Golden Girl

by Cathy Hopkins

  Pia didn’t notice him. She was too busy taking in our location – the illuminated pool, the bougainvillea that cascaded down the surrounding honey-coloured walls, the night jasmine, the pretty table settings. ‘It’s like a fairytale perfumed garden, isn’t it?’ she said as she sniffed the air and continued looking around. ‘And don’t you love the way the burgundy tablecloths match the door and window frames and everywhere else is cream? Great colour combo.’ She pulled out her camera. ‘Go and stand next to the wall, by that painting,’ she instructed, then clicked away as I posed in front of a life-size mural of galloping horses. After that, she made me stand next to another mural of a camel, then in front of an enormous pot that held a full-size palm tree, one of the many positioned around the pool. ‘Haha,’ she said as she clicked. ‘I’ve made it look as if the plant is growing out of your head.’

  ‘Very artistic,’ I said.

  ‘Just one more,’ she called. ‘Over here.’ She led me to an arched, purple doorway. ‘Nice backdrop to your dress, now big smile, hold it . . .’

  As I posed and pouted, Pia was joined by a petite blonde lady who was also holding a camera. ‘Are you in the movie?’ she asked and took my picture. ‘I’m doing a piece for World magazine.’

  ‘Oh no,’ I said. ‘Just friends of the family.’

  The lady’s face dropped and, without saying anything else, she disappeared off into the crowd.

  ‘Probably off to find someone actually famous,’ I said as I looked around at the glamorous crowd who all seemed to know each other. ‘I feel like a gatecrasher.’

  ‘Rubbish,’ said Pia, as she accepted a glass of juice from a passing waiter. ‘We belong here as much as anyone. Don’t forget that we’re guests of the Lewises. Chill. For all anyone knows, you’re the next big teen star. Talking of which . . .’

  I followed her glance over to where Shreya was making her entrance through an archway on our right. The blonde lady was right there with her camera clicking away as Shreya preened and posed. She looked amazing in a short white cocktail dress, her hair pulled up and back from her face, gold jewellery dripping from her throat and ears.

  Pia laughed. ‘Now that’s how it’s done, a real star entrance. We must remember that for going into assembly when we’re back at school.’

  ‘Yeah right,’ I said. ‘I don’t know how we’d make our black and white uniform look like vintage Hollywood or, in this case, Bollywood chic.’ I watched as Shreya surveyed the crowd as if she was looking for someone. Bingo. She found him and made a beeline for him: JJ. He spotted her, quickly excused himself from the man he was talking to and headed rapidly towards me and Pia. When Shreya saw this, a look of irritation crossed her face.

  ‘Have one of these canapés, they’re yummy,’ said Pia, who appeared oblivious to Shreya’s annoyance on the other side of the pool.

  JJ took a canapé then turned to me. ‘Want one, Jess?’

  I looked at the tray that was being offered and a feeling of queasiness swelled inside me. ‘Um, no thanks.’

  JJ scrutinised my face. ‘You OK? You’re looking a little pale.’

  ‘I know. All of a sudden I feel a bit weird. Must have been the boat ride,’ I said. ‘I never did have sea legs.’

  Pia helped herself to another canapé as Alisha, Prasad and Kunal came over. They looked fabulous. Kunal in a coffee-coloured, embroidered Nehru style top and linen trousers, and Prasad in a white silk suit with a white T-shirt and white trainers.

  On the other side of the pool, I noticed Jefferson Lewis chatting to Shreya. A few seconds later, Shreya moved on to talk to someone else then spotted Kunal with us. She beckoned him over to her. I watched as they bent their heads close together then glanced over at me like they were talking about me. Probably having a laugh about my ringtone ruining the filming, I thought. I turned my back to show I didn’t care what they were saying when Mr Lewis called JJ to join him. JJ went over, then appeared to have an argument with his dad. I saw his jaw clench as Jefferson said something to him. JJ folded his arms as if trying to shut his father out. He glanced over at me, then Shreya drifted back to join them. She was all smiles. What is going on over there? I wondered as my stomach churned again. ‘Um, Pia. I’ve just got to go and sit down for a while.’

  Kunal appeared at my side. ‘Please allow me to escort you,’ he said and he took my arm and steered me towards a bench in a quiet alcove.

  ‘Sorry,’ I said as I sat down. ‘I don’t normally – God, I feel weird.’

