Where the Secret Lies

by Gandhi, Malika

  ‘Dev Bhai (brother)?’ said Anjali. She put the finished bottle down and handed little Anjali, who had fallen asleep, to her mother.

  ‘Anjali?’ Dev stood still for a moment, taking Anjali in. ‘Is this really you?’

  ‘It is Dev Bhai.’

  Dev took Anjali into his embrace. ‘We thought you left us. But here you are, alive.’

  ‘Dev Bhai, so much has happened...Neha and jijaji. (Sunil)...’

  ‘If they were here now...’ Dev looked towards the shrine of his best friend and sister in law.

  ‘Anjali, thank God you are safe,’ Payal, Dev’s wife embraced her. ‘You are home now.’

  ‘Payal bhabhi,’ Anjali embraced her back. ‘Dev Bhai, I want to introduce you to someone.’ She walked to Mohan. ‘This is my husband.’

  Anjali told the story of how she met Mohan, how he rescued her and of their journey to Lucknow. She revisited the refugee camp, the girl, and the stories they heard. She told them about Chameli and all were overjoyed to hear the horse was alive and well.

  ‘We married quietly and in private. There was no music, dancing, laughter – only us.’

  ‘May God bless the two of you,’ her mother smiled.

  The afternoon turned to evening, dinner cooked and eaten. Little Anjali woke and played from time to time and Anjali took to attending to her every need. She did not want to lose a moment with her. The happiness of gaining her mother, sister, and niece, albeit losing Neha and Sunil, allowed her to control her grief. However, she knew – this was not home anymore. Her home was in Lucknow and her future lay with Mohan. She was a momentary guest in Rajkot.

  Mohan and Anjali left Rajkot after staying a few days. Anjali hugged her family and promised a return soon. She kissed little Anjali and held her until Mohan insisted she give her back.

  ‘I love you Ma, Meera,’ cried Anjali. ‘But I love you more, sweet Anjali.’

  Mohan and Anjali waved as the tonga took them to the station.

  Anjali lay next to her husband. The weather turned to wind and rain and she listened to the anger. She couldn’t sleep; horrible nightmares of death haunted her.

  It was three weeks since Anjali and Mohan’s trip to Rajkot but still, Anjali was restless. She cried a lot and when she did not, she lay on her bed, unable to function. Mohan didn’t know what to do to ease her grief.

  He lay awake also most nights, listening to her cry.

  ‘Please Anjali, you must stop this,’ he said.

  ‘I can’t, Mohan ji. I cannot stop thinking of Neha...of her heartbreak. I miss them so much...’

  Mohan rocked her in his arms. ‘I will always be here for you, my love. Now close your eyes, let sleep come to you.’

  Anjali smiled at her husband and kissed him on the cheek. He responded back by kissing her full on the lips. Anjali laughed then suddenly she became limp.

  ‘Anjali? Oh God, Anjali, wake up! Someone, call the doctor!’

  ‘Well,’ the doctor smiled. ‘You have nothing to worry about, Mohan. Anjali is going to be fine.’

  ‘Why did she faint doctor?’ Mohan asked anxiously.

  ‘Mohan, your wife is pregnant. You are going to be a father. Congratulations.’

  ‘I am going to be a father and my Anjali...a mother?’

  ‘Yes,’ laughed the doctor. ‘But Anjali needs a lot of rest and she must not be upset...’

  ‘But why did she collapse?’

  ‘Listen Mohan, Anjali has been through a lot of grief. You told me she has lost her sister and brother in law. Yes? Anjali is very weak – in her heart. She will need you Mohan, and you must make her happy.’

  ‘I love her with all my heart and she will never be unhappy,’ said Mohan.

  ‘Congratulations Anjali, you are going to be a mother,’ Mohan kissed her forehead.

  ‘Mohan ji, have you been crying?’ Anjali touched her husband’s face. It was wet.

  Mohan took her hand and kissed her palm.

  ‘From this moment, you will be treated as a queen. You will not be upset anymore, do you understand?’

  ‘I understand Mohan ji,’ smiled Anjali. ‘Um Mohan ji, I am feeling hungry. Can I have a mango?’

  Mohan laughed. ‘Anything for you.’

