Letter from Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Delhi, India, to James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, New York, New York, 1967 January 12 : autograph manuscript signed.

Describing a recent frightening episode when Jhab fainted and was unconscious for about 5 minutes; relating the ensuing chest pains, weakness, visits to the doctor and tests, and her own subsequent collapse from exhaustion; telling them Jhab is supposed to visit the U.S. later that year, and passing on his questions regarding how much money he will need for daily expenses while there; relating that Dr. Fabri is very ill, and that after she had jokingly promised to write his obituary the previous year, he handed her a sealed envelope with his will and obituary inside; saying that the Statesman had called asking for Fabri's obituary in advance, and she would like to see Fabri's wife Ratna, but Jhab is currently angry with her and won't have anything to do with her; describing a dinner they had to attend, following a charity concert and recital, at the home of C.S. Jha-- "It was just dreadful"-- and the lack of anyone but ambassadors and their wives, where Ravi Shankar and the other guest of honor "sat apart like mirasis (with us, of course)"; explaining that the party was full of ambassadors so that Jha could claim it as a professional expense; relating how, as she and Jhab were getting ready to leave, their car "ploughed up a charming little ornamental hedge in their front garden"; saying there was a piece in the Times of India recently asking why "Shakespeare Wallah" wasn't playing in India, and promising to send it to Ivory; telling them about a TV show Madhur recently took part in, and the possibility she might have a part in an adaptation of Kushwant Singh's "Train to Pakistan"-- "It would be good if it comes off."