  He took my hand. ‘No need to apologise. Can I get you some water?’

  I nodded. ‘Please.’

  On the other side of the pool, I could see that JJ was still with Shreya. He didn’t look happy. She did, though. Kunal returned and handed me a glass of iced water. He touched my cheek gently and said, ‘You have a temperature,’ just as JJ glanced over at us. A flash of annoyance crossed JJ’s face.

  ‘Would you excuse me a moment?’ I said to Kunal. I crossed the room, only to see JJ disappear into the crowd to his right. I went in the direction I’d seen him go but couldn’t find him. I went a bit further then heard his voice. He was behind one of the enormous palm plants, talking into his phone. ‘So, do you get the picture? It’s just not working with Jess,’ he said. ‘I need you out here now to take her off my hands.’

  My heart sank. Oh no. Take me off his hands? Who’s he talking to? And what does he mean, it’s not working with me?

  I was about to step out and confront him but hesitated. He might think I was snooping. Listening in on anyone’s phone calls, especially a boyfriend’s, is so not cool.

  Suddenly Kunal appeared behind me. ‘How are you feeling?’ he asked.

  ‘I . . .’ Another wave of nausea swelled inside of me. Pinpoints of light flashing off the swimming pool hurt my eyes. Floor tiles with concentric circles at the bottom of the pool in the same burgundy as the tablecloths started to spin. ‘Not great.’ I had a metallic taste at the back of my mouth. ‘I think I need to . . .’ I clapped my hand over my mouth.

  ‘Over there,’ said Kunal and pointed to a sign that had a painting of an Indian goddess on it. I rushed through the door as fast as I could. Pia came running in after me.

  I made it to the loo just in time.

  ‘Whoa!’ Pia exclaimed as I puked my guts out.

  Moments later, Mrs Lewis burst in, followed by Alisha. I sank to the floor then slid down to lie on the cool marble floor, all dignity forgotten.

  ‘We need to get her back to the hotel,’ I heard Mrs Lewis say.

  ‘Can’t move,’ I groaned. The thought of a boat ride across the lake made my stomach swell again. I knelt up, groaned and crawled to the loo and puked again.

  ‘Oh dear. Alisha, find the manager. Tell him we need a room here,’ said Mrs Lewis. ‘She can’t travel in this condition.’

  ‘Mff,’ I agreed. I was in real pain. All I wanted to do was lie down in a dark room. My stomach ached, my head was splitting and my mind was whirling with a blur of images. JJ, Shreya, Kunal. I was aware of someone helping me to my feet, then being walked to a room where I collapsed into a cool bed. I sensed that Pia and Alisha were in the room as I drifted off into a deep sleep. At one point, I opened my eyes to see that a bald Indian doctor had appeared by the bed. He was talking to Mrs Lewis.

  ‘An unfortunate case of Rajasthan rumbles,’ he said. ‘Sister of Delhi belly and the Jaipur jitters. In plain English, food poisoning.’

  ‘Have you anything she can take?’ asked Mrs Lewis.

  ‘I have just the thing,’ said the doctor.

  It hurt too much to listen or to keep my eyes open, so I closed them again. I felt Pia take my hand.

  ‘Come on, Jess. You have to swallow this tablet,’ she said and she lifted my head to drink water and take a pill. ‘It will make you feel better.’

  I swallowed the bitter-tasting tablet then sank back into the pillows. I felt so weak that even lifting my head had worn me out. ‘I’m not going anywhere,’ said Pia. ‘You just sle
ep now.’

  ‘I’m here too,’ said Alisha.

  ‘Choo,’ I said. I meant thank you, but pronouncing the words was too much effort. I let myself drift off. I couldn’t believe it. The one night I’d been looking forward to for ages and JJ was with Shreya while I was alone in a strange hotel room with a devastating dose of the Rajasthan rumbles.

  ‘You awake?’ asked Pia.

  ‘Umpf,’ I said as I attempted to open my eyes. It felt like someone had stuck my eyelids together then clobbered me over the head with a hammer, but at least the feeling of being seasick had gone. ‘Wow. Where are we?’

  I was in a strange room in a rose pink, curtained four-poster bed. Not the Taj. The events of the previous night came flooding back. ‘Oh God. Did anyone see me do the technicolour yawn?’

  ‘Only Alisha and Mrs Lewis. It was quite spectacular. Explosive, in fact. You feeling better?’

