In the Shadow of a Dream (29 page)

‘Aren’t you going to kiss me?’

‘…that he relaxed. Became positively enthusiastic.’ He could feel her eyes on him. He started the car. ‘We had better fix the date and tell him.’

‘But you will kiss me before then,’ she teased. ‘It’s a strange affair we’re having. Getting married without an engagement or even a kiss to seal our pledge!’

‘Because it must be done perfectly.’ He touched his nose with his fore finger, but he kept his eyes firmly on the road. ‘Just you wait, little Kitty, just you wait.’

‘This is not the way to Vikram’s. Or is this a start of some vile plan of yours?’

‘I’ve recce’d the area and found a quiet nook, far from the madding crowd, but not too far.’ He drove for ten minutes on the road to Kangra, then turned off onto a narrow dirt road and parked behind a craggy tor on the edge of an apricot grove.

‘Gosh! This could be Devon!’ she exclaimed.

‘Now, that’s new. You saying “Gosh”!’

‘I’ve picked that up from you. Shows how much you have been on my mind.’

‘Well, I wouldn’t know about Devon. But I’ll take your word for it. Is it the rocks and the wet greenery?’ He turned off the engine, held out his hands and hesitated.

She understood intuitively. ‘You dear, sweet darling. Where have you been all these years?’ She drew near, cradled his face in her palms and kissed him, a quick gentle kiss and then a longer one. At first he froze like one assessing the sensation. But when she released herself, he took her in his arms, pulled her towards him and pressed his lips against hers. He kissed her again, this time his hands caressed and squeezed her breasts.

‘A fast learner,’ she said, breathlessly. ‘Yes, I knew. You can’t hide much from a woman,’ she added as she rubbed a spot below her breasts.

‘I’m sorry. Was that the gear lever?’ He moved the lever forward and touched her lips. ‘If there’s a heaven on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this.’

‘I’ve heard that before. Quite recently, in Delhi, at the Red Fort.’

‘Do you know it in Persian?’

She shook her head. The guide told us, my father made a note of it, but I couldn’t repeat it.’

‘I can.
Agar fardos baru-I zamin ast, hamin ast, hamin ast.
’

‘Show-off.’

He laughed.

‘But the Persian sounded like twice. You said “it is this” three times.’

‘Yes, because while the Persian on that marble wall is cold, your lips promise an even higher paradise.’

‘Don’t Dusty. I’m tired of compliments. Take me for what I am. I’m yours.’

‘Would you rather I sang “Pale hands I held…”’ he started to giggle.

‘Oh, good! You weren’t serious or soppy.’

‘But I was serious. Kitty, my darling, you’ve brought me to life. I thought I had missed what it is like to be in love…and to be close to the warmth of a woman.’

She reached out and kissed him tenderly. He let her. ‘Thank you. Now Dusty, be good and take me to Vikram’s, before we both forget ourselves. Don’t look at me like that. I’m not romantic. There’s a lot to say for arranged marriages. Love is blind, and why one stumbles. Ours is a kind of arranged marriage. It happened fast. In the past, like a fool I rushed into things, but I’ve watched how people find you and like you. I’ve talked to Shalini and Vikram, and dad…and I’ve given it much thought. I know you’re a survivor; I know that you love me, and I think you’ll make a good husband.’

‘Just one more kiss…a small favour to ask, for all that.’

‘Hush! Look in the mirror. There are cows, a boy, and a herdsman approaching.’

‘Damn! Am I surrounded by cowherds. Will no one rid me of…’

‘And you have a sense of humour. You’re fun to be with.’

‘One moment.’ Dusty took out a ten rupee note from his wallet, wound down the window. An old deeply pitted, long white bearded face peered through the car window. The man took the money, smiled toothlessly, folded his hands in salutation and bowed deeply. ‘And we’ve both got money,’ Dusty started the engine, ‘in the kitty.’

She laughed. ‘There, we’ve got ourselves an ideal marriage.’

When they were back on the road, she said: ‘I’ve got news of Dinesh. I’ve seen him. I didn’t want to write or phone. He escaped to England—he’s a British citizen, and through Sandy, partly educated in England. Dinesh came to see my father, with Alice. He met her in Goa. Together they spent time in an ashram in Poona. I’ll tell you the whole story later, but Dusty, I need, and they need, your help. I’m sorry, but I have to turn to you, and Mohan Singh.’

