by Carol Holden
“It’s good, I love the work but I have not been qualified long because when I came there was no medical school within the University and although my grandfather and aunt trained me at the hospital, it was not possible to get a degree until four years ago. That is when I met Mula, she was a student along with me and we have been married now for one year. Our baby is due to be born in two month’s time and Mula has just started her maternity leave.”
“Do you remember anything of the terrible car crash you had in the French Alps?”
“No, I was told that the rest of my family had perished in the crash and the only other relatives were my grandfather and his family. It was he who came to bring me here. I have no memory of the other family or anything that happened before the crash. I love my life here and I feel that this is my home.” Simon replies.
“Have you been told about your mother and all your relatives back in England?” Mark wants to know.
“Sahida is the only one who has told me about her friend Sarah who had taught school with her. She tries to explain how she was, her personality and her warmth, and how she adored my father, who died before I was born. But I have no memory of them and as they died in the car crash I had no connection to them. My grandfather tells me that Taz found my friend and myself stranded in a mountain village where she attended a small clinic there. She brought us back to Kathmandu, where she and my grandfather attended to my friend’s broken bones. It was Festival time and we could not get accommodation in any hostel or hotel so they kindly looked after us, until it was time to leave and go home to England. They recognized me as my father’s child and they have been wonderful. My grandmother taught me the language and some of the culture, she taught me to meditate and I am very close to her and all the family.” Simon tells him.
“You have a family at home Simon. It was not your parents who died in France. It was the family of your friend Jack and your parents were told you were dead. They went to your funeral in France and because of that they did not know that you were still alive. Sarah, your mother and David, the only father you have ever known, retired and for a treat they went on a cruise to the Caribbean and met a boy who was taught by Sahida and Sarah and because you had attended his father, as a doctor, he told Sarah of it saying he thought it was Taj, your birth father because you are so like him to look at. He told her that Sahida had introduced him as Simon, her nephew. That is the reason I am here to find you and let them know that you are well and safe. They would have come themselves but your sister, Anne, has just given birth to your niece and they were needed to help with your little nephew, Dan. I must tell your family in England that you are safe and well and about to become a father.”
“I’m sorry but I have no memory of any of it. No memory of coming here before but I know I must have done because Dr Menon, my grandfather, has told me of that time and Sahida has told me of my English mother but I believed the whole English family was dead. That is what my family here was told by the French Authorities and my grandfather came to the hospital to bring me home. I did not recognize him at my bedside but he said I had a photograph of the two of us together so I believed what he had to tell me.” Simon says.
“There has been a sad misunderstanding, your family here were told that your English family were dead and your English family were told you were dead.” Mark explains. “But you have been living here whilst your mother, father and sister have been grieving for you, what do you want me to do?”
“I don’t know, you promised to contact them if you found me, didn’t you?” Simon replies. He feels something of a confusion he has felt before but his mind will not clear to let him make sense of it.
“Yes, I promised to let them know as soon as I found you but I will have to find a land line because I can’t get a signal on my mobile here. I know they will be waiting for my phone call, with impatience, because Sarah, and all the family, became frantic when she told them of the story she had heard of you being here, from Raj,
Anne, your sister, has not been told that you may be alive because the baby was due and she was not very well. Because of these circumstances I have come to look for you instead of your parents.” Mark tells him.
Simon is confused and distracted as he tries to come to terms with this strange situation. Mark rubs his forehead in an effort to find a solution.
“Do you want Mula to know of these problems or would you rather come to a conclusion of what steps you want to take, before you tell her?” Mark asks.
Simon knows that Mula will support him, she has a strong character and nothing seems to upset her.
“Lets go inside, I want Mula to know this story before I decide to contact anyone. I feel happier Sahida being here as she will be able to explain to Mula what my mother is like. We have not talked a lot about my past because we thought all my English family was dead and my family here is considerate about my loss of memory. They know I sometimes feel confusion and sadness and they have always helped me out of these moods. My grandmother talks to me about my father and she only has kind words for my mother, who she knew for such a little time.”
Mark puts his arm around Simon’s shoulder and they walk up the path to the house together.
Chapter 44
Sarah has begun to feel happier about Anne and her young family because Daniel is coping well with the new family unit, and Anne is breast- feeding Amy, who is always cooing and growing well. Daniel is enjoying his role as father and is doing his best to make Anne comfortable and happy. It is a lovely time for the young parents, as they need this period to rest and adjust to their joint responsibilities.
Now that Anne seems settled Sarah is anxious to hear from Mark and willing to be off to Nepal with David, who is feeling the same. He enquires about travel times and they are both ready to be off at a moment’s notice, when they get the call from Mark.
Meanwhile Mark and Sahida are filling in the story for Mula, who seems to show great interest in it, as she holds Simon’s hand to support him. Simon is still confused but because he is very fond of Sahida and knows that she will not mislead him, he begins to try to follow the events that have happened to him.
