Cash Crunch!

‘Uncle, beg of you to help us!’ Uncle rubbed his drowsy eyes and wore his spectacles to see what had happened now! As expected, it was Rohit and Rahul, the best of pals living together in his rented house. ‘Again? What did you do now?’ was his irritated response.

He was a retired serviceman who lived on the first floor of his house, with the ground floor being rented to these two friends. He was irritated since this was not the first time they were asking for his help. And this time, it was midnight.

‘The police is following us!’

Uncle’s sleepy head was knocked back to alertness on this line. He knew there was something horrible and hence, mentally cringed at the idea of helping them.

‘We will explain’, was Rahul’s meek response. ‘Uhhh…..later…..’, added Rohit.

The doorbell was continuously ringing by now and uncle had no time to evaluate the situation and take a decision.

‘Go to the terrace’, he instructed as he simultaneously walked towards the door.

The door was being banged by now. Uncle, unlatched it.

He nervously said, ‘I was just coming.’

‘Can’t you come any faster?’

‘No, I can’t. I am an old man’, he responded trying to collect all his self-confidence. He meekly stared at the policeman dressed in his khaki uniform. His heartbeat raced as much out of irritation as out of anxiety.

‘Where are the lads?’

‘Which lads?’

‘Don’t play smart with us! Where are the guys who just entered this house?’

‘No one entered.’

‘Well, where are Rahul and Rohit? Your tenants! They stay here……….. Remember?’

The policeman was annoyed with uncle trying to play smart with him.

‘Did you check downstairs?’

The officer was visibly enraged.

‘Look, we are asking you decently, else there are other ways to get the same information out of you’, bragged the officer.

‘How am I supposed to know where they are, in the middle of the night? What happened?’

‘They have bashed the hotel owner of Kanishka hotel and escaped.’

Kanishka was a reputed hotel of this town. And these boys were supposedly doing some work on contract for them, the details of which were unknown to uncle.

Uncle was very much unaware of their dealings. He had simply checked upon their Aadhar cards before renting out his flat to them. Little did he know that it was an invitation of all sorts of problem.

The policeman peeped in, with his eyes surveying the entire area. He was also simultaneously gauging uncle’s character. He responded after some time as uncle looked on. ‘We are leaving you, paying heed to your age. But do let us know whenever they come back.’

Rohit and Rahul sat quietly together behind the terrace door, covered under the blanket of stars. They were nervous enough and, in this pin-drop silence could easily hear each other’s heartbeats. They concentrated hard to collect the words being spoken downstairs and interpret them. They waited with bated breath as they heard the beep of the police jeep dimming down, as it left the roadside alley.

‘Come down you two!’

‘Thankyou uncle!! How could we ever thank you for this!’ they recited together.

‘By vacating this house!’ responded uncle with unperturbed clarity.

‘But….uh……give me a chance to explain!’ And he blabbered out even before receiving a nod from uncle.

‘We were at Kanishka hotel for dinner’, started Rahul. ‘With….uh…. Priya’, joined in Rohit.

Uncle’s eyes now shifted to Rohit as he curiously waited for the story.

‘We owe that guy some money; for the refurbishing of the boulevard of his hotel.’

‘And he came in to tell us that we could not dine at his restaurant till we pay back the amount. The argument shifted to us being cheats and then moved to Priya.’

‘This is when Rohit bashed that guy! What does he think of himself?’, concluded Rahul.

Uncle observed the enthusiasm in Rahul’s voice on Rohit’s gallant deed. He had always been proud of his deeds. It was irrelevant whether the deeds were right or wrong.

‘We ran away before his men could gather’, joined Rohit.

Uncle nodded his head in helplessness. ‘Could you guys not have dined anywhere else? And what happened finally to your girlfriend?’

‘Friend uncle, she is our very good friend’, clarified Rohit.

‘She took the first auto back to her home’, added Rahul.

‘We will pay him back uncle. But this is no way to behave……uh with a lady, you know.’

‘And when will you pay your rent?’

Both Rahul and Rohit were tongue-tied. They were speechless, as if uncle had held their ‘pyjama strings’. They had been staying at uncle’s house for eight months now and had paid only for four months begging for more time, each time. They were supposed entrepreneurs trying their hands simultaneously in different fields, with money being lost each time. This time, it was an architecture project, which was defined for the overhaul of the existing building framework for modernizing the hotel infrastructure. The hotel had also recently launched a restaurant named Kanishka in the middle of the town.

