Meeting Max (3 page)

She thought of Rick. He was a sweet man and smart.

Where was he all my life? What we talked about
was
a slice of real life, an escape from my pain, but it was an illusion. Everything is real now, and I’m part of a plan that might put me in danger.

Elena continued to stare into the mirror.

Maybe I could get out of this.
I could run
.

She fluffed her blonde curls, leaned forward, looked in the mirror to check her teeth for traces of lipstick, and then looked deep into her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I was so stupid.”

She slammed her fist on the counter and remained steady as she stood in the small enclosure. Then she laughed.
Fried balls,
that was something else. For a moment, there was a smile in her eyes and on her lips. Rick had a good sense of humor. It was what she needed. Elena wiped her eyes, opened the door, and left with a painted-on smile. She couldn’t let him know anything was wrong. She had to pretend.

Not much longer now. Soon this will all be over
.
I can’t wait
.

***

Rick waited for her return. She was taking too long. He looked behind him and saw her talking to an Indian man in an aisle seat. They both did a lot of nodding, as if they were in agreement. Rick wondered who he was and if she knew him or if it was a casual meeting.

The man appeared to be Indian, in his mid-forties, with a dark complexion and the usual thick black mustache. From what Rick had read, dark skinned Indians were generally from the southern part of the country. He glanced back at Elena until their eyes met. She abruptly shook hands with the man and started down the aisle.

“Someone you know?” Rick asked as she took her seat.

“No. I met him briefly at the airport.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “He asked me if I knew if the plane would be leaving on time. Tell me,” Elena quickly said, “what’s most important to you as a person?”

It was a strange question and so unexpected. He shrugged for a moment and heaved a deep sigh. “I want to live the life I imagined for myself.”

“Which is?”

“Out of the mainstream.”

“Anything else?”

“Yeah,” Rick smiled, “and nothing in moderation.”

“I see.” She leaned back and was quiet for a moment. “I just want to know more about you, Rick. As much as I can.”

He took a chance, reached over, and squeezed her hand. “We have plenty of time, Elena,” he reassured her. “Excuse me a moment.”

He climbed to his feet, his hands on the seat in front of him, and made his way to the forward lavatory.

Upon his return, he saw Elena out of her seat, talking to the same Indian man sitting a few rows back. He didn’t know what to think. He sat down and opened
Freedom at Midnight
, a book about India’s independence he’d brought with him. He’d read it before. It was a favorite of his. It kept him busy while Elena was talking to this man.

She returned, slipped into her seat, said nothing, covered herself with her blanket, and closed her eyes. Rick looked at her peaceful face as she slept. His thoughts turned inward. He hadn’t told her the real reason for his trip, so if the Indian man was part of her life, he had no right to inquire about him.

His reason for this trip was more important than India itself. He was going there to find his son, the son he’d never met. So many years had passed. Now it was 2008. His son would be twenty-seven years old. He had never searched for him before, but since circumstances had changed so dramatically after Julie’s death, he owed it to Eric’s mother to find him. He was driven.

Rick only had sketchy information about Eric and his whereabouts in India. He knew he was involved in the music industry, probably working as a sound engineer, and Rick hoped he would find him early in his journey so they could travel through India together. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind as he envisioned their first meeting.

His conversations with Elena had diverted his thoughts and apprehension about finding Eric, but she was more than a diversion, much more. She was special. Their paths crossed, and just out of happenstance, she occupied the seat next to him.

He should have told her about Eric and how he was born out of love. She would have understood, but it would take forever to tell his story about Julie, and Rick wasn’t sure he wanted to tell it at all. Maybe he would when they met in Delhi. For now, he enjoyed the moment, a private fantasy world inside a jet plane.

Rick looked at Elena in the dim light. Soon her eyes fluttered open and remained as small slits as he watched her coax herself out of dreamland.

“Hey, Rick,” she muttered, forcing her eyes open and rubbing them. “Where are we?”

“We’re in an airplane flying to India to have a magnificent adventure together,” Rick explained, reaching out his arms to simulate airplane wings.

“I love the word
adventure.
” She sighed, stroking her chin. “I want my life to be full of exploration of the unknown.” She looked at Rick with her sleepy eyes and grinned. “I always wanted to write a book about that. Maybe it will be a story about us in Delhi and how it changed me from a sultry bombshell to a novelist.”

“You, a sultry bombshell? Never. But on second thought…”

“It would be a good story, Rick. You and me in Delhi. I don’t have a plot yet, but I want the story to be about how our adventure forced me to change.”

“Hmmm, let me think. Let’s see…forced, eh? You could call it
Blackmailed into Decency
.”

“Ooh. Exciting. Sounds ominous. One book is definitely in my future. I have an idea tucked away somewhere,” she whispered.

“Tell me.”

“Another time. I’m busy dreaming about me being a sultry bombshell.”

Rick excused himself and made a visit to the nearby forward lavatory. He washed up, looked in the mirror, and noticed two ugly hairs coming out of his right nostril.

Damn, Elena must have seen them
.
When and how did this happen?

