A Home Across the Divide

by April Autumn

  Mrs Rose said, “Can you call them Sajan?”

  Sajan said, “I will see if I can get hold of them.”

  Sajan called Steph, “Steph Chrissie is in hospital she fell down the stairs and she has fractured her leg very badly. She is unconscious at the moment. Do you have her mom’s number?”

  Steph gave Sajan Chrissie’s mother’s phone number. She said, “Please let me know how she is doing. I am going to get the first flight to Johannesburg that I can get. There are only a few days of school term left, I am sure the school will give me leave for a few days. I will catch the Gautrain to Sandton. Will you be able to fetch me from there?”

  Sajan said, “Of course, I am glad that you are coming.”

  Sajan called Chrissie’s Mom, “Mrs Carter, this is Sajan, Chrissie’s boyfriend; Chrissie had a bad fall and is in hospital.”

  He was expecting concern he was horrified when she answered, “Listen you, don’t call here ever again, she is no longer my daughter.” The line went dead.

  Chrissie needed surgery urgently. She was unconscious and there was no next of kin to sign for her. Sajan told them that they were engaged. They allowed him to sign for her. The doctor came to speak to him he asked him if Chrissie suffered from anorexia as she was extremely underweight and malnourished. He said that the anaesthetist was concerned about putting her under considering her poor health.

  Sajan paced the waiting room while Chrissie was in surgery. He was very relieved when the doctor came to tell him that it had gone well.

  When Chrissie woke up she was in a hospital bed and Sajan was sitting next to the bed holding her hand.

  Chrissie said, “Where am I Sajan?” She was aware of a throbbing pain in her leg.

  Sajan said, “You fell down the stairs at the school and fractured your leg very badly, the doctors operated on you and put pins in your leg.”

  Chrissie slept a lot, the first day after the surgery. Sajan stayed next to her all the time. That night the nurses tried to convince him to go home and get rest but he refused to leave her side.

  The next day he fetched Steph from the Gautrain station. He told her about the phone call to Mrs Carter and about what the doctor had said about Chrissie’s health. He asked Steph, “Has Chrissie ever been anorexic or bulimic?

  Steph answered, “I have known her all my life; she has never had any problems with her weight or been concerned about it. Chrissie’s Mom is a real bitch; she should never have been a mother. Maybe that is why Chrissie has not introduced you to them yet. When we were children, we never visited Chrissie’s house. Her house was so clean that you could not tell that a child lived in the house. Although he has been sober for years, my Dad is an alcoholic and I did not want to be home when I was a child and Ashton’s sister is autistic. When we needed a break from our homes we went to Chrissie’s grandmother’s house. Chrissie’s granny used to be like a mother to her. When she died two years ago, it was very hard for her. We all miss granny Carter. Chrissie’s dad is not a bad person but he is weak and he does no stand up to his wife. Granny Carter could never understand why her son did not have any backbone.”

  Sajan was deeply engrossed in all he had heard when they reached the hospital. Chrissie was very happy to see Steph, who was shocked to see how skinny Chrissie was. Sajan told Chrissie that he had called her mother and what her mother had said. Tears streamed down Chrissie’s cheeks. It hurt so much that her mother did not even want to come to the hospital. She knew that if her Dad knew he would have come but her Mom would not have told him. Chrissie finally told Steph and Sajan about her homeless ordeal.

  Sajan and Steph went to the house where Chrissie had been staying and fetched her belongings. Sajan was in a rage when he saw the squalor that his girlfriend had been living in. He arranged new tyres for Chrissie’s car and sent it to the mechanic to be fixed.

  Steph and Sajan returned to the hospital and sat down next to Chrissie.

  Sajan said, “Steph would you mind if I have a moment alone with Chrissie?”

  Steph said, “No problem,” and walked out of the room.

  Sajan said, “I fetched your car and all your possessions from that horrible place. You are never going back there again. I don’t understand why didn’t you tell me?”

  Chrissie replied, “My mom kicked me out the day Steph left for Cape Town. We had only been dating for a month then. I was worried that you would feel an obligation to me and take me in because you felt you had to. I needed to know that being with you was because you wanted me there not that you were forced to have me.”

  Sajan answered, “I have wanted to be with you all the time since I spotted you dancing in the queue outside the nightclub. I was relieved when I found out you did not have a boyfriend. I have had to use all my willpower to go to work. What I really would love to do is be with you every day all day. So having you in my home would never be an obligation. You know I have plenty of money. I am giving you two choices. I want you to move in with me but if you are not ready I will rent you a flat, no strings attached. If you decide you don’t want to be with me I will still pay your rent. I am sorry that your parents disowned you because of me.”

  Chrissie could not speak she started crying. When she had composed herself she spoke softly, “My parents will always be my parents and I love them. I feel sorry for my mother because she will never understand love and compassion. I especially miss my dad but he will never stand up to my Mom. I hope that one day they will see the light. You are my family now. You are doing so much for me and I can’t do anything for you.”

  Sajan grinned, “I can think of something that you can do for me, you can hurry up and get better so that I can take you home and take advantage of you.”

  Chrissie looked into his eyes, “Are you sure you want me to live with you?”

  Sajan answered, “Very much so.”

  Chrissie grabbed his hand, “Then I definitely want to live with you.”

  Sajan called Steph back. Steph said to Chrissie, “I am mad at you for not telling me that you were in trouble, but you have been through enough so I won’t stay mad. You should have seen Sajan’s face when he saw the dive that you lived in. I was scared that he was going to do something crazy. I am going to visit my parents now but I will be back in a few hours.”

  Sajan and Chrissie were kissing very passionately when her colleagues arrived to visit her. One of the teachers cleared her throat. Both Sajan and Chrissie broke away, embarrassed. Mrs Rose gave Chrissie flowers and said, “Congratulations on your engagement, why didn’t you tell us?”

  When the teachers had all left she looked at Sajan, and said, “I never knew that I was engaged!”

  Sajan pulled the ring out of his pocket and slipped it on her finger, “With all the excitement I forgot to tell you that we are engaged.”

  Chrissie admired the rock on her finger, “I am so glad you remembered.”

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