Once upon a time it was a sleepy town at its own pace and in complete peace with itself. It was a hill-station where people could come over, to gather some solace. It was certainly losing that reputation gradually. This small town was constantly grooming itself, trying to keep in pace with the fast seeping modernity. Money and style were gradually announcing their arrival into every nook and corner of this town. There were pizza takeaway corners, lounges, clubs, coffee houses, restaurants and pubs; all sprawling haphazardly as the consumer pockets were getting heavier by the day. There was pomp and show permeating all sides, as the town was now on its way to becoming a metro.

And with this was also coming promising opportunities for reaping your investments by venturing into anything. And like any other youngster, these developments had managed to inspire Rahul and Rohit to be entrepreneurs.

‘We shall remain in clandestine mode for some time till the fire sobers down.’

As uncle raised his ears to grab the meaning into this he said, ‘And what if the embers are stoked again?’

Rahul tried to explain, ‘We will remain away from this house till the entire matter soothes down. Just let us reside here. We have nowhere else to go to.’

Uncle knew, that was certainly a lie. People were renting out flats but at exorbitant rates. Given that uncle was a decent and sober man who did not even force for the payments of the remaining amount, this was a vacation for these youngsters. He threatened every time though, but then himself came to their rescue considering that they were young strugglers, working hard in life to achieve something. The only problem was that they themselves were not aware of what that something was! It had definitely got something to do with name, fame and money. Like so many others, the entrepreneurship bug had bitten them as well.

Uncle however, was always moved by this ‘youth helplessness’. This was very much because he had experienced it during the unemployed days of his youth. And this sympathy would always make him let them stay on.

Rohit and Rahul were the best of friends ever since they had known each other. And Priya had joined them in college. She liked the friends because they were slightly different from the others. They were not constantly following every other girl in the campus. Nor were they aspiring to score high in their final exams. These boys were more obsessed with making it big in their professions. Her amiability had just made herself a friend of theirs. She appreciated their friendship and enjoyed their company but she knew that she was certainly not a part of their friendship which run deep. The two guys could lay down their lives for each other! But she was not sure if either of them could do that for her.

Rohit and Rahul belonged to very different backgrounds. While Rahul’s parents were both teachers in government schools in a village which was on the brink of this township, Rohit’s family belonged to a stinking-rich, business class, joint-family. They were local garment manufacturers. And their business delved deep into their family relationships for all its aspects. Rahul was in constant denial of taking up a government job. While Rahul found a government job mundane and low-paying, Rohit did not want to fray into the nitty-gritties of managing the never-ending joint family saga with its specific relationship complications. It was difficult to handle all the relationships, leave apart handling their business.

Both had known each other since school on their way to college and then passing out. Constant nagging from his family brought Rahul out of his home while his family disclaiming the idea of having a separate business of his own brought Rohit out of his bungalow. Both had supported each other in the boat and held the oars during all stormy nights. It was college time when Priya had hopped onto the same boat. She was as ambitious and wanted to become a professional singer but not sure how. She was trained in classical music but had no idea how to pursue this further. While Rohit and Rahul had tried it all from catering to broking to wholesale………. None had worked for them for some reason or the other. They were unclear on what to take up next. They were simply clear on one aspect they did not want to join a job and work under someone. They wanted to be their bosses no matter what the business was.

That particular night, uncle went back to sleep. And from the next day, the partners in crime had disappeared as promised by them. Uncle did not see them around, for a couple of days.

It was a Sunday and the doorbell was ringing again, as uncle was hurrying himself to open it.

‘Hello, uncle! Do Rohit and Rahul stay here?’

‘Yes. As in…..downstairs!’

‘Uncle, I haven’t seen them for a while. Nor are their mobile reachable.’

‘And You?’ responded an annoyed uncle

‘Me…..Hi, I am Priya. They might have told you about me’.

‘Oh yes…..that Kanishka girl'. Uncle could immediately recollect the entire story and identified her. He also gave his guess a benefit of doubt that no other girl could actually be interested in such guys whom he considered useless.

‘Want to have a cup of tea?’ asked a disinterested uncle just for courtesy sake.

‘Uh…Yes’, replied Priya bewildered at uncle’s response. She was simultaneously wondering what he meant by ‘Kanishka girl’.

And had said a yes so that she could dig out more information about Rohit and Rahul. Uncle was now taken aback by her response. He had just asked for courtesy sake. How could she say a yes? ‘Generation Next Children!’ he thought to himself.

‘You can prepare it! I shall not be taking sugar.’ This time Priya was surprised. Too smart for an uncle of his age!

‘My cook and servant come only once in the morning’, explained uncle with a shrewd smile.

‘C’mon uncle! No problems!….. I will make it for you.’ Priya had no option.

