The Monsoon Rain (5 page)

This was a transitional time for the gardens, Derek explained. As the English were moving out of India, he told Miranda, the Indians were moving in. They were buying up the tea estates. Of course some
of the planters had opted to remain as some had married local girls and others liked living in the tropics. After all, the life they were leading in India was not to be found in London or anywhere else in the United Kingdom. The servants, the huge bungalows, the social life were all fabulous. It was absolutely incomprehensible to someone who had not experienced it.

Miranda hastened to tell Derek that her aunt and uncle were in India in a place called Assam, at a tea garden. Derek was listening only partly as his mind was already halfway across the world. She let it pass.

Their lovemaking that night was very tender, as they both knew that the time to part was not far off. Derek would be leaving soon and who knew when they would meet again.

They flew back to London the next day. Derek made a quick dash away after seeing Miranda home.

Back in London, Miranda felt very forlorn and depressed. She was missing Derek desperately and waiting everyday for a call from him, which of course never came. She hardly went out in case she might miss his call. She was beside herself with worry. Why had their been no telegram, no letter? Not a word for weeks.

She was desperately missing Derek, and the mundane London life was stifling her. She was by then craving more excitement. Miranda had changed. She had become slightly more accommodating, more outgoing. Derek had managed to change her in many ways, ways that surprised even herself!

At last a letter arrived, short and to the point. Derek had arrived and was immediately plunged into the tea plantation workers’ dispute, which took time to resolve. After all, the plantation’s livelihood depended on the workers, or “coolies” as they were known. He said he hoped Miranda was well and looked forward to seeing her again.

Meanwhile, Miranda had another worry. She was counting the days to her period, having not taken any precautions, for which she could have kicked herself. But everything had occurred in such rapid
succession! Even the pill, which was starting to be quite fashionable in London, took time to work.

What was she to do if she did become pregnant?

She would not have missed the lovemaking with Derek for the world. He was so gentle, and since she was a virgin, he had been extra cautious. After the initial shock, she managed to let herself go, relax, and enjoy the tenderness between them.

His hands had caressed her breasts and he’d smiled deeply at her as he ever so slowly penetrated her. She had cried out at first, but then it became easy. The rhythm, the kisses—all of it was wonderful!

2

CHARU WAS GET TING
married that spring, and Miranda was one of the bridesmaids. She was hoping against hope that Derek would come for his friend’s wedding. Not having heard from Derek for such a long time, Mira was not quite sure. She was very upset and felt very let down. The best thing to do would be to ask Charu, who would definitely know about Derek’s plans since Charles was one of his very best friends from their public school days. So she took the bull by the horns one evening and broached the subject when they were sitting in Charu’s room discussing the imminent hen party.

“Is Derek not coming, Charu?” she asked, very innocently in a very nonchalant manner. “Has Charles heard from him?”

“Oh—Derek?” Charu replied, preoccupied with her guest list for the party. “He spoke to Charles a few days ago and seemed to be very busy. He said he will try.” Charu was also busy looking at her presents and the jewellery she had received from her family and how much more she was to receive. Being the only daughter of fairly wealthy parents, her expectations knew no bounds.

But Charu knew Miranda was very upset; Miranda was not letting on just how upset she was, poor girl. She was definitely putting on a very brave face. Charu looked up from her guest list with jewelry strewn all over the bed.

“Have you phoned him, Mira?” she asked gently.

Miranda burst into tears and ran out of the room. How could she let herself get to this point? And in the presence of others? Thank
God only her friend was the sole witness to this public demonstration of her grief.

Charu didn’t know what to do. Her friend was on one side, and her fiancé’s friend was on the other. What a swine Derek was, she thought to herself.

She left the room to find Mira. She pulled her friend gently by the hand back into the room and shut the door. There was no dearth of prying eyes and keyhole listening in her house.

“Six months,” Mira managed to say in between her tears and sobs. She choked back her sobs as tears rolled down her face. “Six months,” she repeated. “I have phoned him so many times, but he never phones me! It costs a lot, you know, to put a call through long distance.”

