Where the Secret Lies (11 page)

 
He is ready, let’s go!’ Khushboo said when she
came back.

Arianna did not move. ‘Are you
sure about this?’

Khushboo pulled Arianna behind
her with surprising strength and enthusiasm, which she wished she did not have.
 

‘Climb up this ladder and make sure you hold onto the rungs
tightly,’ said Jignesh.

‘Too right I will,’ Arianna
thought as she heart thumped in fear.

‘It’s safe,’ he reassured her.
‘I’m right here in case you fall, not that you will,’ he said quickly.

‘Come up, it is amazing!’
Khushboo called from the roof.

Taking a deep breath, Arianna
climbed, not making the mistake of looking down. Khushboo grabbed her hand once
she reached the top rung and pulled her up. Arianna crawled to her spot and
clung to the rails. She had her eyes closed. Khushboo laughed, putting an arm
around her.

‘Open your eyes Ari. Look
straight ahead,’ she said kindly. Arianna did but held onto her cousin in a
tight grasp.

Jignesh came to sit with them.
He hugged his knees instead of holding onto something.

‘This is too good, na?’ he said.
‘Feel the fresh air, smell and sense it.’

Arianna dared to look around. Indeed,
a spectacular view opened before her and let herself relax – a little. Five
minutes later, she asked Jignesh how and when she could get down. He laughed.

‘Tell me a little about
yourself. What is your name?’

Ah, he is trying to distract me.

‘I am Arianna.’

‘Where are you from? You are not
from India,’ he said.

‘Ari is from London,’ said
Khushboo.

‘Do you like India?’ he asked.

‘I like it more than I expected
to,’ Arianna spoke from the heart.

The steam from the funnel
billowed through them.

‘I can’t wait to see the
haveli,’ Jignesh said. ‘I’ve never seen this one even though we are close to
the family.’

Arianna smiled. She looked
forward to seeing the haveli also.

‘But you know...I have heard
things...’ said Jignesh mysteriously.

Khushboo raised an eyebrow.
‘Don’t believe a word he says,’ she warned Arianna.

‘What do you mean?’ asked
Arianna.

Jignesh shrugged. ‘Strange
things happen in that place.’

‘Such as?’

‘I don’t know. I just heard
stories...’

The train began to slow as it
approached a station.

‘Jignesh, are you up on the roof
again!’ shouted someone from inside the train.

‘Ma’s calling. I had better go
down. Nice talking to you,’ he said.

‘Wait for us,’ said Khushboo.

Arianna followed Khushboo
closely and climbed down after her. She breathed a sigh of relief when she was
back inside the train again.

Just about everyone was awake. They
were drinking chai. Arianna took hers and wandered what Jignesh meant. What strange
things? What t happened there? The haveli began to appeal to her more than
ever.

FOURTEEN

Arianna stood at the gates and stared at the size of the
haveli in wonder; an exquisite beauty with clever architectural designs,
painted in blues, oranges, and whites. She imagined it the size of four
detached houses in England, if not more.

Tall, potted plants stood
parallel to each other around the front entrance and twinkly lights draped the
surrounding walls, hanging from the rooftop and cascading to the bottom.
Arianna imagined the beauty of the haveli when lit up; she could not wait until
nightfall.

Rani, the bride-to-be, and her
parents came to greet the wedding party at the station, welcoming them with
orange garlands. Arianna did not mind the garlands this time; it was a wedding
after all.

‘Look how tall and beautiful you
have become,’ said Rani’s mother, kissing Arianna and Tianna on the cheek.

Rani came forward. ‘I’m so glad
you could come.’ Her voice was sweet and soft, which reminded Arianna of a
delicate, pink flower in the middle of dozens of others, the only one more
colourful and prominent. Rani touched the feet of the elders and they blessed
her in return.

Arianna did not know Rani very
well and spoke via email occasionally. Arianna was glad of this opportunity to get
acquainted. She embraced Rani and congratulated her on her impending wedding.

The party boarded a coach hired
specially for the transfer to the haveli and what a fine trip it was.

Rani being a good host showed Tianna, Khushboo, and Arianna
around the haveli, the interior decorated just as lovely as the exterior. Flower
strings hung low from each arch along the corridor and at the entrance
doorways. The perfume overwhelmed the girls as they walked under.

