‘Ranga Reddy owns half of Rayalaseema,’ said Subba Reddy, patting his friend.
‘You can take a trillionth of it for a realistic figure,’ said Ranga Reddy to Raja Rao. ‘But I’m sure he couldn’t be off the mark when he says that you’re an architect to watch.’
‘Let a peg or two make its way into his system,’ said Subba Reddy, pulling a Black Knight from his briefcase, ‘and we could savor Raja Rao’s unfolding versatility.’
‘Our friend is all praise for your ideas about the way buildings are to be built,’ said Ranga Reddy, sipping from his glass at length.
‘It’s only a better talent that could spot some talent in others,’ said Raja Rao heartily.
‘Let’s divert the topic to the fair sex for any way its all bricks and cement all day long,’ said Subba Reddy, pouring another for himself, ‘Of course, it’s a different matter altogether if Ranga Reddy too wants to turn into a realtor.’
‘You seem to be putting ideas into my head,’ said Ranga Reddy.
‘Why it’s not a bad idea at all,’ said Raja Rao. ‘But let’s first finish with women as Subba Reddy won’t get started otherwise.’
‘What’s the latest,’ asked Subba Reddy, ‘in the capital’s grapevine?’
‘A man could have murdered his wife for gain,’ said Ranga Reddy dismissively, ‘or else a bored housewife could have taken a paramour. Isn’t it all that is grapevine? What’s there to the scandals but for the change of characters, the plot being the same?’
‘But the thrill of it never wanes,’ said Subba Reddy. ‘Does it?’
‘That’s true,’ said Raja Rao. ‘Whether we admit to it or not, all of us savor scandals involving paramours. At the back of it could be our innate desire to be the lover of every desirable dame that is born. In order to savor the details, we convert these private affairs into public scandals. If the involved were to be rich and famous, then we have them in the tabloids. It’s as if we try to supplant the woman’s lover in our dreams.’
‘Anyway,’ said Subba Reddy, ‘it’s well settled by now that all men are promiscuous though some claim to be romantic, whatever that may mean.’
‘Promiscuity is man’s nature,’ said Raja Rao, ‘while romanticism is one’s culture.’
‘Oh, isn’t it just semantics?’ said Subba Reddy dismissively.
‘I think,’ said Raja Rao, ‘unrestrained urge is promiscuity while passion refined is romanticism.’
‘That sounds very much true,’ said Ranga Reddy glancing at his watch. ‘Now I’ve something up my sleeve. Raja Raogaru, I’m doing nothing worthwhile at present, though I’ve means to take up almost anything. Why not we join hands to rebuild Hyderabad, or rather more of it?’