by Sharon Maas
‘I don’t hate her. It was anger, not hate, that caused the rift.’
‘Well then. If you don’t hate her it’s time to cool down the anger. It’s high time, Kamal. You shouldn’t nurse anger for so many years. It’s really unhealthy.’
‘You’re quite a little guru, aren’t you?’
‘It’s just common sense. That’s all it is. Anyone could tell you that.’
‘So you take her side, do you?’
There was a smile in his voice now, and Janiki knew she had won. Still, she had to make her point clear.
‘It’s not a question of taking sides. I’m just telling you what would be good for you.’
‘Hmmm. Still, she seems to have won you over. What else did she tell you?’
It was Janiki’s turn to smile.
‘Promise you won’t take this the wrong way?’
‘Promise.’
‘She thought I should marry you.’
He laughed out loud. ‘Typical! So typical. And what did you say to that?’
‘I told her you were too old for me.’
‘What! Are you out of your mind? Old? Me?’
She chuckled, and shrugged. ‘Too old, not old. I also told her I was already engaged.’
‘Really? I didn’t know that.’
‘Well, I was. He broke it off just after I got to Bombay.’
‘He broke it off? Really? Why? Stupid fellow! A lovely woman like you, caring and wise and educated as well? What more could he want?’
‘I guess he was more traditional than I thought. His parents weren’t keen any more. Not since my parents died. They wanted a big wedding, which my parents would have provided, and also the fact that I was actually an orphan – they thought it was bad luck. They talked him into breaking it off.’
‘So it was an arranged marriage? I wouldn’t have thought…’
‘No – it was a love marriage. I mean, it was going to be a love marriage. But of course our parents discussed it and approved and all that Indian stuff. You can never really get away from it. We did care for each other. We were going to get married when I returned from America.’
‘So are you very upset?’
‘To be honest, no. He told me via email – what a way to break up with someone! And I was already in the throes of the whole drama of Asha so everything else seemed so minor in comparison. It was like water off a duck’s back.’
She paused, and they walked in silence for a while, each lost in their thoughts. Then Janiki said:
‘And what about you and Caroline? Amma used to say your heart was so thoroughly broken you would never recover. She admired you so much for that.’
‘Oh, nonsense. Of course I was hurt when she dumped me; I loved her, and took my marriage seriously. And I’ve got that thing called male pride, and that was hurt too. And it was tough for a while. But I’m a realist. I got back on my feet. I went to stay in an ashram for a while, and found my spiritual bearings again, and that helped. And then I simply got on with life. What’s the point of nursing a grievance for years and years?’
‘But you know, you’re so cold towards her. At least, what I’ve seen of you together. As if you’re still mad at her. She’s trying so hard to be nice to you and you’re like a cold fish. It made me think you’re still in love with her.’
‘A cold fish, am I? I wasn’t aware of it. OK, I’ll try to be nicer to her in future. But I’m definitely not still in love with her. Not at all.’
‘Rani Abishta also thinks you’re clinging to the past, and that’s why you never remarried. Or showed any interest in women.’
‘Oh really. Rani Abishta said that. What else did Rani Abishta say about my marital prospects?’
‘For someone so furious at her, you seem very interested!’
‘Of course! I want to know what you women get up to when you discuss my future marriage. Go on – what else did she say?’
‘Well – she said she had arranged for you to meet attractive women again and again. But always you refused. She thought maybe you were homosexual. Or you were still grieving for Caroline. Or a would-be monk. Or something.’
He laughed. ‘No to all of that. Those beautiful women who kept bumping into me accidentally on purpose – I might have known she was behind it all. But no. I just haven’t – hadn’t – met the right woman. It’s not so easy. Not in India. Not even in the West.’
‘Especially not in the West. My closest female friend in California, Terri, always used to say I was so lucky to be already engaged. She wanted to find Mr Right but you can’t even mention marriage and kids on a first date, she said, when you’re trying to suss out the basics, like if the guy is only out for a fun time or if he’s serious. And usually it’s the former. Just fun. Pleasure. And pleasure isn’t enough, is it? It can get really frustrating, Terri said, because you have to avoid the subject for months and even years and then when you finally find out he’s commitment-phobic, you’ve wasted a lot of time and energy and emotional investment, and it all ends in acrimony and leaves you with yet another scar so that you’re afraid to trust. But you’re a good feminist and so you put on a brave face and pretend to be just as commitment-phobic and you don’t need a man, and you try again and it’s the same coyness and scars and by the time you’re thirty – she’s twenty-nine – all you are is one big scar and you can’t trust anyone. At least that’s how she seems to me, and she admits it too. With us Indians, you know from the very first date that it’s all about marriage compatibility.’
She stopped for breath and the silence between them was thick as he absorbed what she’d said, and her last two words seemed to echo up to the stars. And it was suddenly embarrassing. Had she been too open? Too… something. She’d spoken the M-word, so taboo in the West. The surf splashed and lapped against the beach in frothy gladness, as if laughing at her silly little speech. So revealing, so unnecessary. So un-feminist. But then, this wasn’t really a—
He spoke into her self-recriminations, and it wasn’t what she’d expected.