‘Mohan Singh’s filled me in with some details. And of course I’ll do anything, for you. Only, right now my mind’s buzzing. Longing for you.’ He stopped the car at a siding, within sight of Vikram’s bungalow.

‘There now, you’ve got time enough. Take me to Vikram’s. I must settle down, and rest this afternoon, to get rid of some of the jet lag. Otherwise I’ll be useless this evening. You’re coming over for dinner, I gather. They’re sweet, the Dutts. And it’s Shalini,…You’ve not heard a word I’ve said! Don’t deny it. That hungry look in your eyes is full of…’

‘Kitty, you’ve got the most beautiful body in the world. I’m dying to see it.’

‘You will. Oh, all right, you won’t have to wait till we’re married. We’ll arrange it somehow. It’s not impossible. Now, be sensible. We aren’t in our teens anymore.’

She chuckled. ‘You know, you’re young looking. No one will believe your age.’ She leaned across, kissed him lightly on his ear and sighed. ‘It’s no good me pretending. I’m trying not to be soft, but I am, despite what I said earlier.’

Dusty grinned smugly, started the car and drove up to the gates of the compound of Major Vikram Dutt’s barrack-like bungalow. He blew his horn lightly and the mali, sickle in one hand, ran to open the gate.

‘Gosh!’ she said. ‘Army cantonments are so spacious and clean.’

Vikram came out to the car. ‘Hello, lovers. Come, come on in. We should’ve known, Kitty, this would happen. He took one look at you and he was a goner.’

Shalini was in the veranda. ‘Welcome! Welcome! At last the happy couple! What happened? Was the train late? We’ve been wondering. Never mind, now you’re here. Kitty, you must be tired. Such a long journey. Have a cup of tea, then you rest. Later I’ll get Shambu to prepare two buckets of hot water for your bath.’

‘Thank you Shalini, that is sweet of you, I…’

‘No, Kitty, no formalities. Treat this as your home. Arrey, heard the terrible news. About the cottage, your cottage. I hope the police catch the culprit. Anyway as I say, this is home. As for you, Dusty, you look like cat who’s stolen the cream. Let the girl rest, now. We’ll see you this evening.’

Chapter Thirteen
 

‘I
’ve got a date from Caleb, Father Caleb. He insists on the Father bit.’

‘Yes, he’s High Church.’ Kitty said, watching Dusty remove his blazer and drape it on the back of a cane chair.

‘Sunday, 3 p.m. A week from today.’

‘I’ll send dad a telegram. I know he’ll…’

‘I’ve done that, Kitty. Yesterday, after my chat with Caleb. And he has replied. I told him to send an ordinary cable. Here it is. “Must have good reason for rush Stop Will be there Wednesday Stop Congratulations Stop Love to Kitty Stop” Here.’ He gave the cable to Kitty. ‘I’m sure he’ll phone from Delhi, after the plane’s landed.’

Kitty took the cable and glanced at it. ‘You know, I had plans to go South, to the hills, and get a teaching job. But now, I don’t know how long this Dinesh affair will last, or when, even if, he’ll be able escape…Do you think the Seth was suspicious? I have never known him to be so cold towards me. What did you think of him?’

‘Seth Agarwal? Ruthless. I know his type. They have henchmen to do their dirty work, while they legally cover themselves.’

‘I could see he was impressed by you. I don’t know what you said to him in, was it Hindustani? Yes, he certainly was placated. Mind you he has endearing moments.’

‘Ah, I see. When he told me that you are an
avatar
of the goddess Lakshmi, since only Lakshmi can be so beautiful. That little
mandir
he has in his courtyard, I note is to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. So, you’re susceptible to compliments, after all.’

‘Oh, I could throttle you sometimes.’

‘Any physical contact will be gratefully received.’