Both went to the kitchen and uncle showed her the ingredients while they had already struck a comradery. They chatted in the balcony over a cup of a tea.

‘Uncle, we are really good friends!’

‘Yeah, I can make that out. No one bashes a restaurant owner otherwise.’

‘What? Oh it’s 12 already. I need to go fetch vegetables.’ Priya tried to sober down his reaction by changing the topic of discussion.’

‘I haven’t seen them around for quite some time’, uncle tried to feed in extra information.

‘Please let them know that I was here. Their mobiles are switched off.’

Priya gathered her belongings and herself to take leave. As she walked away, uncle could assess that she was from a middle-class family, experimenting with her dressing style.

It was the next day in college.

‘Finally!’ Priya shrieked out. ‘Where the hell have you guys been?’

‘We’ll tell you. Let’s meet at our adda.’

‘Adda’ was a small tea-stall, outdated in its appearance but updated in checking upon the taste of this generation. It served hot tea and coffee along with anything appetizing, which you order.

‘Did you lie to your flat owner?’

‘It was a small one. We didn’t have an option. That rowdy sent the police to follow us down.’ reverberated Rahul.

‘What was he thinking? I can get the same done for him’, joined in Rohit.

‘Only if your family now acknowledges you!’ declared Priya.

They looked helpless with her announcing the truth.

‘Your parents don’t let us even hover around. Why can’t you tell them, we are not your boyfriends!’

‘I have, but they know that you are a part of the jobless youth population and they don’t want your presence to affect my career plans.’

‘Oh really…..? Tell them you are not making any headway either’, joined Rahul.

‘It’s better that you at least have friends even if jobless ones.’

‘By the way, don’t think I’m not progressing’, argued Priya.’

I have been selected by a Talent Hunt! I had come to your house to tell you that. But now you have totally spoiled my mood.

'Get Lost both of you!’

They were too startled to react. This was the first achievement within their miniscule group. And called for a celebration!

‘Bhaiiya, double spicy Maggie!’ Rohit and Rahul tried to apologize but were as poor with words as with pockets.

‘We didn’t know that! Please sit down. It’s fantastic!’

Priya gulped her temporary irritation and sat down, ‘I only have two weeks to leave.’

As they rolled the noodles onto their forks, each one was silent. Priya, because she was nervous as ever. Priya then stated that she would need to travel to Mumbai for no idea how long. While Rohit and Rahul wondered what future had in store for them, Priya was at least a chosen contestant by now. And here they were, scuffling with the Kanishka hotel owner on unpaid dues while also hiding from the police.

‘You don’t need to feel so sad. I haven’t won the competition yet’, Priya tried to read into their emotions and fill in some humour. The duo laughed as the comment lightened the moods.

‘Oh C’mon. At least someone is making headway.’

Rahul and Rohit were at the airport to see off Priya. They stood distantly from her family to avoid any last-minute confrontations. Priya’s parents did not react over their distant presence, as they were overtaken by the feeling of happiness and anxiety for their only child. As, a teary Priya waved and entered the airport, the two friends turned back to move towards their parked bike. A hand grabbed their shoulders from behind.

‘You can’t flee the city without paying me back.’ It was Ranveer, the Kanishka hotel owner!

They were about to run but knew it was useless since he would certainly have his entire gang with him.

‘What are you doing here?’ echoed the two.

‘Why you own the airport this time?’

‘We did not mean that. Look we are sorry but we promise to pay you back’, announced Rahul. ‘Please don’t get the police behind us’, joined in Rohit.

‘May I know how?’

‘We’ll do it in instalments. Rahul has started tuition classes to coach entrance test aspirants’, lied Rohit.

‘And Rohit has just taken a contract for management of a departmental store’, lied Rahul.

Both had lied smoothly.

‘Just give us this month.’

Ranveer glared at them from head to toe, as if to slaughter them. They were mere college pass-outs and this always worked in their favour.

‘Pass over your new mobile no.’ As Ranveer checked upon the missed call to verify the mobile number, both friends noticed that Priya’s parents had left by then. Hopefully they were not witness to this brawl.

‘That policeman who came to your flat is my uncle’, Ranveer smirked. ‘So, don’t fool around with me.’ Ranveer drove off in his SUV as the two were left in front of their bikes.

‘They are good ideas though’ joked Rohit. ‘Shutup! How on hell will we manage the 5lacs in a month!!’