‘So, Janiki, does this count as a first date?’
She chuckled. ‘Does that count as an expression of interest?’
They both laughed then, and he said, ‘I guess it’s a yes to both questions, then. No coyness.’
His hand closed around hers, and she left hers there. It felt just right.
Chapter 43
Janiki
Let me introduce myself. I’m not really a foreigner, just foreign-returned and foreign-educated. I’ve been in the USA studying and working for ten years and now I’m back in Mumbai. I have certain tastes and I would like them to be fulfilled. I’ve been lurking for one or two days to get the feel of this place and I think you fellows can help me out. I like this group; it seems very open and yet discreet. A trusted friend gave me the password and so I’m here. Obviously no more personal details. In the coming posts I’ll tell you more about what I like and what I don’t like. I will begin with saying that what I don’t like is vulgarity. I want a cultured girl. A virgin if possible but at least inexperienced, as I want to train her myself. I have a nice apartment in Mumbai and she will live with me as my maid and companion until I tire of her. So that’s enough for now. I am an educated man and I don’t like common girls. I will pay for superior quality.
Janiki read it over, made a few adjustments, copied it, took a deep breath and pasted it into the Lotus Pond forum.
There. It was done. Foreigner was part of the conversation.
Replies came thick and fast. Welcome messages, suggestions, men discussing the perfect age: thirteen? ten? five? Men boasting that they raped babies. Tales of this girl and that. Recommendations. Lewd remarks and jokes. Janiki took a deep breath and joined in. Lord forgive me, she whispered. It is for a good cause.
She kept it up all morning, pausing only to run out and buy herself a cup of coffee. Foreigner grew in popularity. It was possible, on the forum, to add ‘reputation points’ to certain messages and his ‘reputation’ grew stronger
and stronger. A few private messages came through, but none of any consequence. Particularly, a MrBengal shared his taste and understood him perfectly. Such cultured girls like to play hard to get, he wrote, but they are worth it in the end. I have my eye on one myself.
In the space of a few hours Foreigner became one of a close band of paedophiles. He knew the deal. He was demanding, yes, but, as he had said, he was willing to pay for superior quality. No cheap slut from the streets. Only best quality. Fair-skinned. Young, of course (twelve to thirteen was the ideal age), and beautiful. If she could speak English it was a bonus. He himself was from Tamil Nadu. Madras. That was where he grew up. In a very prosperous family. He himself was very prosperous through hard graft. His family dealt in luxury silk.
Janiki was a little nervous about writing that last; it was a little too close to the truth. Yet, what harm could it do? Nobody had contact with Kamal, the real Foreigner, and they wouldn’t know about his background. It was fine.
Around midday a private message notification popped up on the screen. It was from a member named The Vituperator. I might be able to help you, said The Vituperator. How? asked Foreigner.
Just such a girl. All of your requirements fulfilled. Her native language is Tamil but she speaks English.
Can we take this to email? Can you provide a photo? When can I meet her?
Certainly. If you like the photo I can show you her tomorrow. How much are you willing to pay?
What is the asking price?
She is already being reviewed by someone else. If you can improve on his offer she can be yours tomorrow. Just one thing. She is not compliant. Is that an impediment?
Not at all. So much the better. I will make her compliant. A little discipline and a few slaps never hurt.
Very well. Tell me your email address and I will send photo. Once we agree on price I will take you to view her. Only viewing tomorrow. I will meet you at midday tomorrow and take you there. If you like her same-day delivery to your place.
A minute later an email with an attachment popped into her Yahoo account, on the email address she had created just for this purpose.
It was the very same photo she had printed out yesterday. Asha.
OK OK. Very nice. But tomorrow is no good. I want to see her today.
Unfortunately not possible today. Please understand that there is competition for this girl as she is superior quality. We have other bookings tonight.
If you tell me the address I will go and view myself.
I am not disclosing address. You will have to wait till tomorrow. But please note that tomorrow she might no longer be available.
I am telling you I cannot make tomorrow. You absolutely need to prepone the viewing. If you do not tell me the address the deal is off. I will just go and look. I will pay advance for immediate viewing. Money is no object. And if I am liking then delivery tonight to my place. If I am liking I will make an offer you cannot refuse.
A long pause followed, in which Janiki thought the deal was indeed off, or at least, the immediate viewing. She would have to give in, agree to a meeting tomorrow; but then Asha might be gone for ever, sold to a stranger. A viewing today would mean she had to find Kamal, and quickly, but there was no other option. She wasn’t sure she could. Kamal had told her he’d be spending today with Sudesh, the social worker who that coming night would be passing him into the underground, the network that would hopefully lead him to Asha. But now there was no need. Now he could make direct contact; but she had to know the address. Perhaps Kamal could rescue Asha today – delivery to your place! All he had to do was outbid the other suitor. Kamal had money, a lot of it; and so did Caroline. Whatever the price.
The minutes ticked by. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty. Then:
Ping! A new notification from The Vituperator.
