Last Man in Tower - Aravind Adiga [114]
He went back to the toilet to flush the ants away. But no water flowed from the tap here, either.
He flicked the light switch: the lamp above the toilet basin did not respond.
Opening his door, he found that the doorbell to 3B rang clearly; below him, he could hear Nina, the Pintos’ maid, running water from their taps.
The mystery was solved when he went down the stairs to the noticeboard.
NOTICE
Vishram Co-operative Hsg Society Ltd, “A” Building Minutes of the general body meeting of “A” building held on 16 August
Theme: Expulsion of a member from Society
As the quorum was sufficient, the meeting commenced as per schedule at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Ramesh Ajwani (2C) took the chair and brought the members’ concerns to the fore.
ITEM NO. 1 OF THE AGENDA:
As noted in Section 35 Expulsion of Members, Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, and in conjunction with Byelaws 51 through 56 of the Model Bylaws, it being noted that a society may, by resolution passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the members entitled to vote …
… or has used his flat for immoral purposes or misused it for illegal purposes habitually.
On these grounds, it was proposed by Mr. Ajwani that Yogesh Murthy, of 3A (formerly known as “Masterji”) be expelled from the Society; as he has not paid his dues with regularity, and has engaged on questionable, and immoral, activities within his premises.
Ibrahim Kudwa (4C) seconded the proposal.
Despite repeated requests—and his door being knocked on, several times—Mr. Murthy did not agree to defend himself in front of the Society.
It was unanimously agreed to approve of the resolution, expelling Mr. Murthy from the Society, and asking him to vacate his premises within thirty days …
… the meeting concluded at about 8:30 p.m. with a vote of thanks to the chair.
The full list of members’ signatures is attached. Fourteen of the sixteen shareholders in the Society have signed the form.
Copy (1) To Members of “A” Building, Vishram Co-op Hsg Society Ltd
Copy (2) To Mr. Ashvin Kothari, the Secretary, Vishram Co-op Hsg Society Ltd
Copy (3) To the Registrar of Housing Societies, Mumbai
He lay in the dark; feeling the weight of two floors of people above and three below who had expelled him from his home of thirty-two years; who do not even consider him a human any longer—one that needs light and water.
He had called Parekh at once.
“This is utterly number two,” the lawyer said. “Point one. Expulsion from a Society is a grave matter—the taking away of a fundamental right to housing—and enforceable only on criminals and pornographers. The Registrar of Housing will not permit it in the case of a distinguished teacher. Point two.” The lawyer cleared his throat. “Point two. Under Essential Commodities Act, 1955, cutting off water or electricity without court order is a criminal offence. The Secretary of your building can be sent to jail. I will dictate a note, which you should give to the said Secretary.”
“Let me find a pen, Mr. Parekh.”
“Give me this number two Secretary’s number,” the lawyer said, “and I will call him myself. I deal with a baker’s dozen of corrupt Secretaries every day.”
At the start of summer, there had been talk of power cuts in Mumbai, and in anticipation, he had bought candles. One of them sat burning on the teakwood table. The wax dripped; the blackened wick was exposed. He thought of Purnima’s body blackening on her funeral pyre. He thought of Galileo’s framed picture over his mirror.
He held up his fist; in the weak light of the candle it cast a shadow on the wall. The earth, in infinite space. A point on it was the city of Mumbai. A point on that was Vishram Society. And that point was his.
His arm began to tremble, but he did not unclench his fist.
Suddenly the lights came back on. The water was running in the basin. He flushed the toilet clean of the black ants and washed his hands, saying, as he did so, the magic mantra, MOFA, MOFA.
Mr. Parekh had done it again.
BOOK SEVEN