by Carol Holden
“Would you like to go over there and go into the temple?" Dr Menon asks.
“In a little while.” Simon answers. The feelings going through him are touching a mainstream that has not been there before and he needs time to adjust to them.
He has not been brought up with any sort of organized religion but his parents have certainly taught him right from wrong and they have given a good set of values for him to live by.
“I’m ready to go to the temple now.” He tells his grandfather and they cross the bridge and enter the temple.
Simon feels a connection to his grandfather that wasn’t there before entering the sacred place and he touches his arm as if to steady himself, he feels the flow of love between them. His grandfather kneels with his hands in the prayer position and Simon does the same. He stays on his knees and tries to remember what his grandmother taught him on how to meditate. He does the breathing and soon he is in a state of peaceful thought. He stays in this position until Dr Menon touches his sleeve to indicate the end of the prayer. They stand together and leave the temple.
“Thank you for bringing me here, I feel a little closer to the father I should have had.” He tells his grandfather, who is feeling a great love for this boy who he has just met.
“I feel it is a privilege to bring you and I am proud of you for the way you have behaved in the temple.”
Dr Menon shakes his hand and they return to the car for the journey back home.
It is a long journey and they are both tired but happy when they reach home.
“I will have to meet my friends tomorrow and tell them of Ben’s misfortune. They have a hotel booking now the festival is over and we will go too if you wish.”
“No Ben is better off where he is and we would rather you stay with us until the time you have to go home,” says the doctor
“Mark is coming on the 20h to see us off at the airport before we leave.” Simon says.
“The ladies will entertain your friends for dinner tomorrow night,” his grandfather says. “I would have liked to have met Mark before you leave but as he is busy with his project and just has time to see you and your friends off on your journey home, I will have to hope we meet him in the future,” he continues.
“I’ll meet my friends tomorrow and I’m sure they will be grateful for a civilized meal and some different company,” Simon answers.
The front door bursts open and Sahida and Taz shout together
“The wanderers return.”
Chapter 34
Simon gets up early the next day and goes to see if Ben is awake. He isn’t, so Simon goes out to the garden to wait for him. Ben has difficulty showering and dressing himself because of his broken limbs so Simon helps him. They make a joke of it and after struggling and laughing they manage to dress Ben in lightweight pants and a tee shirt, as the temperature is getting high.
Sahida joins him in the garden and she is disappointed to know that Mark will not be in Kathmandu long enough to meet the Menons or to stay with the family for the one day he is coming to Katmandu. She asks about Mark’s life and why he is here at this time.
Simon tells her of the life Mark has lived the past fifteen years. His job as a civil engineer, traveling the world on project work and this last one in Nepal building a bridge over a river in the eastern territories and Mark’s wish to have a go at Mount Everest before he is too old.
“You seem very close to your cousin Mark.” Sahida says.
“Yes he is my favourite cousin because he loves the mountains and it’s probably because of him, as well as my parents, that I have had this interest in climbing all my teens,” considers Simon.
“I know he was your mother’s favourite nephew. She was so thrilled when he came to visit us in Pokhara.”
“He is her only nephew.” Simon says with a smile. “But he is a very special member of our family.”
“Your family sound special, tell me about them.”
Simon considers and then tells her about his two grandfathers at home, Charlie who is David’s, Simon’s father’s dad and Joe who is Sarah’s dad and the one they say brought his mother home from Nepal.
“No-one has told me about my mother’s stay here and all this has been a shock to me. I’m waiting to see Mark for him to put me in the picture.”
“How is your mother?” Sahida asks.
“She’s fine and I’m waiting to see her when I get home to ask her about what happened here all those years ago. I had no idea that David is not my real father and I feel let down by all this secrecy.” Simon replies with sadness in his eyes.
“Don’t get upset about this. For us it’s wonderful and I’m sure Sarah has only kept the secret for your protection and perhaps also for David, your dad.”
“I know that my dad cares as much about me as he does about his own child, Anne.” Simon says thoughtfully. “He has been a wonderful influence on me and Charlie, his father, has taught me about the wild life around the lake where our house is situated. Charlie lives with us, he lives in another area of our house and he has been there for us all mine and my sister’s lives.”
“Although you have been found by this other family and we are so astounded for this to have happened, we know that you have this other real life at home in Britain and that you will soon be going to university and spending many years studying to be a doctor.” Sahida tells him as she puts both her arms around and brings him into a close and loving hug.
Simon feels a connection to his new aunt and as he pulls away he smiles at her and tells her. “I’m sorry if I sounded upset but I know you know that I feel so confused. I am so grateful for the way your family has treated Ben and myself and I hope that we will see each other again many times in the future.”
“Tell me about your sister.” Sahida says.
