Dani’s Diary

by Narinder Dhami

‘I just meant that you have your mum and your dad,’ said Nan quietly. ‘Lalita doesn’t.’

  I was silent. I didn’t want to think about what Lalita didn’t have. I might start feeling sorry for her, and that would never do.

  ‘So how was Coppergate?’ asked Nan.

  ‘It was OK,’ I replied. ‘I got to know a few people. There’s nothing left of the old school across the road though. There are houses being built there.’

  Nan didn’t speak. I wondered what she was thinking.

  ‘I’m up to your first day at Coppergate in the diary,’ I went on. ‘I can’t wait to find out what happens. Does Milly get you into trouble?’

  Nan seemed about to say something, but stopped herself.

  ‘I’m not telling you a single thing, Dani Kaur,’ she replied firmly. ‘You need that Punjabi practice. You’ll just have to wait and see.’

  Another mystery! Oh well, at least when I get to the end of Nan’s diary, I’ll know everything that happened with her and Milly. But Lalita … That’s a different story. I’m not giving up though. I will find out what’s going on!

  I have found out.

  It’s almost two weeks since I last wrote in my diary. Nan’s gone off to India, and she’s sent me a postcard of the Golden Temple. I’ve started to settle in at Coppergate, and Zara, Sunita and Henry are always asking me to hang out with them. We go to some of the after-school clubs and the leisure centre; we go shopping on Saturdays and to the fast-food place where Sunita’s mum works (although she’s going to college in September). Sometimes I get the bus across town and meet up with my friends from Oakfields, Amana, Tia and Charlotte. I’m out of the house a lot more these days, which is why I haven’t had much time for writing in my diary. And it’s made things easier because Lalita and I aren’t around each other so much any more. She’s out a lot too (surprise).

  For the last two weeks everyone’s seemed happier, even Lalita. Mum was pleased because Ravi and I have been getting on better. And at least Lalita’s been polite to everyone.

  But somehow I kept feeling that things weren’t quite right. And that it was something to do with Lalita. Although she was behaving herself and not causing too many arguments, there was something strange about her. It was almost like she was waiting for something …

  Today, after school, I found out what that something was.

  I was late leaving as I couldn’t find my English homework, which I knew I’d put in my locker. Eventually I found the piece of paper tucked into one of my maths textbooks. I stuffed it into my bag and charged out of school. Although Lalita had been reasonably polite to me since the day I got lost (we got the bus to and from school together most days, although we didn’t actually speak much to each other), I didn’t want to give her any excuse to have a go at me.

  But I don’t think Lalita had even realized I was late.

  She was standing at the school gates, deep in conversation with a woman I’d never seen before. I would have remembered if I had. This woman had long straight glossy blonde hair, like someone in a shampoo ad, and she wore a black leather jacket and skinny jeans. She was leaning against a red sports car, the top down.

  I admit it, I was bursting with curiosity.

  I almost ran over to the gates.

  Lalita turned and saw me just before I reached them. She gave me a beaming smile, which was a complete shock in itself. I’d never seen her look so happy.

  ‘Oh, there you are, Dani!’ She turned and linked arms with the woman, hugging her close. There was a look of pride on her face. ‘Say hello to my mum.’

  Chapter Six

  January/February 1964

  TODAY WAS MY very first day at school!

  I woke up really early because I was so excited. It was a cold and frosty morning and the flat was freezing. But I didn’t care! I leaped out of bed, ran across the room and yanked the blankets off Hardeep, who was still fast asleep.

  ‘Wake up!’ I cried. ‘It’s time to go to school!’

  Hardeep just grunted crossly and pulled the blankets back again. That boy is so lazy!

  Actually, I’d woken up about two hours too early to go to school. But I got dressed in my uniform anyway. I loved the crisp, brand-new feeling of my white shirt and my pleated skirt and my warm, cosy jumper. Then I picked up the box that my aunts had given me, which I kept on my bedside table. I took a peep at my beautiful gold earrings and then slipped the box into my skirt pocket for luck. Mum would go mad if she knew I was taking such a valuable pair of earrings to school, but I wasn’t going to tell her, so that was OK.

  Then I sat on the bed for the next hour, too scared to move in case I creased or ripped or spoiled anything!

