Running away, as usual

banka behari’s eyes moistened as he enticed his elder brother, “see how the workers are suffering. at least on humanitarian ground you must do something. you’re in an important position here, you can do something.� arun shankar didn’t reply, but went on smoking his pipe. he wanted to listen out his brother, though he didn’t have much respect either for his judgement or fuzzed arguments.“go on, tell me,� he prodded his brother. “see every enterprise that they’ve undertaken has gone awry. that jute mill you said had great potential, see how it has gone! despite all the efforts it’s been shut down for the last three months. meanwhile, the people are starving. on top of that they’re proposing it to shut down.� “who?�“why, all these big people at the ministry.� arun shankar pondered a little, “you were also talking about this tourism complex that shut down.� “see, people don’t understand. how can we jump to the standards of m.p. or kerala in one day? sheer step-motherly attitude. give us time.� “but my friends tell me even small things like proper reservations, proper food are not taken care of. that’s not such a big deal!� banka behari, for a change, was at a loss for words. he changed the subject, “the main thing is nobody gives a damn for us out there. you people, sorry, not you, sit down here in the guddi and talk big. you never think of the ground realities.� arun shankar frowned, looking intently at his pipe. banka behari knew that it was a bad sign. he regretted that he had accepted the responsibility of approaching his difficult brother on behalf of the club members who were committed to the cause of saving their land. “but you people returned the money i had allotted for revamping some of these very units. why?� banka behari scratched his head and desperately tried to find an answer. yes, why? he didn’t have the vaguest idea. he clutched at the safest excuse. “that’s not true. that’s deliberate misinformation.� “but i have specific information with me,� arun was getting angry. banka was even more shocked at what arun said next. “why should you come to me? you people can do it yourselves. take over those, you say they’re still good . i’ll see to it from here that nothing stands in way.� banka behari couldn’t believe his ears. his brother had really become insensitive. of course, the suggestion was preposterous! how could they manage those crumbled down places? he got up hurriedly, “sorry, i’ve another appointment.� running away from the problem as always, arun shankar thought as he looked amusedly at his brother.