  ‘Ish.’ I sat up. ‘Where are we?’

  ‘Imperial suite at the Shri Niwas. Pretty, isn’t it?’

  I glanced around. We were in a dome-shaped room painted in shades of green with deep pink curtains and chairs and three borders of lotus flowers stencilled around the top of the walls. ‘Yes. Wow. Shame I’ve slept through it. Did you see JJ last night after my pukeathon?’

  Pia shrugged. ‘Not really. I left the party with you. I was worried. Really worried. He texted to ask if you were OK, though.’

  I drank a glass of the water next to the bed and glanced at my watch. It was one o’clock. ‘Have I been asleep all this time?’

  Pia nodded. ‘Yep. Snoring and dribbling.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Well, snoring.’

  ‘Aw, P. And you stayed with me?’

  ‘Mates,’ she replied. ‘You’d do the same for me. Mrs Lewis stayed here at the hotel too. She was worried about you and took the room next door. She also had my books delivered. At least you got out of study time. She called a short while ago and said that, if you’re up for it, she’s booked us in for a healing schmealing trip to some kind of massage centre. Aruyvedic, I think she said. Said it would be just what you need. A few healing herbs and some healing hands.’

  ‘I thought we were going to Jaipur today?’

  ‘No chance,’ said Pia. ‘You need to chill. JJ and Alisha have gone, though. She called to see how you were too.’

  As my head cleared, I had a nagging feeling inside that I’d forgotten something. Or had I had a bad dream? I made myself think back over the previous night. No. Oh no. JJ’s phone call. I hadn’t dreamt it. I quickly filled Pia in on what I’d overheard.

  She sighed. ‘Oh, Jess. I don’t know what’s going on there but I do know that Shreya was going on the Jaipur trip this morning.’

  ‘Maybe JJ’s left me a message on my mobile. Have you seen it?’

  Pia shook her head.

  ‘It was in my bag. I’m sure it was,’ I said.

  Pia got up to look for it. She found the bag and emptied out the contents. ‘Nah. Maybe you dropped it when you ran for the loo. I’ll check if it’s been handed in at the hotel. Sure you had it with you?’

  ‘I . . .’ I wasn’t sure of anything. ‘Last night’s a bit of a blur. Hey. What happened to Goa? Wasn’t Shreya supposed to be going there?’

  ‘She was but Alisha said that when Shreya tried to get JJ to go to Goa with her, he turned the tables and talked Shreya out of it and persuaded her to stay.’

  ‘To stay? I’d have thought he’d have been glad to get rid of her.’

  ‘Seems not. Alisha doesn’t know what’s going on either, apart from the fact that Shreya found out about JJ’s birthday bash. I’m so sorry, Jess, but we’re mates and I know you’d rather know the truth about what’s going on. Whatever happens, I think you need to speak to him. You can use my phone.’

  She found her mobile and handed it to me. I was about to text then changed my mind. ‘Later,’ I said. ‘I . . . I don’t know what to say yet.’ I glanced down at the phone. ‘Hey, there’s a message from Kunal on here. Two in fact.’

  Pia nodded. ‘Both for you. He wants to see you later if you’re up to it. I think he likes you.’

  I laughed. ‘Well, if he still wants to see me after the Rajasthan rumbles, he must really like me. He was very sweet last night.’

  ‘I think he’s got the hots for you.’

  ‘Maybe I should see him later,’ I said. ‘He’s kind, he’s handsome and it will show JJ that if he’s going to mess me around, I can play the same game.’

  Pia frowned. ‘JJ doesn’t strike me as someone who plays games.’

  ‘That’s what I used to think until I heard him saying that it wasn’t working with us. Now I’m beginning to think that the reason we never got any time alone together was because secretly he wanted it that way. I wonder when he changed his mind about wanting me along on the trip? On the plane? When my mobile went off at the movie shoot? When he saw Shreya? Maybe he’s realised I don’t belong in his world.’

  ‘No way, Jess. You really have to get over being so down on yourself. We’ve been through this before: just because his family have money doesn’t mean that we’re excluded because we don’t. OK, yeah, some people with dosh might think like that, but I really don’t think JJ does. He’s bigger than that.’

  ‘Maybe. But something’s going on with him and it all started to go weird when Shreya came on the scene. There’s something he’s not telling me.’

