by Carol Holden
“Yes.” He replies as he waves them off from his doorway.
“What a great man your grandfather is, I understand now why you love him so much.” Simon tells Mula as they drive carefully down the mountain.
“Oh Simon, I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you have included him into our lives. He has been so lonely since grandmother died and I know he missed me when I had to go back to boarding school, after our lovely summers together.” Mula says as she caresses Simon’s arm.
Their college life continues as they work hard, now and then, having practical medical experience at the hospital, where Dr Menon and Taz take the students under their wings. The other different disciplines have doctors who also teach and there is good selection of the many medical practices offered to the students. Mula wants to become a G.P. so she needs to have experience in all the different practices. Simon hopes to become a surgeon like his grandfather and as he had experience in the hospital before the opening of the medical college, he follows the surgical doctors and helps in the operation theatres.
Their lives pass quickly and the congregation for their degrees is announced and tickets arranged. Mula is thrilled to see how proud her grandfather is when she invites him to attend along with the Menons, Taz has been given Mula’s second ticket and Simon’s grandmother and grandfather have been given his. The party set off to the main hall of Kathmandu University and are ushered to their seats; Mula and Simon are to sit in another area, where they will be able to walk on to the stage when their names are called. There is a feeling of excitement in the large hall as the parents of all the students, taking many different disciplines, are assembled waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Mrs. Menon cannot understand why Mula’s parents have not been invited to this parade. The other parents are so proud of their children’s’ successes and she and the whole family are so proud of Simon and Mula. How can Mula’s parents miss this big day of their only daughter? She mentions her thoughts to Taz who relates the story Simon has told her, whereby Mrs. Menon is horrified. She remembers all the congregations of all her children and how proud she and their father were. She is glad that Taz has been given the opportunity to attend and presses Taz’s hand to show her tenderness, as well as, the sadness she feels for Mula.
The ceremony begins and there is long applause for all the students as they walk on to the stage to receive their degree certificates.
The Menons and Mula’s grandfather wait for the young doctors to find them in the crush. Dr Menon has arranged for their party to have a meal in a nearby restaurant to celebrate their young peoples’ success. Mula and Simon come to find them, breathless with the excitement of it all, and they all walk to the nearby restaurant chatting all the way. The meal is gourmet and enjoyed by all, it is the end of a wonderful day for all of them.
Chapter 49
The following Saturday Simon asked Mula’s grandfather if he could marry Mula. She is of the age of consent but Simon wanted to do it right and he thought that, as Mula does not see her parents, her grandfather is her guardian, and has been since Mula was nine years old. The old man called for Mula to come in from the terrace outside his cottage, where she had gone so that Simon could be private when he asked her grandfather for her hand in marriage. Mula came in, with a questioning look on her lovely face, as she looked at her grandfather for confirmation of his approval.
“Of course I approve, I have never seen you so happy,” he said as he gave both of them a smile. They spent a lovely day together, as always, and when it was time to leave, Simon told them he was eager to see his family to tell them the news.
Mula wanted a quiet wedding; she was confused about what she should do about her parents and her brothers. Simon told her that he would be happy to go to see them with her and that he would ring them before hand to make an appointment. This he did and they asked them both to come to their hotel at eleven o’clock on the following Sunday morning, as that was the only time they could see them.
Simon was surprised at their attitude but he was determined that he would support Mula and they arrived at the allotted time. It was a beautiful sunny morning when they entered the hotel foyer where everything was spick and span, the woodwork shinning along with the glass. There was nobody there but the receptionist so they gave her their names and told her of their eleven o’clock appointment.
She showed them to a quiet sitting room and said she would call the owners.
Mula felt nervous and she held her hands tightly together. Simon saw this and gave her his hand to hold.
“Mula, what is this about?” Her father said on entering the room.
“We have no word from you for years and we were not invited to your congregation, although we heard about it from friends.
Simon stood up and moved forward to shake the father’s hand. “I am Simon, your daughter’s fiancée, and we intend to get married very soon. Mula and I are doctors
And we have been offered posts at the new hospital in Pokhara, and we intend to marry soon, before we move there. Mula has been confused as how to include you, her family, in the celebration so we have come here today to ask you if you would like to come to our wedding?”
By this time her mother and brothers have arrived in the sitting room and her mother looked with approval at Simon. Her brothers were arrogant and unsmiling and Mula held on tight to Simon’s hand. Simon put his arm around her waist to support her as he felt her trembling by his side.
“Are you one of the Menons, the doctors at the hospital?” Asked her mother with a smile. “They were wonderful when your father had a heart problem,” she says looking at Mula.
The brothers left as they had their duties in the hotel. Her father softened a little and now offered his hand to Simon, after ignoring it the first time. Her mother asked if they would like some tea but Mula refused, as she felt very uncomfortable and wished they had not come.
“I know you are very busy people but I thought of my marriage as being a big step for me, and I wondered if you could, perhaps, find the time to attend the ceremony?” Mula says.
