All Rishi could do was nod. He knew enough about the values she was talking about. “I understand, but I wasn’t entirely steeped in that culture, Auntie. I’ve lived most of my life as a white man in England.”
After his long silence Jeevan joined in the conversation. “That is true, Usha. Did I not tell you that although he has a girlfriend, he is basically an honorable fellow?”
Rishi glanced at the old man. “Thank you. It’s kind of you to offer your support.”
“So exactly what are your intentions toward Anju now?” asked Mohan, when his wife sent him a pointed look.
“My intentions are still the same, Uncle: I want to marry her; I want to encourage her to market her designs to reputable international houses of fashion; I want to help promote her career; and by the grace of God I hope to have a child with her.” He put on his most humble face. “I want to do it honorably and with your blessings.”
He noticed with some satisfaction Usha taking a deep breath and settling back a little. Maybe he’d put her mind at ease to some extent. Or maybe not. He couldn’t be sure.
“But you know Anju has obligations, Rishi,” Usha said after several seconds of uncomfortable silence. “She has deep roots here in the U.S.”
“I realize that, but doesn’t she also deserve a life of her own? How long do you expect her to live as a widow and let the business occupy her entire life?”
“She’s our partner and she’s the one who has managed most of the design and merchandising,” answered Mohan. “If she marries you, how will she manage the business?”
“I’ve thought about that, Uncle,” explained Rishi. “Sejal’s graduating soon and she seems to be extremely interested in co-managing the store. I’ve talked to her about it briefly and I think she’s a natural for the job. I’m not saying Anju has to remove herself completely from the boutique; she’ll still have much to do with it. She can visit you several times a year, spend a couple of weeks each time, take inventory, set up the new fashion lines, et cetera. She’d still remain your fashion expert and strategist, but Sejal and Auntie and you can manage the daily operations.”
“What about you?” Jeevan raised his brows at Rishi. “You are also our partner in Silk & Sapphires.”
“I’ll be just as active as Anju. I manage to keep an eye on all my businesses and this one is no exception. It’s Anju’s store. How could I not be involved?”
That particular remark seemed to earn him a little clemency from Usha. “Really?”
“Yes. I want to make her dreams come true—at least some, if not all.” He looked at Usha. “Did you know Anju had dreams of starting an international chain of Silk & Sapphires stores?”
“She told you that?”
Rishi nodded. “Apparently she and Vikram had some long-term business plans?”
“She had dreams, all right,” Usha conceded.
“She still has a chance to realize them,” Rishi emphasized gently. “She seems to love children, and I could give her that as well. Before it’s too late.”
Usha glanced at her husband, probably wondering what his feelings were. But Mohan still appeared a little dazed.
It was Jeevan who took the initiative. “We understand that you want to marry Anju, but how are you going to convince Anju of that? She says she doesn’t want to see you again.”
“I know she’s confused and angry.”
“Very,” said Jeevan.
“But she has absolutely no reason to be. I didn’t get a chance to explain things to her clearly. A minute after Samantha called Anju jumped to certain conclusions and then decided to go home.” He looked at Usha and Mohan. “I could use your help in convincing her.”
“She has a mind of her own, Rishi,” said Usha. “When she’s hurting she withdraws into herself. After Vikram’s death it took us a long time to draw her out. Although she’s very outgoing and friendly, she’s a very private person when it comes to certain things. When she eventually comes out of it, she throws herself into her work till she’s ready to drop.”
“I know. I’ve observed her.” He rose to his feet and paced, hoping to ease the increasing stiffness in his knee. For a minute he mulled over how to deal with Anju, then came up with an idea. “What if I went away for a while? I’m supposed to meet a client in California within the next few days. Instead I’ll leave immediately. That might help, don’t you think?”
Usha gave him a dubious look. “You mean that age-old cliché about distance making the heart grow fonder?”
He shrugged. “Anything that’ll work in my favor. If nothing else, my absence will give her the time and space to put things in perspective.”
