Meeting Max (18 page)

Jalish turned off the engine and walked to the entrance of the guesthouse, where Rick was standing. “Oh, I am so glad you met her,” Jalish said enthusiastically. “She is a nice woman and very well known in Jaisalmer. You have indeed met a very special person. Jamir and I know her from when we were children. Our family went to their restaurant on special occasions, and always on Diwali, which is like your Christmas.

“The restaurant was still inside the fort, not far from where her apartment is now. I’m still friendly with their son, Meher. He is a medical officer in the IAF and is posted at the military base right here near the airport in Jaisalmer.”

“Well, she cooked a very good breakfast.”

“Yes, indeed. It comes slow, but no one cooks as good. I see you’re enjoying our ceramic Ganesh on the wall.”

“Yes, I can’t stop looking at it. I don’t know what it symbolizes, but it must have a lot of deep meaning. I have seen it in many places.”

“Ganesh, or also Ganesha, represents prosperity, but there are many stories about Ganesh, and a myth I remember hearing as a child.”

“Tell me about it. I love myths.”

“Ganesh is a Hindu god. Many people believe the myth.”

“You mean like Santa Claus?”

“No, kind sir, definitely no. Ganesh is maybe something like in your bible. Some people believe it and others don’t, but it is known well in India that Ganesh represents many things. He is known as the gatekeeper.”

“Gatekeeper? Why?”

Jalish began to speak as if he were telling a fairy tale. “Ganesh is the god of good fortune. The story goes that Lord Shiva, the Hindu God of death and destruction, was away at war. His wife, Pavarti, wanted to have a bath, but she had no one to guard the door to keep her privacy, so she decided to instantly conceive a full-grown son to do that for her. So Ganesh was created.”

“Instant immaculate conception?” Rick smiled.

Ganesh shook his head. “It’s better to not be so literate, so you can let the myth flow. Gods and goddesses have the power to do those things.”

“Okay, sorry.”

“Ganesh guarded the door to the bath and was told not to let anyone in until she said it was all right. When the Lord Shiva returned from the war and wanted to enter the room where Pavarti was bathing, Ganesh did not allow it. Shiva was enraged by Ganesh’s impudence, drew his sword, and cut off Ganesh’s head.”

“Hmm. His own son? But he didn’t know it. Why the elephant head?”

“Well, Pavarti opened the door of the bath to find Ganesh decapitated and flew into a rage. Shiva was upset with Pavarti’s rage, but she made Shiva sorry for what he did. She made him swear to make amends by taking the head of the first living thing he saw and use it to replace Ganesh’s head.

“The first living thing to pass was an elephant, so Shiva took the head from the elephant and placed it on Ganesh’s body. That is why Ganesh is pictured with an elephant’s head, and because of his role as protector of Parvarti’s door, he is now associated in Hindu culture as someone who protects entrances, a gatekeeper, or remover of obstacles.”

“Interesting. How did Pavarti create her son? I know she’s a goddess, but did she just will it?”

“The story goes,” Jalish related in a soft tone, “that she made a figurine from the turmeric paste that she used to cleanse her body and she infused life into it.”

“Interesting. I remember when I was in the Hindu temple in Jaipur, I watched a show about Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity. It was very dramatic, with flaming torches, drums, and smoke. I also saw a statue or something about Ganesh somewhere in the temple. Why do Lakshmi and Ganesh each have four arms?”

“Four arms represent omnipresence. Ganesh was in the Hindu temple with you because he is everywhere. I am a Hindu, but I don’t know everything about Hinduism. It is very complicated and what I know is very little. Ganesh’s potbelly means that he is all-encompassing. The four arms represent the mind, intellect, the ego, and something else that I don’t remember. Also the four arms represent the idea of four directions, which symbolize that Ganesh is everywhere,” Jalish said with a huge grin on his face. “So Ganesh is worshipped on Diwali to remove all obstacles and Lakshmi is worshipped to give us a comfortable life, each requiring four arms to do it.”

