Letter from Ismail Merchant, New York, New York, to Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Delhi, India, 1967 June 10 : autograph manuscript signed.

Admitting that he has been trying to contact Som [Benegal] since receiving Ruth's letter saying Benegal was in New York [dated May 30, 1967, see MA 23840.400], that he finally reached him and invited him to their place, but Benegal never appeared or called; describing the birthday party he recently threw for Ivory, and wishing she had been there; lamenting the fact that Jhab's trip was cancelled and therefore neither he nor Ruth will be coming to visit; asking "can you come still-- perhaps later part of the year[?]"; saying they have heard "nothing from Paramount yet" [regarding "Vertical and Horizontal"], and resolving to take the property elsewhere if they do not get word from them in the next 48 hours; expressing happiness that Ruth and her family are in Simla, and sending them his love; saying in a postscript that he likes the idea of adding a pop singer to the "Guru" story.