‘You can let go of my hand now,’ she said.
Mohan let go. Upon release, Anjali closed her warm, tingling palm and hugged both her arms to her chest. She glowed inwards.
Thoughts of Neha, Sunil and their distraught faces swirled in Anjali’s mind as they continued to walk. She became tired; her legs hurt and the cold made her shiver. Wishing to lie down, her eyes began to close...she stumbled and almost fell had Mohan not caught her.
‘You need to rest,’ he stated. ‘Will you be able to walk a little longer? We are near a motel where we can recuperate for the night.’
‘Don’t worry about me, I will be fine. I can walk,’ Anjali said.
This time Mohan didn’t leave her hand.
Coming to the motel, Mohan told Anjali to wait outside; he went inside and a few moments later came back.
‘We can sleep here for tonight but the owner is reluctant. Do not worry; I managed to persuade him. He does not want trouble and...he checked if we were Hindu.’
‘We are safe here, are we not?’ asked Anjali. ‘Should we expect trouble?’
‘I hope not. Anjali ji, we will have to share a room. There are no other rooms available.’
‘That is not possible,’ Anjali shook her head.
‘We don’t have a choice. I will do nothing to harm your virtue, you have my word. I will sleep on the floor and you can have the bed.’
‘I...’ Anjali hesitated. ‘I trust you.’
The man behind the counter leered at Anjali, licking his lips. He straightened his face when he saw Mohan’s thunderous look.
‘Keep your eyes to yourself, bhaiya . She is like your sister,’ Mohan threatened.
‘Of course,’ the man said apologetically. He took a key out from a drawer. ‘I will show you to your room.’
Anjali chose to stay close to Mohan; there was something unnerving about the man. The motel was large and a peculiar smell hung around. Anjali pinched her nose.
‘I am sorry I couldn’t find anywhere better,’ Mohan said, almost in a whisper.
The man took them along two dark narrow corridors, lit by the oil lamp he carried.
Paintings illuminated briefly, as they passed and instantly plunged back into darkness as they moved on. Anjali was unable to take her eyes off those pictures; they seemed to be staring at her as if they disapproved. At last, they arrived. The man left them handing the keys to Mohan.
The room was basic and hot. A double bed lay in a corner with a cupboard opposite and a hard chair near the window. Anjali quickly closed the wooden shutters, which were in need of substantial repair. Mohan took a pillow and leaned against it as he sat on the chair, stretching his long legs. He closed his eyes.
Anjali bit her lip. ‘Mohan ji, I feel terrible. Please take the bed.’
‘A lady should not be made uncomfortable. Please,’ he said and gestured the bed. Anjali obliged.
Anjali tossed and turned throughout the night. She dreamt of strange and frightening things but which was all forgotten when she awoke to bright sunlight.
Mohan was looking out of the window. Self-consciously, she slipped out of bed quietly and went to the bathroom. Examining herself in the cracked mirror, she cringed.
Her colourless face showed signs of fatigue and distress. Anjali opened the rusty tap and splashed her face with freezing water, wiping it dry with the end of her scarf.
Mohan turned from the window as she emerged moments later, and astounded her. His hair reached his shoulders and she noticed a light hue radiated his otherwise, dark skin.
‘You must be hungry, let’s have breakfast,’ Mohan said.
Anjali blushed. Why did he have such an effect on her? Mohan did not say anymore and they walked in silence down the corridor. Anjali avoided the paintings, clearly visible now. She still felt their stares.
Mohan took her to a little off-road restaurant and Anjali was suddenly ravenous. She ate everything on her plate and drank two cups of chai. Mohan ate very little.
‘Are you not hungry?’ she asked.
‘Not so much,’ he said.
Oh, how could I be selfish? Shame on me!
‘Mohan ji, I am very sorry...I have been thinking of myself...you do not have enough money...’ her voice trailed off as he started to laugh. ‘Mohan ji?’
‘I have enough money for the both of us. Please do not worry. You needed the food more than I did,’ he indicated her empty plate and she cringed in embarrassment.
‘I do not eat much,’ he said.