He turns to Mark and begins his questions;
“Tell me the names of my English family please.”
Mark replies. “Your mother’s name is Sarah; your father’s name is David. He became your father when you were about three years old and you chose him and he has been a great dad to you. You have a sister called Anne who has two children called Dan and Amy, their father is called Daniel and Amy is just two weeks old.”
Mark continues. “Your paternal grandfather is called Charlie and he lives in a part of your house, so you have had his influence all your young life. He has always adored you. Your maternal grandfather is called Joe and your maternal grandmother is called Mary and all the family have always doted on you Simon.”
Mula grips Simon’s hand and tears show in her eyes as she says.
“Oh Simon I am so sorry that you don’t remember them, they seem such a lovely family.”
Simon asks. “How are you my cousin, Mark?”
“My mother is Sarah’s sister and we have always been a close knit family and when Anne was feeling unwell just before her baby was born, Sarah asked me to come out here and look for you.” Mark replies. “Your parents will be on their way as soon as I can get a message to them that you are safe and well.”
“Why did my mother not tell me about my birth family? Why did she not ever mention my birth father and his sisters?” Simon asks with a puzzled look on his face.
“Your mother was devastated when your father died and I was in the area trekking at the time and I came to her cottage to find her in a terrible state. I rang her mother and father, my grandparents, and they flew out to take her back home. She did not know she was pregnant until you were three months in her tummy. Until she found herself to be pregnant she was withering away but when she found that the love she had for Taj had brought this wonderful miracle of your cre
ation she felt that Taj was there with her and she bloomed all through her pregnancy with you. When you were born everyone of the family adored you. You were a beautiful baby boy and every member of Sarah’s and my family adored you. Sarah stayed with her parents for a while and then she found a teaching job and your grandmother looked after you in the mornings. She bought a small cottage near the family and your grandfather Joe was a male role model for you.
She confided in me when I was at home and she did mean to tell you of your other family in Pokhara. She asked me to be with her when she told you, but she didn’t get around to doing it. I was away a lot as a civil engineer and then she met David, a man she had shared her college days with when she decided to change her career to teaching. They both attended a wedding of a mutual friend and their friendship was renewed. He came to see her without knowing about you, but you fell in love with David from the start. I don’t think Sarah would have fallen in love with David if he had not taken to you like he did. He has been a wonderful dad to you and his father who was a widower was just waiting for David to marry and produce grandchildren for him to love. Your young life was ideal because you lived by a lake that was teeming with wildlife and Charlie taught you the names of every one of the birds and creatures that roamed about the banks.
You were a bright boy with plenty of friends and your family were outdoor types, loved walking and climbing in the nearby Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. When you were older you went climbing with your friends and when you had finished your “A” levels four of you decided to trek here in the Himalayas. I was here at the time, building a bridge east of Kathmandu and I met you four at the airport and started you off on your way. Seeing the four of you full of banter and laughter reminded me of myself, almost twenty years before.”
Sahida smiles and says. “I remember Mark and his friends and we had a party for him when he came to visit us. Sarah was anxious for Mark to meet my brother Taj and for them to become friends. Taj had come specially to meet Mark and we all had a wonderful time. Mark will tell you the way Sarah and Taj felt about each other, it was so obvious the whole village knew.”
“Your father was a gentle loving man and if he had lived I’m sure your mother would have married him and made her life by his side, wherever that would have been, but the horror of his death left your mother devastated and I had to get her home to her own family.” Mark takes up the story.
Mula has tears rolling down her face as she hears the tragic story and Simon wraps her in his arms to he comforts her.
“Darling I’m going to be fine and we will face this together. My grandfather was told that all my family was dead so they could not be contacted and I still have no memory of my life before the accident, not even the time I came here and was met by Mark. The family here was strange to me when I arrived but because of their love for me I have survived. I love my life here with you and the work at the hospital. The family we have planned and this place and its people.” Simon assures her.
“I think you should let your mother know that you are here and well,” Mula whispers; close in Simon’s arms.
Simon steps back from her and looks deep into her eyes saying, “Shall we do it now?”
Mark and Sahida move in for a joint hug and Mark says, “Do you want me to speak to her first and break the ice?”
Mula nods her head and Simon agrees taking Mark to the small office where they keep their telephone. The four of them gather around the telephone whilst Mark dials the number. It takes a little time to get through and then Mark hears David answer the phone.
“David, guess who I have here.”
“Oh Sarah come here, this is Mark ringing from Pokhara.” David cries
Sarah rushes to the phone as Mark asks Simon if he will speak to his mother. Simon holds the phone and feels paralyzed, as he does not know what to say.
Sarah rushes on saying, “Oh darling, I can’t believe it’s you, tell me how are you, are you well? We have missed you so much. Please speak to me!
