Letter from Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Delhi, India, to James Ivory, New York, New York, 1971 February 26 : autograph manuscript signed.

Continuing from her letter of the 25th [see MA 23840.920], noting that Merchant hasn't yet reported on last night's premiere in Bombay; recounting the busy few hours he recently spent in Delhi and how she followed him around to various meetings and errands in order to spend some time with him, including a visit to Nizamuddin "to eat consecrated Rose petals and feed beggars," and a lunch meeting with two producers-- one French, and one a "smooth, thick lipped soft-fleshed ginger Englishman" and the producer of "Flashman"-- "I could imagine myself being sacked by such a man"; describing their lunch and subsequent trip to the airport: "Flashman had one leather briefcase with his name embossed in gold; Ismail had a hold-all bulging at the zip and hundreds of odds and ends to juggle with. Flashman walked erect and unencumbered through the barrier; Ismail had to quarrel with the duty officer about taking all his things aboard"; noting that most of the things Merchant was carrying were "commissions" for other people and feeling slightly guilty for it; say both she and Merchant are worried for not having heard from Ivory, and chastising Ivory for not having wanted to do the Chaudhuri documentary because he was tired: "What tired? After only 10 months in India, and one tiny feature film? No wonder he gets impatient with you."