Scene 09 - JJ Tea Stall

Sheetal and Harini walk in and take a table. JJ and Sarkar watch in silence. Acchu Kuttan stops washing the tea glasses, wipes his hands and pulls out a comb and runs it through his hair, getting ready to go and take the order. JJ glares at him and stops him. Being the only customers he has now, he is in no hurry to serve them. More occupied tables give a good impression to those who pass by. An empty place is bad advertisement for business.

Sheetal: [laughing] Oh God it is so funny!!! I think she is the biggest flirt on
BB!!! And he is the biggest loser on BB!!!

Sheetal pulls out a packet of Davidoff from her handbag.

Harini: [eyes lighting up] Kewl!!! Been ages!!

Sheetal: Oh yeah?

Harini leans forward and takes a cigarette out and exclaims!

Harini: Oh my gawwwdddd!!!!! This cigarette is empty!!

Sheetal: Shhhhh, don’t be so loud. I have removed all the tobacco!

Harini: [very disappointed] but why yaaa???

Sheetal: [whispering] I am told they sell good stuff here. Lets try that

Harini: Ohhhh, you mean ummm...........

Sheetal: Yeah. .[winks] stuff.. [smiles]

Harini: [looking wide eyed] ummmm, I have never you know.........

Sheetal: [winking and smiling] Don’t worry, it will be fine

Sheetal looks around and checks, and notices JJ and Sarkar suddenly looking away.

Sheetal: Excuse me!!!

Achhu Kuttan makes a move, but JJs glare stops him. Always good to deal with the young ladies on your own. JJ gets up and walks across

JJ: Yes, madam?

Sheetal: hmmm, I wanted a light please?

JJ: ohhh ok madam. [searches his pocket]

Sheetal: And what can we get?

JJ reels off a list of items

Harini: [mischievously] Can you tell them all backwards? [giggles]

JJ rolls his eyes, looks uneasy

JJ: huh

Sheetal: [admonishing Harini] Oh you wicked gal. Stop it. [looks at JJ] Well......hmmmmmm.. my friends said that you sell nice stuff. You know?

JJ: yes madam, everything here is good

Sheetal: Arre, I don’t mean snacks or tea?

JJ: Then?

Sheetal: You know stuff.

It suddenly strikes JJ. She wanted hashish!!! He should have made some contacts and stocked up. That was the only way he could make the big bucks. He cursed himself inwardly. Could he quickly make a call to someone and get it? Not good for business if he tells her that he doesn't stock any. Quick decision needed. He realized he was looking pathetic being silent, this girl was staring at him.

JJ: Yes yes Madam, what do you want?

Sheetal: What is the best you have???

Harini: Only the best eh, ok??? [makes it sound like she is an expert]

JJ: Yes madam, only the best we have here. I will get it

Sheetal: QUICK!! OK??

JJ: Yes madam, yes..

JJ rushes across to the counter and pulls his cell phone out. Cupping the phone in his hands he calls WWW. WWW had mentioned about contacts. First ring. Answer! Great!! Looks like his luck was finally changing. It was at times like this that things go wrong. Horribly wrong. The guy wont be available or busy or whatever. Here comes a girl asking for dope and he calls and WWW answers. Finally Lady Luck is smiling at him.

JJ: Hey Bharath!!

WWW: Dey JJ, sowkiyama? [Hi JJ, are you doing well?]

JJ: [whispering] Bharath!! I need that ganja contact da!!

WWW: Oh!!! Sure, take the number.

JJ: Oru minutu [one moment]

WWW: vokay

JJ finds a pen and gets ready to write the number on his palm. Holds the cell phone to his ear. WWW gives him the number.

JJ: Thanks da

WWW: No worry machchan!! [no worries brother-in-law] His name is Vichu

JJ: Vichu?

WWW: Yeah, Vichu. Call him and tell him my name da.

JJ: Thanks da bye

Hurriedly disconnects and calls the new number. Dials. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. No answer. Voicemail. JJ curses and disconnects. Dials again. Ring. Ring. Ring. Ring. Finally he hears the phone being switched on.

JJ: [softly] Hello, Vichu?

In the background he hears voices. Shilpa saree!! Down Down!!

JJ: [again, very softly] Vichu??

Vichu: HELLO!!!! Shipla DOWN DOWN!!!!! Hello?? Yaaru? [who?]

JJ: [slightly raising his voice to be heard] Vichu, Bharathina friendu JJ. Sarakku kittu mo? [Will I get stuff?]

Vichu: Kittu? Dey, naanu Vichu, not Kittu!!!! [Kittu? Hey, I am Vichu, not Kittu]

Sarkar who had been watching the entire exchange, has moved behind JJ and is listening to the conversation, unknown to JJ.

JJ: Aiyo theiyvameyyy!!! [Oh god] Vichu, ganja hai ?

Vichu: Hai hai!!! Shipla!! Hai Hai!!

JJ: Aiyo Shilpa vendam, ganja ganja..

Sarkar grabs JJ by the collar and snarls. A shocked JJ turns, the collar twisting around his neck.

Sarkar: Hmmmmmmmmm so this is what you do huh? Selling ganja???

JJ: Noooo saaarrr!!!!!

Sarkar who has had no arrests to his credit, and also doesn't expect much to happen from this BB drama realizes he finally has his first case. Smiles to himself happily. Something finally for him to report. First arrest. First conviction. Maybe that promotion that has not happened in five years will happen.

Sarkar: [snarls] You rogue!!!! You are a drug trafficker huh? Lets go to the station and talk.

Sheetal and Harini hurry out of the stall. Sarkar drags JJ and heads for the station.