Where the Secret Lies (6 page)

Three days in, the mother had not come.
 
Anjali suggested staying a little longer. Families
and individuals arrived and left but still, there was no sign of the mother.

 
 
Anjali wondered whether her family were
looking for her too. A heavy weight entered her heart. She vowed she would go
back to Rajkot, to her home, one day.

Mohan came back from visiting
the officers once again. He did not have good news.

‘The camp manager from the other
side said the woman had left. He was astounded why she wasn’t here,’ Mohan said
to Anjali.

‘I am sorry Preetu, but we must move on,’ Mohan said with a
heavy heart.

‘I am grateful to you for
staying this long with me,’ she said. ‘Don’t worry, my mother will come.’

‘Why don’t you and Bittu come
with us?’ Mohan said. ‘I don’t like leaving you alone.’

Preetu’s face lit up. ‘You mean
that?’

‘Yes, of course,’ said Mohan.

Anjali hugged Preetu in delight.

 
‘Thank you,’ she said and hugged Mohan too.

 
Preetu giggled and Mohan laughed but he did
not let Anjali go.

‘I am glad too,’ he whispered.

The decision was final; the group of four would travel to
Lucknow that afternoon. Mohan drank his last refugee camp chai and Anjali played
with Bittu.

They heard a shrill scream.

 
‘Preetu!’

Both Anjali and Mohan looked towards
a large, short woman who came running towards them. She looked beaten and
fragile.

‘Ma?’

Preetu emerged from the tent and
ran to her mother, tears streaming down her face.

Anjali’s eyes blurred as mother
and daughter embraced, touching each other’s face and arms.

Preetu came back to her and
Mohan with her mother. Anjali placed Bittu into his mother’s arms. His mother cried
kissing his startled face, arms, and legs. Then she hugged Anjali and Mohan.

Preetu’s mother held her chai and sipped it slowly. They
were all sitting in Anjali’s tent. Bittu had gone back to sleep.

‘Ma ji, can you tell us how you lost Preetu and Bittu? asked
Anjali.

Preetu sat with her mother,
holding her arm.

‘I saw Preetu’s Papa stabbed. Then
one of them...did things to me,’ Preetu’s mother said heavily. ‘I almost died
had it not been my will to kill the man. I found a knife lying a little way
from me and I stabbed him!’ tears slid down her face. ‘I hid Preetu and Bittu
and went back for the others but I was too late. I could not come back for them
for I collapsed. When I awoke, I thought I had lost them as well.’

Anjali and Preetu were crying freely
now. Mohan was quiet. No one spoke for a long time. The mother broke the
silence.

‘Thank you for looking after my
children,’ she said. ‘I am indebted to you.’

‘We have grown fond of them in
such a short time. You have good children,’ said Mohan.

The mother clasped both Anjali and
Mohan’s hands.
 
‘Thank you.’

Mohan and Anjali said their goodbyes and left with Chameli. It
would be quiet journey to Lucknow but their last one.

ARIANNA

EIGHT

The morning pale light brought a cool and refreshing lift to
Arianna’s state of slumber. She woke up smiling and eager to begin the day. Swinging
her feet onto the cool marble floor, she turned to her still sleeping
companions – Tianna and Khushboo. Deciding to let them be, she tiptoed to the
window and opened the curtains.

Khushboo’s house overlooked a
generally lively street where numerous cars, auto rickshaws, and taxis drove
through, manoeuvring past vegetable and fruit vendors, pedestrians, cows and
dogs.

It was 6am and the milk boy was
delivering milk to his customers. Other traders were beginning to set up stalls
and the cart sellers were arranging their goods ready to sell to the people of
Mumbai.

Arianna loved this vibrant street;
it was a vast contrast to her quiet, suburban street back home in London. She lived
in a sleepy part of the city with cars parked in driveways or on roadsides. Sycamore
Street’s wide pavement and large trees gave the area a nice suburban feel. The
summers were great and in winter, the street resembled a Christmas card full of
dotted snowmen on front lawns and driveways, twinkling fairy lights on trees
with festive, plastic Father Christmas figures and reindeers on roofs.

 
Arianna wondered how India celebrated Christmas...someone
cleared their throat and Arianna turned around.

