In the Shadow of a Dream (30 page)

‘Well, I must be mad, to wait when I don’t have to.’

‘Come, let’s get on, before they get back. You’ll be meeting Dinesh in less than a fortnight. I’ve told him to bear in mind that you’ve got a job.’

‘First, I must make notes, so that I am clear about the full story. As I said, I may have to, judiciously of course, let Chops know why and what I’m up to. I’ve already made notes and worked out a plan. I’ll get my brief case. It’s in the dining room. We may as well go there and work at the table. Easier for writing.’

They went inside. Dusty opened his brief case and took out a large exercise book. ‘Right,’ he said, opening the book. ‘I’ve noted down what Mohan said and much of you’ve told me. This is a double check.’

She sat down next to him and leaned over. ‘Gosh! What beautiful handwriting you have.’ He smiled coyly. She stared into his eyes and turned away with a slight shiver. ‘You have such penetrating eyes. You don’t have to see me naked. Those eyes undress me every time you look at me.’

‘How are we ever going to get on with this?’ He pulled her hand towards him just as Shambu entered the room. Dusty quickly pretended to be reading Kitty’s palm.

‘Ho, ho,’ Shambu said rocking his head. ‘Lady has long, long life.’ He was a tall skeletal man with a slight stoop and a benign face. ‘
Nimbo pani
all ready, sahib?’

Dusty looked at Kitty. She nodded. ‘No ice.’

Shambu rocked his head with surprising vigour. ‘Making wid cold bottle water.’ The lime juice drink came on a tray. Shambu filled two glasses from a jug with a steady hand. Then he awaited approval. ‘
Bahut achcha
.’ Dusty said, and Shambu slid out of the room after allowing himself a mystic smile. Dusty and Kitty looked at each other and chuckled.

‘I rather like having servants around,’ Kitty said.

‘That reminds me. I haven’t employed one. Of course, I’ve a batman. They call them orderlies here.’

‘Leave it like that, Sam, for the time being. I love cooking. At least till after you retire and I start teaching; and if…I promised Dinesh I’ll leave Dharamsala after he’s seen the Seth. He wants me to be safe from the Seth’s revenge, when the Seth realises we have put him off his guard and enabled Dinesh to slip through his hands. But, we know the Seth can’t touch me here. Dinesh needn’t know that, and not having a cook will help. It is hard to keep a low profile with servants around.’

‘I will tell my man not to let any caller in while you’re alone in the house. And you must bear that in mind, while I’m on parade or in the office—
daftar
as it’s called. Right. Back to business. Now, why was Dinesh with Sandy and Emma?’

‘Dinesh’s father was married to Sandy’s sister, Dolly. He died when Dinesh was five or six. The marriage had gone wrong. Dolly’s husband took to drink and she was unhappy. So when she got a chance to marry again, she didn’t want Dinesh around and begged Sandy’s help.’

‘Another fostered child,’ Dusty mumbled, but Kitty heard.

‘I know so little about your life before we met. You won’t talk about your past.’

‘As I told you, the past is past. Kitty, I’m what you see.’

‘I read somewhere, that we are what we hide.’

‘Not if one keeps inventing oneself…But, we really must get on…Dinesh grew up hostile to Sandy. He met and arranged his own marriage to Shanti. Excluded Sandy and Emma from the proceedings. Wanted to appear a staunch Hindu, anti-Brit and an Indian Nationalist. Oh, and he was the apple of the Seth, his father-in-law’s, eye. After Sandy and Emma’s death, he gets a plum job to manage Agarwal Hotels Ltd., in Bombay. Then, his servant, I forget the name…’

‘Anthony…’

‘Warned or hinted that Shanti was unfaithful…’ Dusty looked at Kitty.

‘Don’t look at me like that. I won’t be, for no better reason than that sex is rather low on my list of interests. Something in the genes. The Franks are a cool lot.’

‘Franks, that’s an unusual surname?’

‘Not really. Norman, possibly. Where were we?’

‘Dinesh sneaked up and caught Shanti in the act, decided on divorce; whereupon the Seth sacked him, sent an emissary, who failed to get Dinesh to change his mind.’

‘Yes. That was the Munshi, the Seth’s secretary. Kind of. You saw him.’