‘I am sorry to be a burden on you. I must let you go home, to your family. I will look after myself,’ Anjali felt guilty. ‘You have been good to me and I thank you.’
‘Do you know where you are? Do you know where and how to get home? I cannot and will not let you go alone anywhere. It is dangerous,’ Mohan sighed.
Anjali thought about what he said. She did not know where she was and had no money.
‘Listen to me, I will take you home myself, when the time is right. Where do you live?’ Mohan asked.
‘Rajkot.’
‘We are in the north, in Haridwar. Reaching Rajkot may take us a few days, weeks perhaps. We cannot use the trains, not until it is safe. You have seen the carnage.’
Yes, she had seen the carnage - trains loaded with dead people who were arriving in India from Pakistan. The Muslims didn’t spare anyone and neither did the Hindus and Sikhs. They sent back dead Muslims; the partition of India should not have been agreed.
‘We need to get to Lucknow. I am familiar with the city and we may be able to find help. Meanwhile, all we can do is try to stay alive. One day, I promise you we will go back to Rajkot and you shall be reunited with your family.’
Mohan was trying to be optimistic but Anjali could not help but feel that hollow space in her stomach – an ache that would not stop.
‘Shall we go?’ Mohan held out his hand.
ARIANNA
FOUR
Arianna closed her eyes as the plane took off into the air, muttering a prayer under her breath. Her fists clenched, she prayed faster as the plane shuddered and rocked from side to side. Finally steadying, Arianna let out a big sigh of relief. The seat belt sign switched off and the passengers unbuckled their belts. Arianna kept hers on, just in case.
Tianna smirked. ‘It’s safe now you know, Ari.’
‘I know,’ Arianna said through clenched teeth.
Tianna calm and relaxed, opened her book titled History of India. Arianna shook her head. Normal people her age would read teen magazines or romances but her sister, oh no. She said she wanted to be prepared for their trip.
‘No one is going to quiz you on India’s history!’ Arianna pointed out at the bookshop.
Tianna simply shrugged. ‘You never know.’
Arianna gave up trying to make her see reason.
She now concentrated on her breathing. Her nerves became erratic each time the plane flew less than smooth. Flights were never good for her; they made her nervous ever since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In fact, this was the first time in so many years she braved a flight. She usually used Eurostar or one of the coach tour companies for holidays.
‘Would you like something to calm your nerves, dear?’ An old Indian woman said sympathetically. ‘I understand how you feel. I was the same once.’
‘Thank-you, I’ll be fine,’ Arianna smiled sweetly as to not offend. Tianna giggled and Arianna elbowed her.
‘Aww! What was that for?’ Tianna rubbed her waist.
Arianna raised an eyebrow. ‘As if you don’t know. Anyway, tell me something. How do you feel? You know, going to India and meeting our distant cousins and all that? What about India? The dirt, dust and grime?’
‘What’s with the twenty questions? Anyway, why should I tell you after you assaulted me,’ Tianna grumbled. Arianna waited. ‘Oh, alright. Well, India is a beautiful country. If all you do is look at the dirt and the dust – ’
‘Don’t forget the heat.’
‘Oh and the heat
– you will see nothing else. Ari, the dirt, dust and heat is all part of India. Without it, India just wouldn’t be India.’
Tianna went back to her reading. With nothing to do (she did not want to watch movies, listen to music and hated reading), Arianna leaned back into her seat and thought. Was she being too negative about India? After all, she was keen to go in the first instance. Why was she suddenly so pessimistic? Arianna turned sideways to ask her mother a little more about India but she was asleep as her father was too.
She slumped back into her seat. If Jai were here, he would talk to her.
Arianna was surprised when Jai volunteered to take them to the airport. Underneath his smile and chatty front, Arianna saw the sadness underneath. Once at the airport, he took her to one side, away from her family. Thankfully, they were too busy looking for the gate number on the screen.
‘I want to tell you something, Ari.’ He came close. Arianna felt uncomfortable as Jai took her hand.
‘Jai...’ said Arianna.
He shook his head. ‘Let me speak. Ari, I...I cannot live without you. I have seen you cry, laugh, and get into lots of trouble. I have been there for you all the time. I am your friend and I always will be. What I want to say, you probably have guessed already. But I want to tell you for myself.’
