by Carol Holden
“Yes, she’s put on ten pounds, whilst you have been away.” Anne tells him.
“She’s beautiful, just like you were at that age.” He replies.
Sarah went out to join them, and took the baby girl from her mother and snuggled her granddaughter, Amy, in her arms.
“We’ve missed you all, but Simon has become a father, whilst we were there. We waited until Mula had their baby, before we felt we could return.
“You’ll love Mula when you meet her, and Simon has made a lovely doctor and father. I wish you could have been there, darling, but it wasn’t possible as things were. When Amy is older, I’m sure you’ll be welcome in Pokhara, at your brother and Mula’s home.” Sarah says.
The rest of the family spilled out onto the green, well-kept lawns, and as the day was bright with blue skies, the refreshments were served outside, where the children and the adults could take advantage of the warm sunny day. Charlie was reminded of Simon, when he first saw him. Sarah and her sister, Katie, were chatting and laughing, Sarah telling her about Mark and Sahida.
“I think he may be smitten with Sahida, he met her before, when he came to visit me on his trek, when he was eighteen. She’s one of the younger sisters of Taj, Simon’s birth father. There was quite a lot of loving looks going on, when we were with them, both seemed interested in the other, it wasn’t one sided. Hey, we might have in-laws in common and the family ties stronger, if your Mark has his way.” Sarah teased.
After tea, the party went into the house, and David showed them the many photographs, he had taken of the family and friends, as well as the scenery of the area where Simon lived, where he worked and where Sahida had worked.
“That’s where Sarah worked, and from where we brought her home, when Taj died.” Joe says. “It was the most beautiful place we had ever seen, wasn’t it Mary?” he asked his wife.
“Absolutely!” Mary replied, she then turned to Katie and said, you’ll perhaps be invited to meet Mark’s friend and then you’ll get the opportunity to see it. They showed them where the Menons lived in Kathmandu, as well as Mula’s grandfather’s cottage in the hills, and because the pictures were relevant to all the family, there was excitement and enthusiasm and quite a lot of chatter. They admired the pictures of Mula and Simon, and their house near to the forest.
Katie was surprised to see her son, Mark, in the pictures, always close to Sahida, and the twinkle in his eyes always for her.
“Oh, do you think he is smitten, and what a lovely girl?” Katie asks Sarah.
“They met before, and danced together, at the party we gave for Mark and his friends.” Sarah tells her.
“Do you know, Mark hasn’t settled down and I have wondered why, because he seems the family type to me. He is a caring, happy man.” His mother tells Sarah.
“I know, he saved my life, when he told mum and dad about my predicament.
Strangely enough, Sahida hasn’t married either, but they do seem happy together.”
“Hey! Are you accusing me of matchmaking, like David has already done?” Sarah asked her sister, as she threw back her head in laughter.
Charlie entertained little Dan by showing him the wildlife on the lake, at the bottom of the garden. He was getting a bit frail, but he was eighty-six and he was unable to carry Dan, like he used to carry Simon. He loved the extended family and always felt part of Sarah’s family, as his own. His only sister had died two years ago and David was all that was left of his own family. Charlie had had a wonderful life, being part of David and Sarah’s. He fretted about Simon and hoped he would see him before he died. He felt he was too old to travel to Pokhara, with all the airplane changes and the large airports to walk through. But he hoped, in a year or so, Simon and Mula would travel to Britain and bring little Taj with them, as David had told him Taj was the image of Simon, when he was that age. The party came to a close as all the relatives left for their homes, sun- kissed and looking well and healthy, having smiles on their happy faces.
Life was pleasant and the years passed, Sarah and David took up their retired life, walking around the lake almost every day, in between house chores and the shopping. Charlie would sometimes walk with them, other times he would prefer to do a bit of gardening, although Sarah had started to do the hard weeding, and David had taken up the job of mowing the extensive lawns. Charlie had friends who came to visit him and Sarah and David invited people to dinner, sometimes, as they both loved cooking and they tried out new recipes. Their social life was full and their daughter lived near, so they saw a lot of their grandchildren, and babysat when they were needed.
