Gulprasad leaned back in his chair at the breakfast table and addressed Mandeep in his deepvoice, "Well, have you made a baby for me and my dear wife, Roomi?"Mandeep looked steadily at him, and took his time to reply.

"And what makes you think we would be doing that?"

"What do you mean, why else are you here. And why else do you imagine I'm letting my wifeshare your bed?"

Mandeep smiled crookedly and sat up, "Yeah? And what will you reward me for doing thismonumental favour to you?" He drummed his fingers on the table.

Gulprasad sneered (he was good at that). "You will get your stud fees comprising an extremelygenerous amount of Rupees three lacs."

"And if I thumb my nose at that?"

"You'd be a singular bloody ass, for there are other stalwarts who would be very gratefulindeed for the money and favour and would Salaam me with bended back to have been the chosenone."

"Of course, you are totally correct; and I would have the extreme pleasure of telling all andsundry of what a sexually incompetent dried up asshole you are - in spite of your well-oiled, twirledmoustache that you present to the public. Your well kept secrets and your incompetences will becomecommon knowledge. You will turn into an object of derision and behind-the-hand smirks. If that isyour desire go ahead and hope Roomi will accept the Lotharios you choose to service her."There was tense, drawn out silence at the table; Gulprasad was staring at the wall opposite him,his expression hard and fixed. "How much do you want?"

"Three crores (3, 000,000,0)"

"You are fucking mad."

They settled for half that amount and the right for Mandeep to visit as he pleased. To the childhe would be known as an uncle from the mother's side.