Authors: Joya Victoria
“When do they ripen? And what about the rice that we are served?” Miranda asked.
“Rice, my dear, is cut when the heads are yellow. The husk is removed by beating or threshing the grains. In Assam the thresher is called a
dheki
. The rice we eat goes through a tremendous amount of beating and chaffing.” Her uncle grinned. “So, from now onward, whenever you see or eat rice, remember the white rice is the rice after the husk is removed.”
Miranda was so enthralled and listening so carefully she didn’t have the foggiest as to how long they had driven or how much ground they had covered. She was brought back to reality when the car made a sudden turn and left the so-called highway behind them to drive along a gravel path. Huge Gold Mohur trees with flaming-red flowers lined both sides of the narrow gravel road. The branches of the trees touched each other high up above to form a canopy over the road.
Miranda was captivated by the breathtakingly beautiful scenery. She turned toward her aunt and said in a very small voice, “It’s so beautiful, Aunt Dolly!”
Her aunt was having a few winks and sat up with a jolt. She did not know what her niece was mumbling about, but she smiled anyway. “Are you happy that you have decided to come, dear?”
Before Miranda could say anything, her uncle from the front seat answered for her.
“Of course she is happy, and you know it, dear girl. We will be leaving soon, you know. It’s good you have come now. The tea gardens are being bought out by the Indian companies. And so we will have to leave this wonderful place.” Uncle Tom sounded slightly despondent and sad.
Then he piped up again. “No use talking about what could have happened or should have happened. Best to look on the bright side of life we will be back in England! One thing good is that medicines and doctor’s visits will be free !Ha Ha he guffawed loudly a mirthless laughter. “Thanks to Aneurin Bevan and the foundation of the National Health Service in England!”
“Oh yes, I am so happy!” Miranda answered her aunt’s question that had gotten lost in that brief moment. They were approaching a white gate by this time and a two-story bungalow. As they approached the gate, one of the boys who worked on the estate opened it. The car drove through the gates and stopped in front of the porch.
Uncle and Aunt got out followed by Miranda.
“Salaam, memsahib,” said two servants who had mysteriously appeared from somewhere.
At the sound of the car a number of other servants came out too. Miranda did not know when or where her suitcase was taken; it was all done very swiftly and efficiently. The entire situation was all very new and different for Miranda, rather strange and extremely exotic. She couldn’t wait to call her mother and tell her about it.
She followed her aunt into the bungalow after climbing a few stone steps that led from the porch to the front veranda. The veranda led to the front sitting room. Miranda found the room absolutely fascinating. It was huge. It was very tastefully decorated with a cozy
three-piece suite pushed back toward the stone walls and a big bar cabinet on one side of the room. The floor was nice and cool, as it was a mosaic tile floor, with a brown rug in the center. There were several chairs with cushions scattered around the room. Miranda immediately took off her sandals that she had been wearing since the morning. Her feet felt so good standing on the cool floor.
Dolly took her upstairs to show Miranda her bedroom. Her uncle had become busy as soon as he set foot inside the house, disappearing as soon as they arrived.
Her bedroom faced a beautiful garden; a bougainvillea plant was creeping up along one side of the wall. Gardenias were planted all along the flowerbeds that circled the green lawn, which at that moment was being watered by a sprinkler. A veranda encircled the whole of upstairs so that every room opened out onto it.
“It is so beautiful,” she said again to her aunt. Dolly nodded. She opened the bedroom door leading on to the veranda, and Miranda followed her. The gardener was there tending to the flowerbeds. He looked up and touched his forehead in a little salute, and Dolly waved back. It was a little cooler now after the oppressive heat of the day. Dolly pressed a buzzer and one of the servant boys appeared. She asked him to bring the tea, and then they sat down in the rattan chairs on the veranda, breathing in the fragrance wafting up toward them from the flowers.
“Your uncle has disappeared,” Dolly said. “It’s always the same. I hardly see him,” she complained. “Except at meal times!” She smiled.
Of course there was no malice in the complaint—it was more of a statement. Miranda realized later on that her aunt had a tendency to complain about her uncle quite often.
After tea Dolly went off, muttering something about dinner and asking Miranda to make herself at home.