  ARIANNA

  SEVENTEEN

  The conversation seemed to go well, Arianna thought, until she brought Rani to her parents. Poor Rani was trembling from head to toe. Father, mother and daughter stared at each other, the silence deafening. A short while later, Arianna was asked to leave the room which she did promptly.

  She stood outside and heard an explosion of raised voices. Rani began to cry as her mother shouted obscenities. Arianna did not hear Rani’s father speak at all. The door opened minutes later and a tear-stained Rani ran out.

  ‘Rani!’ Arianna called but she stayed rooted – in two minds to go to her or not. Would Rani talk to her or should she leave her alone?

  ‘Memsahib, do you need something?’

  Arianna found the maid smiling at her...the same one whom she bumped into the other night.

  ‘Oh hello.’

  ‘Do you need something Memsahib?’ the maid asked again.

  ‘Why are you calling me Memsahib?’ asked Arianna. ‘Please, call me Arianna.’

  ‘I’m sorry, it has become a habit. Perhaps you don’t remember, but we met once.’

  ‘We did?’ asked Arianna. ‘You must have mistaken someone else for me...I would know if I met you.’

  ‘We met a long time ago. If you are sure, you don’t need anything...a drink or something to eat, I will go.’ The maid began to walk away.

  ‘Wait,’ Arianna said. ‘What is your name?’

  The maid smiled but did not answer; she went away.

  What was it about her, why did she make her feel uneasy? Arianna needed to speak to this girl again; to find out more about her. Perhaps then, she would understand what was happening and why the maid seemed to be significant to her.

  Khushboo perched on the end of the bed and began to paint her toenails.

  ‘How did it go?’ Khushboo asked when Arianna entered the room. Khushboo admired her handiwork as she painted another nail.

  ‘Not good,’ Arianna sighed, plopping herself on the bed. ‘Rani ran out of the room after speaking to uncle and auntie. It doesn’t seem the argument went her way.’

  ‘I did say it was a waste of time.’

  ‘When did you say that?’

  ‘Didn’t I? Well, I am saying it now.’ Khushboo blew on her shiny gold nails. ‘Okay, I’m finished. Let’s go and see her.’

  Arianna rolled her eyes.

  Khushboo rapped her knuckles on Rani’s door. Arianna could hear soft crying coming from within.

  ‘Rani, open the door. We know you are hurting. Open the door, Khushboo and I want to talk to you.’ Arianna said.

  A moment later, the door opened by a teary Rani who went back to her bed. She drew the covers around her and buried herself.

  Oh God, she really is in a bad way, Arianna noted.

  ‘You are going to tell me I am a fool. I knew it wouldn’t work and now it is worse...’ came a muffled cry from Rani.

  Arianna and Khushboo exchanged bewildered looks.

  ‘What happened?’ Khushboo asked.

  ‘Ma screamed and said she wished I was...I was dead. Papa did not say or do anything but I saw the disappointment in his face. I have disgraced my family.’

  ‘Will they not see it your way at all?’ Arianna asked. ‘Didn’t your parents fall in love and get married?’

  ‘How did you know?’ Khushboo asked, surprised.

  Arianna shrugged. ‘People talk. Rani, you could use that argument against them.’

  ‘I did,’ a small smile appeared on Rani’s face as she appeared. ‘It backfired. My parents are from wealthy families and my grandparents, my nana and dada, knew each other from a long time. It was just fate that both my parents fell in love and who were right for each other in every way.’

  ‘What are
you going to do?’ Arianna asked.

  ‘You could run away,’ suggested Khushboo.

  ‘Khushboo!’ Arianna was outraged.

  ‘On second thoughts, perhaps that is a bad idea,’ Khushboo said sheepishly. ‘Well, why don’t you talk to your fiancée and ask him to call the wedding off?’

  ‘He won’t agree.’

  ‘You don’t know until you ask,’ said Arianna. She handed Rani her phone. ‘Give him a call and meet him today. You have nothing to lose.’

  Rani took her phone reluctantly but didn’t make the call straight away.

  ‘You can do this,’ Arianna urged and Khushboo nodded.

  They waited with awaited breath until Rani finished her call.

  ‘I’m meeting him in an hour,’ Rani said at last.

