If God Was A Banker Read Online Free Page A

from the organisation had made to the group. He was soon completely engrossed in his reading material.
    'Hi, scholar.' Swami was startled when he heard a voice from behind. He looked up through his thick glasses and found Kalpana staring down at him. 'You are Swaminathan, right? I saw your picture on the notice board for our batch.' Swami nodded his head. They hadn't spoken to each other despite being in a small group of thirty-eight people. Swami was too shy to initiate a conversation with anyone, and if it was a woman, Swami would stay a mile away. 'Kalpana,' she continued, pointing at herself. 'You have a whole life to read all this boring stuff. Let's go and get ourselves some fresh air.'
    The building that housed the office of New York International Bank was on Marine Drive, overlooking the sea. The Marine Drive promenade offered a breathtaking view of the whole of south Mumbai. For years, Queen's Necklace, as Marine Drive was otherwise called, was dear to the heart of every
M
umbaikar. Pick up any magazine on Mumbai and you would find it on the cover. The place is particularly engaging at the cusp when day bids adieu and night takes over. Hordes of people gather to see the spectacle of the lights coming on one by one in a gigantic semi-circle—the glittering pearls on the Queen's necklace of lights.
    Kalpana literally dragged Swami to Marine Drive, from the confines of the training room. At IIM-A, Swami was rarely seen in the company of women. While all his classmates would actively seek out female company, Swami would be happy in the world of books, spending all his free time in the library. This single-minded dedication had partly to do with his modest means that didn't allow him to spend money on girlfriends like most of his friends. He didn't want to be embarrassed, and so stayed away.
    Marine Drive was extremely windy. The waves were lashing against the rocky shore. Water was splashing all over the promenade. Kalpana and Swami were chatting and strolling on the path alongside the shore. Swami was a little worried about his borrowed jacket getting wet; he would have to wear it again tomorrow. But he was embarrassed to mention it. He quietly moved as far away from the water as he could without making it obvious to Kalpana.
    Kalpana, however, saw through his effort. 'How sweet!' She was impressed by his gentle mannerisms. 'What a nice guy!' she thought.
    'Swami, have you had bhelpuri here? There's a fundo shop on the other side. Let's go there.' She figured out a way to take Swami away from the water without embarrassing him.
    'Any place where I can get some kaapi?' asked Swami.
    'Independence Cafe. Let's go,' she responded spontaneously.
    'How do you know this place so well, Kalpana?' asked Swami.
    'I have lived half my life here, Swami. I have roamed these streets for years. I know every street, every nook and corner. Leave me in any galli, and I will find my way back home.'
    Kalpana was born to Rajasthani parents. Her parents moved to UK when she was very young. They spent a few years there, but finding it difficult to bring up a child in alien surroundings, they moved back to India and set up shop in Mumbai in the early seventies. They opened a small electronics goods store. Their business grew rapidly, and now they had a chain of twelve stores in Mumbai alone. Planning to make their chain a nationwide success, they were also talking to a number of foreign brands for collaboration. Kalpana was their only daughter.
    Independence Cafe was a small joint just off Marine Drive. It was frequented by college goers and had a relatively young crowd patronising it.
    'I had been frequenting this place for over four years, before moving to Bangalore for my MBA,' Kalpana was telling Swami while the two of them walked in. They looked around and settled for a table in the corner, away from the door.
    'I always try and get this seat if it is free. It's away from the door and there is less disturbance here.'
    Swami was very happy