35053668-Empire-of-the-Soul-Paul-William-Roberts

‘I LIKE TOO MUCH THE PHFIT-PHFIT’
match in him. Bored and irritated, he eventually suggested a drink,
and promised something that would amuse me.
Behind the Taj Mahal Hotel, in a gloomy Victorian sidestreet,
was an establishment called The Diplomat, a cheap hotel where
Westerners liked to stay. It had a bar, but this bar, for mysterious
reasons, was installed in a building adjacent to the hotel, with its
own entrance. It also lacked any windows. The blast of almost icy
conditioned air reeked of mildew and tobacco when we stepped in.
Whatever cooled it desperately needed new filters, a major overhaul,
and a good soak in disinfectant. As always, Ray Sahib was treated
like a deity. Two bloated Indians were virtually thrown from their
table, to retreat with bottles of Kingfisher into a corner while a
shoeless bearer swabbed the puddles of beer they’d left with a rag
he’d just employed to wipe the ashtray. Then the manager personally
dusted off the chairs he offered Ray Sahib and me with his own
handkerchief.
‘I am always too much happy when Ray Sahib come,’ this manager
informed me.
‘Seen Franco lately?’ Ray asked him. The manager nodded
grimly.
‘Same room?’
He nodded grimly again.
‘Great!’ Ray slapped my hand, informing the manager, ‘My
friend here is a connoisseur of scum, Kumar. Think he’ll enjoy
Franco and Sophie?’
Ray evaded my questions, pointing out various people seated in
the room. The place felt and smelled like an old cave in winter. The
other customers were all either debauched, villainous-looking
Indians or Westerners who, judging by the profusion of their ethnic
silver and flowing silk, were slightly wealthier than the average
hippy, but still members of the species. Ray identified each customer
to me in a low voice, describing his involvement in drugs or vice of
various kinds, or both.
‘Small-time punks’ was how he assessed them all.
Whisky sours arrived – not that I’d ordered one – and Ray seemed
suddenly anxious to gulp them down and leave.
I suddenly wished I was back in Puttaparthi. Safe.
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