Whatever the glorified image of Haji Mastaan, he was a weak character and it was his friend Yusuf Patel who berated him for that.
On the first night behind bars, Mastaan on the dirty hospital kind of bugs infected bed looked at Yusuf Patel. Yusuf sat on a wooden stool that might have been there from British period.
“Yusuf, bahut talab lagi hai.” Mastaan said.
Patel disliked any vices but said,”Tera 555 ka packet tha na?”
“Wo khatam ho gaya.”
“Raat bhar ki baat hai. Kal bandobast karenge.”
“Arre, mujhe ab talab lagi hai aur tum kal ki baat kar rahe ho.” Mastaan got up and went near the grilled door.
“Hawaldaar.”
Police constables knew him by reputation and said “Salaam Walekam.”
“Salaam…tere paas cigarette hai?”
The cop was flattered. The ‘great’ Haji Mastaan was bumming a cigarette from him!
“Haan saab hai…lekin chaar minaar hai.”
“Chalega…” Mastaan grabbed the entire packet. Arrested suddenly, on the eve of emergency, he didn’t have any money on him.
Yusuf watched the entire episode with disapproval. “Main isi liye kehta hoon ke kisi aadat ki ghulami achhi nahin hoti.” He started but Mastaan ignored him.
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