by Pran Kishore
Inside the room was Jane, trying to cover her nakedness with a sheet. ‘So this whore is here with you,’ Ghulam Ahmed said.
Gul Beg closed the door with his foot and jostled Ghulam Ahmed towards the stairs. ‘Get out! I say get lost!’ he said.
Ghulam Ahmed hurried down the stairs, and ran towards the outer gate of the orchard, ignoring the dog that had started barking again. There he tried to calm himself and rubbed his face with his handkerchief. Amir Din was waiting near the car. Seeing Ghulam Ahmed back, he asked, ‘Is he not in?’
‘No. His servant told me that he left for Delhi yesterday. He runs many businesses. Let us get going, we have to reach Pattan.’
Amir started his car and began to drive to Srinagar city. Ghulam Ahmed wished to go straight to DIG Prahlad Singh and tell him of Jane’s hideout, but first, he wanted to discuss matters with his father and Noor Mohammad.
Malla Khaliq was puffing at his hookah in a frenzy. Aziz Dyad was busy peeling potatoes, but her attention was fixed on her husband. She said to him, ‘You have burnt even the cinder-stopper of the chilam.’
Malla Khaliq felt like he himself was getting reduced to ashes. He said in a fiery tone, ‘Why are you concerned? It is I who has to go outdoors. I have to face the public. The scandal about Jane must have spread in the locality. Nobody will say anything to us outright, but they must be gossiping about the incident. I heard a son of Kaw’s saying that he did not find Qadir in the houseboat. I turned a deaf ear and walked away.’
‘Do you really think I don’t share your pains? My heart aches too, but this disquiet will not help you or anyone. No one has any information about the police raid, otherwise that nosy Nabir Tancha would have started inquiring.’
‘How can one say anything for certain?’
‘Why should it matter to them? Tourists from so many distant places come and lodge in our houseboats, no one is interested and besides, how can anyone tell what secrets tourists carry with them?’
Ghulam Ahmed stepped in and after greeting his parents, sat in a corner, absorbed in his thoughts. Malla Khaliq asked him why he returned so soon.
‘It does not take much time when you have a car,’ Ghulam Ahmed replied, trying to put a stop to the conversation there. Meanwhile, Noor Mohammad and Qadir also came to see their father. Malla Khaliq kept the hookah aside and said to Aziz Dyad with a jeering smile, ‘You must have offered some sacrifice today. All three of your sons stand before you!’
‘I wish God bestows my life too to them,’ Aziz Dyad said, looking fondly at her sons.
Looking at the glum faces of his sons, Malla Khaliq said, ‘What is wrong with you lot? More bad news? Tell me.’
It was Noor Mohammad who opened his mouth first. ‘Abba, I came here only to tell you that Mr Bhonsley plans to visit Pahalgam tomorrow. He told me that he would stay there for about ten days and then—’
Malla Khaliq did not let him complete the sentence. ‘That means the second boat will also be left empty.’
This gave Ghulam Ahmed a chance to suggest to his father that they should start some other business. ‘It is nothing new to us. This is why I keep suggesting that we try our luck in some other business.’
Noor Mohammad did not want the can of worms to open again and tried to divert the conversation. He said, ‘Abba, Raja Rathinder Singh was—’
This made Malla Khaliq tremble. He interrupted Noor Mohammad and asked, ‘Has he also planned to go to some other place?’
‘No, Abba. He is not leaving any time soon. He asked me why Jane’s photograph has appeared in the local newspapers.’
A sudden pallor came over Malla Khaliq’s face. He asked Noor Mohammad, ‘What else was written in the newspapers?’
‘Nothing much except that the Mem is missing.’
‘And what did you say to Raja Rathinder Singh?’
‘I had nothing to say, so I lied. I told him that her booking with us had expired. She had wanted to go to Ladakh and she might have gone there.’
‘If her photograph has appeared in the newspaper, she will be apprehended soon. Jane has brought such shame to us!’ He heaved a long sigh.
Qadir hung his head and helped his mother chop onions. Ghulam Ahmed, who had thus far been silent about Gul Beg and Jane’s story, gave a new twist to their conversation. ‘Abba, I saw Jane.’
Qadir dropped the knife.