  ‘Perhaps. Just don’t do anything impulsive until you hear his side of things, Jess. Rule whatever number we’re up to in the relationship guide book is: don’t ever assume you know what’s going on in your other half’s head.’

  ‘I heard him, Pia. I didn’t make that up or imagine it.’

  ‘Fair enough but . . . be careful with Kunal,’ said Pia. ‘Alisha said that out of the two brothers, he’s the player. Bit flash, you know. You don’t want to do anything stupid with him and blow it with JJ.’

  ‘I guess,’ I said. ‘I don’t know, Pia. This trip is so not turning out how I expected, not on any level.’

  ‘Try not to think about it too much,’ said Pia. ‘We can text Alisha later and find out what’s going on.’

  I grimaced. ‘That’s a hard one. JJ’s her brother so she won’t want to tell tales on him. I wouldn’t want to spy on Charlie.’

  ‘Yes but I don’t think she’s that keen on Shreya and you’re her mate. I’m sure she’ll keep us posted. And in the meantime, go with the flow, that’s what I think. Let’s try and enjoy what time we have here, OK? So, if you can, get out of bed and let’s hit the aruyvedic centre.’

  I nodded. I didn’t want to ruin Pia’s time by being miserable. All the same, I had a sinking feeling inside when I thought of JJ travelling with Shreya, exploring new, exciting locations when it should have been me with him. ‘Bring it on,’ I said as I got out of bed, tripped over a cushion on the floor and bashed my head on a chair.

  ‘You OK?’ asked Pia, as I rubbed my forehead.

  ‘Ouch. Yes. No. I don’t know.’

  Pia laughed. ‘Yes, no, don’t know? Hmm, that’s clear. Really, Jess, you’ve got to stop drinking first thing in the morning.’

  I held out my palm. ‘Talk to the hand. The head is concussed.’

  ‘No difference there, then,’ said Pia.

  ‘Huh. The sympathy didn’t last long. You’d make a rubbish nurse.’

  After a light lunch of toast and plain yoghurt for me, vegetable curry and dahl for Pia, Mrs Lewis came to collect us and we drove out to the healing centre by the lake.

  ‘I’m looking forward to trying this place and I’ve seen Jaipur so it’s no sacrifice,’ said Mrs Lewis after I’d apologised for the hundredth time for my epic throwing up. ‘Now, how are you feeling?’

  ‘Bit weak still but much better, thank you,’ I replied as our driver parked outside the centre surrounded by gardens. It was such a relief to be feeling normal again apart from a slight headache. The thought of a relaxing treatment was very welcome.<
br />
  A young bearded Indian man in traditional white clothes came out to meet us and ushered us along a veranda into a cool, dark wooden reception where he gave us brochures listing the various treatments on offer.

  ‘Mmm,’ said Mrs Lewis as she inhaled the potent herbal scent that permeated the building. ‘I feel good already.’

  ‘It’s rosemary,’ I said. I recognised the smell from Gran’s garden.

  Mrs Lewis and Pia opted for a facial and after Mrs Lewis had explained to the man behind the desk about my Rajasthan rumbles, it was decided that I should have the detoxifying and reviving full body treatment.

  ‘Sounds great,’ I said. A soothing massage with scented oils would soon put me right again. Perfect.

  Minutes later, three smiling Indian ladies in red sarongs came to collect us then led us through a maze of dark corridors to the treatment rooms. Mine was at the corner of the building where a brown leather massage table was waiting on a veranda that opened into the garden. My masseuse told me that her name was Sushila and handed me what looked like a plastic nappy.

  ‘Everything off,’ she instructed, ‘put this on, then lie on couch.’

  She left me alone and I looked around for a changing room but there didn’t seem to be one so I slipped off my clothes, put on the nappy thing and lay face down on the couch.

  Pia stuck her face round the door and cracked up laughing. ‘I’m just next door. Mmm, sexy. Want me to take a photo to put on Facebook?’

  I clasped my hands to my chest. ‘No way. You dare!’

  Pia grinned. ‘Later,’ she said, then disappeared.

  Sushila came back a few minutes later with a younger companion who she introduced as Usha. She put on a CD and the sound of someone chanting the word Om over and over again filled the area. As I lay on the couch, they poured what seemed like a litre of oil on me then both of them started massaging. Up and down, and up and down. Then the pummelling turned to light slapping.