A group of young men who decided in the early 1980’s to try and make an impact. And that too for one night only.
You can follow the lives of: The Sultans of Soul here, exclusively on AIM.

by Ravi Mangat
Writer

[Earlier chapters: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11]

Ramesh had tidied the flat, after he had broken the news to his roommate Jagpal, that he had a girlfriend…and after he had picked up Jagpal from the floor, where he had fallen after laughing so hard. Most of the work in tidying the flat had in fact been to basically just get rid of Japgpal. The man was a walking dustbin. A dustbin, with holes in that is.

Ramesh had changed into his best suit…his only suit. He had cleaned his teeth for an extra sixty seconds more than normal. He had prepared his famous dish…the supermarket special, meal-for two. Straight out of a box and ready to eat in 60 minutes.

The doorbell rang.

Ramesh had never experienced anxiety like this before. Sure, he had been anxious the time he showed his parents his ‘A’-level results…or put another way, his ticket to nowhere. He had been anxious when he had taken his driving test…for the fifth time. But nothing could compare to the sheer apprehension he was feeling at this moment in time. He took some purposeful strides towards the door and opened it.

Jas was the epitome of grace. A beautiful dress complimented by a shiny smile and twinkling eyes. Ramesh smiled and smiled some more. Jas laughed nervously. “Is everything all right?” she asked.

“Never better”, replied Ramesh. “You look great. Come on in”.

Jas glided into the room as Ramesh shut the door behind her.

Ashok sat with his parents in the front room of their house. There was a silence.

Then there was another silence. Eventually, Ashok’s father got up and strode across the room to where Ashok was seated. Ashok feared the worst, but as he looked into his fathers eyes, he didn’t see anger, her saw loneliness.
“So all this time you were breaking the law?” his father said. “All this time that you were living here, you were breaking the law”.

Ashok sensed that his mother was about to cry.

“Dad…mum…I know that I’ve been stupid”.

“And selfish”, retorted his father. “How the hell do you think we are going to be able to face anyone, when our son is in jail? What about your sister? Do you know what this will do to her?”

“It’s all I’ve been thinking about. That’s why I’ve decided to give myself up.”
His parents looked at each other.
“The police have been questioning my friends as well. I’m going to confess and take the punishment”.
“And then what?” enquire his father.

“Well…I’m going to sort myself out. I’ll learn a trade, maybe even take this singing and dancing thing more seriously.

“What do I tell your cousins?” asked his mother. “That we didn’t raise you right. That you turned out to be a liar and a thief”.

“I’m sorry”.
“When are you going to go to the police?” his father was quieter now.

“After the contest, in three weeks”.

Raj was locking the front door of the shop and singing quietly to himself. Malkit was watching him from a distance.

“Are you practicing today?” Malkit asked.

“No, not today. We’re having a night off. I thought I might try and see one of the other bands that are going to be competing. They’re playing at a pub.”
“What time will you be home?” Malkit’s voice was very soft.

Raj sensed that something was not right. “Are you all right dad?”

“Yes”. Malkit turned away and walked upstairs.

Raj stood for a moment before switching off the lights.

“That was a lovely meal”, Jas declared as she looked across the table to Ramesh.
“Not bad I suppose”.
“Next time, you should get the 2 for 1 offer”, Jas smiled knowingly.

Ramesh was embarrassed. “What was it that gave it away? The texture, the taste”.
“No. Just the empty box by the bin”.

They both giggled like a pair of school children.

“So”, continued Jas, “when you stood up to Sanjay, was it just your way of ending up on my sofa again?”

“Well it’s certainly not the smartest thing I’ve ever done…but it felt right”.
“I see. And what about now? How does this moment feel?”

“It feels right too”, he smiled, “but as usual I don’t have any smart things to say”.
“Hey, I don’t expect you to recite Einstein to me. Just be yourself…like you are with your friends”.

Ramesh was a little confused by this remark. “Friends. Is that how you see us?”
“No…but I just want you to be comfortable around me. I think we already accept that there is a mutual attraction…so why don’t we just see how it goes”.
Ramesh smiled. He had always wanted to be in a ‘see-how-it goes’ moment.

Ashok looked in on Rupa. She was fast asleep. He walked slowly to her bedside table and placed a letter there for her. He walked slowly out. Rupa opened her eyes and looked at the letter. She switched on the lamp and read the letter.

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This serial is fictional and any similarity with existing groups or individuals is unintentional.
Ravi Mangat is contactable on: rav38man@yahoo.co.uk