2008
Chapter 54
Charlie was almost ninety and David wanted to make a party for his father. Charlie was still healthy but he was a bit frail, but he would not own up to the loss of his strength, he tried to do too much in the garden, still growing tomatoes and peppers in his greenhouse, as well as, courgettes, potatoes and greens in the vegetable garden. He had started when he first moved into the house by the lake.
David knew that Charlie would love to see Simon, his first grandchild, and he decided he would mention the party when he next spoke to Simon. Taj was almost five years old and, hopefully, he should be able to take the plane journey to Britain.
David tentively asked Simon, if it would be possible for him to bring his family on a holiday to stay with them, at the time of Charlie’s ninetieth birthday, as a surprise for Charlie.
Mula came on to the phone to talk to David and she told him her grandfather had died just a week ago and the cremation had taken place and they, Simon, Taj and herself had taken the ashes to the river. Her mother, his daughter, had not attended and she was feeling sad. David called to Sarah to speak to Mula, after telling her the sad news.
Sarah was full of sympathy, and Mula could hear it in her voice.
“Mula, we are so sorry for your loss, we know that he was the mainstay of your life, until you married Simon. We would love you to come and visit us, if it is possible, and give you some time to come to terms with your loss. David’s father, Charlie, will be ninety in three week’s time and he would love to see Simon and his family, we are hoping that it is possible for you all to come. We would love to see you all and especially little Taj, who looks like Simon did at that age. Charlie has been thrilled with the photographs you have sent of each of Taj’s birthdays, and he swears he is so like Simon at that age. David has made a copy of each photograph for Charlie, to keep in his room.”
Mula felt better after she heard Sarah’s voice and she said, ”I’d love to come but I will have to ask Simon if it is possible for him to get away from the hospital. We have not had a holiday for a long time, so I’m sure he will be able to get some leave.
I’ll put him on the phone. I hope to see you soon.”
Simon took the handset from Mula and replied, “We would love to see you both again and the family. I’ll ask at work, if I can be spared, and let you know. James could, perhaps, work my shifts at the hospital. He is, at present, acting as a G.P. to the mountain villages. James has helped with my amnesia and sometimes, memories come back to me, I remembered a lake, with birds and animals, different from the ones we have here. James has been very patient with me, and he thinks that eventually, I’ll remember everything. I’ll ask at work about the holiday and let you know.”
“Oh Simon, would you ask Mark and Sahida to come with you, if they can manage it? I know they have been together for some time now, and Charlie will be thrilled if they can come with you. Charlie has always loved Mark’s cheeky humour.” Sarah tells him.
Chapter 55
Shortly after Sarah and David left Pokhara, Mark and Sahida moved in together, he first moved into Sahida’s flat, and then he sold his flat in Manchester and they bought a house together, close to Simon’s. He took up employment again, with the over sea’s department of his firm, and they found him jobs in the area where he lived.
Mark was happy with Sahida, he had never thought that he would give up
his single life, but Sahida had won his heart. He had not considered marriage and he thought Sahida was of the same mind. He thought their life was happy and settled, they saw a lot of Simon and Sahida’s family, as well as their own friends. Mark sometimes had to spend time away, if he was working at the other side of Nepal. Sahida fretted when this happened and she sometimes felt insecure. She wanted to marry Mark, but she did not know how to pursue the idea. When he was away, she had a dream that he was lost, and would not come back to her. He always came back and was never lost, as Sahida had seen in her dreams. Mark was back with the love and humour there, for her to see.
Mark became very close to James, because they had a lot in common, travel, trekking and shared memories of Britain. When Mark was in between projects and Sahida was at school, he would travel to the mountain villages with James, on his rounds. He kept him company and they enjoyed their conversations on the way. They rode in the vehicle and had lunch together in some of the village hostels, when they were lucky enough to find one.
