Where the Secret Lies (20 page)

‘I am sorry to hear that Ari.’

‘Well he’s gone now and I don’t
want to talk about him anymore.’

‘That’s the best way,’ Jai lay
down, putting his arms behind his head.

Arianna lay down too, letting
herself be immersed under the rays of the hot sun. She listened to the sound of
nature and drank in the sweet smell of tranquillity.

‘Ari, is this yours?’ Jai picked up the diary.

Khushboo and Tianna gathered
around.

Arianna hadn’t forgotten about the
diary, she just didn’t want to think about it. Since Jai arrived, she wanted to
spend all of her time with him and everything else was a distraction.

She looked at the diary and then
at the three. Should she tell them? The diary was so personal...

‘You have permission,’ said a
voice inside her head. Arianna started.

‘Who said that?’

‘I asked if this diary was
yours?’ said Jai.

‘Oh...’

‘Are you alright?’ asked
Khushboo. ‘You seem...what is the word?’

‘Odd,’ said Tianna. ‘Ari, are
you sure you are fine. You seem freaked out.’

‘I am fine guys...listen, this
may sound silly and even absurd, but what I am going to say is true.’

‘We’re listening,’ said Tianna.

Arianna told them everything – the
conversations between Jignesh, Alok, Rani, and their auntie about the haveli
and the door. She explained how came upon it opened and found personal items inside
the room.

‘The maid acted strange. She
spoke to me, took me inside the room, and handed me this diary. What do you
think it all means?’

 
‘Wait,’ said Khushboo. ‘Are you telling us you
entered the room of the door that never opens, found personal items and
acquired a diary of a person called Anjali?’

‘Great summary,’ said Arianna
sarcastically. ‘I knew you wouldn’t believe me.’

‘Have you read the diary?’ Jai
asked.

Arianna shook her head. Tianna
opened the diary and flicked through its pages.

‘It’s empty.’

‘It can’t be,’ said Arianna. She
grabbed the diary and imitated her sister’s actions. Every page had an entry.
‘The diary is not empty Ti. Look.’

Jai and Khushboo looked through
the diary and came with the same conclusion: it was blank.

 
‘How is it possible that I can see the
writing, yet you don’t? What black magic is this?’

‘Ari, you are freaking me out.
You should put the diary back from where it came from,’ said Tianna.

‘I think so too,’ said Khushboo.
‘I don’t know...this diary and your behaviour...if you did go near the room,
you might be jinxed.’

Arianna wanted to shout and make
them believe she was telling the truth. She was not mad...oh!

Was she only able to “see”?
 
Why? Again the questions came: what connection
did she have with this haveli?

‘I believe you,’ Jai said when they were alone. ‘I know you;
this is not something you would make up.’

‘Thanks Jai,’ Arianna said but did
not smile.

‘I don’t think you are crazy.’

‘I am glad someone believes me,’
said Arianna. ‘But why can’t you or anyone else see the diary entries and I
can? Why Jai?’

‘I wish I could give you an
answer but whatever you are experiencing, perhaps it is only for you to
understand...and when you do and you get all the answers, I will be listening.’

Arianna waited until Tianna and Khushboo fell asleep. She
switched on the night lamp and took the diary from under her pillow, and began
to read.

ANJALI

TWENTY-SIX

Anjali was aware Mohan wanted peace in the haveli and wished
she and Tehzeeb would get along, perhaps Tehzeeb was trying but she was not and
never would. She was tired of her false sweetness, her constant chatter, and
her unlimited show of love to the children, including her own. She detested how
her children called her Bari Ma (elder mother), giving way to her to be part of
the family. Tehzeeb arrived five months ago but to Anjali, it seemed longer.

Her friends talked and laughed
behind her back. They also laughed to her face and taunted her for being the
mistress and the second wife. They could not understand why she had not asked for
a divorce.

Divorce? No, she could not ask
him for a divorce. Where would she go? She would not give Tehzeeb the
satisfaction! She loved Mohan...but he loved Tehzeeb, will she always be in the
shadows?

 
‘You are nothing to him,’ said Mrs Shah.

‘That’s not true!’ cried Anjali.

‘Why does he sleep with her and
not you?’ Mrs Shah gave a look that said she was right.