Very well. I will give you address now. But you must pay in advance. One lakh of rupees advance only for viewing. You must hand it to the mistress of the house I will send you to. I will inform her that you are coming and of the amount by telephone and she will count it before letting you in. There is a password. It is Blue Lily. If you say the password she will take you to see Kamini. That is the name of the girl. You will view her only through the door, a peephole. No talking and no touching. Tomorrow there will be further price negotiations. As I told you someone has already reserved her for viewing tonight. Whoever offers the better price can have her. If you agree to pay one lakh of rupees for viewing only I will give you address discreetly. This is very special girl, virgin, superior quality. Wheatish complexion. She is worth the price. If deal is off, half of advance will be returned. You must go between three and four. After four, deal is off.
Janiki was shaking as she closed down the computer. She’d done it! Now to find Kamal. She smiled to herself, remembering last night. The walk along the beach, holding hands; the taxi drive back to the hotel, again holding hands. The warmest hug ever at her door, and finally, the kiss that said everything.
She slipped the note with the address into the pocket of her kameez. Hopefully, she’d find him in time. Everything in her laughed as she ran out into the street. Kamal! she cried silently. We’ve done it! We’ve found Asha!
Chapter 44
Caroline
‘We’ve found her!’ Janiki’s voice was so loud Caroline had to hold the phone away from her ear. ‘We’ve found her, Caroline, I know exactly where she is! We’ve found her!’
‘Where – how…’ Caroline could only stutter.
‘She’s in a house in Kamathipura. Kamal has to go and look at her between three and four; the trouble is I can’t find him anywhere. He’s gone out with Sudesh – the social worker – and no one knows where they are. I don’t think I’ll find him in time. God, how I wish he had one of those mobile phones!’
‘If you know where she is, if you have an address, can’t you just send in the police? Why do you need Kamal?’
‘Caroline – you heard what Dr Ganotra said. You can’t trust the police! They are paid by those pimps. They’re absolutely in their pocket – they’re all thugs together. If we run to the police I can guarantee that within five minutes they’ll put Asha somewhere else and we’ll never find her again. No, I’ve set up an appointment for Kamal and he’s the one who has to go – I’ll explain later how, but now I just wanted to ask if you’ve seen him? If he’s been in touch?’
‘No,’ said Caroline. ‘Kamal hasn’t been in touch. The only person I’ve seen since yesterday is Gita. She’s coming to pick me up at two. In fact…’ She looked at her watch. ‘It’s nearly two now. She could be here any time.’
‘Damn. Damn damn damn. I should have tried to force a night appointment, we’d have had more time to find him.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Just thinking aloud. I need to do something, postpone the appointment. He won’t be pleased.’
‘Who won’t be pleased? What’s going on?’
‘I’ll explain later – it’s just that I went to a lot of trouble to get this appointment and Kamal is supposed to go and look at her through a peephole to confirm he wants her and then he can buy her tomorrow. We have to negotiate a final price; but he has to make a down payment today, before he views her. It’s complicated. One lakh rupees he has to advance today.’
‘How much is that in dollars?’
‘A lakh is a hundred thousand. At today’s rate it’s about one thousand five hundred dollars.’
‘I’ll pay it. I’ll go myself. I’ll cash some traveller’s cheques and go. Or go to HSBC bank; Wayne told me he’d wire money to my account there.’
‘Wait. Let me think this through. Someone has to go but he expects a man. They don’t know what Kamal looks like, so any man can go – but the problem is, only Kamal can really identify her. I might be able to get one of Dr Ganotra’s team but they’re all out working right now. It’s too short notice. The money has to be paid to the brothel madam.’
‘Make up some story – tell them Kamal can’t
come so he sent me instead. Tell them anything. As long as I hand over the money – just for looking, that’s a crazy amount – they shouldn’t mind.’
‘An American woman instead of an Indian man? It just sounds fishy. He’d never believe me. He’d know something’s up.’
They both fell silent, thinking. Then Caroline said:
‘I know someone who might do it. If they don’t know what Kamal looks like any man will do, right?’
‘What man is this, Caroline? You can’t just pick a man off the street—’
‘No! Somebody I met. An Indian. Same age as Kamal. I told him the story. He knows. He’ll help, I’m sure. I just have to ask him.’
Yes, Hiran would help. She’d apologise for walking away last night. For being so rude after he’d been so gallant, so helpful. She’d beg him to help. He’d been so supportive; of course he’d do it. She’d promise him anything, anything. He’d said he had today free; maybe she’d find him, ask him, offer herself – whatever he wanted. Just let him go and find Asha.
‘He’ll do it. Janiki. I’m completely sure. He’s nice. He’s helpful.’
‘Well…’
‘Janiki! It’s our chance! We have to, don’t you see? Just give me the address. I’ll go and talk to Hiran – that’s his name. Get the money, and it’s done.’
‘Well I guess that’s a good enough option. You said he knows the whole story?’
‘Yes. I was – I was lonely last night and I told him everything. He really cares, Janiki. He’ll help, I’m sure. I’ll show him a photo of Asha so he can recognise her. Are you sure it’s Asha, by the way?’
‘Absolutely certain.’