“Does she know anything about your trip to California?”
“I told her I was planning on leaving sometime within the week.”
“I will talk to Anju,” offered Jeevan. “She might listen to me.”
“Thanks, Jeevan-kaka, but I think it’s best if Auntie talks to her, woman to woman.”
“I’ll do it, Rishi,” said Usha, “on one condition. I never want to hear about any girlfriends from your past or present. If you have anything sneaky going on in your life, you can forget about Anju. She’s had enough heartache to last her a lifetime. Besides, we don’t tolerate extramarital affairs and things of that nature in the Kapadia family.”
“I understand. Other than Samantha I have no other issues in my life. Any future contact with her will be purely business.”
“You promise to take good care of our daughter?” Usha shot him one of her cutting looks.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“If you make her unhappy in any way, you’ll have me to answer to.”
Rishi stopped in his tracks and turned to her. “You have my promise, Auntie. I’ll take care of her as best as I can. If she’ll have me, that is.”
“And that’s a big if.” Usha rose to her feet and gestured to the two men to do the same. “Now let’s go home and deal with the next problem—Jeevan-bhai’s condition.”
“Thank you for allowing me to state my case,” Rishi said to all three of them.
“So you are leaving for California in the morning?” Jeevan asked him.
“Yes, sir. I’ll check airline schedules straightaway.” He gave the old man’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll ring you when I get there. I should be back in a couple of days.”
“We’ll take good care of Jeevan-bhai in your absence,” Usha assured Rishi as she opened the door.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Rishi couldn’t help smiling as he watched Usha sweep out of the room with Jeevan-kaka and Mohan trailing behind her. She would have made a formidable CEO. He had no doubt about her management abilities. It gave him great satisfaction to know she’d have no problem managing Silk & Sapphires without Anju.
But convincing Anju to accept him was going to be one hell of a challenge.
Chapter 30
Rishi was gone. Anjali learned that nearly two days after she’d had her spat with him on Saturday night. On Sunday, the store had been extremely busy. Most everyone who had wandered in had bought something. That was the only redeeming feature about Sunday.
Although she was wrapped up in serving clients all day, Anjali had noticed Rishi’s absence, felt it keenly. How could she not? He was all she’d been thinking about, and she hadn’t slept much for two nights in a row.
There was no sign of him. Every time the door had opened and the chimes had sounded, her eyes had flown to the door, looking for him. And every time, her shoulders had slumped when a customer had walked in instead.
Rishi was the one who’d thought of celebrating at the Indian restaurant and made the reservations for Sunday night, and yet he’d remained conspicuously absent. Anjali had convinced herself that he had flown back to London and Samantha after realizing he didn’t belong here. The thought had made her ache, the kind she’d experienced once before, from having loved and lost.
When Naren-kaka and Sejal had asked why Rishi wasn’t there for the cel
ebration dinner, Jeevan-kaka had replied, “He is busy with a new project.”
Yeah, a new project called Samantha, Anjali had concluded bitterly, or more like an old project he can’t let go. By the time she and her family had gone home, it was nearly midnight. She had fallen into bed exhausted, and then slept fitfully.
How could she have been so blind about Rishi? But then he’d been convincing in his proposal, so earnest, so persuasive. When he had a sophisticated and successful woman like Samantha, why would he want to settle for Anjali, who was about as exciting as tepid tea?
Today was Monday, and Jeevan-kaka, Anjali, and her parents had arrived at the store in the morning to take inventory, restock, and clean up after the hectic opening weekend.
While Jeevan-kaka and her father had taken care of the paperwork, the two women had unpacked and organized the new shipments in the storage room. Lunch had been a hurried affair with some takeout food from the restaurant down the block. Fortunately, Jeevan-kaka had wanted only a glass of warm milk, and that was easy enough to rustle up in Anwar’s kitchen.