‘Yes. Good. But I’m not clear about where Alice fits into all this.’

‘I’ll tell you what Alice told me. Dinesh learned that the Seth would rather have him bumped off than face the shame of a divorce scandal…Indians take these things as if it’s a personal affront. Anyway, Anthony got beaten up—and Dinesh realising that the Seth was deadly earnest, escaped with the injured Anthony to Goa, in his car, then got rid of it, so as not to leave a trail.’

‘And Alice?’

‘He met Alice in Goa. At the time she was a disciple of a Hindu guru. You know, like the Beatles and their Maharishi, but hers was a serious commitment. They spent time together at the guru’s ashram in Poona. Both were emotionally vulnerable, but Alice felt sure the Ashram would give enough protection from the Seth’s assassins. But the Seth managed to get his spy in. The man pretended to be a Brahmin, but he was discovered. He had made some ritual mistake. I don’t know what. I think he did something a Brahmin wouldn’t do and was exposed. But he managed to smuggle in Shanti and she made a scene. Both were asked to leave the ashram. After that Dinesh and Alice couldn’t stay on, and Alice realised that the only safe haven for them was England. Fortunately, Dinesh, like Sandy, is a British citizen, but there were certain things he had to do before they could fly to England. I won’t go into the details now, but from what Alice said, it was quite an adventure for them. Dinesh knew a hotel in Poona, managed by some friend of his whom Dinesh had helped, and from whom he borrowed a car…’

‘But, Kitty, how did they manage to leave the Ashram without…?’

‘Oh, the Guru decided to help, and his chauffeur took them in the Guru’s Rolls.’

‘Rolls? Rolls Royce?’

‘Yes. I gather these Gurus are rolling in it…’ She laughed at the accidental pun. ‘That reminds me. Didn’t you say Chopra has a brother in Poona, who runs a hotel? I wondered, because Alice said that this hotel friend of Dinesh was a Chopra.’

‘Chopra is quite a common Punjabi name. It would be helluva coincidence if it turned out…I’ll check with Chops. It will go in Dinesh’s favour if it is his brother.’

‘They then drove to a Raja’s palace—another friend of Dinesh—who had stored his stuff when he had to leave Bombay in a hurry. I can’t recall the name, but Alice said the Palace looked like a French Chateau. From there they drove to Bombay, and left the car there, got to the airport and flew to England.’

‘And in revenge the Seth got his men to set fire to Fern cottage, when he thought it was empty, with dreadful results. By the way, Kitty, why didn’t we see Shanti?’

‘She said she wasn’t well. But I saw her in the courtyard with Manjit, the boy she claims is Dinesh’s son.’

‘They probably thought we’d know at once he was not; and they won’t want that noised abroad.’ Dusty shut his note book and put it back in his brief case, ‘we’ll now have to wait for Dinesh’s arrival, and take it from there.’

Chapter Fourteen
 

T
ed Franks walked out on to the veranda and gazed across the fields. The smoky morning mist had risen and settled behind the stately Dhauladhar Mountain Range, marking the distance between them and the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. They shone faintly against a golden sky. The orchards on his left were filled with pink and white blossom, and the air was filled with the scent of spring.

Kitty had noticed her father was silent during breakfast and wondered if his mind was wrestling over something that was troubling him, but decided to postpone asking till after she had finished packing for her trip to Goa. When she came out to join him she was still in her dressing gown. Her slippers made her approach a silent one. She stopped some distance from Ted and studied the back of his head. It was a shock to see how grey he was and how vulnerable he looked.

‘Daddy,’ she called out softly.

‘That you,’ he said without turning round.

She went up and put her arm around him and drew her face close to his. ‘Daddy? Daddy, you’ve been crying. Why, my love?’

‘Not to worry,’ her father said, ‘much were tears of joy. It’s a beautiful morning.’ He fumbled in his pocket, took out a handkerchief and blew his nose. ‘I have to say, Dusty’s gown fits perfectly.’ He chuckled.

‘But you are worried about something.’

‘Not so much worried as mystified. The wedding’s postponed, and I don’t see how or why you both are so relaxed in the circumstances.’

‘Daddy, it seemed a bit heartless, to say nothing of it being a distraction, in the face of all this threat to Dinesh and Alice’s happiness. Only the arrangements have been cancelled. Look at it positively. It’s saving you money.’

