“There are no coincidences my dear. I have another reason to introduce myself to you today because I really need to impose upon you. Come in, sit, I would like to talk with you about something really important, if you have a minute?” He motioned to the wooden bench surrounded by sweet smelling roses. Beth felt safe and entered the allotment passing through the gate and over to the bench. It was a long bench and she positioned herself at the far end. She was immediately hit by the strong fragrance of the surrounding roses.
“What’s on your mind?” inquired Beth.
“I don’t really know where to start with this one,” confessed Anwar looking nervous.
“Start at the beginning or where you feel comfortable,” said Beth, proud of her response.
Anwar positioned himself at the other end of the bench and rubbed his dirt-covered hands on a cloth. He was clearly nervous and Beth could sense this as she waited for him to start. “I had a dream you see. A spirit came to me in a dream and spoke to me while I slept.” Anwar coughed repeatedly as he struggled to get his message out.
“Damn cough. I know this sounds weird but you have to believe me. For the last couple of nights a voice has talked to me while I’ve slept.”
Beth smiled and moved closer to Anwar, “It’s not weird, I understand.”
Anwar continued, “The spirit told me that you, my angel, would be coming to the allotment today seeking me out. I was instructed to tell you of my dream and that you would understand. Beth, I’m dying and I don’t have a long time left.”
“Oh I’m sorry, I …” started Beth.
“Let me finish,” interrupted Anwar. “I have to get this out. Beth, I don’t have much time and I need to ask a favor from you. It’s so imposing that I would expect you to decline. Beth, you have to do this for me. Really, you just have to. I know it’s such an imposition and I may have left it way too late,” pleaded Anwar.
“You’re talking in riddles. Just slow down and simply tell me what you want.”
Sitting on the bench in the sun surrounded by roses Anwar began his tale. Anwar told of a time long ago when he was a young man growing up in Mysore, in the Indian State of Karnataka. Anwar was 21 years old when he first delivered food to the house of a wealthy family. The most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life greeted him. She was so beautiful that she made the famous Ambavilas Palace pale in comparison. He knew instantly that she had captured his heart and there would never be another. Over time Anwar managed to talk with the girl and slowly melt her heart. Week after week Anwar would snatch precious time with her. He wooed his love with notes, poetry, and sentiments of affection. Anwar fell in love with Aklina Akhter. She was the daughter of a wealthy Mysore businessman. Aklina had shiny long black hair. She wore beautiful pale blue saris. She had deep hazel eyes that always laughed and sparkled like the sun reflecting off Karanji Lake. Aklina had one unusual feature. Her left forearm was beautiful and strong, but she had a skin pigment blemish. This blemish was white colored contrasting with her deeply tanned arm. The white birthmark was clearly in the shape of a rose. Anwar called her his “White Rose.”
At first Aklina jokingly referred to Anwar as “Mahishasura.” This was the name of a famous demon from the Mysore Hindu mythology. After a while she referred to him as her “Tiger,” after the large bronze tigers that lay in the Mysore palace grounds. Slowly, Aklina fell in love with Anwar and would sneak away from the house to spend time with him. Like the star crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, Anwar and Aklina were deeply in love, but they were never meant to be. They had realized their families would never agree to this union. One evening Aklina was asked to speak with her father. Aklina was nervous; she thought that their love had been exposed. Her father was in a good mood and looked very excited. She was asked to sit and she felt more nervous. Her father seemed happy, and her Mother looked pale and tense. It was that evening that her parents informed her. Aklina was to be married to a wonderful boy from a prominent family. He was the son of a trusted business associate from Bangalore. Aklina was stunned but remained composed. It was arranged that Aklina would meet with him soon. She was instructed to be a “perfect lady,” and not squander this chance or embarrass the family. Aklina knew this signaled the end of her relationship with Anwar. How could she tell him? What should they do? One afternoon Aklina slipped out of the house unnoticed and headed for the store that Anwar worked in. They met and went to Anwar’s modest place to talk.
Aklina described her predicament and cried. Anwar consoled Aklina. Without thinking they shared their love for each other. As coincidence would have it the young suitor fell ill. He could not make the journey from Bangalore to meet Aklina. She would have to wait before she could meet her future husband. Many months went by, and Aklina hoped that the marriage would fall through. To her dismay she discovered that she was with child. She concealed this fact as long as she could until one night she shared the news with Anwar. He was excited and frightened. What should they do? They would have to leave the “City of Palaces,” bringing disgrace to both sets of families. They needed to plan, as neither had enough money to execute an escape.
Anwar delivered food to the home for weeks but something seemed wrong. Each time a different person would take the order. Where was Aklina? After a while Anwar decided to discretely inquire. What he heard hit him so hard that he was physically sick. The daughter had fallen ill, and the Akhter family had moved from Mysore to get her some treatment. Anwar was desperate and asked everyone he could; no one knew where the family had relocated. On chance, Anwar searched nearby Bangalore and established that the wedding had fallen through. He could not locate Aklina and it seemed he had lost his love, and his child, forever.