‘How did you know that?’

‘Word gets out, it always does,’
replied Mrs Shah, sighing.

Anjali had looked towards her
mother for support.

‘Anjali, Mohan is your husband
and Tehzeeb is his first wife. You cannot expect him to stop loving her, as she
cannot expect the same of you. This is God’s decision, and you must accept.’

Anjali was at a loss; must she
admit defeat?

Only Rajesh made her happy. He made her smile, feel wanted
and important. His love may only be infatuation and lust, but Anjali liked it.

He went back to Bombay
eventually. He explained he had meetings with producers and directors, and he
would be busy with his shooting schedules. Anjali bid him goodbye, hoping to
see him soon.

Before he left, he spent his
last night with her. It was Tehzeeb’s turn to spend the night with her Mohan and
Anjali still burned. She took all her frustrations out on Rajesh as they made
ardent love.

The summer months arrived with Anjali’s better mood

– Rajesh was coming.

‘I have arranged something
special,’ Mohan announced as they had breakfast. ‘Rajesh is bringing a
photographer and his make-up artist. He wants to gift us a present, is not that
wonderful?’

‘Will he be taking photographs
of the children?’ asked Tehzeeb.

‘Not only the children but all
of us. The make-up artist will make you ladies more beautiful than you already
are and the children pretty and handsome,’ Mohan’s eye twinkled.

The children were excited, Tehzeeb
looked pleased, and Anjali had butterflies in her stomach. She had not seen
Rajesh in over three months...

‘Rajesh will come tonight; the
photographer and the make-up artist will arrive tomorrow. We shall have the
pictures taken after lunch. I expect everyone to wear their best clothes and
children; I want clean faces. Understood?’

The children nodded their head
vigorously and Anjali actually laughed. Mohan turned his face towards her; a
look of love and warmth, of longing...?

Anjali styled her hair as Rajesh liked it and added pink
rouge to her cheek, highlighting her cheekbones. She arranged her soft tendrils
around her face.

She wore a red sari and a tight
blouse on purpose; she wanted to see hunger in Rajesh when he arrived. She
wanted him to want her.

Mohan stood still and stared at
her as she made her way down the stairs. She smiled; she still had her charm.
Mohan took her hand and kissed her cheek.

‘You look beautiful,’ he
whispered seductively in her ear.

Anjali touched her cheek, his warmth
lingered. The night she met him and his manliness, came rushing back to her.
She remembered the early days of their union...

Rajesh arrived earlier than expected, surprising everyone.
 

‘Namaste Bhabhi,’ he greeted
Anjali as a sister-in- law. He looked her straight in the eye.

‘I hope you had a pleasant
journey,’ Anjali replied in a polite tone.

They stood, hands clasped until
Mohan cleared his throat and came to stand between them. Anjali moved a little
back, confused at Mohan’s behaviour.

Mohan and Rajesh stared at each
other and Anjali was surprised to see a shadow of hostility between the two
men, then Rajesh smiled.

‘I am quite tired,’ he said.
‘Tehzeeb bhabhi, can you show me to my room?’

‘Is everything alright between you and Rajesh?’ asked Anjali
as Mohan came into their bed. He laid his head on her bosom.

Anjali let her hands roam his hair and shoulders. Mohan
sighed and took her hands.

‘Do you love me?’ he asked,
sitting up.

‘Yes, of course I do,’ Anjali
was shocked by such a question. ‘Why do you ask?’

Mohan seemed to think about
something and then shook his head.

‘Come here, I need you...I want
you.’

Mohan leaned into her and kissed
her hard, his hands roamed her back. He pulled the string of the blouse and
loosened the cloth, caressing her smooth skin. Anjali sighed – she had wanted
him for such a long time.

Mohan untied her hair and let it
fall on her shoulders. He pulled back to look at her and stared into her eyes,
drinking her lust. He began to kiss her neck and shoulders and unravelled her
sari, throwing it to the floor.

Anjali unbuttoned his shirt and
kissed his chest.

‘Anjali, I love you...’ he
whispered.

There was a loud banging on the
door.

‘Papa, please come...Bari Ma is
calling. Zakira...’

Mohan opened his eyes and began
to get up; Anjali pulled him back.

‘Ignore her. Don’t go Mohan ji,’
she said.

