In the Shadow of a Dream (26 page)

‘Viks, I saw that face twenty years ago. I swear. It’s a face I’ve never forgotten, and it hasn’t changed. It’s not possible.’

‘You’re mistaken, Dusty. Twenty years. There must be an explanation. Come let me introduce you.’

‘You know, Vicky, for the first time in my life, I feel weak. Give me a moment.’ Dusty snatch a glass of whisky from the tray of a passing waiter and gulped it down.

‘You poor boy! Well, she’s single and you’re single, so we have paired you two for the evening. Take it from there.’

‘And who is sitting on the two unoccupied chairs next to her?’

‘Our Adjutant, Captain Jaswal and Pritee. Recently married. Time only for each other. Come, let me introduce you to my wife and Kitty Franks.’ He did, and invited Dusty to sit next to Kitty.

‘Are you all, all right for drinks?’ Dusty tried hard to hide a tremor in his voice.

‘We’ve just had a Blood Mary,’ said Shalini, ‘and trays of whisky and soda are doing the rounds. You haven’t got a drink. Catch that waiter going past you.’

Dusty raised a deprecating hand. ‘I’ll wait till he comes round again.’ He sat down and saw Vicky whisper something to Shalini, who nodded, looked at him and smiled sweetly. She had a long thin, but pleasant face and she wore her hair in plaits, circled in a bun over the nape of her neck. The bun was rimmed by a loop of fresh, brilliant white, jasmine flowers. He turned to look at Kitty. She was looking pensively ahead of her, seemingly listening to the dance band playing a tune he was not familiar with. He stared and drank in her profile. It was flawless. Suddenly she turned and met his eyes. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare, but I suppose you’re used to it?’

She smiled and looked away, and Dusty was intrigued.

‘I suppose you’re used to Indians staring?’

‘No, not really,’ she said. Her face broke into a radiant smile and her sherry brown eyes twinkled. All at once she was different from the woman in the car, twenty years ago. That face had a rare melancholic beauty and the blue eyes—yes, even in the fading light, the deep blueness of hers eyes had come through.

‘What is that tune? You seem to know it.’

‘I know it, but I’m not sure I can name it. Do you dance?’

‘Yes, not very well. A bit out of practice.’ He stood up and bowed. ‘May I have the pleasure… Miss Kitty Franks.’ She nodded to Shalini, and Dusty lead her on to the floor. ‘May I call you Kitty?’

‘Of course!’ She smiled. Her forehead was in line with his chin and he realised she was smaller than she looked. Wondering about her age he glanced down. Her breasts were small and firm like that of a sixteen-year old girl. He placed his right hand round her waist and instantly a hand pressed against the hollow of his right shoulder, as if to fend off nearer encroachment.

‘You will take me back if they play something fast and furious,’ she said firmly and without looking up. He grunted and led her to the middle of the floor.

‘Oh, dear,’ she sighed. ‘They are giving us room.’

‘To take a good look at you. That’s a smashing gown…dress.’

‘It is. It’s old. My aunt’s. I didn’t do much to it. Took in a bit at the top. Oh, no! Sam, the dancers are stopping to look at us.’

‘It’s not the gown. They’re looking at your slim, svelte figure.’ He laughed. ‘How do you live with the fact you’re the most beautiful girl in…in the world?’

‘Girl? I’m not a girl,’ she said with a slight frown, ‘and you don’t have to pay me absurd compliments.’ She looked away. He waited. ‘If you must know, my looks did matter once. Now, not for some time.’

‘But the eye of the beholder can’t deny what is clearly the case.’

She sighed. ‘All the same, thank you.’ For a while they dance in silence, then she whispered, ‘please can we go back?’

‘If you wish. Have I offended you?’

‘No. Sam, not in the least.’

‘But that’s what people will think, if we go back to our table.’

‘Yes, sorry. We’ll stay together. We could go to the bar. I’ll have a sherry…oh, look,’ she pointed to the veranda beyond. ‘Two unoccupied chairs. I’ll wait there.’

