CHAPTER 4
Boys go to Danalakshmi’s house
It was Matunga in Mumbai. Shankar Mutt
colony. Prutvi and Arvind arrived on a motorbike. They stopped the bike near a
STD booth.
Prutvi asked, “Where is Danalaxmi compound?”
The STD booth owner looked at them. “Danalaxmi? There
are so many Danalaxmi here. In this road, there is one Danalaxmi, in the next
road there is chit Danalaxmi, near it there is oil Danalaxmi and if you go
further, there is rowdy Danalaxmi. Which Danalaxmi did you want?”
Both of them look at him in surprise.
Prutvi said, “Ah Ah. I want compound Danalaxmi.”
Owner laughed. “All of them have compounds.”
Prutvi scratched his head in confusion.
STD booth owner asked. “Ok. Tell me how she looks.
Ordinary or rowdy type?
Prutvi remembered Swamiji’s words. “Mostly rowdy type.
Her husband and the colony people are very much scared of her.”
Owner said happily, “Ah! Then it is rowdy Danalaxmi.
Just go straight, turn left. 5th house.”
Prutvi said, “Thanks.”
They prepared to leave.
The owner came running. “One minute. Don’t tell her
that I called her rowdy. Otherwise, my STD booth will disappear.”
Prutvi looked at Arvind in surprise. “Looks like she is
danger Danalaxmi.”
Arvind laughed. “Why worry? You are there to
neutralize and balance her.”
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Prutvi and Arvind stopped the motorbike in
front of a compound with a board with the name of Danalakshmi.
Prutvi said, “5th house. This must be rowdy
Danalakshmi’s house.”
They got down and entered the compound. A 60 years old
man was sitting in an easy chair reading a news paper. He looked up at them in
surprise. He fixed his glasses properly and stared at them. “Who did you want?”
Prutvi went near him. He bent down to speak to him. “Is
this Danalakshmi compound?”
Old man became serious. “You did not see the big
board?”
Prutvi was surprised. “We saw it and that is why we
entered. We want to meet Danalakshmi.”
Old man was shocked. “You want Danalakshmi? You want to
meet a lady?”
They closed their ears. “Ram Ram. Not like that. We
want owner Danalakshmi.”
Kotari stood up straight. “You know who I am?”
They looked at him in surprise.
Prutvi said, “Maybe you are a tenant here.”
The old man shook his head seriously. “I am that
Danalakshmi’s husband.”
The boys were shocked.
Kotari said, “I am her owner. That is why I am the
owner of this compound.”
He cooled down. “What did you want from my wife? Tell
me.”
Arvind whispered in Prutvi’s ears. “Rowdy Danalakshmi.
Be careful.”
Prutvi said politely, “Forgive me, sir. We want to
talk only to her. Can you please call her?”
“She has gone to her village. She will return only
after 5 days.”
Prutvi said, “Bad luck. Let us come after 5 days.
Come.”
They prepared to leave.
Kotari came running. “Eh boys. Wait. Tell me what you
want. When she comes home, I have to inform her of everything. Otherwise….”
Prutvi was serious. “No use telling you. We have to
tell her only.”
Kotari was suspicious. “What is that secret?”
They did not care for him. They went to the motorbike.
Kotari thought, “Maybe they have come to know about my
market value. They don’t care about me.”
He approached them. “At least tell me who you are and
from where you have come from so that I can tell my wife.”
Prutvi said, “Ok. Listen. My name is Prutvi. This is
my friend Arvind. We have come from Nityananda Ashram.”
Hearing the name of the ashram, the old man became
very cool. He extended his arms. “You are from Swamiji’s ashram. Come come.”
The boys were surprised.
Kotari went inside and brought two chairs. “Milk,
horlicks, coffee. What can I offer you?”
Prutvi smiled. “We don’t want anything. Swamiji has
given a letter to show to Danalakshmi.”
Kotari took the letter and read it. “Swamiji has asked
to give you a place to stay.”
He pointed to a house in the compound. “That house is
empty. But we give houses only to families and not to college students.”
The boys were surprised.
Kotari pointed to the other houses in the compound. “All
these houses are occupied by families. There are grown up girls there.”
The boys got up sadly.
Kotari stopped them. “But I cannot say no to Swamiji.”
Prutvi asked, “Do you want us to got married and then
come?”
Kotari laughed. “No no. We cannot go against the
wishes of Swamiji. We are his disciples. Such a great man has sent you. I
cannot say no. But you have to agree to some conditions.”
He went into the house and brought a paper and pen. “I
will tell you the conditions. You write them down. If you agree to the
conditions, I will give you house.”
Prutvi agreed. “Ok. Tell us your conditions.”
Arvind took the paper and pen to write.
Kotari thought seriously.
“Condition no.1: you must not speak to anyone in the
compound expect me.
Condition no.2: you must not give signals to girls or
stare at them.
Condition no.3: If you want to take water from the tap
outside, you must go only after everyone has finished taking water. And that
too, only when I have told you to.
Condition no.4: You must open the room door only when
necessary. Otherwise, your door should always remain closed.”
The old man looked at them anxiously wondering what
they were going to say. The boys closed their eyes for a while.
Prutvi said, “Sir, we have come from the ashram. These
conditions are very simple for us to follow. You don’t worry.”
Kotari said seriously, “I will keep an eye on you. If
I see any misbehavior on your part, I will immediately give the gate pass.”
Arvind smiled. “Sir, we have all the tricks. Sometimes
we will go early in the morning and return only at night. One thing sir, these
conditions are only for 5 days isn’t it? Then I suppose they will be renewed or
will some more be added?”
Kotari looked at them seriously. “The conditions will
be renewed. And the rent is 2000.”
Prutvi gave him the money. “Fine sir. We will come
with luggage in the evening.”
They prepared to leave. “Remember the conditions.”
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