Scene 15 - Black Deeds And The Black Phone

She sat in her office. The 50th floor of the skyscraper Emirates Office Tower. She clasped her hands, like giving herself a handshake. Her legs on the desk in front, crossed. Like Big B in Deewar. At the helm. In control. She spread her feet and closed them again. Repeated the action of closing them, and spreading them open a couple of times. Some day there would be guys standing there in front of her, hands folded. She would indicate a dismissal when she closed her feet. She adjusted her latest pair of Gucci sunglasses and smiled. Life had been good but can be better. You don't spend forty years in a country and not be successful.

She wished at times she could have done everything on her own. But the local laws mandated a local investor; a co-owner. No escaping that. She didn't mind being bossed around once in a while. But for the most part, she controlled her life. Things were successful now. She was able to recruit people with the snap of a finger. She made a mental calculation of those she had found jobs in Dubai. Thousands every year! Clerks to managers; menial laborers to technical professionals; belly-dancers to the 5-Star Professionals; waiters to chefs -- she was quite the all-rounder. She dealt with everything that had money. Jobs, liquor, dancers, establish contacts. It was good to be operating in a hub where there were a lot of criminals too. The only thing she kept away from was drugs. She didn't want something that could cripple and close business overnight. Maybe if she moved out of this place, she would make an attempt. She enjoyed recruiting the best. Name the type of resource you wanted and she will find it for you. Her contacts were worldwide in the third world. She was disappointed with Afghanistan and Iraq. Inspite of the trouble, people were not moving out of these places, the expat workers. She had hoped the Taliban gunning down Suryanarayana would cause an exodus. More jobs; more needs; more business for her. But alas!! Nothing of that nature, even by a remote chance. Everyone seemed happy.

She moved her feet off the desk and flipped her laptop open. Logged into her bank account. Her fingers danced on the keyboard. She had to make the final payment for her spanking condo in Burj Dubai. A few key strokes more. Account number. Password. Reference. CLICK. The final installment paid. She smiled. A good investment. She had come with nothing. Infact came with a lot of debts back home.

But she wished she could move westward. She had been trying to develop her contacts worldwide, especially the western side. Roop seemed like a good contact. She had been engaging in conversation with her frequently. Chandresh in US. She wished he were more active. She had silently made a vow to herself. She will be out of this city by the end of the year.

Her black phone rang. This was the business line. She smiled. This was the hush-hush business line. No names were exchanged here. Only very limited and very special people knew this number. It also meant big bucks when this phone rang. Very big bucks. Smiling to herself, she reached for the phone. Her smile vanished when she saw the name and number that appeared on the caller-ID.