‘Where did you see her?’ Malla Khaliq asked.
‘I was going through Zakoor when I passed Gul Beg’s farm. I thought it proper to see him at his house and inquire about the condition of this year’s apple crop. When I entered the bungalow, I found that harlot drunk in Gul Beg’s room.’
Hearing this, Malla Khaliq turned to Qadir and roared, ‘That means you had gone to leave that whore with that rogue friend of yours!’
Qadir brazenly replied, ‘May a thunderbolt strike the one who went to Zakoor. I was at Barzul with Ghulam Hassan.’
Malla Khaliq stood up and pounced on Qadir. ‘You are a tramp, a vagabond and a mean rascal!’ He lifted a big log of wood lying there, intending to smash Qadir’s head, but Noor Mohammad and Ghulam Ahmed stopped him.
Aziz Dyad shouted, ‘Are you mad? Do you want to kill your married son? This will surely take us to hell.’
Malla Khaliq’s rage abated a little and he flung the log of wood aside. Walking towards the door, he said, ‘I will go to the DIG and tell him where this Mem is hiding.’
Ghulam Ahmed blocked his way. ‘What are you going to do, Abba? If she is apprehended there and she mentions Qadir’s support, we will all get into a big mess.’
Malla Khaliq sat down. Aziz Dyad said to her sons, ‘Are we now to mourn the death of that wicked woman, or attend to our daily chores? It is time to arrange for the meals of the guests. Let us all go and start working.’
Parveen placed a handful of clothes for washing near the water tap. Razaq rolled up his sleeves, filled a tub with water and churned it to make the soap lather until the tub overflowed. Seeing the suds brimming over, Parveen asked him, ‘Why are you so lost today?’
‘Nothing very serious. I was thinking about Sir. My heart rips seeing him in this condition.’
Parveen cast a fond look at Razaq and said, ‘Do you know what Abba said to Amma the day before yesterday? He told her that he has trust only in you.’
‘No, I am not worth his trust. I have deceived him.’
‘What do you mean?’
Razaq, bent forward to soak the clothes in the soap water, sat down with his head hung and said, ‘I cannot keep any secret from you. The day the police raided the houseboats, I saw Qadir escape through the swamps with Jane.’
‘What? You saw them fleeing together and yet you did not inform Abba? You could have stopped them!’
‘I thought that might complicate matters and harm the name of your family.’
‘What do you mean the name of your family? Say name of our family. Abba loves you like his own son. I am always here to spare a piece of candy for you, and yet you say your family! You may leave! I will wash all the clothes myself.’
Razaq felt mortified, but at the same time a strange feeling of tenderness pervaded his whole being. He sought Parveen’s pardon and began washing the clothes. Parveen’s mother called out to her. Smiling at Razaq, she said to him, ‘Never again should you consider yourself separate from this family. Do you understand?’ Then, she dashed to the pantry.
Narayan Joo came back from Pahalgam after arranging a hotel for Mr Bhonsley. Malla Khaliq saw him alighting from the shikaarah and hurried to receive him. Narayan Joo said to him, ‘What makes you so perturbed? Is all well?’
‘I’m afraid not – Ghulam Ahmed saw Jane in Gul Beg’s bungalow!’
Narayan Joo smiled and said, ‘So this trivial piece of information disturbs you? It is good. Gul Beg has a clout in the men of rank. Who knows whom he might be pleasing by using Jane!’
‘But what if she mentions her connection with Qadir?’
‘You stay calm. People li
ke Jane are not so pig-headed. Even if she is apprehended, there will be no mention of him. Besides, with her wiles, she can go to any extent to save herself.’
In the meantime, Bhonsley came out and stood at the prow of the houseboat, waiting for Narayan Joo. Seeing him, Narayan Joo moved to the prow. He handed over all the papers to Bhonsley after which Bhonsley thanked him and went back inside. Narayan Joo turned to Malla Khaliq and advised him not to remain vexed for nothing. ‘But the issue is such,’ said Malla Khaliq. ‘I think I must inform the police.’
‘Bravo! You inform the police and invite trouble for yourself.’
‘I am just lost – my brain has ceased to work.’