Charu gave her best friend a hug. She felt very bad for her, but she had been sworn to secrecy by Charles, who made her promise not to let Miranda know that Derek was coming for the wedding. In fact, he was going to be Charles’s best man and was arriving the next day for the stag party!

“Don’t cry,” she said, wiping Miranda’s tears. Charu was genuinely upset for her friend. Why not tell her? Why did Charles have to go along with Derek’s so-called surprise visit? Charu decided to call Charles there and then and make a clean breast of the whole situation and put Mira out of her misery.

“I will speak to Charles,” she said, trying to console Miranda.

“Oh, no!” Miranda cried out. “Don’t ever do that. If he cares for me he will come for me. After all,” she carried on, “he is not the only fish in the sea.” With that she sat up as if she had come to terms with Derek’s callous behavior.

Suddenly Charu slipped away from the room, excusing herself. She had to have a word with Charles. Why not let Mira know that Derek would be there? Why all this cloak-and-dagger stuff? She couldn’t bear to see her friend so upset. She would explain it to Charles and ask him to let his friend know that the cat was out of the bag.

Miranda was left on her own, sitting on Charu’s bed. She looked around the room that was filled with nostalgia. Their school pictures hung on the wall, walls still painted in the girly light-mauve color Charu had chosen so many years before. The room held so many secrets for
them, for her—so many conversations and gossip they’d shared over the years. The day she and Charu met, the day Charu had stumbled upon the love of her life, the man who was to marry her in a few days.

How their forbidden love had blossomed through sneaky meetings! Miranda always covered for her friend, lying through her teeth to Charu’s mother that Miranda was and had been with her! The subterfuge had gone on for years. The crunch came when Charu came to know that her parents were looking for a suitable boy for their only daughter, Charulata. He had to be an Indian and of their caste and a good earner.

The couple had decided to elope. An interracial marriage—God, it was unthinkable! It all had come to a head when the couple was spotted together walking hand in hand not far from home. Silly of them to be so blasé! And who should spot them but none other than Charu’s dad!

Shivers still went down Miranda’s spine when she looked back on those days. What a lot of commotion as Charu’s parents went stomping up to Mira’s place confronting her with tears in their eyes. Molly looked askance at her daughter, her lips pursed as if Miranda had been involved in some sort of a conspiracy. As if Miranda and Charu were fellow criminals.

Charu’s father began to give in at last when Charu went on a hunger strike and refused to let a single morsel pass her lips. Not even water! Her mother was beside herself, wringing her hands—at least that was what Mira witnessed when she dared to venture into their home. Her mother was crying, clutching at her breasts, as if Charu was breathing her last!

Little did she know that Mira was sneaking in food to Charu, including water, hiding it under a big coat she wore for the sole purpose of sneaking in the food. It only lasted for about three days before her parents gave in.

Both sets of parents met, and the rest was history.

Miranda was deep in her own thoughts when Charu burst back into the room, giving Miranda an awful jolt and looking awfully pleased
with herself like a Cheshire cat. Only the purring was left to the imagination!

“I have good news and bad news, Mira,” she said, her eyes literally sparkling. “Give me a hug first.” Charu spread her arms out. “Mira, please don’t cry,” she said in an endearing voice, hugging her friend ever so tightly. “Derek is coming for the wedding. He is Charles’s best man!”

Miranda stared at her, not quite comprehending what her friend had just said. “What did you say, Charu?”

“Yes, he is coming for a few days. In fact, he will be here for the stag night.”

Miranda was dumbfounded. “But why didn’t you tell me before?” She stared at Charu with wide-open eyes.

“Derek asked Charles not to let you know. He wanted it to be a surprise for you.”

“Oh! Oh!” she said. “Now what is the bad news?”

“He will be in England only for a few days, as he has to go back immediately after the wedding.”

“Well, I will get to see him again and speak to him, at least be with him, Charu,” she said in a very small and a sad voice.

The girls were enjoying the hen night at one of the restaurants in the West End, the ‘In’ place to be.