  Whilst Rani was away, Khushboo, Arianna, and Tianna went into town with Nikhil and Jignesh. The girls shopped and Nikhil and Jignesh decided to ponder off to a place where they sold alcohol.

  The girls met up with Nikhil and Jignesh after they finished shopping.

  ‘I think we should hire a taxi and see some of Lucknow, what do you say?’ said Tianna.

  ‘We should ring home first,’ advised Arianna.

  ‘Yes, of course big sis. Can I have your phone? I have run out of credits.’

  The taxi driver was a nice man and agreed to take the group of five on a sightseeing tour for a small price.

  Nikhil asked him to take them on the scenic route. He wanted to show everyone other splendid homes.

  ‘Have you been to Lucknow before?’ asked Arianna.

  ‘A few times,’ said Nikhil.

  The taxi driver was well known of this route and talked of the excellent architecture and design.

  ‘Amazing,’ Arianna said as she saw immaculate gardens and colourful flowers and plants. Tianna clicked away on her camera.

  ‘Let’s stop here and walk. Tianna, you will be able to get better pictures,’ suggested Nikhil.

  The group trooped out and the driver drove away. They came upon a man watering his plants outside his house.

  ‘Namaste,’ Khushboo said.

  ‘Namaste beta,’ the elderly man said. ‘May I help you?’

  ‘I hope you don’t mind but we were admiring your home. It is beautiful,’ said Arianna.

  ‘Thank you very much. This small haveli was built in the 17th Century and it is still here,’ the man said proudly. ‘Would you all like to come inside? I can show you around and tell you more.’

  ‘We don’t mean to pry...’ Arianna said, taken aback by his generosity.

  ‘You are not, come in, please. I like having guests.’

  They walked into the grounds like tourists and oo’ed and aah’ed in all the right places. The man introduced himself as Alok and proceeded to show them his home decor and furniture collection of which he was very fond of, Arianna observed.

  Alok’s wife came to greet them. She wore a friendly smile and dressed simply. Servants pottered around, working quietly.

  ‘Please, take a seat,’ Alok’s wife said. ‘You are all very welcome.’

  ‘I have a son and two daughters. My daughters live in England and my son in Germany,’ Alok said when Arianna mentioned she and Tianna were from London.

  ‘Have you been to England?’ asked Tianna. ‘When you come again, you must come and visit us!’

  ‘Europe can get very cold,’ commented Alok, smiling. ‘Thank you, I would be delighted.’

  A servant brought glasses of juice and snacks.

  ‘Please, help yourself,’ Alok’s wife gestured. ‘I am sorry but you will have to excuse me. I have some things that I need to attend to.’

  ‘Please,’ Alok said when no one took any food or drink. ‘Don’t be shy.’

  ‘I am hungry,’ Jignesh took a sandwich.

  The banter began and everyone relaxed, enjoying the food and company. No one noticed the darkness outside until the lights came on.

  ‘Now you must tell me, what brings you to Lucknow?’

  ‘We have come to a wedding,’ said Khushboo. She told him whose it was and Alok nodded. He knew the family quite well through business.

  ‘They are delightful people,’ he said. ‘Do you know, the haveli has a very interesting history?’

  Everyone leaned closer.

  ‘Please do tell us,’ said Tianna.

  ‘Well, the haveli was once owned by a Muslim family,’ Alok began the tale.

  The haveli was once very beautiful, more than it is today. The owner loved entertainment – music, laughter, and good food was part of his life and part of his haveli. The family’s ancestors were Moguls so wealth ran through generations.

  In Lucknow, the Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities got along as brothers. Every Eid, the family – the Khans held a party which the whole of Lucknow was invited to. In respect, the Hindu and Sikh communities invited them to their Diwali and Vaisakhi celebrations.

  When Mahatma Gandhi came to India, everything and everyone changed. It happened gradually. At first, all religions united. They joined hands and fought valiantly against the British Raj for a few years, then Partition of India was announced and the faiths became enemies.

  No one knew what happened to the Khans after they fled. Some believe they were murdered but we will never know. The haveli stayed empty for a long time.

  Eventually a young couple moved in – Mohan and Anjali. They had a few good years together but then something happened.’