‘First, you need to be calm. Jane has left your houseboat. Qadir is home again. You should thank God.’ He then turned to the quay where his shikaarah was waiting. ‘So I am leaving. Yesterday I received a call from Vijay Kumar in Bombay. There is another party coming very soon.’
Qadir was consumed with jealousy every time he thought of Gul Beg and Jane. He was also worried that she might have divulged secrets to Gul Beg. He took out a cigarette. How could that imp Gul Beg seduce Jane! But this did not give him as much pain as the thought that the hen that laid golden eggs had escaped from his hands. His dream of becoming a millionaire had been reduced to dust.
The consignment of drugs that was stashed in Jane’s brown bag cost approximately three lakh rupees. He was sure that Gul Beg would devour that money. While smoking cigarette after cigarette, Qadir did not even realize that it was quarter to four in the morning. He glanced at Zeb, who was snoring slightly in her sleep. He quickly snuffed out the cigarette and stood up silently. He thought that if he could not make it to Gul Beg’s farm before dawn, all his labour would go to waste. He calmly took his bag from the inner room, stuffed it with a few clothes, softly opened the door and left.
He reached Zakoor well before dawn. The muezzin of the dargah recited the prayer call, and some people were out on the streets. Hiding his face from passers-by, Qadir managed to reach Gul Beg’s outer gate. It was latched from inside. He jumped over the fence. The dog began to bark fiercely. There was a light on and Qadir moved towards it. It turned out to be the headlights of Gul Beg’s car. Suddenly, the engine started and the car sped towards Qadir. He stood frozen at the centre of the road and spread out his arms. The car stopped near him. Gul Beg came out and ran towards Qadir. He held Qadir’s collar and said, ‘You? At this hour! Did you jump over the fence? If the dog were not tethered, it might have dismembered your body.’
Qadir said, ‘Where is Jane?’
‘In the car.’
‘And where is she going? People have come to know that she is with you here.’
‘I know. Your dimwitted and indiscreet brother had come to pry into my business.’
‘Her photograph has appeared in the local newspapers. If anyone traces her here—’
Gul Beg cut him off, saying, ‘You need not worry about that. I will take her to Delhi safely.’ By now, Jane had also come out of the car. Gul Beg jostled her arm and said, ‘Get in, we’re running late.’
Qadir blocked their way and told Jane, ‘I will accompany you to Delhi.’
Gul Beg pushed him aside and said, ‘You need not come when I am with her.’ He then got into the car with Jane, pressed the accelerator and dashed out.
Qadir ran after the car but then stopped. He kicked Gul Beg’s gate with all his strength. The dog inside the farm barked and scratched the ground with its paws.
Malla Khaliq was home from Makhdoom Sahib’s shrine well before it was morning. Bhonsley was leaving for Pahalgam soon after breakfast. Aziz Dyad was already in the pantry. Qadir was in luck to be home by the time it was light. He was not as angry with Gul Beg as he was with Jane. Walking from behind the prow of Gulshan, he entered his room. He kept his bag in the almirah and came out onto the porch of the houseboat and stretched, pretending to have just gotten out of bed.
Meanwhile, Bhonsley’s son came running to his father and said, ‘Let us hurry now, Papa. If we are late, there will be no horses left for us.’
‘No, my child, all the horses shall wait for you,’ Malla Khaliq said, trying to console the boy.
‘I’m not a child,’ the boy said.
Keeping an affectionate hand on his head, Malla Khaliq sought his pardon, saying, ‘I am sorry. I did not even remember that you are already a young man.’
Bhonsley told Malla Khaliq that he had lived in many a grand hotel, but nowhere did he find the comfort of this houseboat. ‘It is no less than my own home here.’
Mrs Bhonsley added, ‘And all this affection of yours and tender care can never be matched anywhere.’
‘Your praise embarrasses me,’ said Malla Khaliq.
‘No, I’m only telling you the truth.’
Bhonsley laid his hand on Malla Khaliq’s shoulder. Malla Khaliq bowed to him with his hand placed on his chest, saying, ‘Always at your service. In fact the houseboats belong to you – we are just the caretakers.’