Anwar would often visit the Ambavilas Palace. He would rub the nose of the bronze tiger for good luck. Aklina had done in the past. He hoped that they would see each other again one day. After a few years Anwar had heard the family had moved to Cochin. He then heard they had relocated to somewhere in Europe. Aklina and his baby had been lost forever. Anwar was given the opportunity to move to England, and this was a move he could not turn down. He talked of the hard time adjusting to life in England and understanding the West Yorkshire dialect. He worked hard and opened a bakery. It was such a success, and he managed to open seven bakeries before eventually retiring and selling his business. Anwar explained that he never did marry or even court another woman after Aklina. Anwar pointed to fate for bringing him to Yorkshire. Yorkshire is famous for the “War of the Roses.” Its county symbol is the “White Rose.”
Anwar continued, “I have a green thumb Beth. Everyone is complaining about insects this year yet my roses grow strong and beautiful. The white ones are the most beautiful. I often take flowers down to the senior center to spruce the place up a little. I’m known for that. They call me the “Rose Man,” down there.”
“What happened to Aklina? Do you know?” asked Beth gently.
Anwar coughed violently before continuing. “I was taken ill recently Beth. I was rushed over to Airedale. The doctors were pleasant enough but the message was concerning. They told me that I needed to do a series of tests. I knew it was serious. I nearly died. I think I shared that with you, didn’t I?” Anwar avoided eye contact and looked at the dirt. “The doctors say I don’t have much longer. It’s my lungs Beth and it’s spreading. Here’s where it gets strangely interesting. I was sitting having a tea in the small canteen they have at the hospital. I was waiting for my results. A person came and sat at my table. Indians tend to sit together Beth. When we started to chat we realized that we knew each other. More than that, we grew up together in Mysore. Kirit was a servant at the Akhter family house! Now if that isn’t a coincidence, I don’t know what is!” Anwar was shaking his head and rubbing his temple with his left hand. “I remembered this person as a skinny little boy. Here we were a million miles away, both old men, having tea in a hospital in West Yorkshire. I asked him Beth,” said Anwar staring deep into Beth’s eyes. “I asked him if he knew what hap
pened to Aklina.”
“Did he?” inquired Beth leaning in across the bench.
“He did,” said Anwar, his tone of voice deep and shaky. “He did.”
Anwar, slowly and deliberately, outlined the rest of the story to Beth. Puffy white clouds sailed by high above. Shadows danced across the allotment. It could have been raining cell phones, and Beth would not have noticed for she was totally absorbed. Anwar continued with his story. Kirit had talked like two old friends catching up on gossip. The Akhter family was furious at Aklina and held several closed-door meetings. Shouting and the sobbing could be heard. All the servants and staff were sent home for the evening. It took a while for word to filter down to the staff but slowly the story came out. It was apparent that beautiful Aklina had disgraced the family by becoming pregnant out of wedlock. Key members of the staff were let go. The remaining staff was told that the family and their employment were relocating to Kolkata in the Indian State of West Bengal. Kirit decided to leave with the family. The Akhter family relocated to a large house in Kolkata. The father had a cousin who helped him reestablish his business.
Aklina was under great pressure to reveal the father of her child, but she had stubbornly refused. This infuriated her father who disowned Aklina and the child. Aklina’s Mother tried to help, and ensured that Aklina was taken to a medical facility to have her baby. Her father was not supportive.
“I was close to tears as Kirit told me the story Beth. I had to stay composed as he would have guessed it was me,” said Anwar coughing badly.
Kirit continued with what he remembered. “Aklina and her Mother went to the medical facility the day of the birth. It was very basic and not well equipped. The Akhter family could have afforded top quality medical care but the father was a proud man. Aklina seemed to be doing fine until she started to bleed internally. Aklina gave birth to a beautiful, healthy, baby girl. Aklina insisted that they name her Rose. It was an unusual name for an Indian girl, but she insisted the girl was to be named Rose Akhter,” said Kirit shaking his head.
“What happened to Aklina?” asked Anwar in an even but quiet voice.
Kirit just shook his head and looked down at his steaming cup of tea. It was as if the answer was too painful to state. He looked up at Anwar and said, “Anwar, she was a beautiful girl. It was a real shame. She refused to name the father. I considered stating it was I to give her some release from her torture. I was too young, and no one would have believed me. I wasn’t very good at lying. Anwar, she had a real grace about her and she wouldn’t give in. They say her body was cremated but I don’t know for sure. I loved her eyes, her kindness, she was beautiful.”
Anwar asked, “What happened to Rose?” trying not to sound too desperate.
“That’s where it gets sad. The family abandoned little Rose in an orphanage in Kolkata. I have no idea if she made it; the family was disgraced and moved to rejoin another branch of the Akhter family in France. They met a cousin. Srini, I think was his name. I didn’t go with them. I moved back to Mysore and then over here twelve years ago.”