It was a truly a huge amount for jobless people and that too in a small town. They this time returned to their rented house this time, instead of staying at a classmate’s flat. This was a very easy option for all guys. Hanging out at other friends’ houses. Not many parents would question why since they enjoyed seeing the comradery. The room was as dirty as ever, as they dusted the bed to switch on the television. Someone was knocking the door. It was uncle.

‘Finally, you both are back. What happened?’

‘Uh….we conciliated. And promised to pay his dues.’

‘Hmmm……and when are you paying mine?’

‘C’mon uncle, we are just back. We will do it asap.’

‘Take this.’ The thoughtful old man had actually brought over some food for the two. This behaviour was contrastingly changing with every upcoming generation. He would have got it cooked for them had he known of their arrival beforehand.

‘I saw your girlfriend over television, on the City Gems’ ads.’

They jumped and blushed at the same time.

‘Really?’ was their question. 'She is not our girlfriend', both jointly echoed.

Uncle did not bother to hear and moved out of their room, as they collapsed out of exhaustion on their bed. They were in their siesta when the ringing mobiles pulled them out of their slumber. It was Priya.

‘Hi you duffers! I have my theatre round today. Pray for me.’

‘All the best!’ they echoed together. Priya disconnected but they were unable to go back to sleep.

Not only were they knocked out of their slumber, it was also out of their peace of mind. Someone was making progress and it felt like they were stranded.

‘Hey Rohit, the idea of a coaching institute will never hold good since none of us were good at studies. But the idea of a departmental store is not bad.’

‘And where do we expect to get the money from? We are defaulters if you remember.’

‘We can ask uncle to help’, ideated Rahul.

Rohit looked on. ‘With the flat?’ Their entrepreneurial minds were alert again and their antenna was providing signals.

‘He will drive us out.’ Their practicality was however, also pulling them down.

‘But we will pay him back’ Rohit reasoned.

‘You will do the talking. I’m not taking the risks. We will end up returning to our respective places with no place to even stay’, stated Rahul.

They were involved in ablutions as their mind still hung around this idea. At least they would get the money to pay back that Kanishka owner!

It was afternoon while they received a ‘Whatsapp’ message.

‘Selected in theatre. Going for the Selection Rounds.’

‘Why are we stuck in second gear?’ was what the two wondered.

Rahul decided to clean the flat as Rohit went to fetch the groceries. The grocery shop had a Talent Hunt poster calling out to all the budding singers.

Rohit received the text message, ‘Rs. 550 was debited at the Nathuwaala groceries. The remaining balance is 15,999‘

He jerked back a sleeping Rahul as he returned. ‘How much balance do you have in your account?’ he queried.

‘Very minimal. Just enough to survive.’

‘I mean the amount you duffer.’

‘Around twenty thousand. ‘And you still have not paid uncle back?’

‘What do you mean? How will we live? Who pays for your petrol and mobile? If you are so bothered, then borrow from your family and pay back.’

‘Oh God! Are you actually irritated with me or the situation that we are in!!’

Both! Just got a reminder call from Ranveer. They confirmed to start paying from the middle of the month. Both of them smiled at this lie. It was now a part of their talent and through regular practice they had mastered the art.

Days passed. And each one suggested one idea after another. Every idea was rejected for some loophole somewhere. There were no fresh ideas since India was such a large country and ideas were popping around from every nook and corner. Any innovation that they came up with would have been practiced somewhere or the other with few striking gold while few failing miserably. It was twilight as they went to the nearby hill to enjoy the sunset and sulk. More days passed with the same routine and no constructive idea or output.

As they returned one evening, uncle was smiling at them from his balcony. As they wondered over the reason, he uttered, ‘Your friend got a job today.’

‘Really?’ Rahul searched his pocket to check on his mobile. It was not there. They rushed inside to check on the phone.

‘When will you learn to take on the call?’ was the message on Rahul’s mobile.

‘Go die!’ was the message on Rohit’s mobile.

There were several missed calls on each. Uncle, had come down to their room by now. ‘You can listen to it over my radio!’

Uncle explained that Priya had landed over with a job on an FM Radio. She had called on his number to pass over the news. Uncle was unable to explain more since hers was a job midway between a radio jockey and a singer. Old people and their goodness. They belonged to the generation where goodness was respected. It was very rarely applicable now.

‘Why does it have no value now?’ thought Rahul.

‘That’s fine uncle. We’ll manage to tune in via our mobile.’

‘There is some food in case you are interested.’

Free food. They were counting on every coin for expenditure.

‘We will certainly come uncle. What time shall this be aired?’

‘8PM.’ Uncle’s voice faded as he walked up the stairs.

It was 8. And both were seated in uncle’s drawing room in front his radio. His room and radio both were squeaky clean, quite contrary to their rooms.