“Oh Anne is great, she’s sixteen and is now on her “A” level course. She got very good results in this summer’s exams and the family has gone to France and taken her friend, Jackie, with them. Last year we all went to Scotland and all the family managed to climb Ben Nevis. My mother needed a bit of encouraging up the last bit but we all got there in the end. It was the last time we were all together for the summer. Both my parents work in education so we all have long summer holidays. I have missed them this year but I wanted to come here before I go to university and my mates were all in the same mind.
Anne is a lovely little sister but she had better not hear me saying that; she is full of life and due to her red hair she has something of a temper. Her colouring comes from our father but David’s hair has darkened as he has become older.
She’s vivacious and she is beginning to attract boy friends. Well Ben and the others all have a soft spot for her and she acts as if they are her brothers too.”
Sahida can see that her subterfuge has worked and his mind is taken of his problem as he remembers the life he has at home.
Chapter 35
The time has come when Simon has to meet his other two friends, Pete and Luke; he makes his way to the cheap hotel where the group stayed when they first arrived in Katmandu, almost three months ago.
Pete and Luke have finished their longer trek and wondering what has happened to Simon and Ben, when Simon walks into the reception area to ask about his friends.
“They booked in this morning and they are showering and getting rid of the many days growth of face hair,” replies Mia, the receptionist, wondering why the other two are not with them. “What happened to you two?”
“Ben and I left the other two up in the mountains and then Ben had an accident and is now on crutches. We have had to find alternative accommodation as you were fully booked up, with the people staying over for the festival. We have been invited to stay where we are until we leave on the 20th, I’m sorry if that has inconvenienced you,” replies Simon.
“No of course not, how is Ben now, will he be able to return home with you?” Mia asks.
“Oh yes, he is doing very well on his crutches and he is feeling mu
ch stronger, so he will be able to come home with us.” Simon is relieved that he has now cancelled Ben and his two night’s stay at the hotel.
He waits for his friends to appear and then he tells them of their mishap and listens to their enthusiastic tales of their adventures.
“We were so sorry that you could not have finished the trek with us. How is Ben?”
“He’s doing fine now. We were very lucky to have been rescued by the visiting doctor and brought here to the main hospital. The doctor’s the one that rescued us and her father, who is a bone specialist, gave us rooms in their house because all the hotels were full, including this one, because of the festival.” Simon tells them.
He has decided not to tell these other two friends what has happened to him because he needs to see his mother and David first.
“You have been invited to dinner tonight at the Menons and I’m sure they will make you as welcome as they have us. Mark will be here tomorrow and Ben and I will come here to meet him. Come on then, you can carry on with your exciting tales when we get there.”
The three of them meander through the streets of Katmandu absorbing the colourful street scenes on their way to the house. Pete gives him a burly hug saying, “I’m so sorry you couldn’t stay with us up on the peaks, they were so stupendous.”
“I know, but Ben was in such difficulty at the high altitude and I know you two were impatient to get still higher, so I’m pleased that he survived his sickness and his accident. Don’t tease him about it but it was quite funny how it happened. We saw a lodge in the distance and he was jumping for joy when he fell off the mountain.
The three of them were laughing as they arrive at the house and Ben gave a shout of glee when he saw them.
“Hi you two, good to see you,” he welcomes them. They gather around him because they are glad to see that he is o.k.
“We’ve been worried about you but we knew Simon was in his doctor’s mode and would look after you.” Luke says with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Let’s see how you manage those crutches,” Pete says as he plonks them in front of Ben.
“Come on then, I’ll race you to the garden gate,” laughs Ben.
They set off down the garden path and Ben holds his own, laughing breathlessly, at the looks of admiration from all his friends.
Sahida and Taz come out into the garden wondering what all the noise is about.
Simon introduces his friends and they settle down around the garden table and Mrs. Menon serves them with tea.
Pete and Luke are so relieved to have come down from the mountains to find this civilized company that they relax in the sunlight and enjoy the banter of the others, as they relate the happenings and tell their own adventures, with wit and candour.
The sisters enjoy their youthful boastfulness and with smiling faces they enjoy each other’s company.
The older Menons join the party and when Simon introduces them he does not mention the relationship to himself.
Dr Menon can see the problem Simon is having with telling his friends and understands that it is not Simon’s secret to tell, and he is proud of the boy’s sensitivity. He will see that the rest of the family will respect Simon’s wishes.
He knows that Ben is respecting them.
