When Two Worlds Collide, Part 13

It wasn’t until 9 months after Kumar had met Stanley Kramer that he finally, on a rain-soaked day while preparing for an exceptionally difficult test, decided to pick up the phone and call him.

All this time, he had carried Stanley’s business card in his pocket, never once putting it down anywhere just in case he lost it. However, he would occasionally look at it as if he was trying to either memorise the name and phone number or try to relive the meeting at the Greenbriar Country Club. Whichever it was, it served as a distraction until he finally picked up his mobile phone and dialled Stanley’s direct number.

The phone rang and finally after about three rings when Kumar was about to hang up, the phone was answered. It was woman’s voice. He panicked. For a second, he believed it was Marjorie, even though it didn’t sound like Marjorie, and so he hung up the phone. He immediately regretted his decision and called back. The woman who answered the phone turned out to be Stanley’s para legal.

No, Stanley wasn’t there. He was in court and would be there all day, Kumar was informed. Was there a message? Yes there was a message. “Please tell Stanley that it’s Kumar Sanyal, I’m returning his call. No, no, what am I saying? I’m not returning his call, I’m calling him. We met at his country club and he gave me his card and asked me to call…..” Kumar stopped talking for a second and recollected his thoughts. The para legal was highly amused by his stuttering and helped him out.

“Why don’t I just tell Stanley you called and ask him to call you back.”

“Exactly,” replied Kumar pleased the woman didn’t think him to be the total idiot. Kumar gave her his mobile number and hung up the phone. He then walked over to a window in his small unassuming apartment which was being paid for by Mr Levy as part of the little stipend he gave him for the work he had begun at this office. The rain was coming down in sheets and cascading off the roof. It reminded Kumar of the monsoon rains which plagued his part of the world pretty regularly during the months of June through September. He remembered how the rain would end up making its way through the gaps in the tin roof that covered his home, and how his family collectively used to sweep it out into the road which was a stream of mud with the hope it was carried away down the hillside.

He turned and walked back to his desk and sat down. He looked out of the window for another brief moment before he opened his books. He was glad he was in a structure like his apartment building than his home when it rained. He began to read.

The phone rang and he jumped. He looked at the number, it was Stanley. His room was dark, he must’ve fallen asleep. He walked over to the wall, turned on the light switch and then sat back down at his desk. The phone had stopped ringing. He didn’t allow himself anytime to think of his next move. He called the number back. Stanley answered on the first ring.

“Kumar!” he said sounding well pleased. “What a surprise. To be honest,” he continued, “once a month had passed and I hadn’t heard from you I told Marjorie that I probably wouldn’t ever hear from you, but she was adamant I would and here you are.”

All this time Kumar’s heart raced faster and faster. He wasn’t sure how to answer that little monologue until he did. “I’m sorry. To be honest I really wasn’t sure what I was going to say to you when I did call you, so I procrastinated.”

“For nine months?” interjected Stanley. Now Kumar felt he was on more solid ground.

“Yes, we in India work very slowly.”

That brought a slight laugh from Stanley. “Maybe in your part of India, but not where I’ve been.” “You’ve been to India?” asked Kumar both surprised and stuttering at the same time.

“Yes, I actually represented an Indian high tech company in Hyderabad. They were suing an American company for patent infringement.”

“Did you like it there?”

“I loved it there,” replied Stanley sounding excited that he got to relive the experience he had. “And of course, the food is the best. Never to be repeated in this country sadly.”

“No you are right,” replied Kumar feeling more confident and glad he had made the call. “I think it’s the number of flies in the kitchen that makes the difference. Over here a fly in the kitchen is seen as being the end of the world, whereas in restaurants in India one fly in the kitchen is perceived as a victory.”

Stanley laughed. “Well,” he replied, “I would love to go back there one day. I really would love to see other parts of India. A leisurely travel as opposed to business. I spent most of my time either in the office or in the hotel.”

“Does Sherman have an office in Hyderabad?”

“They do now.” That excited Kumar and he was about to say something, but stopped himself before he blurted out words he may someday come to regret. So, a simple that’s nice to know sufficed. “Anyway,” continued Stanley, “look Kumar I hate to cut this call short. I just got back to the office from court and I have some things I need to do before I go home. Plus, I’m soaked to the skin.” He hesitated for a second. Kumar’s dread which he had suppressed was about to raise its ugly head. He knew what was coming next. He had no idea how he was going to answer. It was that dread he realised he had been struggling with for months and which had prevented him from calling in the first place. He just took a deep breath and held it.

“I don’t know how you feel about it, but I would like to invite you up to the club this Saturday for dinner with,” and now Kumar’s dread was flowing over on to the floor. Kumar squeezed his eyelids believing that what was about to come next would be the end of the world for him, but he couldn’t stop the words from coming out of Stanley’s mouth, unless he hung up the phone and pretended his battery had died.

“I would love to,” Kumar replied not knowing what Stanley had said.

“Great!” he replied. “I know Marjorie will be ecstatic to see you again, as will Mr Rosenbaum.” “He will?” stuttered Kumar.

“Remember, I told you when we met at the UJA lunch that I heard all about you and it wasn’t from Marjorie.” Kumar nodded his head. Stanley continued, “and I told you it was from my father-in-law.” Yes, Kumar remembered that. “Well, he will be delighted to see you.”

How could Kumar continue? Was he really that wrong about those people.

“Ok,” replied Kumar scared half to death, “what time?” And with that information, he hung up the phone. There’re was now no way he could concentrate on his studies. He turned off his light, lay back on his bed and starred at the ceiling in the darkness for hours.