At this point, Noor Mohammad came to tell Bhonsley that the DIG was on the line and wanted to talk to him. Bhonsley followed Noor Mohammad, and taking the receiver from him and, said, ‘Good morning, DIG Sahib. Really? So she has finally been caught! Thank you for this good news, that too early in the morning. Where? … Good … Hmm … Yes, the rest of the action is up to the Bombay police. It is their job now … yes, we are about to leave. Thank you very much.’
Malla Khaliq, Noor Mohammad and Razaq were listening with ashen faces. Keeping the receiver down, Bhonsley said to his wife, ‘Thank God! Jane Lockwood has finally been arrested.’
‘Where?’ his wife asked him.
‘Near the Banihal tunnel. She was trying to flee in a car.’
Qadir was at the isle, waiting for his father. Razaq descended from Gul and broke the news to Qadir. ‘Jane has been arrested by the police.’
Qadir’s heart sank to his toes. He ran to his room and entered the bathroom and put his head under the running tap but the cold water could not calm his nerves. While rubbing his head with a towel afterwards, his gaze fell upon his reflection in the mirror. There were black circles around his eyes. He sat in a corner and reflected on what seemed like his only two options – either commit suicide by jumping into the lake or flee from home to some far-off place and start anew. No, no. I am not a coward to commit suicide, I must somehow get away from this hell.
Malla Khaliq phoned Narayan Joo to inform him that Jane had been apprehended near the Banihal tunnel. Narayan Joo told him that the news had already appeared in the local daily.
‘What should we do now?’ Malla Khaliq asked Narayan Joo.
‘What should we do except watch what is to unfold? Let us wait for a day or so, and in case of any emergency, we can see the DIG. Oh yes, please ask Qadir to stay home for a few days.’
Malla Khaliq went straight to Qadir’s room. Qadir stood up in horror as if the angel of death had appeared in front of him. Malla Khaliq said to him, ‘You know, I saw you coming back from some escapade again this morning. I tell you this now. If you have any regard for the honour of the family, do not leave the house again unless I grant you permission.’
After his father left the room, Qadir sat down again, lit another cigarette and started pondering over the way out of this misfortune. In the meantime, Zeb entered the room. ‘What are you doing here? Go, your mother is waiting for you.’ Qadir maintained his silence as if he had heard nothing. ‘Why don’t you go? You have pushed the whole family in this vortex, what are you mourning now? See, that fairy of yours is now in police custody. Just wait and watch how the police will torture her now.’ Qadir stood up, shoved her aside and stormed out of the room. Zeb followed him.
On the isle, Zeb passed Parveen who was holding two dolls – a groom and a bride – in her hands. Seeing the dolls, Zeb stopped and asked her, ‘Where did you get these from?’
‘Rani Sahiba gave them to me.’
‘Did you ask for them?’
‘So you were there with her all this time? If your Abba comes to know about this—?’
‘But it was Abba who sent me there. These dolls were lying there on a tea-table. I gazed at them while Rani Sahiba was dressing up. She saw me staring at the dolls and asked me if I liked them. I nodded and she gave me both the dolls. I would not have accepted them, but she insisted. Aren’t they pretty?’
Then seeing Malla Khaliq walking that way, Parveen hid the dolls behind her. He called her, ‘Parveen, go and see what Razaq is doing there.’
‘All right, Abba.’ She capered towards Razaq’s shed.
‘Razaq, Razaq!’ she called out to him.
Razaq was putting on his shoes. When he heard Parveen calling out for him, the shoe fell from his hand. Parveen stood at the door, taunting him, saying, ‘Oh, so his highness is here, not knowing that he is being sought there. He is still tidying himself.’
Razaq hastened to put on his shoes. While coming out, he stopped and asked her, ‘Will you show me what you are hiding there behind you?’
‘No, don’t touch them. Rani Sahiba has given these to me.’
‘Will you at least give me some space to come out?’
Parveen extended both her hands bearing the dolls towards him. She said, ‘How do you like them?’
‘Very beautiful, especially the bride.’
‘So you like her more. You can have her. Take it. I give it to you.’
Razaq blushed and his heart pounded heavily. Parveen stammered and said coyly, ‘Don’t you like the doll?’ Razaq nodded. Parveen felt her earlobes turning hot. She said, almost in a whisper, ‘And I like this groom.’
‘You please keep both the dolls. Why should I play with them?’