‘Jai, please don’t,’ she said quietly. Her heart was thumping.
‘I love you, Ari.’ He traced her face with his finger and leaned into her. ‘If you don’t love me, it’s fine. I will still be your best friend.’
Before Arianna could answer, Tianna made an appearance and she jumped away from Jai. He, however, did not move. Tianna stared at them for a long moment and shrugged.
‘Whatever, none of my business,’ she said. ‘It’s time to go Ari.’
The small group made their way back.
‘Everything ok? Good,’ Mr. Shah, Arianna’s father said. ‘Jai, thank you for seeing us off.’
‘My pleasure sir,’ said Jai and his gaze flickered to Arianna’s.
‘I will email you,’ she said to him. She could not bring herself to say anymore. She gave him a half hug and followed her family to the departure gate, allowing herself one last look before going through.
The plane landed with a bump and Arianna’s eyes flew open.
‘What’s going on?’ she said bleary-eyed.
‘Ari, we are here, in Mumbai,’ said her mother.
Mumbai, of course. She must have fallen asleep. Arianna unbuckled her belt and stood up, immediately taking off her cardigan – the heat already oppressing. Her father took the hand luggage down from the over-head compartment and Tianna put on make-up. The family slowly jostled to the front with the other passengers.
Uncle Manoj and auntie Rajshri arrived to pick up Arianna and her family. They brought two cars. Uncle drove one car and a hired driver drove the other. Embraces and tears went around. Soon all were settled into the cars, with the luggage in the boot or on the car roof. Mrs Shah, Tianna and auntie sat in the car with the driver. Arianna found herself with her father in uncle’s car. Her uncle did not stop talking throughout the whole ride.
Mumbai seemed like a new country; so much had changed she was last here. Arianna observed young people walking around in the latest trends – boys in jeans and t-shirts, girls in high wedges, strap tops and long skirts, some wore cotton tops with jeans. Arianna spotted a few girls in salwaars and saris but the majority seemed to prefer western clothes.
They passed many upmarket shopping centres otherwise known as malls. Tianna pointed this out back home – cars, fast food joints, even lines on improved roads! Perhaps it was not cosmopolitan London, but it surely was still busy and bustling. One thing was the same – the stifling heat.
The smell of grime and sweat lurked in the heat, becoming prominent as they came away from the highways and onto single, narrow roads. Arianna doubted the cars would be able to fit let alone drive. She closed her eyes as the car trundled through.
Soon they arrived at uncle and auntie’s house. Their two children, Khushboo and Gaurav stood in front of a large two-storey house with what liked like half the neighbourhood. Their cousins held orange and yellow flower garlands.
‘Welcome!’ Uncle bellowed as they got out of the car. ‘Everybody, meet my sister-in-law, my brother and my beautiful nieces!’
A chorus of hellos and welcomes followed from the neighbours and then Khushboo and Gaurav came forward with the garlands, adorning Arianna’s parents with them. Tianna and Arianna looked at each other and burst out laughing. Their mother shot them a warning with her eyes and they laughed louder. Khushboo came to Arianna with a garland.
‘No thanks Khushboo,’ said Arianna stepping back.
Khushboo leaned into her and whispered. ‘Sorry, Ma and Papa made us do this. I told them you would not like it but they said it is to welcome you. Sorry – again.’
‘Go on then,’ Arianna said. She bowed her head as Khushboo happily adorned her with the garland.
‘You next,’ Arianna turned to Tianna.
‘No way!’ Tianna went to stand with their father.
Arianna’s grandmother, otherwise known as Ba stood in the doorway. When Arianna last saw her, she was tall, now she seemed small. Ba embraced her son, Arianna’s father dearly, tears streaming down her eyes.
‘Beta , you finally came home,’ she said.
‘Ma.’ Arianna’s father cradled his mother’s face to his chest and they hugged a long time. Ba took her daughter-in-law into her arms and the girls next. Arianna’s mother beckoned her daughters to touch Ba’s feet. It was a mark of respect.
Through her tears, Ba touched their heads and blessed them.
