145;Daddy146; watching, but a nephew returns home

8216;8216;I will get at least one vote from here,8217;8217; Ahir boomed.

So, to much fanfare and thumping of drums, Ahir walked through the fortress-like gates and into childhood memories. 8216;8216;I8217;ve grown up here,8217;8217; he reminded those listening. 8216;8216;And now I8217;ve come to seek your blessings.8217;8217;

He played to the gallery insistently, praying at the Maruti temple, feeding a cow in the cowshed, then proceeding to go door to door asking for votes. But though gangster-turned-politician Gawli steadfastly refused to acknowledge his nephew8217;s homecoming, his influence was clearly everywhere. 8216;8216;I cannot say anything about him,8217;8217; whispered 55-year-old Sindhutai, a resident for many years. The jig lasted 30 minutes.

And then, Gawli emerged. 8216;8216;I don8217;t think my blessings will reach him. They only reach good people,8217;8217; he said airily. He also rufused to recall any fond memories of Ahir8217;s childhood in Dagdi Chawl. 8216;8216;What I did was just my duty,8217;8217; he dismissed.