A Suitable Boy(533)

The debate proceeded in this manner, with importunate waves of protest washing over an adamant sea-wall. Finally, closure was moved by a member of the Congress Party and the House rose for the day.





14.27


JUST outside the chamber Mahesh Kapoor collared his old Parliamentary Secretary.

‘So, you rogue, you’re still with the Congress.’

Abdus Salaam turned around, pleased to hear the voice of his ex-Minister.

‘We must talk about that,’ he said, glancing a little to left and right.

‘We haven’t talked for a long time, it seems to me – ever since I’ve been in the opposition.’

‘It isn’t that, Minister Sahib –’

‘Ah, at least you call me by my old title.’

‘But of course. It’s just that you’ve been away – in Baitar. Associating with zamindars, I hear,’ Abdus Salaam couldn’t help adding.

‘Didn’t you go back home for Id?’

‘Yes, that’s true. We’ve both been away, then. And before that I was in Delhi for the AICC meeting. But now we can talk. Let’s go to the canteen.’

‘And eat those fearful greasy samosas? You young people have stronger stomachs than us.’ Mahesh Kapoor appeared, despite everything, to be in a good mood.

Abdus Salaam was in fact quite fond of the greasy samosas that the canteen provided as one of its snacks. ‘But where else can we go, Minister Sahib? Your office, alas –’ He smiled regretfully.

Mahesh Kapoor laughed. ‘When I left the Cabinet, Sharma should have made you a Minister of State. Then you at least would have had an office of your own. What’s the point of remaining a Parliamentary Secretary if there’s no one to be secretary to?’

Abdus Salaam too started laughing in a gentle way. He was a scholarly rather than an ambitious man, and he often wondered how he had strayed into politics and why he had remained there. But he had discovered he had a sleepwalker’s flair for it.

He thought about Mahesh Kapoor’s last remark. ‘If nothing else, there’s a subject to handle,’ he responded. ‘The Chief Minister has left me free to manage that.’

‘But until the Supreme Court decides the matter there’s nothing you can do about it,’ said Mahesh Kapoor. ‘And even after they’ve decided whether the First Amendment is valid or not the zamindars’ appeal against the High Court judgment about the act itself will have to be decided. And any action is bound to be stayed till then.’

‘It’s only a question of time; we’ll win both cases,’ said Abdus Salaam, looking into the vague middle distance as he sometimes did when thinking. ‘And by then no doubt you will be Minister of Revenue again – if not something even better. Anything could happen. Sharma could be kicked upwards to the Cabinet in Delhi, and Agarwal could be murdered by one of Begum Abida Khan’s glances. And since you would be back in the Congress you would be the obvious choice for Chief Minister.’

‘Do you think so?’ said Mahesh Kapoor, looking at his protégé piercingly. ‘Do you think so? If you are doing nothing better, let’s go home for a cup of tea. I like these dreams of yours.’

‘Yes, I have been dreaming a lot – and sleeping a lot – these days,’ said Abdus Salaam cryptically.

They continued to talk as they strolled along to Prem Nivas.

‘Why did you not intervene in the discussion this afternoon, Minister Sahib?’ asked Abdus Salaam.

‘Why? You know the reason perfectly well. I can’t read a word of Hindi, and I don’t want attention drawn to the fact. I’m popular enough among the Muslims – it’s the Hindu vote that will be my problem.’

‘Even if you rejoin the Congress?’

‘Even if I rejoin the Congress.’

‘Do you plan to?’

‘That is what I want to talk over with you.’

‘I might be the wrong person to talk to.’

‘Why?’ asked Mahesh Kapoor. ‘Surely you’re not thinking of leaving it?’

‘That’s what I want to talk over with you.’

‘Well,’ said Mahesh Kapoor thoughtfully, ‘this will require several cups of tea.’

Abdus Salaam did not know how to make small talk, so hardly had he sipped his tea than he plunged straight in with a question.

‘Do you really think that Nehru is back in the saddle?’

‘Do you really doubt it?’ countered Mahesh Kapoor.

‘In a way I do,’ said Abdus Salaam. ‘Look at this Hindu Code Bill. It was a great defeat for him.’

‘Well,’ said Mahesh Kapoor, ‘not necessarily. Not if he wins the next election. Then he’ll treat it as a mandate. In a way he’s made certain of that, because it’s now become an election issue.’