That evening, he set out to visit Dan, with a bottle of his Chilli-wine with him. He drove his car up to Dan's street and parked it a little ways away from the house, where he could find some parking without a power line or tree directly over. The birds there were very well fed it seemed.
Srini walked up to Dan's door and rang the bell. Shortly, Dan opened the door, smiling and welcoming him warmly. Srini handed him the bottle of Chilli-wine and they laughed. There were many good memories around that Chilli-wine. They went in and Dan had the table already set.
"It will be a few minutes before the roast is done. Would you like something to drink first? What will you have?" asked Dan. Chilli-wine was not to be had on an empty stomach, so they always chose something else.
"I'll have some of that lemon, lime and bitters if you have it," said Srini.
They sat down with the drinks in hand on the couch in the living room. The smell of a roast cooking in the kitchen wafted down whetting their appetite. Dan was known to make a mean roast with herbs and spices from his own garden. He was a country boy at heart and still went home to his country house often where his family lived.
"So Srini! It's been a while. I did not expect to see you for a while. I checked all your papers and returns are in order. Nothing due. Is everything alright, Mere Dost (my friend)?" Dan asked.
"Actually Dan, something did come up suddenly. Fa tells me I have about 18 months to live. I have been thinking and have decided upon a few things. I need your help," said Srini in a matter-of-fact tone. Dan knew him well enough to realise it was a mask.
It seemed to take Dan a couple of seconds for the import to sink in. His rugged, pink face seemed to blanch. He was always considered one of the 'coolest' among Srini's group of friends. Nothing, not even the threat or fear of a tax audit could usually rattle him or elicit an anxious look on Dan's face. He was always calm, collected and had famously dealt with some of the most dire news in business circles as if he was listening to a boring weather report. One of his clients had actually attempted suicide at the news. Dan's composure even in that situation was so 'cool' and calm that it became legend. There were jokes and bets about trying to make him surprised, upset or even display any sign of annoyance.
"Oh Srini! That's rough mate. I hope Fa is wrong this time," said Dan, realizing that in their group of friends, Dr. Fa had a reputation for being one of the very best in his profession. He was rarely off the mark.
"He has promised to see me through and be there for me until the very end," said Srini with some sense of comfort, "Look I have not told my kids yet. I will in a few days. I want to discuss something with you tonight. I want to confirm some figures and tell you some ideas I have. I want your opinion and thoughts. I have some things to clarify before I proceed with a plan I have."
"Of course, Mere Dost! Anything I can do for you, be assured, I will do all I can," Dan went up and put his arm around Srini. He was reminded of them walking in this fashion, arms around each other's shoulders in Dan's small Australian country town, after Dan had returned from a trip to India. It is common for male friends to walk around like that in that culture. It indicates friendship. In Western countries, people would assume something about a man's sexual orientation if he went about like that. So, to play a prank on their well-known neighbours, Srini and Dan had taken a walk like that down the main street. Dan and Srini had got so many surprised looks but no comments. Dan's wife was in on it and had walked a few steps behind them, watching and laughing. She laughed even more at the surprise and expressions she evoked, when people recognised her walking just behind the two friends!
"Dan, I estimated that I have assets worth about $NNNNNNN. Would you agree?"
"That would be about right, Srini."
"I want to dispose of all of it before I am gone, save for one penny," said Srini.
For the second time that day and perhaps the second time that anyone had seen him do, Dan's face showed surprise and a bit of shock.
The oven's alarm went off.
"I am ravenous. Let's eat," said Srini.
Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2015
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