The Tall-Talker

Ghanshyam Bisoi was my neighbor. I lived upstairs on the third floor and he lived on the ground floor. He left no opportunity to boast of his greatness. He knew how to coin instant lies and then polish them enough to impart the glow of truth to them. The people in the colony knew that he was an exceptionally talented liar. In addition to telling lies, he was also addicted to smoking and drinking. He could hardly bear with people who even outshone him  unintentionally. When I met Bisoi for the first time, he told me that he was the owner of PARIJATA HONDA. I found it unbelievable because why the owner of such a reputed two-wheeler showroom would live in a rented house for six thousand rupees a month. But Bisoi had his faulty alibi and contended in favour of "Simple living and high thinking." 

One day I was passing by the PARIJATA HONDA showroom. I decided to stop and verify Ghani's claim. People affectionately called him "Ghani." I parked the car on the roadside which cost me twenty rupees. I went up to the counter of the showroom and asked the gorgeous lady receptionist,"May I meet the proprietor Mr.Ghanshyam Bisoi?" She was taken aback and I was left hanging. With a faint smile, she said, "Bisoi is not our proprietor. He works with us as a marketing executive. Rajesh Agarwal is the proprietor..."

I came home and told my wife about it. She was full of mischief and nakhra. Ghani would often tap my door for a cup of coffee or tea. That given moment he would appear to be all love and cordiality and speak the sweetest syrupy language to establish that he was none other than a member of my family. 

That particular afternoon was going to be a tough one for him. This was my wife's belief. She had waited for him for two days in vain. The third day brought him to my door. His knock on the door was distinguishable. My wife exclaimed in a whisper"You liar.I am going to roast you today..!" I answered the door and he bared his teeth in a flashy smile. His body exuded cigarette smell. He entered my sitting room and plonked himself on a stool. He was a loudmouth. As was his wont he began one of those of his wild chatters aiming to aggrandize his public image. 

My wife came out of the kitchen and said, "Hey Ghani..! I am going to demand some explanation from you.Someone at PARIJATA HONDA told your brother you're merely a sales executive there..?"

He smiled like a king and said, "Brother who told you so..?"

I said, "Receptionist.."

Ghani said," Bhabi...You don't know how Agarwal is going to dupe me..! When we started the showroom, we had jointly pooled our resources---a the sum of one crore. My share was 70% and he was only 30%. Taking advantage of my innocence and simplicity that traitor of a friend cheated me of my due..A legal battle is going on at the Odisha High Court. It is a long story. I say we are joint owners but that son of a bitch says I am a mere employee there..I swear in the name of my daughter and Lord Jagannath that I am telling the truth. Believe me or not." 

Ghani drank coffee in my house and before leaving, said, "Brother..! Late Naidu's wife is so helpless indeed...Such a pretty woman! And without a husband? Oh Lord be kind to her.."

A bad-tempered Telugu lady and her two daughters lived on the ground floor adjacent to Ghani's house. Ghani was pretty much worried about the woman's various requirements as she was a widow. One hot day when she was placing some washing on a clothesline, and it was lonely everywhere, Ghani approached her, "Don't keep thinking about your dead husband. I am here to take care of your needs...I am always available for you.."Then he dropped the towel he was wearing .." The lady screamed fiercely and roused the people there. She shouted to the people to call the police. Ghani put on his towel and fell prostrate at her feet and said, "Never misunderstand me, Madam. I was just kidding. Don't punish me, Madam. I am ready to accept whatever punishment you intend for me.But don't report me to the police. My wife and child will go without food.."

"The incandescent woman barked, "You are PARIJATA HONDA showroom proprietor....!And your wife and child will go without food?" Ghani clutched the woman's feet and sobbed incessantly. She softened a little and stepped back into the house and slammed the door shut. 

When demonetization came, Ghani was found in action. He told the rich that they could safely deposit their money in his bank accounts. 

The city babus who had black money found a saviour in Ghani. More than one crore rupees was deposited in our hero's bank accounts overnight. He boasted of his politician friends and of some policemen who came to his house to have drinks. Nobody knew why he loved the police so much. Perhaps because of his friendship with them, people didn't dare to challenge him in any matter.

Ghani didn't know that danger was lurking under his bravado and tall talking. The income tax 

officers were coming to interrogate him. Perhaps some policeman informed him about it beforehand. He left home in his Maruti Alto car and never returned. The income tax officers asked his wife Roma many questions both face to face and over the phone. Roma was charming and pretty. But Ghani beat her black and blue at the slightest provocation. His ten-year-old daughter Rimi was extremely scared of her father. Even after six months, there is no information about Ghanashyam Bisoi...! 

We found an old man coming to Roma's house every morning. She told us that he was her maternal uncle and was helping them with money during those hard days. One morning we found Roma leaving her rented house bag and baggage. 

The old man was kind and affectionate and told us everything about Ghani's family in the village. 

We also liked him for his sweet-natured behavior. The old man's name was Sarbeshwar Pradhan.

After one and half years had passed, Ghani returned to Bhubaneswar secretly and approached us about 10 o'clock in the night. He enquired about Roma and his daughter. There was a plumber living opposite my house. 

He said he knew Sarbeswar well because the old man often sent for him for minor plumbing work in his three-story building. Ghani put pressure on him to give all the details of what had happened in his absence. We came to know that Sarbeshwar was not related to Roma in any way. 

The plumber had an old grudge against Ghani. Now he decided to take revenge. He said to us all,"What can a woman do if her husband runs away from home and keeps no contact with her..! Now it is too late to mend things. Roma and Sarbeshwar are married, though not legally. Will you visit them? They are living at Satya Nagar..."

Ghani left our place leaving his coffee cold and half-finished.