“If it is within the next few weeks we will be too busy, it is a popular time for tourists and every room is full,” her father said in his usual assertive way. Her mother was less so, but she had to follow her husband’s decision and smiled sadly at the couple.
Simon was angry at their reception and he took Mula’s arm and gently walked her out of the hotel.
“Come on love; let’s go home to my house where we will both be welcomed.” Simon said as he hugged Mula to him, there in front of her parents.
There was a moment when her mother stepped forward and stroked Mula’s cheek and tears began to run down her mother’s face.
Mula was more confused than before and was glad to be on their way to Simon’s home. They were received with laughter and chatter and Mula and Simon did not mention where they had been, or the reception they had received.
A few days afterwards Dr Menon received a letter from Mula’s mother. She was afraid her family was too busy to attend the wedding but she hoped the couple would be very happy. She thanked him for his care for her husband when he had his heart trouble and for the care the family were giving to Mula, at this important time in her life. Dr Menon showed the letter to Simon and Simon asked his grandfather not to mention it to Mula, as she was devastated enough by their recent visit to her parents. The wedding was to be on the second Saturday of August as the young doctors were to start their registrar positions on the first of September. They also had to find a place to live in Pokhara. Sahida offered to have them to stay with her until they could find a suitable place to live.
The wedding was joyous, friends from the college came and the Menons gave the couple the best send-off ever. As they were driven off in the taxi to Kathmandu airport the family and friends showered them with rose petals and they fell into each other’s arms as they were driven away. They had kept their destination a secret but they were off to Pokhara to the Fishtail Lodge
hotel, where they had become engaged. The little plane bumped along the flight pathway and the happy couple took a taxi to the lakeside, where a boat was tied up to the shore. The couple dragged in their luggage and rowed themselves across the lake.
“Look up there!” Simon said, pointing to the fishtail summit of Annapurna, “Do you remember seeing it on the night we were engaged, but it was then in the moonlight and so romantic.”
“Yes,” replied Mula almost rocking the boat as she tried to move to Simon’s side and laughed excitedly as the little boat moved roughly in the water. They arrived safely and Simon lifted Mula over the doorstep of their honeymoon suite and opened the champagne from the ice bucket awaiting them in the room.
“Here’s to us, darling!” Simon lifted his glass, after handing one to Mula, “and a lifetime of happiness.”
Mula touched her glass to Simon’s and replied, “forever and ever.”
Mula had not had much experience with men and Simon understood this. He gently undressed her and himself and carefully caressed her until he felt her relax and snuggle into his arms. She felt as if she was flying and could not believe the feelings he gave to her, the loving caresses, the touching and kissing and the overpowering sensations of his nearness. They hardly slept that first night as they made love continually until dawn. Their honeymoon was a great success. He was a lover like his unknown father had been and only his mother knew how Taj could melt her heart. During their days they trekked on the lower slopes of Annapurna and one of those days they visited Sahida at her school. They ate wonderful meals and drank good wines, in the restaurant of the first class hotel where they were staying. One or two days they did some house hunting, but they decided that they would take up Sahida’s offer and stay with her until they could find somewhere perfect for them to settle and begin a family.
Simon had some problems with his head, it sometimes ached and sometimes he felt confused and angry with himself, for losing his memory. But the happiness he felt for his wife and the life they had found together was a great compensation for the unknown life he had forgotten. They found their dream home in a few weeks and they thanked Sahida for all the trouble she had gone through to help them find it. She had taken them, almost every night, to see houses for sale or even for rent.
Dr Menon had made sure that money for a house for Simon was available and Simon had assured him that it could only be a loan, and they would pay him back as soon as possible. He had very strict values and he thought his former life must have given them to him and he sometimes wondered how that life had been.
Chapter 50
Mula and Simon took up their posts at the hospital. They moved into their new home and with the help of Mrs. Menon, Taz and Sahida, they managed to furnish the whole house. Mrs. Menon had some lovely antique bedroom furnishings, a bed, dressing table and chairs to match and they were put into the main bedroom. Sahida had a surplus of dining chairs and a sideboard and Taz, who still lived with her parents, bought them a dining table. Mula’s grandfather gave them a birdbath for their garden. The other bits they needed they found in some store in Kathmandu
And the driver taking stores to Pokhara hospital from Kathmandu hauled the remaining items. They were and are happy in their love nest. Mula has emerged from her shell with the love and caring shown to her by Simon, and he is proud of the way she has progressed from a shy abandoned little girl, to a confident attractive and caring woman. Their life together is perfect. They have built a life together caring for each other, as well as caring for their patients. They have friends at the hospital; one of the girls Mula lived with in the house of residence has found a place there, at the same hospital. Simon has friends from Kathmandu who sometimes visit them, and their life is pleasant and always full of fun and laughter.