  I couldn’t eat any breakfast, however much Mum scolded. The hands of the clock were moving round so slowly. I was sure the clock wasn’t working properly. How could an hour be so long?

  But at last it was time to go. Mum was taking Hardeep to the local junior school just round the corner, and Dad and I were going on the bus to Coppergate. Before we left, Mum said some blessings for me, and she cried and hugged me. I tried to look solemn and serious but my mouth just wanted to smile all on its own. I couldn’t help it!

  The bus was crowded with people going to work, but there were some pupils from Coppergate too. I didn’t like to stare, but I tried to snatch quick glances at them from under my eyelashes. Most of them were English, but there were a few Indian and Pakistani girls and boys, and some who were from the Caribbean, like Mr and Mrs Lawrence. One or two of them were actually doing their homework on the bus too, leaning their books on the seats and writing furiously! I could see Dad didn’t like that.

  Coppergate School was very old. Dad told me it had been built in Victorian times, nearly a hundred years ago. It was huge, with a red-tiled roof, three different floors and lots of doors. Some were labelled GIRLS and others were marked BOYS.

  ‘Now remember what we talked about, Asha, putar.’ We had stopped outside the school gates. Now Dad put his hands on my shoulders and stared deep into my eyes. ‘I want you to concentrate on your studies. No messing around and wasting time. It’s important that you do well here at Coppergate, if you want to go on to university.’

  He frowned as a couple of older girls strolled into the playground, laughing and joking with a gang of boys.

  ‘And, Asha, don’t talk to any boys,’ he went on.

  ‘Of course I won’t, Dad,’ I promised. Me, talk to boys!!! I wouldn’t have a clue what to say!

  Dad put his hand gently on my head and murmured a few words of a blessing under his breath. Then we said goodbye. I was on my own.

  I walked into the playground and suddenly I felt as small and insignificant as a tiny ant. There were hundreds of girls and boys in there, and the noise of chatter and laughter was loud and overwhelming. Clutching my satchel, I stood there, pressed out of the way against a wall, all my senses dazed and battered. How was I going to cope in a huge, noisy place like this?

  ‘Hello, Asha.’

  Milly appeared beside me, smiling from ear to ear. I almost collapsed with relief, grabbing her arm like I was drowning and she was my lifebelt. That was exactly how I felt.

  ‘I saw you with your dad outside the gates,’ Milly went on, ‘but I thought I’d better wait until he’d gone before I came to say hello. I’m not his favourite person, am I!’ She laughed and then stopped abruptly. ‘Are you OK?’ she asked, peering closely at me.

  ‘Yes.’ I gulped. ‘No. I mean, I was so excited about coming here. But—’ I swallowed hard again.

  ‘I know,’ Milly said sympathetically. ‘There are loads of people and it’s too noisy and the school’s so big. But you’ll get used to it. I did! Which form are you in?’

  My mind had gone blank, and I had to think hard. ‘Miss Bell’s form, Dad said.’

  ‘So am I!’ Milly beamed at me. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll look after you.’

  I began to feel better. ‘I’m glad you’re here,’ I said shakily.

  Mill
y winked at me. ‘We’re friends, aren’t we?’ she said. ‘Anyway, are you OK now? Because there are some people who are dying to meet you!’

  I stared at her in amazement. ‘Who?’

  Milly grinned at me, then turned and beckoned to a couple of girls standing a little way off. They were staring intently at us in a way that made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

  ‘Who are they?’ I whispered.

  ‘They’re friends of mine,’ Milly whispered back as the girls almost ran over to us. ‘Now, don’t say anything, OK? Let me do the talking.’

  I had no idea what was going on. The girls joined us, gazing at me as if I was something ever so special. One of them was blonde, blue-eyed and English, and the other was dark-skinned and dark-haired, from the Caribbean.

  ‘Asha, this is Catherine and this is Jennifer,’ said Milly solemnly.

  ‘Hello,’ I said, wondering what she was up to.

  The girls couldn’t take their eyes off me.

  ‘She doesn’t look like a princess,’ Jennifer said in a disappointed voice.

  A princess?!

  ‘Ssh!’ Milly whispered dramatically. She glanced furtively over her shoulder. ‘She’s in disguise and on the run! Remember what I told you about those bandits who are after her fabulous fortune?’

  ‘My what?’ I spluttered.

  Milly winked ever so slightly at me.