‘You get far too much of that. So, he’ll give Dinesh a second chance, and drop the charges against Ransingh?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m sorry about the honeymoon arrangements. I know it’s a shame to spend the fortnight here, but you have a lovely bungalow. It’s new for me. The area too. And a Military cantonment is safe from the evil reach of Seth Agarwal, in case he forgets the goddess aspect and…’

‘Right, you two?’ Vikram called from the house. ‘Shal and I are off to market. Lovely day for it.’ He observed breezily. ‘Back teatime.’

Shalini came up to them. ‘It’s getting hot in the veranda. You should go in. Order some nimbo pani, and relax in front of the TV. Old film starts, twenty minutes from now. Bhai Vikram, what name? The film’s name?’

‘I forget now. Something with Raj Kapoor.’

‘Anyway, Dusty, it will give Kitty some Hindi practice,
Hai na
.’ Shalini laughed. ‘Now that she’s making home in India. Okay, bye, bye. See you.’

They stood, waved and watched as Vikram and Shalini climbed into the tonga.

‘Let’s stay here a little longer. It’s not too hot, and the servants tend not to come out here unless called. Dusty, does Vikram know much…about, you know?’

‘Only about the fire at Fern Cottage and, of course, the wedding arrangements. But I’ll have to confide in Chopra, more. Certainly about Dinesh, because, if I’m going to help, I may need to take time off. I’ll be discreet. Chops is a decent chap and already he has been a great help. He’s booked the Black Elephant Institute for our Wedding Dinner Reception.’

‘Has he!’ She squeaked with delight. ‘I love the Black Elephant Institute. That why I’m so mad about you. You get things done.’

‘And we get the full catering staff. It’s too late for invitation cards.’

‘And don’t forget, Daddy will foot the bill. You’ve agreed.’

He nodded. ‘I have no one. Viks and Chops are standing in as family. The three of us are paying for the wedding cake. Isn’t that the custom, on the boy’s side?’

She looked around, leaned forward and squeezed his hands. ‘And I’m forgiven?’

‘That goes without saying. After all, Dinesh is family, now.’

‘Yes. You know, I didn’t like him at first. I adored Sandy, and Dinesh wasn’t very nice to Sandy. He was a hot head, going through an Indian nationalistic phase. Poor Sandy, bless him, was an unrepentant Anglophile.’

‘My Sam was one too, but from what you said of Sandy, less openly so. Much of all that Anglophile stuff, as I said, rubbed off on me. But now I’ve every good reason to be one.’ He lifted her hand and kissed it.

‘You said your guardian was less open, was he ashamed to be an Anglophile?’

‘Not really. His doctor, Dr Metha, said so once, and Sam said, that if a great man like Voltaire was happy to be one, he saw no shame in it.’

‘But Dinesh has changed. And that’s because of Alice. I told you about her. She’s like a sister to me. Then there’s Ransingh. Such a good, sad man. So…

‘Well, as I keep saying, there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll do anything for you, dear, anything, for you mean everything to me…’

‘Even I know where that comes from.’

‘Lionel Bart.’ He started to sing. ‘I’ll go anywhere, for your smile, every…’

‘Hush, hush! The servants. We must be serious. And get on with our plans.’

‘Then start taking me for granted. I love you Kitty.’

‘I know you do.’

‘And you. You’ve never said it. Said the word.’

‘What word? Marry? But I’ve said it.’

‘That you love me!’

She gazed at him and her eyes softened.

‘Don’t say it Kitty, if you don’t want to, or just because I asked.’

‘Oh, Dusty, it’s just a word. What is love? I’ve been in love so many times, it no longer means anything. All I know is that I want to live with you. Be your wife and spend the rest of my life with you. If all that is love, then, I love you.’

He took her hands in his. ‘I’ve been silly. Of course, you do, and I am the luckiest man in the world.’

‘I’ll prove it. Take me to your bungalow, make love to me, now. I don’t care.’

‘No. It’s only a week. I’ll wait. Let’s make it special. I had planned a honeymoon in a Lake Palace hotel. It was to be a surprise. Loving you in a place and manner that befits your beauty.’

‘Dusty, please darling, don’t go on about my looks. It makes me feel inadequate. I can’t be as special as you make me out to be. I meant what I said. I don’t want you to suffer. You can love me. But can we do our planning first…although, I must say, Dad will be glad to know we waited till after marriage. It’ll put you up a notch or two in his estimation.’