In the Shadow of a Dream (36 page)

PS I am praying for a boy, so that the family here will meet and congratulate you.”

Kitty gave birth to a girl in the early hours of a Tuesday morning. Later that day Ted, Kay and Alice gathered round her bed. Ted kissed her. ‘Now I won’t have you looking disappointed. She’s an image of you, Cat, and we are all happy for you.’

‘Yes,’ Kay said, smiling down at Kitty. ‘She’s pure gold. You know, Tuesday’s child is full of grace.’ She gave a short, shy giggle. ‘Sorry, that’s a silly thing to say.’

Alice said: ‘And darling. It couldn’t have turned out better. Look who is here!’

They parted; and there, with a large bunch of red roses in his hand, stood Dusty.

‘Dusty! So you came!’ Her lips trembled.

‘I wanted it to be a girl,’ he said, ‘Truly, I did.’

She shut her eyes and turned her head away.

‘Nothing was going to stop me seeing my daughter. Thank you for your letter.’

She remained silent.

‘Kitty,’ Dusty raised his voice a little, to make sure she heard. ‘Congratulations!’

She turned to look up at him, and burst into tears.’

He was about to step forward, but felt Ted’s restraining hand. They waited. Then with sobs and tears, Kitty said. ‘Oh, my darling Sam, forgive me!’ Ted nudged Dusty. He went up and knelt by Kitty. ‘Yes, Dusty, it’s Sam. Dusty no longer.’

‘That’s fine by me. Sam Dustoor is the only name I have, on record.’

EPILOGUE
 

‘I
hope you don’t mind.’ Ted said. ‘But you did take your time. A long time.’

‘Mind about what?’

‘Kitty’s little sulk.

‘Oh, that. It didn’t register immediately. Jet lag. I’ll make up for lost time. I’ve not come here to be deterred by slight or tantrum. For that’s what it was…Was it not?’

‘Hardly a tantrum. Anyway, what are your plans?’

‘To return to India, before my visa expires.’

‘As her husband you’ll be entitled to stay on, in England.’

‘I couldn’t. It’s not what I…India’s home…but I won’t leave without them. I’m determined to go back with my family.’

‘I wholly approve. But give her time.’

‘My visa is for six months. They said I could extend it, but six should be enough.’

‘As I said, I’ll support you. Kay and Alice feel the same as…’

‘It’s been hell, living alone without Kitty. So I won’t take “no” from her.’

‘Good for you. Glad to hear that, and I’m certain she’ll go back with you. She’s been unsure of herself and unhappy too.’

They remained silent for a while. Then Ted said. ‘Don’t give it another thought. She won’t say “no”. And Dusty…’

‘It’s Sam. Now and always. Sorry, do go on.’

‘You must believe me, when I say, we were always on your side. I told her she was wrong to stay away so long. But all is well that ends well. She’s ready to go. I’m glad you came. I may even accompany the three of you to India. No, I’ll come later, with Kay. She hasn’t been to India, so we’ll do the tourist round.’

‘Oh, I gather it took a lot of time and effort to finally get the ashes here. But that’s over and done with.’

‘Thank you. The mills of India grind, but they grind exceeding slow.’

Sam laughed. ‘Indians don’t understand the impatience of the West. But, as Kafka said, somewhere, something like: impatience drove Adam and Eve out of Paradise, and impatience will prevent them returning.’

‘Good man.’

‘Or as they say in Indian English: Good man the
laaltan
.’

‘I’ve heard that before. “Laaltan” for lantern. Quite an eloquent metaphor: the man with a lighted lantern, showing the way.’

Once again they were silent for a while. Then Ted took a deep breath.

‘What was that for?’

‘Nothing, Dus—Sam. Well, I was remembering Sandy. Dear old Sandy. He was far too idealistic. England was his idea of Utopia. Sadly, he was let down.’

‘Now it’s my turn to quote. Gandhi said, if ideals can be realised, they cease to be ideals and leave nothing to strive or long for. Or words to that effect, as they say in the army.’ Sam chuckled. ‘But something in its place can be achieved, a utopian end.’

‘Sam, utopias are dead states. They lack aims and endeavours. To fling Gandhi back at you. I think he said of utopias that they debilitate. The utopian status quo is hard to maintain. Always there is someone ready to take advantage, an unearned advantage, an undeserved benefit. The few exploiting the goodwill of the majority.’

‘But Sandy’s love for England, I gather, had great charm.’

‘Indeed, and it was impossible to argue with him. He had a disarming sense of logic that was hard gainsay. Once, we were talking about African states and the problems of their governments. “What went wrong,” I asked. “India was ruled by the British, but it is a democracy.” “I’ll tell you what’s wrong”, he said, “the British were not there long enough. Another fifty years would have made all the difference.” ’

‘He might have a point. As philosophers say, it’s an incorrigible truth.’

Ted turned to face Sam and raised his brows. ‘Kitty warned me about you. Your breadth of knowledge through reading.’ He laughed, put an affectionate arm round Sam and squeezed him. ‘Take good care of Kitty.’

Sam returned the hug. ‘I’m too old to call you Dad. Yes, I will.’

‘You look young enough to be my son.’

‘You never know, Ted, we may be back here after a few years. A mother and daughter could make a formidable team.’

‘Well, this is Kitty’s house.’

‘Ted, you’ll receive the Queen’s telegram on your hundredth birthday. But tell me, if Sandy didn’t revise his feelings for England, after those thugs beat him up, what was there to prevent him returning?’

‘Emma. He knew how much she loved Fern Cottage and, above all, her garden. But I suppose there was also the possibility that she could never forgive or forget that England let him down. Shall we, they’re calling us in for lunch. By the way, what do you think of Davy, Alice’s son?’

‘He’s so like Dinesh. And Alice is so devoted to him.’

‘As Kay is devoted to Alice.’

‘Yes.’ Sam caught Ted’s arm. ‘Did Kitty tell you I saw Emma and Sandy, briefly?’

‘She told me. Sam, I can’t tell you how good it is for me to know they’re here, feel they are here, in this house, in Winchester, where they first met. I brought them back. Right or wrong, for Sandy, home is England.’

The End