  ‘Oh, yes, my fabulous fortune!’ I repeated, trying not to smile. I didn’t really know what fabulous meant, but I could guess!

  ‘Asha’s family have had to flee to England to escape from the bandits,’ Milly went on, while the girls’ eyes grew as round as round could be. ‘They had to leave their magnificent golden palace behind and move to a poky little flat in this very town!’

  ‘Oh!’ said Jennifer and Catherine together, staring at me in breathless wonder.

  A thought suddenly struck me. ‘But this is what the bandits really want.’ I slipped my hand into my pocket and pulled out the sandalwood box. ‘My gold and ruby earrings.’ I flipped open the lid and they all gasped, even Milly, as the rubies flashed deep crimson in the sharp winter sunlight.

  ‘The rubies were taken from a golden statue in a temple deep in the heart of the Punjab over a hundred years ago,’ I went on, sliding the box back into my pocket.

  ‘And it’s said that whoever owns the earrings will always be rich beyond their wildest dreams!’ Milly said solemnly.

  I couldn’t look at her because I knew I’d start laughing. The expressions on the faces of Milly’s friends were just so funny. They believed every word!

  ‘And do you really know The Beatles?’ asked Catherine eagerly.

  I was taken aback. What had Milly been saying? I knew who The Beatles were. Everyone did. They were the most popular band in the country. But my mind had gone blank and I couldn’t remember their names. John, Paul, George – I was almost sure of that. But there was another one …

  ‘Of course she does!’ Milly said quickly. ‘I told you that. They came to visit you in India, didn’t they, Asha? And you took them for rides on your pet elephant around the palace gardens!’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ I agreed. ‘They all had a go, John, Paul, George and Bingo.’

  Jennifer and Catherine gasped.

  ‘It’s Ringo, not Bingo!’ Milly murmured in my ear.

  I took one look at her and we both collapsed in a heap of giggles.

  ‘They’re fibbing!’ cried Catherine, giving Milly a shove. ‘They’ve been teasing us!’

  ‘Oh, Milly, you are awful!’ Jennifer snapped. ‘I really believed you as well, man!’

  ‘I … know,’ Milly gasped between giggles. ‘I didn’t tell Asha what I’d said to you, though, so I couldn’t believe it when she got those earrings out of her pocket. It was perfect!’

  ‘I brought them with me for good luck,’ I said. I was glad that Jennifer and Catherine were now smiling too. I was a bit worried that they might be annoyed, but I guess they knew exactly what Milly was like! ‘My aunts gave them to me–’

  Suddenly Milly grabbed my arm. ‘Duck!’ she yelled, pulling me aside.

  I thought she meant that a bird was flying towards us, but it wasn’t. It was a brown leather ball. It whizzed just over our heads and bounced off into a corner of the playground.

  A boy broke away from the gang who were playing football and ran to collect it. He skidded to a halt right in front of us and stared at me in a very unfriendly way.

  ‘Go away, Ian,’ said Milly crisply. I gulped. I couldn’t believe she was talking to a boy and telling him to go away!

  Ian stuck his tongue out at her. ‘Are you a new girl?’ he demanded, looking me up and down.

  I blushed bright red. Dad had told me not to talk to boys, but I couldn’t be rude, could I? I did the next best thing and just nodded.

  ‘I bet you don’t even speak English,’ Ian sneered. ‘None of you lot do.’

  ‘I do speak English!’ I muttered. ‘My dad taught me.’

  ‘I do speak English! My dad taught me!’ Ian mimicked in a sing-song voice. ‘That’s what you sound like! That’s not proper English.’

  ‘How would you know?’ said Milly coldly. ‘You can’t even spell! That’s why you never get good marks for English homework!’

  Ian glared at her. ‘My dad says he’s sick of all you darkies coming over here,’ he snapped. ‘He says you’re taking all our houses and jobs.’

  ‘Oh, does he?’ Milly said smoothly. ‘Well, I don’t think Asha or I want to take your dad’s job, thank you. He works in a factory, doesn’t he? I want to be a teacher and Asha wants to be a doctor.’

  I stared at Milly. I was surprised that she wanted to be a teacher. And could she read my mind? I hadn’t decided yet what I wanted to study at university, if I got there, but medicine was one of the things I was thinking about.