  ‘How do you know all this?’ asked Tianna.

  ‘Stories are told from generation to generation, beta. My father told me about the haveli when I was about your age. I became interested in history and began to read. I searched the history of that particular haveli and read about an incident in the paper.’

  ‘What incident?’ asked Arianna.

  Khushboo’s mobile rang stopping Alok from answering.

  ‘It’s Ma,’ said Khushboo. ‘She is wondering where we all are. We will have to go home.’

  ‘Well, I must not let you stay any longer. It has been a pleasure meeting and talking to you,’ Alok said.

  ‘Alok, thank you for such a wonderful evening,’ said Arianna.

  ‘You are welcome my dear.’

  ‘If you don’t mind, I would very much like to hear more about the haveli and this incident. May I visit again?’ she asked when everyone was busy getting to the front door.

  Alok gave her his business card. ‘It would be an honour. Give me a call anytime.’

  The group bade goodbye and left in Alok’s car. He insisted they let his driver take them home.

  The news they received was good. Arianna cheered quietly – the groom cancelled the wedding!

  Arianna, Tianna, and Khushboo sat together as they heard the details from Rani.

  ‘I spoke to Akash in private. I told him I did not want to marry him and I was in love with someone else. He was disappointed of course but he listened and

  understood. Akash is a nice man – I was wrong about him but I do not love him. He promised he would cancel the wedding. He wanted a happy marriage and a happy bride. He told his Ma and Papa when I left.’

  ‘What did they say?’ Tianna gasped.

  ‘Ma blamed me of course even though Akash told them he wasn’t ready. Well anyway, my mother shouted at me for ruining her life.’

  ‘Are you happy?’ asked Khushboo.

  ‘Yes I am. I want to see the world, see “life” before I marry anyone. I want to become someone and not a trophy wife. All this is possible, because of all of you,’ said Rani.

  ‘Does that mean we have to go back to London early?’ the disappointment was great on Tianna’s face.

  ‘I don’t know Ti, I just don’t know,’ said Arianna.

  That night, Arianna lay in her bed thinking about Alok and his story. She could not go back home, not until she knew the mystery of the haveli and the reason of the bizarre events that seemed to involve her.

  ANJALI

  EIGHTEEN

&nbs
p; 1954

  ‘Be still, Kajol,’ Anjali scolded her youngest daughter.

  Kajol screwed up her little face.

  ‘Don’t make a face like that. Now hurry, your school bus will be here soon.’

  Anjali finished plaiting her daughter’s hair. She sighed; no matter how careful she tried to be, Kajol’s tight curls refused to behave. Anjali resorted to oiling the hair before binding it tight every morning. Kajol hated oil in her hair and moaned.

  ‘You have such wild hair, I have no choice. It’s a shame your hair is not straight like your sister’s.’

  She kissed Kajol’s cheek and handed her, her tiffin and school satchel.

  ‘Go and wait with your sister,’ she said.

  Kajol joined her elder sister, Deepika who was five years old. Kajol was four. The bus arrived and Anjali saw them off. She went back into the house to finish tidying the girls’ room. Even with ten servants, Anjali insisted on tidying the girl’s room herself. The girls shared a close bond and Anjali never wanted it broken. Their room was special and so Anjali refused the servants to clean.

  She now laughed aloud as she stood in the middle of their disorganised room. Bed covers lay on the floor, soft toys scattered the room and colouring pencils and papers dotted the bed. Tucking the end of her sari into her waist, Anjali began to tidy up.

  Mohan doted on his daughters. After work, he would take them into his arms and the three would talk, laugh, play, and sometimes argue too. Anjali would stand a short distance and observe, a smile playing on her lips.

  Mohan found work in a small cycle shop five years ago. He worked as an apprentice, working himself up the ladder to ownership status of several shops around the district. Anjali took care of the haveli, the children, and supervised the servants.

  Looking at the clock now, she realised she was late for the weekly card game at Mrs Shah’s residence. She changed into a blue silk sari and combed her hair into a high beehive. She made her face up with heavy eyeliner, blue eye shadow, and sheer pink lipstick.

  Satisfied, Anjali grabbed her handbag from the dressing table and directed the driver to take her to Mrs Shah’s residence.