RAGHU: I don’t think they have an answer. It’s a dichotomy of their ideology.
SEKHAR: Don’t tell me there ever was an ideology of social parity. What about communism? Banish the czars to make the proletariat the czars. What do you say?
RAGHU: I say the bourgeoisie got it right.
SEKHAR: I think Naxals should realize democracy is the best bargain for the poor in our bad world. But then, if they get into our democratic circus they too would become corrupt buffoons.
RAGHU: My father says, earlier, people were better off with karmictheory.The poor believed the rich were rich because of their good deeds in previous births. That way, without envy, people tried to be good for a better rebirth.
SEKHAR: But was it not anti- progress.
RAGHU: No, theory is about progress in order and not chaos in progress as we have now. In a way, we had thrown out the baby with the bathwater. .
SEKHAR: But do you subscribe to your father’s old values?
RAGHU: Well, we were brought up on that diet; I’ve a younger sister, Swarna.
SEKHAR: What’s your sister doing?
RAGHU: She’s in the final year engineering.
PRATAP: Why, the biggest ‘graduate engineer’ factory in the world is in India
He could’ve called you up. Located in South India. (PAUSE) I don’t see my car here. Hopefully Raju could’ve moved it to a repair shop.
SEKHAR: Oh these guys are bloody stupid. Why didn’t he call you?
RAGHU: He’s a sensible fellow. Of all the days he forgot to carry his cell today. And you know there are hardly any public telephone booths these days.
SEKHAR: That is all about giving with one hand and taking with the other. Well, for good or bad, Dhirubhai’s dream of seeing a cell in every Indian hand is on hand. (PAUSE) Pratap, what’re you dreaming about?
(PAUSE)
SEKHAR: Vimala.
(PAUSE)
SEKHAR: What’s this conspiracy of silence?
VIMALA: What’s the matter?
SEKHAR: Raghu, excuse me doctor for dropping the prefix, I find it …
RAGHU: You’re welcome sir.
SEKHAR: Vimala, he belongs to your school of thought.
VIMALA: Nice. I hope he has a lesson or two for you.
SEKHAR: Were in your dreamland or what, that’s what he has been doing. (PAUSE) What about you Pratrap?
PRATAP: It’s good you dropped his prefix; why not help me drop my suffix.
VIMALA: Why make it Greek and Latin?
SEKHAR: He’s desperate to turn an Indian from an Indian American.
VIMALA: Let him apply for the visa and then I’ll see.