“Charles knows where we are,” Charu said to Mira in a hushed voice. “He may come and take a peep!” she muttered under her breath.

The party was in full swing when Miranda suddenly felt that someone was looking at her, in fact staring at her. She turned around, but there was nobody there. Still, she had a distinct feeling there was someone in the restaurant was watching her.

The feeling went away, and then suddenly Charles was there making an appearance before being booed out by all the girls. Miranda felt like her feeling must have been correct and that it must have been Derek! Her heart missed a beat, and then she felt the blush that had an awful habit of creeping up. She knew her face was crimson.

By the time the girls were dropped off by their hired car, it was well past midnight.

The next morning was a crisp spring morning, and the bridesmaids all congregated at Charu’s house, all looking very happy and full of joy, decked out beautifully in saris.

Everything was so full of color. The day was bright, and the bridesmaids were all bejeweled and shimmering in beautiful bright colors. Everything was so very festive.

This was the day that the bride’s family was inviting their dear and near ones to come and partake in the celebration. The food was sumptuous, and there were sweets galore. Charles’s parents were there, thoroughly at home. It was all very wonderful.

But Derek was nowhere to be seen. Charles came accompanied by some of his other friends, but no Derek.

The church wedding was scheduled for the next day, which Charles’s parents had insisted on having. It was a beautiful wedding. The bride looked absolutely radiant; she was literally glowing as she walked down the aisle on her father’s arm with the bridesmaids behind her. The first chords of the bridal march boomed out. Derek was there, standing next to Charles as the best man as they turned around and watched the bride slowly making her way down the aisle.

Charles and Derek looked so debonair in their dark suits, both very tall and slim. Derek’s hair was slightly bleached since he’d been out in the sun a lot on the tea plantations. He looked tired but very handsome. Miranda suddenly looked up as she was walking behind Charu and felt his eyes on her. She felt a sudden thrill. He looked away, staring straight ahead.

The bride and groom exchanged their wedding vows; Charles and Charu were pronounced man and wife. They all trooped out of the church into the April sunshine.

“You look cold, Mira,” she heard Derek’s deep voice say. She turned around and found herself looking straight at him.

What should she do? Ignore him? Smile at him? Miranda was at a loss. She was flummoxed, flustered. She loved him so much, but there was a thing called pride. She felt wounded and very hurt.

With blazing eyes she turned toward him, and facing him and staring him straight in the eye, she was about to say, “Why are you bothered whether I am cold or not?” but before she could even form the words, Derek took her elbow and steered her toward a group of people she did not know.

“I know you are very upset, but believe me, Mira,” Derek said, “I have been very busy, but I have thought of you often.” Steering Miranda across the churchyard, he said, “Come and meet my parents.”

“Parents?” she said stupidly.

“Yes,” he continued, “you know, parents, my mother and father!”

He was so infuriating. She could have killed him then. She was angry and upset, but she could not wrench herself from his steely grip.

Mr. and Mrs. Chowdhury were busy talking to Charles’s parents who were their friends. Miranda did not know who Derek’s parents were; they all looked so rich and affluent. She could guess which one was Derek’s father; he was immaculately dressed in an expensive suit and a turban. He looked rich but very amiable.

Derek literally dragged her toward the group. “Mother, Dad,” he said, grinning, “meet Miranda.”

She felt the four pairs of eyes upon her.

A slim lady of medium height, said, “I am Derek’s mother,” in a soft voice. Miranda could detect a slight drawl of an English accent. “So you are Miranda,” she said and smiled.

“We haven’t had the pleasure. It’s lovely to meet you.” She looked almost regal; Miranda had the sudden urge to curtsy!

Mrs. Chowdhury emanated affection and love. She was kindness itself. She had on a well-tailored suit and a hat to match. Her makeup was perfect, a light-colored lipstick that matched her expensive pastel-colored suit.

His father Miranda also liked immediately. The usual small talk ensued about how long she had known Charu and how they had been at school together. Apparently Derek’s parents were driving back to Essex that very evening, as they had to get back.