‘Good morning,’ said Khushboo.
‘You woke up early.’

‘Good morning,’ said Arianna.

‘What were you thinking about?
You looked deep in thought.’

‘I was just watching your
street. It is very different to my street in London.’

Arianna told her about the
summer fun and the lush greenery in London during summer, and about snow and
Christmas.

 
‘Sounds magical,’ sighed Khushboo. ‘I have
seen snow once only when we went to Simla. It was beautiful but very, very
cold. Christmas in London – wow.’

‘Then, why don’t you come to
London this Christmas? You will love it! I will show you the City, the lights
and we will go to many parties and to the theatre too!’ Arianna said excitedly.
‘It will be brilliant!’

‘I would love that but Ma won’t
agree,’ said Khushboo, her excitement ebbing.

‘Why won’t she agree? I am sure Papa
would sponsor you to come, even the whole family,’ said Arianna. The thought of
her relatives coming to London cheered Arianna up further.

‘Okay, you talk to Ma,’ said
Khushboo.

‘What is all that noise?’ moaned
Tianna, waking up. ‘Why are you two talking loudly?’

‘It’s six thirty, little sis,’
said Arianna, throwing a pillow at her head.

‘Exactly!’ Tianna threw the
pillow back at her. ‘Now go and talk somewhere else and let me sleep.’

Tianna turned around and went
back to her slumber.

Arianna and Khushboo left Tianna
as requested. As Arianna exited, she threw the pillow back on Tianna.

‘Ari!’

 
Arianna longed to
wander the busy street and kept glancing at the window, where the noise of tooting
cars and shouting vendors, was prominent. Her auntie closed the window.

‘They do give me a headache,’
she complained. ‘Especially during breakfast,’ auntie sat back in her place.

‘Why don’t you move to a quieter
city?’ suggested Arianna’s mother.

‘I would love to but it is your
brother in law, bhabhi,’ replied auntie. ‘He doesn’t like it too quiet; he says
he will get bored and ill without the racket! Can you believe it? Besides,
there is also the children’s schooling and your brother-in-law’s work to think
of.’

‘Well, maybe when all the
distractions subside,’ said Arianna’s mother.

Khushboo nudged Arianna. ‘Ask
her.’

‘Ask what?’ asked Arianna and
Khushboo rolled her eyes. ‘Oh yes, sorry!’

‘Ask what, beta?’ asked auntie.

‘I was thinking...it would be
nice if everyone came to London this year during Christmas. What do you think
mum?’ said Arianna.

‘Yes, but not in December.
 
It is too cold and very dark. The summer
would be much better,’ enthused Arianna’s mother.

‘But it is not Christmas in the
summer, mum,’ Arianna moaned. ‘Khushboo wants to see the snow and go to all the
parties.’

‘Ha ha! So this is what it is
all about!’ laughed Arianna’s uncle.

‘Papa, can we go, please?’
begged Khushboo.

‘I don’t see why not,’ he
replied.

‘What about her exams?’ auntie
raised her eyebrows.

‘Ma, this is my final year and
college will finish in June. Please say yes. Gaurav wants to come too, don’t
you?’ Khushboo turned to her brother.

‘I can’t, sorry sister,’ Gaurav
said changing channels on the TV. ‘I am in Dubai in December.’

‘It is your final year? Oh then
we should think about your marriage,’ said auntie.

‘Ma! I am not getting married
yet! I am very young!’ exclaimed Khushboo, aghast.

‘I am only joking, dikra,’
laughed auntie.

‘Thank God for that! So are we
going to London?’

‘Khushboo beta, I will make sure
all of you come in December,’ Arianna’s father smiled. ‘Never mind the cold; we
have central heating and lots of blankets and jumpers.’

Khushboo and Arianna jumped up
and hugged him. ‘Thank you!’

He hugged them back. ‘It is my
pleasure. Well then Bhai (brother), we better begin applying for visas.’

‘Yes! You are coming to London!’
Tianna pulled Khushboo and Arianna away from their father and they danced.
Gaurav rolled his eyes and went back to his TV.

The chatter became lively and
everyone started talking about London. Arianna’s mother dreamt of showing off
her house and garden, her father looked forward to opening the new whisky by
the fireplace and Arianna thought of the parties she would go to with Khushboo.