‘Wait here,’ she said.
Everyone waited until Ba shuffled back with a dish made of stainless steel. It held a divo – a divine flame. Yellow and white flower petals scattered the base. Ba circled the divo around the family and threw the petals over their heads.
‘Now you are blessed properly,’ Ba said. ‘Come into your home.’
Mr. Shah immigrated to London from India in the late seventies with Mrs. Shah. After Tianna was born, the family visited India three times. Ba never wanted her eldest child so far away from her and cried every time they left for London.
Now she sat with her son on the sofa, happy. Her youngest son, Arianna and Tianna’s uncle, joined them and Tianna took a snap on her camera of a proud mother with her two sons.
‘I am glad you are finally here,’ said Khushboo. ‘It’s been so long since I last saw you.’
‘It’s been quite a while,’ Arianna agreed accepting a chilled cola from auntie.
‘You have grown into a pretty lady,’ auntie set the tray down and sat beside Arianna, taking her hands into hers. ‘You have such intense eyes; keep safe from evil spirits,’ auntie dotted Arianna behind her ear with a kohl pencil.
‘Ma always keeps one with her. She is so superstitious,’ Khushboo laughed and auntie slapped her playfully on her hand. She picked her tray up and went to serve the others.
Later Khushboo took Arianna to her room. She showed some of her stunning painting works which she had framed and hung on the wall. Sheer white muslin
draped from the canopy over her spacious queen sized bed. An assortment of flowers fragranced the room and a large cuddly bear sat in a corner. Arianna fell in love.
‘You are sharing with me,’ Khushboo said. ‘Won’t it be exciting? We can talk late into the night, watch DVDs and listen to music. It will be damn good!’
Arianna could not help but enjoy her enthusiasm. ‘So what do we do now?’
The family just finished lunch and everyone was preparing for an afternoon nap – a normal practice due to humidity. ‘I don’t want to sleep or stay cooped up. Can you take us somewhere?’
Khushboo took Arianna and Tianna to the local mall and introduced her to a couple of her friends.
‘This is Sheetal and Jay. Jay is short for Jayshree.’
‘Hello,’ Arianna said. ‘I too hav
e a friend called Jai. J.A.I.’
‘Boyfriend?’ Sheetal asked, raising an eyebrow.
Arianna cracked a smile. ‘Only a friend.’
‘Great!’ Khushboo clapped her hands. ‘Now the introducing is done. Let’s shop and then we will go to Juhu beach.’
Arianna was exhausted and the thought of home was welcoming after five hours of shopping at the mall. She was glad it was too late for the beach. She and Tianna said their goodbyes to the friends and hailed a rickshaw.
‘Well?’ asked Tianna. ‘Did you like it?’
‘It was definitely an experience. I think I’m going to enjoy myself here,’ Arianna said, enjoying warm air brush her face.
They were to stay in Mumbai for ten days before they moved onto Lucknow where the wedding was taking
place. Rani, Arianna’s second cousin was getting married.
‘The celebrations will be extravagant! Have you seen the haveli (mansion)? I can’t wait to see it!’ said Khushboo.
‘I’ve heard it has long corridors, large and spacious rooms, a courtyard the size of two terraced houses in London,’ whistled Tianna and Khushboo grinned.
‘Are not haveli’s supposed to be in ruins?’ Arianna asked.
‘Not all of them. Some have been restored although thinking about it; I do not think this haveli has ever been renovated in full. It probably had fresh paint runs but nothing else.’
‘I can’t wait to see it,’ Arianna really meant it. She was intrigued with this architectural structure and was keen to know more.
‘Okay anyway, the night is still young and so are we. I promised you we would go Juhu beach and we will. We are not wasting any more time,’ said Khushboo.
Arianna was not sure she had heard right. ‘Juhu beach at this time? But it’s dark.’
‘This beach is not just any beach my dear Arianna. It is amazing, wait till you see.’
Arianna stood at the foot of the sprawling beach and gaped; it was a mesmerising sight. Lights from food stalls lit up the vast area and a bright moon reflected in the ripples of the sea. The gentle sloshing of waves comforted Arianna.
Where the Secret Lies Page 2