Simon’s grandfather has retired at last and he visits them with Mrs. Menon when they miss their daughter, Sahida, and Simon, their grandson, and they love Mula as their own. Taz calls when she is in the vicinity and Mula loves her stories of the people of the hill villages. She means to be a General Practitioner when she has the experience she will gain as a registrar. She knows she is accepted as one of the family, and they have made up for the unhappiness she suffered at the hands of her parents. Sometimes the Menons bring Mula’s grandfather to see Mula and Simon and he is pleased for the outing, as his old car has finally given up the ghost, and the journey is a long one by road. He has kept in touch with the Menons and they include him in any entertainment they give, and he stays with them when the festivals are on. Dr Menon sometimes visits him in his cottage and they walk up the hillside to his product terrace just as Mula used to do and he makes a gift of some rice from his plot and picks apples from his trees for the Menons.
Taz is now in her late thirties and she has been given, to train, an English doctor, who has been seconded to the hospital in Kathmandu, as a part of an Action Aid programme. He is in his forties and a latecomer to the medical profession as a non- military person, and he asked to be sent to some outback country because of his life as a soldier. His service in war zones has toughened him and he has served his twenty -five years, leaving him determined to do something different from the war casualties he has mended so far. His parents live in Derbyshire and he has always been a climber and an outdoor type. His name is James Knox and he is a confirmed bachelor, he loves the mountains and is surprised to have a lady doctor for his mentor. He finds her very efficient and attractive. When they rescue trekkers from the higher slopes he is in awe of her skills and sometimes feels humbled by her success.
Taz was surprised to find that James seemed sensitive to the needs of the villagers, and she encouraged him to work with the older people who have not had the opportunities the younger Nepalese have had for their health care. He found the shyness and the profound way they used their few resources admirable, and his eyes lit up at the dry humour they sometimes used upon him. His language skills were few but he had a way of making himself understood and he found friends up in the mountain villages. Some of the villagers had been trekker guides and they would help James out with the language, much to the jocularity of the others. Taz found she could leave him to treat the less severe cases and she told him he was a great help to her. James appreciated her trust in him and the two of them became good friends.
When they were working around Pokhara, Taz took James to meet Simon, her nephew, who felt the genuine warmth of James’s handshake and the two English men took to each other immediately. Simon was twenty years younger than James but the camaraderie was there from the start and the two men were often found laughing at some joke that James had told Simon about his army life. Simon would tell James of some of the things that happened to him when he had not learnt the Nepalese language properly and how the patients had teased him.
At Festival times the young couple would go to Kathmandu and Sahida would join them. James would be invited to join the Menons and the parties and the dancing would fill the streets with colour and joy. Simon adored his life in Nepal and would not change a moment of it.
Chapter 51
Sarah felt upset by the loss of her son, Simon; she was restless in the bed by the side of David, who put his arms around her to try to comfort her.
“Why has this happened to us?” “That must sound selfish to you, for it is so much worst for Simon.” Sarah said, whilst fitting more closely into David’s arms.
“Hey! We’ve found him and he is happy here, we can’t disturb his life.” David replied, as he drew Sarah closer and hugged her tight.
“I want my son back, he does not know us and he has lost all his memories of our life as a family.” Sarah replied with tears in her voice.
David tried to placate her as he told her he would try to find some treatment for Simon’s amnesia.
“Get some sleep now Sarah, we have a few days to get to know Simon and Mula,
I’m sure we will resolve things before we return home.”
Sarah is agitated, she feels frustrated and depresse
d, more so than before they came here. “What can we do for Simon and ourselves?” She wonders as she tosses and turns, without sleep the whole night. “I should be grateful to the Menons for saving him and giving him the life his father should have had.” The memories of her life here, the love Taj and she shared, came back to her with such strong emotions that tears rolled down her face. “What am I to do?” Sarah crept out of bed and dressed quietly before slipping into the kitchen and making a cup of tea. She took her cup outside on the terrace and looked up at the white peak of Annapurna towering over the lake. The beauty of the morning light, shredding a golden aura over the mountain, gave Sarah a feeling of peace. She tried not to think of the sad event of losing Simon for ever; she must try to be content to leave Simon here, in the world he was now used to, and to live his life with his father’s people.
Sahida came out on to the terrace and brought her mug of coffee. She was dressed for work and had a little time to speak to Sarah and assure her that things would work out for all of them. She smiled as she left and waved from her car as she set out for work.
When he awoke David found an empty bed, and looked around for Sarah. He found her on the terrace, as she looked at the surrounding scenery, and joined her.
“How are you feeling,” he asked as he gave her a troubled look. He could see that she had had no sleep and her eyes were red from crying.
I’m better now, sat here in these lovely surroundings,” she replied as she held out her hand to take David’s. “And now that you are here, I’ll make us some breakfast; Sahida left food in the fridge.”
“Good, then we will find Mark and have a look around Pokhara. I know you lived here before but I think things have changed a lot since that time.” David replies.
They both went into the apartment. David had a quick shower whilst Sarah cooked eggs and toast.