After lunch, Anjali and Usha went about taking care of the large number of special orders they’d taken over the weekend. It meant contacting the fabric suppliers in Bangkok, the tailors and embroiderers in India, and then trying to coordinate their pickup and delivery with the shippers. With the differences in time zones, it had taken up the better part of the afternoon to accomplish everything the way they wanted it.
It was nearly six o’clock now. It had turned dark outside a while ago. Rishi still hadn’t shown up. Where was he? Back in London with Samantha? Supposedly arranging a business loan for her…or something else?
She didn’t give a damn where he went or with whom, Anjali tried to tell herself. She really didn’t.
Picking up her sewing kit, she settled on a stool behind the counter to shorten the hem of an ensemble someone had bought the previous day. At least with a needle and thread and beautiful silk fabric in a rare shade of plum draped over her lap, she could keep her mind occupied.
Her mother worked nearby, polishing some silver jewelry. The two women worked side by side in companionable silence, as they often did. Anjali sensed Usha’s gaze on her every now and then. She could tell her mother was curious to know what was going on.
Anjali knew her parents and Jeevan-kaka had gone out early Sunday morning and met with Rishi. Having remained awake all night, she’d heard the sounds in the house: her parents and uncle having a whispered dialogue, and later the three elders going out the door and driving off. From having overheard her mother’s heated words to Jeevan-kaka in the kitchen the previous night, Anjali had concluded that they had gone out to confront Rishi.
When her mother was on the war path, there was no stopping her.
But despite her curiosity Anjali had refrained from questioning her mother about it. And none of the elders had volunteered any information. It was all very strange, like the code of silence surrounding the emperor’s new clothes. Everyone knew that the others knew and yet no one talked about it.
And Rishi had mysteriously disappeared, just as inexplicably as he’d appeared in their lives. No one talked about that either. Had her parents, in their attempts to protect her, told him to get out of town and leave her alone? Or had Rishi decided he was better off returning to London?
Anjali wanted to know, and yet on some level she didn’t. It would hurt even more if she discovered he had indeed gone back to his former life and lover.
Usha threw her another curious look. But Anjali was in no mood to discuss anything deeply personal at the moment. However, there was one thing she was sure of: this time around she wasn’t going to allow herself to fall to pieces. Life had taught her a tough lesson, and she was older now, more mature, more philosophical.
And she wasn’t going to think about tomorrow. The business seemed to be back on its feet today, her family was with her today, and there was work to be completed today. That’s all she needed. Today.
Suddenly her mother said something that interrupted Anjali’s thoughts. “I wonder how Rishi is doing with his California client.” She made it sound matter-of-fact, but Anjali knew better than to take the bait.
So that’s where he was. Anjali worked her needle and thread silently over the buttery fabric. He’d mentioned going to California sometime soon, but he hadn’t said anything about leaving right away.
Usha claimed her attention directly this time. “Did he mention when he was coming back?”
Anjali shrugged. “Why should he mention anything to me?”
“You two are friends. You go out to dinner on Sunday evenings and all that.”
“We discuss business.”
Usha tossed her a wry look. “I’m sure you talk about more than that.”
“He doesn’t discuss his itinerary with me, Mom. I didn’t even know he was going to California—at least not this soon.”
“What I meant was, since you and he are friends and partners he may have mentioned it to you in passing.”
“He doesn’t answer to me or anyone else. And we’re partners, nothing more.”
Obviously finished with her chore, Usha put the polished silver back, shut the display case, and locked it. “He said he was leaving for California yesterday morning to meet with some new client.”
Anjali had assumed he’d stayed away from the store to avoid her. For that she was both disappointed as well as grateful. She still didn’t know what she wanted. She needed to see him and yet she wasn’t sure if she could stand to look at him anymore. She needed to feel his touch and hear his voice, but she didn’t know whether she’d cringe at both. She’d never experienced such conflicting emotions before.
She was startled when she heard her father calling urgently. “Usha! Anju!”
