In the three years since, he's been putting things "on the tab". He asked me for a "tiny" advance that turned into a loan for a car that he insists he'll clear as soon as he's paid off his mother for his super-bike for which he offered her signed cheques as security but would prefer to pay in cash, "just hold on for a bit", by which time they were past their redeem-by date. He used my credit card for "important" online shopping and his mother's debit card to pay for equally "necessary" clothes from Zara and Nordstrom. He owes us dues on his contribution to the household that he'll wipe out as soon as he's "caught up" with his salary, and "don't be a stinge, yaar" he'll complain while filching money from my wallet for petrol, a "dearness" entertainment allowance, or when on a date when "it's important that I should look cool".
About the only time we see him is when he wants another loan, which is usually the latter part of the month, though he's never around when it's payback time, which should be the first fortnight of the month. He doesn't like being disturbed in the morning because he "worked late", or anticipates a tough day in office. In the evening his friends are invariably over so he'd like to "borrow" some of my whisky, please, he's "a little short of booze". When the family decided on a pool holiday - everyone to pay for their share of airfare and accommodation - he opted in but "I'm wiped out" he confided, though his sister, who chanced upon his account statement, says he's hoarded himself a fortune that he's clearly not looking at spending any time soon. You'd think he'd have the grace to be beholden, but he won't fraternise with our friends because "they're too old", he won't help with the household work because "it ain't my job", and he won't socialise with us because, "Guys, get your own life."
In London, where he'd opted to join me to keep me "company" - he'll pay for his ticket some time in the new fiscal, he's promised - he wasn't around for most part, meeting up with friends and doing "young things, dad" that he didn't think I'd want to be part of. He'd be sleeping when I left for meetings in the morning, and be out when I returned, so all I got to see of him was at the airport and in the aircraft. Which is why I was surprised when, catching a red-eye to Mumbai recently, he suggested he'd like to drop me to the airport "so we can catch up". On balance, I'm not sure that was a good idea because it's left me with a depleted bottom line because he has "some essential spends - you understand, right?" Er, right.
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