They spoke about Simon, and Mark was determined for Simon to remember his past. “He had such a good life with his mother and David; they were a perfect family when Anne came along.” Mark told James “I hope that all the work you have put in with Simon, pays off.”
James has a friend, from his army days, who works in London, as a psychologist. He promised to get in touch him, if Mark thought it would be beneficial for Simon, and he could get him to agree to see him.
“He was magic with the battlefield trauma soldiers, a real professional.” James told Mark.
When Mark got the invitation from David to attend Charlie’s ninetieth birthday, he mentioned James’s friend to Sahida, and she agreed, that if Simon would see him, whilst they were all in Britain it could, perhaps, be of help to her nephew.
Sahida was pleased that she would be going to Britain with Mark and that they would be staying with her friend Sarah. Simon and his family were going too, and Sarah had promised them that she would arrange accommodation for all of them.
James approached Simon about his friend in London and after Simon agreed to see him, James made an appointment for Simon, as soon as they arrived in Britain, before they traveled up north. After the long air travel, Simon knew they would all benefit from a short stay, in London. Sahida had been once before with her family, before she went to university. She was thrilled for Mula and little Taj to see the sights, and for Mark and herself to see a show. They stayed at the Strand Palace Hotel, because it was central and they could show the sights to Mula and Taj, whilst Simon could keep his appointment with James’s friend, Dr Paul Buka.
Simon found the surgery in Harley Street and approached the receptionist attentively.
He gave his name and was asked to wait in the waiting area, until his name was called.
Dr Buka was a well- respected, hypnotic memory -restoring doctor. He had first worked on the battlefields, along with James but had then specialized in psychology.
He was young, enthusiastic about his work, and he had studied with the best professors in that field of medicine. He had a full workload but had made the appointment for Simon because of his respect for James, who had saved his life in Iraq. They were both working together in a field hospital, on the outskirts of Basra when a bomb exploded, and Paul was stunned and had injured his foot. James dragged him to safety before going back to rescue the injured soldiers under his care.
Simon was called and he entered the consultant’s room. Paul smiled and stood to shake Simon’s hand. He pointed to a chair opposite to his own and began to take notes of Simon’s case, asking him the relevant questions and putting Simon at ease.
He asked how James was faring in Nepal, he said. ” I love that guy, do you know he saved my life?”
“Not at all, James hardly ever mentions his time as a soldier, and when he does it is only to say he was concerned about his patients who were battle scarred: I had no idea he was a hero. He is very happy, working in the villages as a General Practitioner and helping at the hospital. I could not have come away if James had not volunteered to take over my work at the hospital, whilst I am here.” Simon replies with a smile, as he re-asses his knowledge of James.
“Lets start the procedure; you will know what hypnosis entails, being yourself a doctor. Lie comfortably on the couch and I will begin.” Paul told him.
Simon took off his shoes and lay down. He was used to meditating so he was soon relaxed.
He sees a white landscape and feels the speed of his skis, the swish of the wind, as he flies through this white bleak place. He feels his speed increase and increase as he screams and falls into a deep ravine. He recovers to find Paul patting his shoulder and reassuring him that the nightmare is not real. That his mind has returned to the place of his accident and head injury.
When the treatment was finished, Paul left Simon to come back to the present slowly. The receptionist brought them both a cup of tea when Simon was ready, and the two of them chatted about the experience Simon had gone through.
He remembered his childhood, but not before David was his father. Confusing images were going through his mind, and he shook his head, hoping to get the pictures right. Paul sat with him and they discussed the feelings Simon was having; his confusion, his helplessness, his inability to remember, and now this feeling that a breakthrough may be possible. Paul decided to make Simon another appointment for the following day, with the hope that further progress could be made.