Her mother was the first one to start running. Anjali dropped the garment and followed on her heels. Something was clearly wrong.
When they got to the office they found Jeevan-kaka sitting on a folding chair, doubled over and clutching his middle. Her father looked frantic. “He suddenly started complaining that his stomach is hurting,” Mohan explained. “I took him to the bathroom a minute ago. He threw up.”
Anju went down on one knee beside the old man. “What’s wrong, Jeevan-kaka?”
“I have this pain…in my abdomen.” The old man’s face was pale and slick with perspiration.
“Have you been taking your medicines regularly?”
“Yes.”
Anjali and her father exchanged a glance. She could see the panic rising in her father’s face. They had no idea what kinds of complications advanced colon cancer could bring on.
“Has this happened before?” Usha asked.
“A few times,” replied Jeevan-kaka, trying to catch his breath.
Anjali turned to her father. “Dad, call 911. He needs a doctor.”
Jeevan-kaka put up a hand to stop him. “No! I don’t want to go to a hospital, Mohan. Your Amreekan hospitals are going to charge a lot of money for giving me aspirin and sending me home.”
“But you’re seriously ill, Jeevan-bhai. You need medical help.”
“Just take me home. My pain tablets are in my bag, and I will take those.”
Usha glared at her brother-in-law. “I don’t care what it costs. We’re taking you to an emergency room.”
Jeevan shook his head. “Usha, I have been in a hospital so many times in the last two years, I can’t even count anymore. They can’t do anything for me. Just take me home. I will eat something and take my prescription tablets and then I should be okay.”
“This is my fault,” rued Usha. “I should have brought something homemade for your lunch instead of letting you drink a glass of milk. An empty stomach is what’s causing this, isn’t it?”
“No, no. This kind of thing can happen with or without food. Don’t blame yourself,” scolded Jeevan-kaka. “Rishi knows this for a fact.”
Anjali rose to her feet. “Rishi has seen you through these episod
es?”
“At least two times.”
“I better call Rishi, then,” Mohan said and started to dial Rishi’s cell phone number. “Maybe he can tell us how to handle this.”
“Don’t bother that boy when he’s busy with a client, Mohan,” pleaded Jeevan-kaka. “He can’t do anything for me. I just need to take my medicine and get some sleep.”
“From now on, you better not come to the store,” Anjali told him firmly. “You shall stay home and rest.”
Ignoring Jeevan-kaka’s directive, her father called Rishi. Meanwhile Anjali and Usha helped the groaning old man out of the chair and gently led him out the back door to the car. “Are you okay?” they asked him a few times until they got him settled in the backseat. Anjali slid in beside him and her mother got into the front passenger seat.
A few seconds later, Mohan came out of the store and got behind the wheel. “Rishi said it is no use taking him to an emergency room.”
“Then what are we supposed to do?” queried Anjali.
“He said we should make sure Jeevan-bhai eats something soft and starchy like plain rice with dal and takes two of his pills. After that we should force him to rest.”
“When is Rishi coming back?” asked Usha, throwing an anxious glance over her shoulder at Jeevan.
Mohan started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. “He’s planning to catch the earliest flight he can get.”
“But he needs to be with his new client,” insisted Jeevan. “Why did you force Rishi to come back for my sake? It is a waste of his time.”
“He says the tour of the facilities and most of the discussions with his client are over and everything else can easily be done on the phone and computer. So he’s going to check on flights right away.”
“Thank God.” Usha leaned back in her seat. “He seems to have such a calming effect on Jeevan-bhai.”
Anjali reluctantly agreed. Rishi did seem to have that effect on her uncle. In fact, he seemed to have that effect on everyone, except her. When he looked at her intensely with those magic eyes of his, or touched her, he got her pulse scrambling madly. But the man was the personification of calm confidence when it came to business. If it weren’t for his steadying influence, she’d never have survived the grueling tension, the fear and excitement of the last few months.
The Sari Shop Widow Page 28