Anwar and Kirit talked for a while, exchanged phone numbers, and vowed to meet for tea. Kirit lived close to Anwar in Oakworth, a small village near Haworth.
“That’s so sad,” said Beth moving closer to Anwar. Beth could feel tears welling up but convinced herself it was the wind stinging her eyes. “So long as little children are allowed to suffer, there is no true love in this world,” said Beth. Beth surprised herself with a quote that she was not remotely familiar with. This was Subra pushing quotes into her consciousness reminding her that he was still there.
“You’re a sweet intelligent child quoting Isodore Duncan to me. For that I thank you,” stated Anwar returning to his coughing.
“Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd,” responded Beth unwillingly.
“Beth, I was a Baker, but in my retirement I have read many books. Voltaire is not a person that I would expect you to know. You’re an interesting individual. I do get your point. No more uncertainty. You need to know what I’m about to ask,” responded Anwar.
Anwar stood awkwardly, and he almost stumbled as his weary legs took on the strain of his weight. He walked carefully over to his dark duffle bag and withdrew two similar sized envelopes. Anwar held one in each hand. Waving the two envelopes in the air, Anwar let his weight hit the bench hard, as his legs gave way from under him.
“This is important, really important, to me. I need you to believe in Rose. I need you to have faith that you can win in this request. If you think you can win, you can win. Faith is necessary for victory. Faithless is she that says farewell when the road darkens,” Anwar said reaching out to hold one of Beth’s hands.
“I’m still not sure what you want me to do, but you know that you can trust me. Quoting William Hazlitt and a modified J.R.R.Tolkien gets me curious, but I’d rather hear what it is that makes you procrastinate so,” said Beth with a touch of impatience.
Anwar smiled, “You’re bright. I have two envelopes and a massive ask. In this envelope is a private letter. It belongs to a woman named Rose Akhter, daughter of Aklina and Anwar. I can feel it; she’s alive. She deserves to know who she is. She needs to know; this letter explains everything. I don’t have long left on this Earth, and my little “White Rose” deserves to know who she is, and how beautiful her Mother was.”
“Her Dad’s a neat bloke too. She’s a lucky girl,” said Beth.
“Thank you. You don’t know your parents do you Beth?”
“No,” responded Beth sharply.
“Then you know how it feels to live in ignorance,” suggested Anwar.
“Stupid is forever, Ignorance can be fixed,” said Beth without thinking. Subra was starting to get good at pushing timely thoughts through.
“Exactly!” said Anwar knowing that Beth was getting this. “This is why I need you to set out on an adventure. I need you to find Rose and give her this letter. I’m too sick and may not have enough time. You’re my only hope,” pleaded Anwar.
“Charm is a way of getting the answer “Yes,” without asking a clear question,” responded Beth.
“Then I take it you find me charming?”
“Yes,” responded Beth. Their eyes locked as smiles broke on each face. Beth moved her hand forward and held Anwar’s hand. “I will help you,” stated Beth confidently.
“In this envelope is the means to find Rose. I have the address of the orphanage she was taken to in India. I have her full name. I have an Indian access visa for a six-month period starting in one day from now. Don’t ask me how I got this. I pulled in a large favor at the Indian consulate. This needs to be glued into your passport. You have a passport don’t you?” asked Anwar.
Beth nodded; she had a valid passport but had never used it.
Anwar continued, “I trust you Beth. You’re like my own daughter in so many ways. If she turns out to be half as smart as you, I’ll be pleased. The envelope contains money, a considerable amount. You may need this to go to India, find Rose, bribe officials, and of course, return. I’m sure you have plenty in here, but the rest is for your faith in me and your troubles.”
“I can’t…” started Beth.
“Yes. You can,” interrupted Anwar. “You must go home and plan immediately. I need you to find Rose and deliver this letter to her. I’ve left you some instructions in your letter, and I hope you have the courage to let your heart guide you into this great adventure. Many people say that when they go to India it touches them and changes them forever. Beth, you need to do this, not for me, but for yourself. I know you think that you’re doing me a huge favor, and you are. You have to trust me. Later, you will think that I have done you a large favor.” Anwar was holding out the two envelopes. One had “Rose” written on it; it was sealed. The other had “Beth” written on it; the flap neatly tucked into the lip.
Anwar smiled, and his eyes started to sparkle as he offered the envelopes to Beth. Beth scrunched her forehead as she strug
gled to understand Anwar’s comments. She felt her body extend her hands outwards in slow motion to take the envelopes. She had noticed Anwar had not coughed in the last five minutes; he was calm. When Beth took the envelopes Anwar lunged forward and hugged her. Beth was not alarmed; she imagined it would feel like this, to be hugged by your father. It felt good, safe, loving.
“Thank you Beth. Thank you so much. You’ve made this dying man happy,” said Anwar excitedly.
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