The painting

Short Story No.3

The auction would begin in less than ten minutes and Ramakrishnan was stuck in the morning traffic. Being an art aficionado, Ramakrishnan (better known as RK) made it a point to attend most of the painting auctions and exhibitions. He didn’t always buy, but there would time and again be some painting which he thought would be a good value addition to his collection. At 52, he was a successful businessman, and had made enough money to spend lavishly on art.

But there was a special reason why he was attending this particular auction. He was after a painting by a young promising artist, Sanjay Motwani. His trusted sources had tipped him that Sanjay Motwani could be the next big thing in the world of art, and in a few years his paintings could cost a fortune. RK could buy the painting pretty cheap now, and make a lot of money out of it. For a businessman, even appreciation of art is often a money making process.

By the time RK finally managed to weave his way through the traffic and reach the hall in which the auction was being held, he was already late. The auction was well underway. He walked down the aisle and sat down in a chair a few rows from the front. The man conducting the auction was standing on a raised podium and ranting on about a painting by an artist RK didn’t recognize.

He looked around and spotted Sameer sitting in the same row. He had run into Sameer at a few auctions and art exhibitions. Sameer’s knowledge of art had always impressed him. Sameer worked for a company of a friend of his, so he knew him as more than just an art enthusiast. Being 15 years younger, Sameer at times made RK conscious of his thinning hair and bulging waistline.

Sameer spotted him and smiled. RK moved over and sat next to him.

“Hey, we run into each other again. But aren’t you supposed to be attending a conference in Jamaica?” Sameer inquired.

Sameer’s boss, who was also his friend, was also attending the conference. That must be how he knows, thought RK. “Yes. My flight takes off in two hours. By the way, has Sanjay Motwani’s painting gone on auction yet?” That was all RK wanted to know right then.

“Oh! So you are after that painting, eh? Unfortunately, you are a little late. Sanjay’s painting was the one first up for auction.”

RK couldn’t have been more disappointed. Why did they have to auction his painting first?

“Who bought it?”

Sameer pointed to a man sitting in the front row. “Mr. Akhilendra Mishra. Bought the painting for 4,50,000 rupees.”

RK looked at the man in the front row. Mr. Mishra was about the same age as him and looked distinctly uncomfortable, fidgeting around in his chair.

RK was surprised by the price that the painting had been bought for. It was pretty high for a new artist. Maybe word was getting around that Sanjay Motwani had a lot of potential.

“I really wanted to get hold of that painting.” RK lamented.

“Maybe I can help you still get that painting.”

RK looked at Sameer. “Are you serious? How?”

“I know Mr. Mishra. He is not much of an art collector. It is more of a business for him. Offer him a better deal, and he might just want to sell that painting to you. Do you want me to speak to him?”

“Yes, please.” RK’s hopes were beginning to rise.

Sameer got up from his chair, walked to the front row and sat down next to Mr. Mishra. RK watched him talk with Mr. Mishra. Sameer seemed to know the man quite well.

After about ten minutes, Sameer returned.

“Just as I thought. He is looking to make some fast money from that painting. He is ready to sell that painting to you for 5 lakhs. You will have to pay 50,000 more than the price that he had bought it for. He was asking for more, but I convinced him that you wouldn’t buy it for anything higher.”

RK was delighted. “Thanks, Sameer. That is a really good deal.”

Mr. Mishra must not have very good sources, RK thought. In a few years, the cost of the painting would increase many folds. He obviously didn’t know about it. Why would he sell the painting for just a profit of 50,000 rupees otherwise?

“There is just one problem. He wants to be paid in cash. He was recently given a bounced cheque by someone. He has been very wary of strangers since then.”

RK didn’t have any cash with him. He was planning to pay for the painting by cheque. “That is okay. I am willing to pay in cash. Will have to pick up the money from home though. I hope he doesn’t mind waiting till this evening.”

“I am sure we can work something out. Shall we close the deal then?”

“I would like to speak to him myself.”

“Sure. We will meet him outside the hall.” Sameer was already walking towards the front row again.

RK walked out of the hall and waited. Soon Sameer and Mr. Mishra walked up to him. RK shook hands with Mr. Mishra. “Glad to meet you. And happy to make the deal with you.”

“Yes, me too. All thanks to Sameer.” Mr. Mishra responded.

“For 50,000, it is a pretty good deal for both of you.” Sameer added.

“Sure.” RK was only too happy to pay 50,000 rupees more for that painting. Mr. Mishra probably didn’t realize that he would have paid even more if necessary.

“I have to leave for a conference in Jamaica this afternoon. I will send the money to you through Sameer and you can hand over the painting to him.” With that, RK closed the deal and left the hall.

He had to catch a flight in a couple of hours. He didn’t have the time to meet Mishra later in the day. But he knew he could trust Sameer. Not because he was impressed by Sameer’s morals, principles or ethics. But he knew where he worked, he knew his boss at work. In fact, he knew too much about Sameer and was too influential in the business circles for Sameer to even try pulling a fast one on him. RK knew he could hand over the 5 lakhs to Sameer and expect to have the painting at his home the next day.

*********

Sameer went to Mishra’s house in the evening with the money from RK. RK had had just about enough time to hand over the money to Sameer before rushing to the airport to catch his Jamaica bound flight.

Mishra greeted him at the door. “Thanks for getting this deal for me! There was no way anyone would have bought that painting for that much money.”

“You can always depend on me, Mr. Mishra.” Sameer smiled.

“I was bidding for the painting only to make life difficult for my business rival who was also bidding for it. I thought I would just keep pushing the price up. I didn’t expect that bastard to give up bidding. I had absolutely no intention of buying it myself.”

“I could make out as much at the auction. Which was why I came to you with the offer.”

“Why wife would have thrown me out of the house if she had gotten to know about this. I have not bought a painting my whole life. In fact, I hardly know a thing about art. Spending so much money on that damn piece of canvas would have been a huge loss. I am really glad that you managed to get such a good deal for me.”

Mishra went into his study and brought the painting out. “Okay, there is your painting.”

Sameer took the painting from Mishra and handed over the suitcase with the money in it. “Just as we had discussed – 4 lakhs. Just a loss of 50,000 for you.”

Sameer walked out of the house with 1 lakh rupees to show for his day’s efforts.