The bedrooms were situated along
the upper corridor where the wedding guests were to sleep. One could see the
courtyard situated directly below by looking over the balcony. A canopy made of
weaved Jasmine hung over the square and a lovely arrangement of low tables with
soft seating brought a welcoming sight. No expense spared, Rani’s parents had the
floor covered in red and gold carpeting, and soft lighting illuminated the
space – a perfect place where guests could relax and enjoy food and
entertainment.

 
Arianna loved the organza material flowing down
from the corridor balcony and gazed at the twinkling lights that accompanied
the material. The atmosphere was magical.

‘You are very lucky to have such
a grand wedding, you must be excited,’ she said to Rani.

‘You are kind,’ replied Rani.
‘All this is really my parent’s dream. They wanted an extravagant wedding and
like to show off.’ Her smile did not reach her eyes. ‘I would be happy with a
simple wedding celebration but I won’t complain. I like to see my parents
happy.’

Arianna and Tianna looked at
each and agreed this was an odd conversation, what girl shies away from such an
elegant wedding? Tianna changed the subject.

 
‘Is there any food? I can’t stay hungry for
too long.’

‘This way,’ Rani led the way.

As they followed Rani, Arianna
felt a presence behind her and turned around.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Khushboo
startled, and forced to stop directly in front of her.

‘I thought someone...never mind,
I’m being silly,’ said Arianna.

‘Are you alright?’

‘I’m good. You go ahead of me,
I’m slowing you down.’

Khushboo shrugged and caught up
with Tianna. Arianna deliberately slowed down, thinking about the peculiar
feeling of someone watching her. She passed several doors, each one decorated
with orange and red flower garlands, all except one. She felt a magnetic pull...her
head began to swim...

‘You have come at last,’ a voice
spoke, the echo lingering.

‘Who said that?’ Arianna wrenched
herself out of the pull, her heart pumping. She glanced left and right; no one
was around.

Arianna, not normally spooked,
was frightened but curious. Who spoke to her? What did they mean by that
statement? Not wanting to stay a minute longer, she hurried to join the others.

Lunch service was underway. Tianna and Khushboo were already
eating with Jignesh and Gaurav, when Arianna arrived.

‘What are your plans today?’ Tianna
asked Gaurav.

‘I plan to sleep, eat, and drink
today and nothing else. I am so tired,’ he replied.

 
‘Well, I am going to the library. Someone told
me there is one not far from here and is amazing!’

‘You want to go to a library?
Khush, we have one weird cousin. Look Ti; forget your books whilst you are
here. Enjoy the wedding!’ Gaurav advised like a big brother.

‘That’s what I have been telling
her all along,’ said Arianna.

‘Not my style,’ said Tianna,
eating her rice and paneer (cottage cheese). ‘Ari, this is delicious.’

Arianna spotted her mother with
Rani and excused herself from the table.

‘Oh hello beta, are you enjoying
yourself?’ asked her mother. ‘Isn’t everything lovely?’

‘Mum, can I speak to Rani
alone?’ asked Arianna.

‘Oh of course,’ her mother said.
‘Are you alright dikra (darling)? You look pale.’

‘Mum, I’m fine. I just want to
talk to Rani, to catch up.’

‘Well alright dikra. Rani,
remember what I said.’

‘Yes auntie,’ Rani said.

‘What was all that about?’
Arianna asked when her mother went to bother someone else.

‘Your mother was explaining what
happens after marriage,’ Rani giggled. ‘I think Ma put her up to it.’

Arianna pulled a face. ‘I hope
she never tries to give me that advice!’

‘Arianna, I am really happy you
came to my wedding. We have seen each other after so long...I hope you are
enjoying yourself...Arianna, are you alright?’

Arianna had not heard Rani at
all and was surprised when Rani shook her gently by the arm.

‘Arianna?’

‘I’m so sorry! I don’t know what
has come over me...perhaps you can help. I have felt a little strange since I
arrived and then I saw something peculiar.’

‘Go on,’ encouraged Rani.