Despite his disbelief in the existence of God, Rick acknowledged there was a space in his thinking he was never able reach. He realized it when he was alone in the desert. Jalish got him thinking about spirituality, even if the story of Ganesh was a myth, but for Rick to be in India and not learn something about the spirituality of the people would leave a gaping hole in his understanding of Indian culture. There are many religions in India, mostly Hindus in the north, but also Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.

Keeping it simple in his own mind, he understood that, for Hindus, everything
was
God. For Muslims, everything
belonged
to God. For Jains, God was the
perfect being,
and for Sikhs, God was
the universe
itself. It would take a lifetime for Rick to begin to completely understand those differences.

He looked forward to meeting Elena that night.

Chapter 19

Everything about the small, casual rooftop restaurant was romantic. With its cushioned seats and couches, candlelit tables, and roof open to the stars, it could be nothing else.

Rajeev, a slim, clean-shaven Indian waiter, greeted Rick. He looked so young without a mustache.

“
Namaste
, would you be liking a couch, sir, tonight? I know you prefer it,” he said in his lilting Indian accent.

“Yes, thank you, Rajeev. I’m expecting a guest, so if you would bring the menus, we’ll order when the lady arrives. By the way, how old are you?”

“Oh, sir, you want to know at what age I will be turning?”

“Yes. I’m just curious. You look so young.”

“I will be nineteen years of age when January arrives.”

“That’s a good age, thank you.”

“You are most welcome, sir.”

Rick stood when he saw Elena at the top of the staircase and gazed at her until their eyes met. She was stunning. Elena’s blonde curls appeared to be frivolously tossed around her face. She wore a colorful paisley silk top that flowed to the top of her dark blue jeans, showing a braided brown leather belt.

“
Namaste
, Rick,” she said with a huge smile. “Our paths cross again.”

“They do indeed, and will many times,” Rick said, trying to act cool. “
Namaste
, Elena.”

She sat next to him, took his hand, and held it on the red and white checkered tablecloth. Rajeev appeared.

“Mr. Rick sir, madam, would you be liking something to drink?”

“Elena?” Rick said, looking at her and smiling.

“How about a Kingfisher. It’s still the best beer in India.”

“Two Kingfishers please, Rajeev. Also, please bring us an appetizer. Your famous small vegetable samosas,” Rick added.

“
Shukriya
, sir, madam.” Rajeeve bowed.

Rick looked at Elena. Her face glowed in the candlelight. “So there you were, on the plane with me for almost a full day, then
poof
, gone.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Elena said, running her fingers through her hair. “I’ll explain later, but first tell me what’s going on with you, and let’s start from that quick hug we shared at the airport in Delhi.”

“
Oy vey
,” Rick said with a bit of a Yiddish accent. “It’s a long story.”

“I’m here for the night.”

“Well, after I left you, I thought about the person who picked you up. The car didn’t look like a hotel car. I wondered about it.”

“Yeah, again, I’m sorry about that, but go on.”

“I took an auto rickshaw to Rohit and Lubna’s place. Tried to sleep, but the jet lag hung on. I don’t want to go into every detail.”

“Awww, please. A few details at least. I want to know.”

“Okay. The next morning, after a good breakfast with the family, I went to the Lodi Gardens.”

“I love that place,” Elena said, wide-eyed. “It’s a great respite to get away from the madness of the city. Maybe the two of us can take a Tiffin box full of sandwiches and have lunch there.”

“That would be wonderful,” Rick said, squeezing her hand tighter.

Rajeev returned with their Kingfishers and a basket of poppadums along with a platter of vegetable mini-samosas.

“Rick, I haven’t had small samosas since we were on the plane. It feels like we’re
really
picking up where we left off.”

“It does, and I want it to go on.”

Instead of reassuring him, she merely smiled sweetly and sipped her drink. “Tell me more about Delhi.”

Rick heaved a deep sigh. “This might be a good time to tell you the reason I’m in India.”