  Ian’s face was red with anger. He grabbed the ball and marched off. ‘Why don’t you all go back where you came from?’ he yelled over his shoulder.

  I felt a bit shaken and glanced at Milly for support.

  ‘Oh, take no notice of Ian Brown,’ she said dismissively. ‘He’s in our form, but no one likes him much.’

  ‘Ian’s always saying stuff like that.’ Jennifer patted me kindly on the arm. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. I have. He’s not the only one either.’

  ‘Jennifer’s right,’ Milly agreed, looking very serious for once. ‘You can be talking to someone and think how nice they are, and then suddenly they’ll say something rude about Indians. A lot of the English kids here are the same.’

  ‘I’m not like that,’ Catherine said defensively.

  ‘Because you’re nice,’ Milly replied, her wide smile flashing out again.

  Catherine blushed, looking pleased. I realized then that it wasn’t just me who was fascinated by Milly. She seemed to work her magic on almost everyone who knew her (except my dad!).

  A teacher came out into the playground and rang a big brass bell, and we all went into school. Milly, Jennifer and Catherine rushed me down a maze of corridors towards our form room. I went with them reluctantly because I was dying to stop and peep into all the rooms and look at the books on the shelves. I’d never seen so many books! The longing to read them and learn everything I wanted to know was like an ache in my tummy.

  Miss Bell, our form teacher, was very young and very pretty. She wore a crisp white blouse and a striped blue skirt and her fair hair was tied up neatly in a bun. She smiled – a bit nervously, I thought – as Milly introduced me.

  ‘Hello, Asha,’ she said slowly and clearly. ‘I. Am. Miss. Bell. I. Am. Your. Form. Teacher.’

  ‘Asha speaks English, miss,’ explained Milly.

  Miss Bell’s pretty face lit up. ‘Oh! I see. In that case, welcome to Coppergate Secondary Modern, Asha. I’m very pleased to meet you.’

  ‘Thank you, Miss Bell,’ I said shyly.

  ‘Now, I’m sure a lot of this will be very new to you,’ she went on, ‘so if y
ou need any help at all, ask Milly or come straight to me. You may need help to cope with all the different subjects, so we can give you some extra English lessons if necessary.’

  I nodded.

  ‘And I hope you’ll be very happy at Coppergate, Asha,’ Miss Bell added kindly.

  ‘Oh, I will, Miss Bell!’ I said breathlessly, feeling so happy I could dance around the form room. ‘I can’t wait to start learning and read all these books. I want to read every single book in the whole school!’

  Miss Bell looked taken aback for a moment, but then she laughed. ‘Well, that’s wonderful to hear,’ she said. ‘And your spoken English is really very good, Asha. You may only need some help with your written work.’

  ‘I can’t wait to start learning and read all those books!’ Ian Brown sneered in that sing-song voice. He’d heard everything we were saying because he was sitting at a desk right next to the teacher’s table. I guessed that was because he didn’t behave himself in class. ‘That’s not how proper English people talk!’

  ‘And how many languages do you speak, Ian?’ asked Miss Bell coldly, turning to look at him. ‘Asha speaks her own language and she already speaks English. So that makes her very clever, in my opinion.’

  Ian Brown slumped in his chair, his face red, muttering under his breath. I glanced at Milly, who winked at me.

  Miss Bell gave me a desk between Milly and Jennifer. It was made of wood and I was charmed to discover that the lid could be lifted up and down so that I could put things inside. Some pupils had written things on the lid, like their names, and who they were in love with. I wouldn’t be doing that!

  ‘Silence, please,’ said Miss Bell, seating herself at the table. ‘Time for me to take the register.’

  I think that was about the last time for the whole day that I had a chance to catch my breath. After register it was time for assembly, and we sang hymns and said prayers. It was a bit strange because they were Christian prayers and hymns, but I enjoyed it anyway, even though I was a Sikh. I didn’t think Guru Nanak would mind.

  Then it was time for maths and English, nature study and music. I really had to concentrate because sometimes the teachers spoke so fast, I couldn’t catch what they were saying. But Milly helped me, whispering in my ear or passing me notes in Punjabi to explain. There were so many new things to get used to. At lunch time Milly, Jennifer and Catherine took me to have a school dinner. I had mashed potatoes, chicken pie, carrots and peas. I’d never had carrots before and I’d never tasted anything so – so – strange …