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, part 12]

Ashok walked silently with Rupa to school the next morning. He was waiting. She was waiting. They both wanted to talk about the contents of the letter, but neither wanted to be the first to mention it.

“So…did you happen to see if there was anything different in your room this morning?” Ashok enquired slowly.

“No”, Rupa’s reply was instant. “But I did see a letter last night”.

“Last night? Did you wake up during the night?”

“No…I was awake when you left it there”.

“Oh, I see. Well why didn’t you mention anything?”

“Why didn’t you?” retorted Rupa.

“So, do you understand what I was trying to say?”

“I think so. When are you going?”

“In about three weeks. I don’t know how long for though”.

“It’s because you’re a thief”.

Ashok sighed loudly. “Yes. Well at least I was. I’ve stopped”.

“So why do you still have to go?”

“Because I have to face up to my actions. What I did was wrong and I don’t want other people to take the blame”.

Rupa stopped walking and gave Ashok a big hug. “Please don’t be gone too long”.

Raj and Malkit looked down at their cereal bowls. They both seemed deep in thought.

“So how was the other group… at the pub?” Malkit asked.

“Pretty good actually”, Raj replied, “we’re going to have to sharpen ourselves up”.

“I’m sorry”.

“What?” Raj was surprised by this. “For what?”

“Just”. Malkit placed his bowl in the sink. “You know…if I had my life again, perhaps I would have done things different as well”.

“Dad, what are you talking about?”

“Nothing. Never mind eh.” Malkit walked downstairs and Raj was once again left thinking about what his father had just said.

Jas opened the door to her flat and started making her way down the flight of stairs. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Sanjay coming in the opposite direction.

“What the hell do you want?” she was not pleased to see him.

“You”, came the immediate reply.

“Well it’s too late for that…remember?”.

“Oh come on Jas, you can’t say you prefer that idiot to me”.

“That idiot…as you refer to him, is actually more of a man than you could ever hope to be”.

“But he’s so short.

Jas brushed past Sanjay and didn’t react to the obvious baiting.

“Come on Jas…let’s get back the way we were”.

“The way we were…no actually I don’t think so. In fact, you know what, you probably did me a favour dumping me the way you did”.

“So why don’t you return the favour?”

“Shut up Sanjay. Go and find someone else to dump”.

When Bernie entered the rehearsal garage, he found Raj, Ramesh and Ashok already there. He caught the last bit of Raj’s sentence.

“I don’t know what’s got into my dad, he’s been really strange”.

“Strange you say?” Bernie enquired.

“Yeah…he’s got something on his mind, but he won’t tell me”.

“Maybe he’s in love”, Ramesh said.

“Hey Cupid, just because you are it doesn’t mean the whole world is”, Ashok interrupted.

“Did I tell you about what Jas said the other day?” Ramesh continued.

“You really are new to this whole thing aren’t you? Love is temporary. Love is imaginary”.

“Hey, I like that”, said Raj.

“Guys…I got something to say”, Bernie spoke very softly.

“Yeah we know…pitch and projection”, said Ramesh.

“No…well yes…but something else”.

The three of them looked on at Bernie expectantly. He took a deep intake of breath. “Remember the first night you saw me in here”.

They all nodded.

“Well, let’s just say my reasons for being here were less than friendly”.

The three guys looked at each other.

“If you can live with certain facts then I would like to stay and help you guys out, but if not, then it’s best we just say goodbye”.

“You’re like my old man now…talking in riddles”, said Raj.

“The first night I was here, I was hired to trash your equipment”.

“What!” exclaimed Ramesh.

“I knew it. You’re a fraud”, accused Ashok.

“Hold on…hear me out”, pleaded Bernie. “I was hired to do it, but I didn’t go through with it. There was something about the music, something about you guys that made me stop”.

“Who hired you?” Raj asked.

“Sorry?” said Bernie.

“Who hired you?”

“I bet it was one of the other bands”, said Ramesh.

“Whoever it was…you’re out man”, said Ashok.

Bernie turned and started to walk away.

“Hold on”, Raj called him back. “Everyone deserves another chance”.

“Wait a minute, did you hear what this guy said. He was hired to make sure we never even got started”, said Ashok.

“But he’s told us now”, said Raj. He looked at Ashok with firm eyes, “Like I said, everyone deserves a second chance. Life’s all about second chances…isn’t is Ramesh?”

“I guess so…I mean without that, I wouldn’t have met Jas.

“Okay enough of the Jas chat”, Ashok said. He looked at Raj. “What makes you think we can trust him now?”

“Just a feeling”, Raj answered.

Ashok looked suspiciously over to Bernie and nodded his head.

Bernie smiled. “Thanks guys. I was hoping you would say that”. From his pocket he pulled out three blindfolds.

“Hey…no kinky stuff”, commented Ramesh.

“This is for two weeks time”, Bernie said.

“What for?” asked Ashok.

“You’ll see. Now…let’s get some practice in”.

“You guys start”, said Raj. He picked up his jacket and started to walk out.

“Where are you going?” asked Ashok.

“I just realised what my dad is thinking about”, Raj looked at Bernie, “I’ll be back soon”.

Raj reached the shop just as Malkit was closing the till. They stopped and looked at each other for a moment. Raj waited until Malkit came into the back room and stared at him for a while longer. Malkit was aware of being watched and without looking up, he said, “So, why aren’t you at rehearsal?”

“I had to ask you something”, said Raj.

“So ask”.

“Why?”

Malkit looked up. He could sense that Raj knew his secret. “Why what?”

“You know. Bernie?”

Malkit took a deep breath. “So he told you”.

“No…not directly.”

“I don’t know why I did it. Well, I know why I did it, but I know I shouldn’t have”.

“I’m not going anywhere. Do you really think I’d leave you in this place on your own?”

“This place has provided for us for a long time”.

“Yes, I know. But times change, I’ve changed”.

“I know”.

Raj approached Malkit and slowly, nervously, placed his arms around him.

“I’m sorry”, said Malkit.

“I know”, said Raj.

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