All they could muster up

Words WORTH - BOOK EXTRACT

I screamed.

It was all so messed up. First it had been the flight. The journey from Bombay seemed to go on and on. I couldn't get a wink of sleep in the plane - the bloody seats were not conducive for such delicate activity - Air India's claims to the contrary not withstanding.

Touchdown was shaky... may be the pilot was a novice.

Thankfully customs was okay and my Merc was waiting to pick me up from the airport.

But the ride from Heathrow to the Hotel took hours "" uncharacteristic queue of traffic with a small highlight... some jerk had driven his pick up right into a bus at the city center "" London was catching up with Bombay.

That was not the end. I was booked at the Dorchester!

I liked to stay at the Claridges; whenever I was in London. That's one habit I did pick up from old man Mohanty. My father always reminded me of a Capitalist Savior suffering disgruntled retirement due to senility - in fact he was a prize-winning heart surgeon cum part-time millionaire.

I was here only because he insisted on an international debut for his only beloved son and heir apparent. I hated medical conferences.

Now that I was here, I was unable to sleep for more than half an hour at a stretch. I looked at the watch 3:30 a.m. [sic] and went back to sleep.

Fifteen minutes later I woke up screaming again. The demons sure were catching up with me tonight. I groped in the dark for my glass of water but couldn't find it. I switched the light on and it was so bright I couldn't still locate it. Instead I knocked the glass over and something else crashed along with it. When my vision cleared I saw the table calendar broken, lying next to the shattered glass on the floor.

A date had come out of the case. The small plastic square screamed a number at me.

I screamed once again.

That is what I had seen in the nightmare. SIXTEENTH. The month didn't matter. I knew which month it was. Besides there only was one sixteenth that had the power to let those demons loose; and I knew what I would have to do.

Half an hour, five long distance calls to India and I was ready to exorcise my demons.

I dressed quickly; locked my room, ignored the elevators and took the stairs. It took me five minutes to climb down the 16 floors. Goddamn... sixteen!

Soon I was driving my Merc. Purposefully down the dark streets. I reached Claridges at 5:00 a.m. sharp.

I had just taken my fourth pill when I heard the knock. First I thought it was 'insomniac's imagination' but the knocking became louder and seemed to be insistent.

I could no longer ignore it.

''Sh*t"'' I cursed aloud ''who the f**k is that?''

When I opened the door - we just started at each other.

It was Moses who spoke first.

''Let's go Sandy!''

''Where? Why? And how did you get here... I mean who told you I was here?''

''Let's go Sandeep!''

''Listen Mosey; you get the hell outta here, okay! I am not feeling too well and...''

''I am not feeling any great myself [sic]. Come on!''

''I am not going nowhere with you buddy. So go away. I told you that three years back; remember?''

''I remember everything that happened. That's my problem I guess... that's why I am here. Let's go Sandeep.''

''Where?'' I was desperate now.

''Leicester'' Moses tried to control his shaking voice. ''It's the sixteenth!''

''God, no!'' was all I could muster up.