The evening is beautiful there in the garden, the fog having been cleared as a warm breeze comes in from the south. Dr Menon is really of retirement age but he does not look it and he is needed in his post at the hospital. He is in reasonable health and although his wife and daughters worry about him working, he is content in what he does. He is an attractive man for his age, a straight upright figure with a steady look in his warm brown eyes. He gives people confidence in his ability, and he is friendly and helpful to his patients. He takes an interest in Simon’s friends and chats away with them on their level, because he remembers his trekking days, when he was their age. Mrs. Menon just loves young people and her charity work has to do with social matters, as well as, education for some of the children in Katmandu. The conversation is lively and they carry on with it when they retire into the house for the promised meal. Taz takes a photograph of Simon and Dr Menon and gives it to him to keep before he goes to the airport, she writes their phone number on the back so that he will have no excuse not to keep in touch with them.
The lads are tired when they take their leave and Simon promises to see them the next day, when Mark should be back in Katmandu to see them off at the airport
Mark arrives at the hotel in Kathmandu about lunchtime of the twentieth and finds Pete and Luke in the reception waiting for Simon and Ben to arrive. Simon knows the time to leave his new- found relatives has arrived and he is sad but he is also keen to be home to see his mum and dad and find out the truth from them. Ben thanks the Menons for all they have done for him; he now feels strong enough to travel home. Simon thanks his grandparents and aunts and promises to write when he gets home and also to keep in touch whilst he is at university. He feels a bond with them all and wishes to see them again soon.
The taxi takes them to the central hotel where they pick up Mark, Pete and Luke and then carry on to the airport. Mark pays off the taxi and goes into the airport building with them, staying until it is time for their homebound flight.
Simon is quiet on the plane and Ben understands his somber mood, but the other two keep up the conversation and the joking, until tiredness overcomes them and they fall into a fitful sleep.
They have to change planes at New Delhi and the lads help Ben by getting him a wheel chair and whooping whilst they run with him through the airport. Simon holds on to one handle with the wish to steady his friend’s progress, and to stop the attention the group is inviting. The plane arrives and the wheelchair passengers are taken first. The friends meet up with Ben again when they are seated on the plane ready for takeoff. Ben’s crutches are in the hold ready for him to use again when he reaches Manchester. The flight is long but they sleep for part of it and waken when food is served or they need a drink. When they reach Manchester, Simon rings home and David meets them at the airport. He takes the others home and waits whilst Simon helps Ben with his crutches to the front door where his mother is horrified to see the plaster casts on his leg and wrist.
“Whatever has happened to you Ben?” She cries.
“I’m fine.” Ben tells her. “And Simon has looked after me since the accident and I’ll be able to go to university on my crutches. I shall be losing my pots in about two weeks and I can manage until then.”
Simon reassures Ben’s mother and leaves him there on the doorstep whist returning to the car.
Simon gets into the passenger seat and David opens his arms and gives him a hug.
“We’ve missed you so much, your mother, sister and I, we have been waiting for this moment for you to you come home.” David tells him when releasing him from his hug.
Simon has been wondering all the time on the flight home how he was going to react to his family at home. He remembers all the things the family have done together, the mountains they have climbed, the holidays in France and all the happy times he has lived through. He remembers how he felt different at school to the other children. His skin is darker than his mother’s but not very dark, more like a good suntan. His grandparents and other members of his family have always shown him love. Charlie and Joe have been great to him all his life, Charlie taking him for walks when he was quite small and pointing out the things of interest around the lake, and Joe taking him to football matches and teaching him how to fish. David and his mother have taken him to art galleries, museums and theatres in London and Manchester. David had also taken him to music festivals, where they had taken a tent and slept under the moon.
“Why do I have to have this other family who seem so strange to me? They are lovely like my family at home, but their ways are not in my experience, and I am so confused.” Simon thinks. “I liked the meditation and the candle floating down the river for my dead father, but how am I going to confront my mother who
knows nothing about the time I have spent with the Menons?”
“Are you alright?” Asks David with a pondering look on his face.
“Yes I’m o.k. I’m a little bit tired.” Simon replies.
“Well let’s get you home so you can have a meal and a good sleep. Your mother has the red carpet out for you and Anne has helped her to make you your favourite meal.” David says.
The journey home from the Airport passes with Simon telling David about the festival, and meeting Mark before he came home. He hesitates to tell about the Menons, wondering if David knows the story about his mother working in Pokhara, and hoping that he does know because he does not want to cause David any heartache.
His mother and sister meet him at the door as they have heard the car coming up the drive. Charlie arrives at the same time from his part of the house. The table is set for five as Charlie has been invited to join the family for this welcome home dinner.
“Oh my God you have grown since we last saw you,” cries Sarah as she folds her son in her warm arms and tears fill her eyes as she welcomes him home.
Anne embraces her brother and Charlie makes it a hug for three.
“It’s so good to have you home lad.” Charlie says as he holds Simon in his close embrace. “We have missed you and I don’t know what we will all do when you go to university next week.”
Sarah smiles at Charlie and says, “We can’t hold him back from his chosen career, and we will see him more often than we have these last three months, we hope.