“Your secret, yes. You were searching for someone. Tell me.”

“When I was eighteen, I was a student at NYU and I had a girlfriend named Julie who was studying nursing. I was a political science major.

“I thought you were a biologist.”

“That was after I discovered political science wasn’t for me. Anyway, Julie and I were very much in love. She came from a small town in upstate New York.” He sipped his beer. “Well, here goes. She got pregnant and we decided to give the baby up for adoption.”

“Oh my God, why?”

“Times were different then. People didn’t live together so much without being married, not like now, where different living arrangements are acceptable.”

“You loved each other, so what was the problem?”

“We came from different backgrounds. Julie was Catholic, and I’m Jewish. The details are too involved, but briefly, Julie was killed in an automobile accident almost two years ago.”

Elena covered her mouth and squeezed his hand. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” She paused and took a deep breath. “And then?” She whispered.

“It tore me apart. I was driven to find my son, Eric, the only one on Earth who is a combination of both of us. I learned he is working in India and has a son named Maxwell who is living back in the States. What I told you is the short version.”

Elena pressed Rick’s hand and began to speak when Rajeev appeared and asked for their dinner order.

“We’ll talk later. What would you like, Elena?”

Elena heaved a deep sigh, looked up at Rajeev, and asked, “What’s on the vegetarian Thali?”

“Oh, that Thali is veddy good, madam. You will most probably like it for sure. It has on it palak paneer, dahl, makhni, rice, of course, pakoras, raita, and your choice of naan or chapati. Whatever you would like, we will make it fresh for you.”

“That sounds good. I’ll have the Thali with the chapati.”

“And for you, Mr. Rick sir? What should I be bringing for you?”

“The Thali too,
Shukriya
.”

“It is my pleasure, sir.”

“Oh, and two more Kingfishers with dinner,” Rick added.

“Yes, of course.
Shukriya
, sir.

Elena sighed. Her eyes filled with tears. “Maybe it’s time you let go of the past.”

Rick nodded as they slowly sipped their beers, each of them deep in thought.

Rajeev arrived with their thalis, which were small stainless cups filled with portions of different vegetarian food. He asked if they wanted cutlery. Elena shrugged. Rick shook his head and declined the eating utensils.

“I see you’re a real Indian already,” Elena said. “Eating with your hands now, are you?”

“It makes the food taste better when I can scoop up these spiced delicacies with Roti or a small ball of rice with my fingers.”

“I think they gave us some extra
katoris
.”

“
Katoris
?”

“Yes. It’s what the little steel cups full of food are called. They gave us more than usual. They must like us. French food was once my favorite. I still like it, but Indian food is more interesting and a lot more colorful,” Elena said, but she still had tears in her eyes.

The oiliness of the Indian food made her lips shiny. He thought of kissing her and tasting all the delicious spices warmed by her lips, but he knew that was yet to come.

“I like Indian, Chinese, and French foods, in that order.” Elena scooped up some spicy vegetables with her chapati as she spoke. “That was quite a story about your son...the short version. So, you’re a grandfather.”

“It was the
very
short version. The rest of the story will unfold when I find him. I know he is here in India and it will happen. Maybe I’ll even meet Max someday. That would be a dream come true for me.

“I’m jealous of people who live a family life with their children. My friends made sure I was always Uncle Rick to their kids. They knew it would make me feel good to be part of their families. Maybe it’s not too late. Meeting Max would be the thrill of a lifetime for me.

“Let’s have the special dessert I asked them to make for us.”

“You didn’t.”

“I did. And we will be the only ones having it here tonight.”

“You’re something else, Rick. I love you,” she purred.

“I love you too, honey,” Rick answered, knowing she meant the love part in a casual way. “Now, tell me what’s going on?”

“Let’s have our fried balls and tea first.”

A few minutes later, the gulab jamun and green chai arrived. Elena asked Rajeev how the dessert was made.