Dolly had some other plans that she was determined to set into motion as soon as possible—plans that had to do with Derek. She wanted to ask him to come over to see them on some pretext or other. It was a good thing that his garden was not too far away. She planned to introduce the young people pretending that she had no knowledge of Miranda and Derek ever having met! Maybe she would
invite him for dinner? But maybe that was too formal and Miranda and Derek might guess that the whole thing had been planned. Dolly did not want to blow it. She would think of something, she was sure. She felt awfully mischievous with all the intrigue and planning. She had reservations about Derek considering the rumors about him and Hannah and the servant girl, but that was all a heresy and she was quite happy to dismiss the rumors. People were jealous of him and she did not pay much heed to rumors.
She asked one of the houseboys to ask Miranda memsahib to join her in the garden. The scent of the gardenias filled the air. Walking on the soft grass soothed Dolly’s aching feet, which she had a tendency to suffer from. But the thought of bringing the two lovebirds together was foremost in her mind. It was so wonderful that just thinking about it caused Dolly to forget her aching feet!
By then Miranda and Tom had joined her.
How would she pull this off? She mused to herself.
“Anything wrong?” Tom asked his wife.
“No, I was just about to discuss the supper menu with the cook!” What a lie, but little white lies never hurt anybody, she consoled herself.
“Drinks?” Tom asked, looking at the ladies with a questioning look. It was getting dark very quickly, as it usually did in the tropics, and the humming of the mosquitoes pushed them indoors. Tom poured the drinks, a large Scotch for himself and gin and tonics for Miranda and Dolly.
“Welcome to the tropics,” he said, raising his glass. “By the way, Miranda, do you play golf?”
“I’ve tried it,” she said, “but I am not good at it.”
“We will start tomorrow,” he said smugly. “A few lessons and that will give you a head start. By the time you go back to London you will be hooked on golf.”
Dolly suddenly had a brainwave. Why hadn’t she thought of this before? Derek played golf, and often Tom and Derek played together. What was she waiting for? She would literally push Miranda out of the house to go to the golf club with Tom. She was bound to bump into Derek at the golf club. By the time dinner was served Dolly felt
all smug and had a little happy smile. She couldn’t wait to telephone Molly tomorrow and let her know what was going on.
After a superb dinner of roast chicken, roast potatoes, and boiled greens followed by cream caramel Miranda was ready for bed. She was happy and tired and promptly fell asleep.
The next morning she woke up quite early. She felt strange in her new surroundings. She could hear the chirping of birds. She got up and went out onto the veranda to feel and savor the morning air. The sun was already up and shining. The gardener was already in the garden watering the plants; the morning activity had already started. She went inside to change and wash. A cup of tea and some biscuits were waiting for her. What luxury! She could get too used to this if she stayed too long, she thought joyfully.
She found her aunt alone at the dining table; her uncle was not around.
“Oh, he leaves very early,” Dolly informed Miranda, but the next day Tom would be taking Miranda to the golf course! Today she needed time to recuperate from her journey. After breakfast Dolly decided to give Miranda a tour of the place starting with her front garden.
They had just stepped outside when a Land Rover drove up, making a great deal of noise on the gravel. A tall man in khaki shorts and shirt got out. Miranda couldn’t believe her eyes! It was Derek.
Her heart gave a lurch, and she blushed. She wanted to run away and hide, but that was out of the question. He was coming right toward them. Dolly greeted him first.
“Derek, we are here, in the garden!” Dolly was stating the obvious, but she had to say something!
He sauntered over, tall and slim, looking extremely handsome in his khaki shorts and shirt. He was very tanned and his hair was bleached to a golden brown.
“Hello, Dolly,” he said, very cheerful, and then he glanced toward Miranda.
They stared at each other, both dumbfounded. Miranda was absolutely and completely tongue-tied. Dolly broke the silence pretending not to know that Miranda and Derek knew each other.
“My niece, Miranda,” she said, introducing them. “Just arrived from the UK—”
Derek cut her short. “We have already met, Dolly,” he said. Suddenly he looked very grim, and his face lost that smile. He stiffened slightly.