‘So, what is the next business plan you both have in mind?’ pinched uncle emotionally, as he waited for the humdrum voiceover advertisements to get over, and the program to start. He knew all the radio channels like the back of his hand by now.

‘Uh, we wish to run a store……!!’ The two friends had brainstormed between themselves in the evening and finally arrived at a conclusion, evaluating themselves that it was a feasible option. He decided to confide in uncle. The program just started with the anchors trying to tickle the audience with their humour.

‘Store of what….?’

They could simultaneously guess upon Priya's voice as she gushed in her congenial voice explaining what the program was all about.

‘Store of what?.....’ uncle repeated.

Priya explained it was a show where people could dial in with their choice of songs and sing for the audience as well.

‘Uh……Store of music!’ Rahul uttered.

‘Musical store….’ Assisted Rohit as he tried to knit-in the story.

Uncle stared at them suspiciously. Priya would also dial out arbitrary people and provide them a musical quiz which could fetch them prizes from the advertising brands.

‘Musical instruments uncle. It’s very much a passion, a religion and a trend. With everyone around!’

Uncle had heard these words before and did not give them any weightage as he was delving into the songs. Rohit and Rahul breathed a sigh of relief at no further questions. The program went on for half an hour as there were melodies played one after another and the trio had their dinner silently.

Both Rahul and Rohit looked at each other dejectedly. They were simultaneously sulking amidst all this music. At least someone had made a decent headway. Good for her! They were however, still stuck at the very same place! They felt helpless.

Rohit and Rahul felt, ‘This always happens with us.’

As they left for their rooms, uncle hinted, ’Go for the store….I will help you. Tell me what you want.’

Uncle was able to read into their thoughts and had felt like making up with this charitable act, though he was least bit responsible for whatever had happened with their ambitions.

‘Really? We just want to convert our drawing room into a store. And we will move out as soon as we start getting profits.’

Uncle was taken aback by this proposition. But he nodded his head as if he knew they would eventually come back with this option with due course of time.

‘Fine!’ Uncle was unpredictable. His goodness was beyond bounds and made the two feel ashamed of themselves for not paying him more respect and rent.

That entire night, they were unable to sleep. Even though a small, unpredictable one, it was their ‘Eureka’ moment!

Priya called up the next day. 'Did you listen to it?' She was excited as hell and narrated her experience in details.

‘You were amazing! We just loved your performance'.

'This was on trial. It has landed me with a permanent job now!' babbled Priya. Rohit and Rahul felt their lowest best. They were unsure upon the reason though. Was it Priya's status or theirs?

Priya returned back to the town after a month, on leave. This was like a sudden lull after so much happening in her career.

‘It’s so wonderful to catch up with you guys’, she expressed as all tasted the Maggie at the old tea-stall.

'You don’t seem happy! What's the matter? Did you end up in a brawl again?' Priya was still grounded enough to be interested in their career and enquire upon their next plan.

Rohit and Rahul disclosed their plan and this time Priya didn’t make fun of it.

They narrated their interaction with uncle that night and how the past month had got them involved in setting up the musical instruments’ store.

‘Now at least, you both should be happy’, she teased on listening to their part of the story

‘Now you are a celebrity yaar!! And will be the brand ambassador for our musical instruments store', they teased back.

Priya laughed at the idea of herself being a celebrity. She also enjoyed it though.

'Maybe that could work in this rapidly growing small town!'

They had already lost many battles. No harm in trying in one more. She was anyways pursuing what she wanted to, while the other two could fill in their empty pockets. She assisted them with the selection of the musical instruments from percussion to electrical. Being a vocal aspirant, she had a comprehensive knowledge on this. Both worked upon the Email Marketing themselves. Uncle helped them install their store-board, ‘Music in You.’ Uncle was the cashier this time and ensured that not a penny is wasted.

While Priya, was actually the brand ambassador for the store, there was a decent crowd at the launch event. College-students asked for her opinions over several topics and few children who had collected there to gather a glimpse of her, also asked for her autograph.

Though Priya’s parents did not support the fledgling business idea, they decided to not disturb her this time since she had already taken her career forward. At least she was pursuing some part of her passion, even though not completely.

The vacation came to an end. Priya moved back to Mumbai to get back to work. Days passed into weeks and weeks into a month. Rohit and Rahul decided to become hard workers and did not try any short-cuts or smart moves this time. It was pure and sincere hard-work. Uncle rested all day, except when it came to finances. He was the part-time cashier with his purse strings tight.

It was a leap of faith. To end up their never-ending cash crunch!