But she was not there when he came out with the drinks to join her. The chairs had gone. She was further down the veranda leaning against a pillar, toying with a bougainvillaea frond. ‘They’ve taken the chairs in,’ she said.

‘Yes, the band’s stopped playing and people are sitting down for dinner. ‘Alas, we are not together. You’re with Shalini and Vikram. I’m with Chopra.’

‘Why, will you be saying something?’

‘I suppose so, looking a little sheepish after he welcomes me.’

‘We had better go in,’ she shivered. ‘I forget how cold it can get in November and I’ve only brought a light shawl this evening.’

‘I’ll lend you my trench coat after this do is over.’

‘That’s kind, but I’ll manage.’

‘Please let me. Then I’ll have an excuse to see you again.’

They looked into each other eyes for a moment. ‘Can I say it again,’ he said. ‘You are the most beautiful woman in the world.’

She shrugged, and gave a light nervous laugh.

‘It’s not a chat up line…Kitty, it’s the truth. Didn’t you see people staring when we were on the dance floor?’

‘It could be because of you. You’re handsome, strong, graceful, and you lied to me about not being a good dancer.’

‘Come on you two!’ Vikram called. ‘Dusty, you can escort Kitty to our table.’

Dusty raised his brows inquiringly. ‘I thought…’

‘I’ve fixed it with Chopra.’ Vikram whispered. Kitty went on ahead.

‘I don’t get it.’

‘You don’t have to be on his table. Just stand up when he welcomes you.’

‘Vicky, dear old chap, bless you.’

Dusty caught up with Kitty. She said. ‘If I’m part of some wicked plan between you two, fill me in.’

Dusty threw his head back and laughed. Then he took her arm and led her to the table. ‘ “Once you have found her, never let her go.” ’ He crooned softly.

‘Are you always so bold at first meetings?’ Kitty asked as they sat down.

‘No Kitty,’ he smiled, ‘but this is “some enchanted evening,” and not our first meeting. I saw you twenty years ago. Ever since I’ve been in love with you.’

‘Twenty years ago, I was twelve, well, thirteen.’

‘I did see you, and you were as you are now. But your eyes were blue. I swear it.’

Kitty stared at him incredulously. Soup, served in cups were placed before them. Shalini, touched his arm and smiled slyly. ‘Hope you’re enjoying the evening?’

‘Yes, Shalini, thank you. Where’s Vikram, he seems to have vanished?’

‘Look, behind you, speak of the devil. Knowing my husband, I bet he’s excited by the prospect of you and…’ She nodded towards Kitty.

He turned to find Kitty staring at him intently. ‘Where was this,’ she asked. ‘It wasn’t me, so where did you see this woman?’

‘I was with a friend, on holiday, at a house his father was buying. Somewhere between Kekri and Charbagh, in Rajasthan’

‘Wasn’t she with someone?’

‘Yes, an Indian. Good looking chap too.’

‘Good heavens, Sam! That would have been Sandy!’

‘Gosh! Yes! That’s what my friend called him. I remember now, Sandy.’

‘Then, you saw my aunt, Emma. It couldn’t be anyone else. The time, the place and…yes, we were alike, in looks, very alike; only the eyes of blue separated us.’

He gazed into her eyes. ‘I’m in love,’ he whispered.

‘And Sandy,’ Kitty seemed not to have heard him, ‘it’s strange…but you know Sam, in some ways you remind me of him…even though he was…’

‘He was…what?

‘Sorry, I’ve already said you’re handsome and graceful; a great mover, as they say these days…but I was going to say, Sandy was terribly good-looking. Sorry I…’

‘You needn’t apologise. I saw him, and said as much.’

‘As a little girl I had a crush on him…’ She compressed her lips and looked away. ‘Such a dear, good man…Oh, please! I’ll begin to cry. Talk about something else. I do beg of you. What are these?’