“Oh, it is a veddy special dessert, madam,” Rajeev bragged. “You will find it all over India. Most Indian desserts are sweet like Kheer, which is like our pudding made of rice. The important part of the gulab jumun is to prepare the syrup properly. It is made with much sugar and water. Sometimes rose water added. Gulab means ‘rose.’

“Our very wonderful chef here adds a few cardamom seeds to the syrup, but most probably. That is not always. I have watched him make it many times. It is heated and kept warm until the Jamun is made, which are round balls of dough. Oh, and the balls are hand done.”

Elena and Rick burst into loud, unstoppable laughter. Rajeev soon joined in the amusement by laughing with them even though he didn’t know what was so funny. Rick and Elena continued to laugh uncontrollably, like kids, their hands on their mouths, trying to stifle their giggles, catching their breath along the way and making things worse by trying to suppress it all.

After dessert, Rick and Elena leaned back on their couch and enjoyed the view and the golden glow of the fort, which was all dressed up in its amber lights. They talked until Rajeev brought them two Mango Lemongrass Lassi’s, compliments of the house. They held their glasses high toward a smiling Jamir, who was standing at the bar, waving.

Elena clicked her glass against Rick’s and assumed a serious tone. “Tell me, have you ever found the right woman in your life?”

“I’m sitting with her.”

“No, seriously. I mean, you’re young, good looking, and can pass for being in your late thirties.”

“I think that’s pushing it. I’ve traveled a lot and met many nice women, but never felt the spark.”

“What qualities are you looking for?”

“I’m not looking for any particular quality. I’ll know it when I feel it,” he said as they smiled at each other.

“I see. What have you done in Jaisalmer so far?” Elena asked, changing the subject. “Have you visited the Jain Temple?”

“Yes, and I was surprised at a lot of the sexy sculptures.”

“Well, it’s part of Hinduism in its early stages.”

“What do you mean by part of Hinduism?”

“I think it had to do with worshipping nature. What else did you do in Jaisalmer? Did you get a chance to ride a camel?”

“I did, and it was an interesting experience in ways I never expected. I’ll tell you about it another time.”

“That’s another thing we can do together. I have three days free. We could just ride our camels slowly, talk, and catch up.”

Rick hesitated and gathered his thoughts before he spoke. “Nice, and afterward we can watch the sun sink into the sand. Would you stay overnight with me in a tent?”

She smiled. Her eyes sparkled. “You mean the two of us, out there under the stars, alone?” She paused. “Yes, Rick, I would. You know I would.”

They left the restaurant and took an auto rickshaw back to her hotel in town. They agreed to leave on the desert trip the next day. Rick already knew he was in love with her. They kissed and said goodnight.

Early the next morning, Rick sat with the brothers on the rooftop. They shared a platter of tofu, paratha, and masala chai.

“I need you guys to help me plan some time away in the desert for me and my friend. Can you arrange something special?”

Both brothers leaned forward. They were both grinning with wide open eyes.

“We are so happy to have this chance. Would you kindly be telling us what we can do? Nothing will be a problem. You can be assured,” Jalish answered.

“Yes, it can be arranged, no matter what is it,” Jamir said. “Whatever you want, we can do it. Tell us.”

“I’d like to be in the desert with my girlfriend in a special way, alone, out in nature. I know you understand.”

“We know what you mean without you saying any more. Tell us what is it you will be liking and we will make it happen,” Jalish said with confidence.

“Thank you for saying that. I feel as you do about many things. I would like to spend a few nights with her out on the desert. Have a tent, food, and our own camels. I will leave the details up to you.”

“Rick, you must be knowing how happy this is making us feel,” Jamir said. “You honor us with your trust. Leave everything to us. You are our brother. Ganesh will drive you to a part of the desert where the tourist safaris do not go. Trust me, you will be very happy, and you will see no one. We only ask that you each have your fully charged mobile phones with GPS with you. We will put our personal numbers on them so you can have your time together and be safe.”