the old Bison Club, a Beijing brothel that did boxing and betting on the side. It was a strange combination of fights and floozies, and his father had felt the shame most keenly. But he had always done his job, which was boxing. He had always put on a good show. He had passed on a few tips to his son, standing there panting in the back alley after fights, sweat pouring down his body, reeking of spilt beer and cheap perfume. He had planted in his mind some thoughts. He had shown him some moves. He had also told him to stay away from brothels, which Gao Yu had found extremely funny.
‘Come with me,’ he told Phoni-babu. ‘We’re going to Elgin Road. Chen, you take the Department of Fisheries, where the victim used to work. And for God’s sake tell Sexy to stop singing in the mirror and go talk to Crazy Wu, while he still has enough brain left to form sentences.’
‘Yes, boss,’ said Big Chen, glad he had never married.
11
‘When we talk about strangling, we mean it purely in the metaphorical sense.’
‘We are now entering Elgin Road,’ said the car. ‘The name Elgin is synonymous with the destruction of historic monuments. The father dismantled the Parthenon, while the son razed the Forbidden Palace. It is presumed that the family had no further issue, as most other irreplaceable landmarks across the world remain intact.’
ZAF Lounge flashed by, followed by Chaska Café, Desi Cuisine, Cream Centre, Nick ‘N’ Nack, Juicy Fresh, and the New Saurashtra Nimki House in quick succession. Like the rest of Calcutta, there was no lack of eateries on Elgin Road. It was the main reason why Bengalis had no money. There were a few other establishments in between the eateries, such as the Netaji Research Bureau and the Catholic Mission High School, to provide them with customers. Apart from this there were several malls, filled to the brim with more places to eat in, and the dilapidated husk of an abandoned bookstore. ‘Crossword’ said the sign. It hung crookedly from one hinge.
The car stopped in front of a simple three-storeyed building with bilious green window shutters and bougainvillea on the balconies. The walls might once have been pink, although most of them were now covered in slogans. ‘The sun moves around the earth,’ said one. ‘Tank Man was executed!’ said another. Along one entire side, covering it from top to bottom, was a crudely drawn pig smoking a cigar.
The front door was almost flush with the street, just a couple of steps between them. The steps were provided for public seating. Young men often sat there discussing heroines and football. Every house in Calcutta had them. It was a matter of civic duty. A brass plaque on the door said ‘Amalendu Lahiri, BA, MA, LLB. Convenor, New Thug Society.’ There was no power, as usual, so Li knocked on
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