‘Kitty, money is the least of my worries. And what about the booking at the Black Elephant? Cancelling that must have caused problems. I was surprised to find even Brigadier Chopra is relaxed about it all.’

‘The Black Elephant is a club. In fact, Dusty said that the Secretary of the Institute had to put off another party in order to fit us in and please the Brigadier. He will be relieved. But Dad, you and Dusty had a long, happy talk last night after dinner. You could have discussed your worries with him.’

‘Like everyone, I’m in awe of Dusty. He has such a daunting presence and always comes across supremely confident and in control.’

‘Dad, talk to me. I can’t bear to see you troubled about anything.’

‘Don’t misunderstand me. I know it had to be done. What with all this business of Dinesh, and Shanti and the Seth. Both of you have done wonders with the Seth, and with the help of Mohan Singh, you are bound to save Ransingh’s life. My worries are about your future. Are you sure, are both of you sure, this is what you want? Do you really love each other enough for a lifetime? You’re always up and about and he seems quite relaxed about it. Kitty, don’t look at me like that. No one would think you two are in love. The wedding has been…well, all right; but now you’ve taken up this short term job in this convent school in Goa.’

‘Daddy. We are not youngsters. Goodness, Dusty will be forty-five this year, and I’m no chicken. There, once Ransingh is freed and Dinesh has escaped back to Alice, we’ll celebrate, make up for the wedding party we did not have, and live happily ever after. As for long term plans? Well, we’ll honeymoon in the South, in the Nilgiri Hills, and while there, set about starting a school for orphans, which Dusty and I will run together.’

‘I feel sorry for poor Father Caleb. Now I shall book my flight back to London, to my dear Alice and Kay…’

‘You’re making me jealous. But daddy dear, didn’t Dusty tell you. We are getting married. We couldn’t let Father Caleb down. Not after he’s published the banns! No the church bit is going ahead. A bit hush, hush, with you as a witness.’

‘But there has to be two witnesses, as far as I remember.’

‘Caleb’s wife and young Joshua, his son is standing in. Tomorrow afternoon. If you two hadn’t got into a philosophical discussion, Dusty would have remembered to tell you.’

Ted laughed, and gathered Kitty in his arms. ‘You are always my dearest, Kitty. And there’s no need to be jealous.’

‘You know dad. The age difference between Dusty and me is about the same as that between you and Emma. You were more like a father to her than a brother. It is how Dusty treats me. Yes, he’s relaxed, as I am, but we dearly love each other, and I am happy. Now smile, and promise me you and Alice’s mother, I mean Kay…’

‘Yes, Kitty. When Dinesh gets back, he and Alice, Kay and I, intend to have a joint wedding. By the way, you know Alice is due in a month or so. I’m glad you convinced Dinesh that she had to be with Kay in Ludlow and not waiting for him in some hotel in Calcutta, as was the original plan.’

Chapter Fifteen
 

T
he pleasant looking young man wore an expression of mild concern. He was the last passenger to get off the train and warily watched the
coolie
running towards him. Pointing to a brown leather suitcase, which he had dragged on to the footplate, he surveyed the platform expectantly. Dusty had no difficulty picking him out and walked up to him casually. ‘You must be Dinesh Thakur,’ he said. ‘Follow me and try not to look…no, we’ll save the handshake for later. Just relax, I’m trying not to draw attention to us. You can be sure Seth Agarwal has his men keeping a watch on the station.’ He gestured to the
coolie
to hurry. ‘
Jaldi, jaldi.
I have a staff car and a uniformed driver, so you relax.’

Dusty marched briskly towards a mat olive-green Morris Hindustan, while Dinesh did his best to keep up with him. The uniformed soldier in the driver’s seat got out and held the rear door open for him. Dinesh got in, followed by Dusty. They shook hands and Dusty introduced himself. ‘Cheer up, old chap, as long as I’m around, not a hair of your head shall be harmed.’ He grinned and Dinesh smiled. Dusty’s bluff manner was beginning to have its calming effect on him. ‘Thank you,’ he said. There was no mistaking from his clipped speech and the way he moved that Dusty, though not in uniform, was an army officer; and his immaculately pressed blazer and grey flannels completed the picture.