The child banged on the door
again.

‘I have to go, Anjali,’ Mohan
untangled himself and quickly dressed.

He opened the door. ‘What
happened? What is wrong?’

‘It is Zakira, Papa. She is not
well.’

Without a glance backwards,
Mohan rushed away to Tehzeeb and Zakira; Anjali forgotten.

She waited and waited. She glanced at the clock. The time
was now 12.30 in the morning. She sighed and got

 
out of bed. She went to
the balcony corridor and saw Mohan walking towards Tehzeeb’s room with a
pitcher of water. He entered her room but did not come back out. Anjali turned
back to her room with tears in her eyes.

Anjali picked up the vase from the sideboard and threw the
flowers aside. She turned it upside down and let the water splash onto the
floor. She raised the vase.

‘I do not think that is wise, my
dear Anjali,’ Rajesh said from the doorway. He entered and took the vase from
her, placing it back on the sideboard.

‘Rajesh...it is late, you should
be in your room,’ said Anjali.

Rajesh began to kiss her neck
and unbuttoned her blouse. Anjali felt his need against her hips. Picking her
up, he carried her to the bed. Sweet searing pain cascaded down Anjali as
Rajesh’s tongue slid down to her abdomen. He dipped his head into her breasts
and did things to her she never experienced. The tongue flickered around her
hard nipples and she moaned.

‘Oh Mohan...’

Rajesh stopped. ‘What did you
say?’

‘I didn’t...’

‘You said “Mohan”.’ Rajesh’s
eyes flashed. He grabbed Anjali’s hair and yanked her towards him.

Anjali cried out; Rajesh put his
hand over her mouth.

‘Shut up, my dear Anjali...now
listen carefully. I will not repeat myself. You are mine and mine only. You
want me, not Mohan – do you understand?’ Rajesh’s tone was harsh and alien to
Anjali. She was scared.

 
‘Rajesh, please, let me go. You are hurting
me,’ she cried.

Rajesh let her go but he did not
go away as she expected. He slapped her and then lowered himself down on her.

‘Please Rajesh, don’t do it.’

‘It’s too late to plead, my dear
Anjali.’

TWENTY-SEVEN

The photographer arrived after lunch with the make-up artist
as Mohan had said. The artist set to work immediately on Tehzeeb.

Anjali went to her room and
subconsciously dressed in a pale gold sari. She adorned herself with gold
bangles and a large necklace. Mohan liked her in this sari...she wanted Rajesh
to see her love for her husband; she wanted to see him in pain.

 
She shivered remembering the previous night.
How could Rajesh do that to her? Did he not respect her? Did he not care for
her? Their affair was supposed to be pleasurable. He slapped her...when did he
turn into a monster?

“
You should pity yourself, you have sinned Anjali and the sin has come
back and hurt you
”. The laughter echoed in her ears.

‘Stop it! Stop it please!’

The laughter ceded.

‘Anjali, there you are! Anj – ’
Mohan gazed at her. ‘Oh, Anjali.’

‘Is the photographer ready?’ she
spoke with a clipped tone. There was no smile on her face.

 
‘Yes, Tehzeeb and the children are already
waiting,’ Mohan’s smile disappeared. ‘I am truly sorry for last night. I didn’t
expect – ’

‘The photographer is waiting,
Mohan ji,’ Anjali brushed past him.

The photographer stood up from his chair when Anjali entered
the room. His reaction at seeing her was not surprising; she ignored his stare
and looked towards Tehzeeb, who was, she was pleased to see, dressed simply.

Rajesh sat in the corner. His cold stare put shivers down
Anjali’s spine but her attention on him waned when the photographer asked her
to stand next to her girls and Tehzeeb to stand on the other side. Mohan wanted
a picture of his wives with the children first. Anjali put her hands on her two
daughters but did not smile when the photographer clicked the flash.

Mohan planned a picnic for the family, and to Anjali’s
chagrin invited Rajesh. They arrived at a lovely park, which overlooked vast
hills and a waterfall. Flowers blossomed, with their fragrance rich in the air.
Mohan inhaled and put his arm around Anjali. Rajesh shot her a dark look.

‘Girls, stay away from the
boundaries. It is not safe,’ she said.