Arianna decided to go to the cyber café after breakfast
whilst Tianna and Khushboo went shopping. She wanted to see if there was an
email from Jai.

Reaching the café, she ordered her usual coke. Arianna had
not checked her emails since she last emailed Jai, around a week ago. She hoped
he replied.
 
The emails popped up and she
scanned the list.

Yes, there is was – the tenth
one in line. Arianna checked the date, it was sent five days ago.

Dear Ari,

I am glad you reached India safely and are enjoying your
holiday. The weather is fantastic here – hot and sunny. Nevertheless, without
you I am empty. I cannot help how I feel about you and I must admit I am
disappointed you do not feel the same. It doesn’t matter; I hope we can still
be friends?

I have some news; I have found a
job. Can you believe it? The money will tie me over until uni starts.

I miss you already and cannot
wait until you come back so we can hang out.

Yours, Jai.xxx

Arianna’s heart sank. She had hoped his declaration of love
was a passing phase...she began to draft a reply.

Hi Jai,

Glad you are ok. Say hi to everyone back home, I surely miss
everyone, even you my chipmunk! Khushboo has introduced me to many of her
friends, Ritu, Sheetal, Nikhil, Mayuri, and Radha. They are a great bunch. I
have been to Juhu beach, to the City and to the Gate of India. I will not
describe it for you; you will get bored. Keep emailing me – I enjoy hearing
from you.

Take care, Ari.x

A moment after Arianna sent the
email, the chat box popped up from Jai, startling her.

Who is Nikhil?

Arianna laughed and began to
“chat”.

Not jealous are you?

No, why should I be?

He is only a friend, Jai. Like
you are to me.

I miss you, Ari.

Please, Jai. Let us not go
there. You said you would get past this and we can be best friends.

I suppose, sorry. You can’t
blame me for trying though.

I suppose not.

There was a pause in the chat
and Arianna waited for him to reply.

I had better go, have to get
ready for work.

Are you alright, Jai?

Give a guy time to heal please.
:0)

Arianna knew that was a fake
smile.

Okay. Take care, Jai. Will chat
later.

Bye Ari.

Bye Jai.

The chat went offline but Arianna didn’t feel happy. She paid
for the coke and the use of the computer, and left with a heavy and disturbed
mind.

Tianna and Khushboo met up with
her and they went home together. Khushboo noticed Arianna was not her usual
self and wondered what happened. She decided to ask when they were alone. She
had a feeling Arianna would not want Tianna to know.

Arianna went downstairs to the street in the early afternoon.
 
Tianna was out again with their aunt and

mother and Khushboo decided to stay indoors, complaining of
the hot weather.

Arianna wandered the now, busy
street and visited a few of the local shops where she browsed. Her aunt
informed her that in India, one has to barter all the time and no price is set
even though the shop owner will insist. For a foreigner, they will up the price
so she must be extra vigilant. Arianna decided to shop only when her auntie was
around.

Feeling a sweat, she stopped at
a small eating-place. She asked the waiting boy for a cola with lots of ice.
The boy served her within minutes and Arianna quickly drank the full glass. Only
a handful of customers were around and they chatted easily. Arianna went to pay
the bill.

 
‘Are you new here?’ asked the owner as he took
the money. He spoke in Hindi.

‘I am here on holiday,’ smiled
Arianna.

The man said something else in Hindi,
which Arianna did not understand.

 
‘I’m sorry, my Hindi is limited,’ she
apologised.

‘I am sorry,’ the man spoke in
English this time with
 
 
the Indian accent, which Arianna found
endearing. ‘I asked where you were from.’

‘I am from London. I am visiting
my family.’

‘London is good. Are your family
from this area?’

‘Yes, the Mehtas. They live in
that building,’ Arianna pointed to the two-storey house.

‘Ah the Mehtas from no.23. They
order food from here many times. I think in London they call it a Take-Away?’

Arianna laughed. ‘Correct!’

‘My name is Tridev Kapoor. I own
this small restaurant,’ the man extended his hand.

‘It’s nice to meet you. I am
Arianna,’ she said giving him a strong handshake.