‘These, “Angels on horseback”, that what the menu card says. Please, I must see you again. Please, I’ll die if you say, no.’

She gave a light chuckle. ‘You can’t mean it. Anyway, I’m staying the night with Shalini.’

‘Tomorrow is Sunday.’

‘Yes. I go back to my place after lunch. But I’m sure Vikram will let us meet at his place before I go. He seems terribly keen to bring us together.’

‘It’s kind, thoughtful of you, Sam, but you don’t have to escort me. Besides, the last few miles to Fern Cottage is a pony ride.’

‘Pony. And where did you leave the pony, overnight?’

‘At a doctor’s house in Dharamsala. Next to his dispensary. It’s a long story.’

‘And how do you get to Dharamsala, from here, Pathankot?’

‘By bus. Here, thank you for the trench coat. It’s warm and sunny, now. Sorry to deprive you of it. I hope you weren’t cold last night.’

He slung the coat over his shoulder. ‘May I accompany you to Dharamsala?’

‘If you wish. It’s quite a long journey.’

‘Kitty, I can’t think of a better way of spending Sunday afternoon. And it will sustain me for the three hours back, without you.’

‘You’re importunate, incorrigible,’ she said, tossing her
dupatta
over her neck. She was wearing a white
salwar
and blue
kamiz,
and the Punjabi outfit suited her. He felt sure she would look good in a sari too, in anything. ‘Well, if you must.’

He took her small suitcase as they walked to the bus station.

‘You could get lost, getting back.’ She said.

‘I’ve been to many places, Kitty, and I’m proud to say I’ve never got lost.’

‘Anyway. There are two bus stations. The bigger one is in town. This one is near, and is the one for the cantonment. So make sure you get back to this one.’

At the station she said: ‘Give me the suitcase, Sam, and get yourself a ticket.’

He was some time; and when he joined her she said: ‘the bus is about to leave and it’s full. They’re laying on an extra bus, shortly. It’s worth the wait. I hate a crush.’

He followed her as she went round the back of the bus station. ‘There, what do think of that view?’

‘It’s fabulous.’

‘That’s Dharamsala in the distance. Dharamsala, Pilgrim’s Rest.’

‘Well, it’s certainly become a theological home to Tibetans. He turned to look at her. ‘Fern Cottage? I gather you live there alone?’

‘Not really. It was the home of Sandy and Emma and I’ve inherited a cook, his wife and a gardener. Alone, in the sense that I lodge there. The house is managed by Mohan Singh for Dinesh. Dinesh was Sandy’s nephew and ward. Even the servants are paid by Mohan. Sona, the Tibetan girl refugee Emma saw in Delhi and adopted, she comes over on weekends, with Ransingh, the chowkidar, and now her husband, but I’ll tell you more, during the journey…I’m treated like a five star hotel guest.’ She smiled. ‘You’re in luck today. It’s seldom this clear. Do you see a white house with the red roof? There, just below the skyline. That’s Mohan Singh’s.’

‘Yes. I see it. I assume this Mohan Singh was a close friend?’

‘A great admirer of Sandy and Emma, and a friend to Dinesh. Now, look to your left. No, not up there. Just below you. That open square in a crowded bazaar area.’

‘Ah, yes, next to that palatial house with a big red gate and marble arches?’

‘That sprawling house belongs to a rich businessman, known as “The Seth”. He’s Dinesh’s father-in-law and the open square, outside the walls, is the city bus station.’ Suddenly she went quiet and pensively stared across the scene before her.

‘Tell me about Emma and Sandy. You said we’d talk later. Where are they?’

Her eyes welled up. ‘Oh Sam! They are dead!’

‘Heavens! When?’

‘A year, little more…’ She started to cry and covered her face with her hands.

He reached out, touched her hand and said gently: ‘May I.’

She nodded and he drew her against his chest. She remained still for a moment, fluttering like a bird. Then with both her hands she firmly pushed him away.