“Hi, Miranda,” he said in a cold voice. “Welcome to India. Hope you enjoy your stay. By the way, Dolly,” he continued without even stopping to breathe, “I was looking for Tom, had some work stuff to discuss.” Then he turned to leave.
“Oh,” Dolly said, intent on detaining him, “Tom will be here soon, Derek. Come in and have something cold to drink. So you two have met, I see?” she carried on. “How strange! So, Miranda,” she glanced toward her niece, “you could join Derek tomorrow for golf!”
She had done it! How clever of her!
“What do you say, Derek? Do you think you could entertain my niece a little? After all, she is and will be at a loose end with two old people like us!”
She could feel a mischievous smile hovering around her little round face, which of course she was trying desperately to conceal. Derek’s sharp eyes hovered briefly on Dolly’s face.
Derek wondered what was this woman driving at. Was there something that he could not quite put his finger on?
“Come in, come in,” she continued. She would not hear about Derek leaving just then. “Come and have a coffee, if you prefer.” Derek could not get a word in and could not refuse.
Miranda and Derek avoided looking at each other and followed Dolly meekly into the house.
She left them alone in the front room and pretended to go and organize some coffee.
They sat as far away from each other as possible; the silence at that moment in the room was heavy and pregnant with many unspoken words and pent-up emotions. Miranda was looking down, pursing her lips. She could feel Derek’s eyes on her. His penetrating and frank stare made her feel confused. She had nothing to say.
Then he suddenly spoke. “A spot of golf would be fun, Mira.”
She was about to make an excuse, when he suddenly stopped her.
“No excuses.” His voice was very firm. “I will come and pick you up tomorrow. Anyway,” he continued in an amused sort of way, “Dolly’s orders!” He laughed.
Miranda could hardly believe that she had bumped into Derek this soon. It was all moving so fast. The memory of Derek’s kiss still lingered on her lips as if it had been only yesterday. She could feel his hands feeling her body. She knew that it would be very difficult to resist him this time.
Just then Dolly arrived with the coffee. A quick cup, and Derek was off with a wave and a “See you in the morning” to Miranda.
“What a lovely man!” Dolly said as if in passing rather than as a very loaded remark.
Miranda wanted to look beautiful for him. She wanted him to want her, though she had rejected him the last time at Charu’s wedding. But there was a reason then; what would she do now? Give in or resist? She would need an iron will now, especially with Derek looking so gorgeous. She tossed and turned the whole night, hardly able to sleep. The excitement, the anticipation—she could hardly wait to see him again. To be alone with him! But she was a fool! How could she succumb to his charms yet again?
The next morning, at another bungalow in a neighboring garden, another young woman was getting ready to make her way to the golf course. Her name was Hannah.
Derek was very early to fetch Miranda. Usually her Uncle Tom and Derek played together. This time Dolly stopped Tom from joining them. Tom felt very dejected, and Dolly had to pacify him by explaining a few of the essentials without going into too much detail.
But Dolly was in a bit of a quandary. Had she done the right thing by pushing them together? She knew about Hannah and had even heard a gossip say that the two were history, but she had her doubts. Maybe Miranda would be able to lure him away from the other woman. There was a lot on Dolly’s mind, and with nobody else to talk to she turned to her husband.
“Tom, do you think Derek and Miranda will…ahem…get along? What I meant was, do you think Derek will like her?”
But her words were uttered to an empty room. Tom had already left for the garden.
Miranda was wearing sneakers, shorts, and a small light-pink top that just came down to her waist. She looked pretty and fresh.
The Land Rover that Derek drove was not very comfortable, and it was a bumpy ride to the golf course.
“Mira,” he said in a very gentle voice, “why did you run away from me?”
He always called her Mira, which Miranda liked very much. She was quiet. She sat with her hands in her lap, hands clenched tightly together, looking straight ahead. Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. Her lips started to tremble.
Derek was driving and with one hand on the steering wheel, he lifted her chin with the other, not realizing that she was weeping. Her tears started to roll down her cheeks.
“Oh, Mira,” he said very tenderly, his voice full of compassion. He wiped a tear from her cheek very gently “It’s good you have come,” he said. “We can pick up where we left off.”