‘On the balcony, overlooking the
courtyard there is a door. That particular door was the only one bare –
undecorated and then...I felt a strong pull towards it. This must sound crazy.’

Arianna watched Rani’s face and
was certain she saw a flicker of uncertainty but the expression changed to a
smile in an instant.

‘Oh that door. It’s nothing,
just an old room for the servants to store cleaning materials,’ Rani said. ‘Um
Arianna, what do you mean you felt strange?’

‘I can’t explain...look, don’t
worry, I’m being silly.’

‘If you are feeling unwell, a
good sleep may make you better?’

‘Sounds like a plan,’ Arianna
smiled. Deep inside, she was unsettled and knew no sleep would be able to cure
that.

 
‘Did you believe what
Rani said about the wedding? All this about “I want a simple wedding”, she cannot
be serious. This is the dream wedding!’ Khushboo exclaimed, bursting into the
room she, Arianna and Tianna shared.

Arianna was lying on the bed;
she had taken Rani’s advice. Although she couldn’t sleep, she rested her tired
body. The train journey had been very long.

‘Are you feeling alright? You
didn’t eat anything,’ said Khushboo.

 
‘I had a slight headache but it has gone,’
Arianna sat up. ‘Rani could be telling the truth though; this may not be
her
dream wedding.’

‘I think there is more to this
than meets the eye, Ari.’

‘Look, it’s none of our
business.’

‘Perhaps...’ Khushboo said.

Arianna shook her head.
 
‘Shall we go downstairs; aren’t they starting
the rangoli competition?’

The older generation waited for the competition to begin.
Ten girls and two boys crouched over their area with a dish of coloured powder,
ready to create the best

design on the flat stone surface. The prize was a weekend in
Goa – all expenses paid and no one wanted to lose this one. Tianna was one of
the competitors.

‘The rules are simple – the
winner will produce a neat and colourful image of a peacock,’ said Rani’s
mother.
 
‘The colours must stay within
the white boundary. Colours can only be mixed for one part of the picture, for
example the tail.
 
In the first round,
five people will be eliminated. In the second, another five leaving two. The
last round will decide the winner. Good luck.’

The competition got under way
and silence reigned as best efforts of a splendid peacock began. Arianna
crossed her fingers for Tianna. She was optimistic; Tianna had won an art
competition after all last year during Diwali.

Arianna wandered, her mind
drifting to the door, the voice, and the pull. She did not want to think about
it, yet her mind kept bringing images up in her head.

‘And STOP! Dust those hands
children. Rani’s uncle, can you judge please?’

Round one ended; Arianna was
brought back to the present. She saw Tianna hold her breath when Rani’s uncle
came to check hers. He smiled and nodded his head; she was still in the
competition.

‘Yes!’ shouted Tianna.

Arianna smiled.

‘Cheer up Ti, you are a runner up,’ said Arianna. ‘That was
a lovely picture of the haveli. You did very well in round three.’

‘I wanted to go to Goa,’
complained Tianna.

‘Well maybe if we ask mum and
dad nicely, we might all go after the wedding.’

‘I suppose. At least I got one
thousand rupees, not a bad prize for a runner up.’

It was late evening and dinner
was served. Arianna, already eaten, left Tianna with Khushboo and decided to go
for a stroll around the haveli. She liked being alone and able to think without
being interrupted. The haveli...she felt part of it but could not understand
why. That door in particular...

Arianna found she had arrived at
the courtyard where some guests were talking quietly. A warm breeze caressed her
face and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation.
 

‘Arianna?’

She opened her eyes to find an
auntie staring at her.

‘Yes...er hello,’ she said.

‘Are you alone? Come and join
us.’

The woman took Arianna to a
table where an old man was already seated.

 
‘Hello dikra,’ said the man. ‘It is nice when
young people come and talk to us.’

Arianna smiled politely.

‘We were talking about the
haveli,’ the man continued.

‘Oh, what about it?’ Arianna
asked, intrigued.

 
‘How much do you know about this haveli?’

‘Nothing at all.’

The woman nodded. ‘The haveli
has history, it was built in 1887 I believe. We used to live across the road
and moved when the rioting got worse,’ she looked at uncle. ‘We married young
and had to leave with the family in 1948.’