“Is it possible for you come to see me again tomorrow?” Paul asks. “It will have to be early in the morning or after six because my work schedule is full.”
Simon wanted to spend some time with his family and he thought that he would be better coming at six o’clock so that he wouldn’t feel confused, as he felt now, just after the hypnotism.
“I’ll be able to fit you in at six thirty tomorrow evening, it that alright?” Paul asked.
“Yes, that will be fine, I want to take Mula and Taj sightseeing and Taj will be ready for bed by that time, Thank you so much for seeing me at all, fitting me into your tight schedule,” Simon said, as he shakes Paul’s hand, and took his leave.
The following day was sensational, the whole party of them, Mark,
Sahida, Simon, Mula and little Taj went to see the sights of London. They took a boat trip on the Thames. They went on the London Eye, a ride on the tube to Regent Park to the Zoo, where Taj fell asleep on Simon’s back. Back to the hotel for Mula to attend to Taj’s needs, and for Simon to have a quick shower before he set off for his appointment with Paul.
Simon was reluctant to have his second hypnosis because of the fear he felt the first one had on him. It had taken an hour for him to recover from the first one, but he felt steadier the following day. Some of the fog had blown away from the inside of his head. He was determined to carry on with the next treatment, but felt apprehensive when Paul began to talk him under.
He sees great icescapes and dangerous terrain. His friend is very breathless and he is struggling to climb up a slippery path, when he falls, screaming, off the mountain, Simon can do nothing to stop him from falling. His friend gives one last shout as an avalanche covers him. He has gone out of sight.
When Simon comes round from his second nightmare, he knows that his friend is not dead. He doesn’t know why he has this feeling of relief, but he is sure that the dream is not true.
Paul gives Simon a drink of water and together they try to interpret the vivid dream.
“Has something similar happened to you?” Paul asks
“A bit more fog is lifting from my mind; I know nothing bad happened to my friend. I feel lighter, my mind feels clearer, there is something stirring in my head. Simon said.
Paul looks pleased and tells Simon to sleep it off.
When Simon awakes, the sky has darkened in to night. He looks at his watch and finds he has slept three hours. He jumps up as he thinks
Oh my God, Mula will be worrying, as I promised to be back at the
hotel to see Taj before he goes to bed. He finds his shoes as Paul enters the room to tell him that Mula rang and he explained that the treatment had taken longer than they had anticipated
After his treatment and his consultation, Simon felt less confused, Paul told him to relax and enjoy his holiday, and hopefully he would remember his life before his accident. He set off to his hotel full of renewed hope and positive feelings. Tomorrow they go up North.
Chapter 56
Sarah and David began to get ready for Charlie’s party. Sarah has baked the cake and the two of them had been working endlessly, to make a great spread for Charlie’s family and friends. Sarah has had the spare bedrooms cleared, bought new bed linen with curtains to match, for Simon Mula and little Taj, as well as Mark and Sahida, who she understood, now lived together.
Charlie had his spare rooms cleared for Anne and Daniel. Young Danny and Amy will use the twin beds in the other one of Charlie’s bedrooms. Charlie wanted to have all his family around him, for longer than just the party day.
The day had come for the visitors to arrive and Mark, who knew the way, drove them from Manchester airport, in a hired people carrier.
Sarah, David and Charlie were all waiting outside, in front of the house, when Mark drove the car up the drive. Taj jumped down and went straight to Charlie who hugged him with tears in his eyes as he said in a whisper, “you’re so like Simon when he was your age.” Taj liked the old man with the crinkled smile, and understood that they were there for his birthday. Simon brought Mula forward to meet his grandfather, as he experienced a faint recognition of the lovely old man, who opened his arms and hugged them both. When all the people were introduced, Charlie asked Simon to bring Taj to the bottom of the garden so that they could both show Taj the ducks and birds around the lake. Simon’s heart almost stopped as he remembered Charlie, and the days they had around the lake, when he was about Taj’s age.