Mark takes the phone back and says, “Simon is fine, he is just a little confused but he is fine, he’ll speak to you now.” He hands the phone to Simon who is still hesitant. Sahida takes it from him and says, “Sarah, it’s me Sahida and we, Mark and myself, are here at Simon and Mula’s house and we have just told Simon that his family is not dead, as he had been told, but his memory has not returned and he feels confused but he will speak to you now.”
Simon takes the phone again and says, “I’m so sorry I do not remember anything of my life before I came to live here with my father’s family, but Mark has told me about my English family and I feel so sad that I caused so much stress and sadness to you all. Mula, my wife, and I would love to have you visit us and perhaps I may get my memory back.
“Oh darling, my lovely boy, we will be there as soon as possible, your dad and me.” Sarah sobs. David takes the phone as he holds Sarah who is crying with joy but the emotion is too much and she cannot speak.
David says, “Oh Simon this the most wonderful day of both our lives to know that you are alive and have found a life for yourself. We will be with you as soon as we can arrange a flight, just give me your address and your telephone number so that we can contact you when everything is arranged.” David is the practical one and Sarah relies on him to do the necessary things.
Simon hears his mother’s voice and feels a connection but David’s voice has a Welsh inflection and he hears in his confused state a memory of David saying ”Who is this little fellow then?” and a rush of feeling for David invades his heart.
Chapter 45
Sarah rings her mum and dad whilst David goes into his father’s part of the house to give them the glorious news and to tell them that they are off, as soon as possible. Joe looks at Mary and says. “It feels like the time we went to the very same place to bring Sarah home. Do you remember the scenery we saw in that part of the world?”
“I’ll never forget it, it was so beautiful and to think that Simon has returned there, I wonder how it came about? He wouldn’t let us think he was dead, unless he lost his memory or something. It is a mystery but he had been trekking there just before he went to university. And what about his funeral we attended, how can all this be? But let us ring everyone to tell this wonderful news.”
In the meantime Sarah rang Anne and Daniel to tell them. Anne had no idea about the boy who Sarah had met on the ship so it was all a wonderful surprise for her.
“Why didn’t you tell me when you first knew?” Anne asked accusingly.
“Darling you were almost due, you were not very well at the time so I asked Mark to go and see if it was true. He has just rung us to say he has found him in Pokhara and he is a doctor with a wife.” Sarah tells her. “We are off to see him as soon as your father can arrange a flight, isn’t it wonderful news?”
“I’m so thrilled to know that Simon is alive and that I will see my big brother again.” Anne says as she burst in to tears.
Sarah hears Daniel comforting her so she knows that he will calm her and she will eventually be thrilled with the news, although the whole thing is a mystery.
Sarah throws clothes into a suitcase whilst David hastily arranges for their flight. It will take them almost twenty-four hours because of the connections but he has arranged the best he can at short notice. They drive to the airport and have to fly internally to Heathrow where they pick up their flight to New Delhi. This is the longest flight so they try to get some sleep. They are both too excited but after a drink they settle down as best they can.
In the meantime Mark and Sahida leave the confused couple and Sahida takes Mark home to the village where they say goodnight and arrange to meet again the following day. They have had a phone call from David whilst still at Simon’s before they left to say they will be there at Pokhara after their various connections in twenty-four hours. Mark has arranged to meet them at Pokhara airport to take them to Simon’s home. Sahida will be with him as they have worked out the time they will a
rrive and she will have finished her school day, because of the time differences between England and Nepal.
Sahida is excited to be seeing Sarah again and has difficulty sleeping, thinking about Mark, who is a very attractive man and who has shown an interest in her. She remembers him as a boy when he came to stay with Sarah; she liked him then because he was funny and made everyone laugh a lot.
Mark is having problems sleeping as well because he finds Sahida a very beautiful
woman, he remembers her when she was a young girl on her first teaching job.
All those years in between and neither of them have found a soul mate.
David and Sarah arrive at Kathmandu airport where they catch their connection to Pokhara. The small plane flies above the white peaks and the wonder of the glorious scenery catches their breath. Sarah had forgotten the majesty of the mountain ranges and David had not been in that part of the world before. They look at each other in wonder. But as the plane glides into the little airport Sarah catches her breath for another reason, she remembers that awful day that Taj was burnt to death, when the plane hit the trees and it went up in flames. She freezes and cannot move. The other passengers are getting off the plane but Sarah is trembling in her seat with remembered emotion. David holds her close as he gently talks to her.
“Come on love, we have come to find our son and I can see Mark and a lady waiting for us by the terminal.” He tells her gently.
Her legs are trembling under her but with the help from David she manages to leave her seat and very timidly walk down the aircraft steps.
Mark is the first to see them and he waves to show them where he is. They have to pick up their luggage but that doesn’t take long because of the smallness of the airport.
Sarah spots Sahida and she feels her strength returning to her limbs as she
waves to both of them.
Sarah gives Mark a hug and then turns to Sahida. They hug and cry for they are