He hadn’t noticed them before. He shook his head, looked back in the mirror and tugged gently at the hairs. He winced, felt the pull, and realized there was nothing he could do about it. He was sure Elena had seen them and was just being polite by not saying anything.

What could she say?

He felt embarrassed, but he didn’t have anything with him to cut them off. He went back to his seat.

A flight attendant came by and asked if they would like a nightcap or anything else to drink. Elena turned to Rick and asked, “Do you like Cointreau?”

“Yes, I do,” he replied. He ordered two of those delicious orange liqueurs.

“I like that drink too, Rick. It’s so exotic. I love to sniff it for a long time and then sip it slowly and taste its orange flavor. It has a bit of bite.”

“Same here,” Rick announced, holding up his hand in an imaginary toast. “I think the more varieties of liqueurs you drink, the more it trains your nose. Here’s to us!”

Rick was immediately aware he had used the word
nose
and hoped Elena would not focus on that part of his anatomy. He shifted his body and turned his head slightly toward the window so his right nostril would be less obvious, but he soon realized his efforts were probably too late. Elena didn’t even notice his change in position.

Why wasn’t I more careful when I shaved?

“There should be good weather in India now,” Elena guessed. “In the desert, it’s hot during the day and gets really cold at night. Some people who visit India spend a few nights in the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. They sleep in tents at night and ride camels to the next campsite during the day. It’s something you should do.”

“That’s nice. I would love doing that.
Lonely Planet
lists places where you can join camel safaris. One place I remember is called Jaisalmer.”

“Yes, Jaisalmer is nice, and Bikaner is too. I may make a stop in Jaisalmer. I’m not sure.”

Elena checked her appointment schedule on her iPhone. Rick stole a glance.

Briefing with K, 11 a.m.

Chapter 3

The Indian man Elena had been talking to earlier in the flight walked by them to use the forward lavatory. On his return, he stopped and smiled at Elena.

“Oh, hello,” she said. “Enjoying the flight?” Elena forced a smile.

“You know how it is. After doing it so many times, it gets easier. Actually, I look forward to the journey,” he remarked in a soft voice. “It gives me the opportunity to listen to music and meet new people.”

The man looked at Rick and extended his hand. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Jaswant, but most people call me Jassu. What is your good name, sir?” He moved closer to their row to allow people to pass.

“Hello Jassu. I’m Rick, and this is Elena, who you may already know.”

“Yes, we have met,” he said as he looked into Elena’s eyes. “Have you visited India before?”

“No, this is my first time.”

“Well, you have many good things to look forward to. India is different from any country in the world. It is not a place you can make sense of. It’s a nation of extremes. Some of the differences are dramatic and others subtle. It is not just about a different language or even a different culture. India can only be described in a personal way. You will understand what I mean only after you have explored it. What is the nature of the work that you do?”

“I’m a teacher at a university in New York.”

“And what do you teach?” Jassu asked.

“Biology,” Rick answered, smiling.

“Biology? Oh, well, we have something in common. I am also a lover of the biological sciences. I received my PhD in biology at a university in Islamabad and wrote my thesis on certain aspects of evolution.”

“How interesting. Which aspects specifically?”

“An issue I thought was a misunderstanding. The idea that something exists because it is good for the species.”

“I’m a strong believer in evolution. I would love to read it.”

“It is in the listing at Quaid-I-Azam University, where I studied biology and political Science. I can tell you where to find it.” He looked straight at Rick. “Are you active in politics?”

“Not really,” Rick answered as he looked up at him with a shrug. “I follow politics in my country, and to a degree in others, but I’m not deeply into it.”

“Pity, especially when making a trip to India. There are things you should know about India, things the average person does not know. Some of them are not nice things.”

Indian politics were the furthest thing from Rick’s mind, along with anything political at this moment. Jassu was obviously a serious man, well-educated, and apparently strongly opinionated.

Rick noticed that the twinkle in Elena’s eyes was gone, along with her smile. She remained silent and sat stoically. Jassu’s questions were an intrusion on his time with Elena and was anxious for him to leave. Politics were definitely not high on his list for conversation, but to be polite, he continued with the conversation.

“Jassu, thank you for giving me a heads up on the government issues. I will make a point to learn more about the politics of India. I brought a copy of
Freedom at Midnight
with me, and it has helped me understand the struggle for independence and partition.”

“That is an excellent book. Partition was the best choice despite Gandhi’s objections. Now we have Pakistan, a country where Hindus no longer humiliate Muslims. When you have finished your reading, I would like
your
opinion about partition. I believe that working toward religious harmony, rather than calling for the creation of Pakistan, might have been a better path, but it is a done deed. Could you tell me where you will be staying in Delhi?”

Rick didn’t know anything about Jassu other than the little he had revealed during their conversation. There was a peculiar quality about him, Rick thought
.
He was too calm. It made Rick feel uneasy and suspicious of his motives, as if his relaxed attitude was a ploy to hide something deeper. Rick resented his questioning about where he was staying. It was too personal, too soon. His question appeared harmless enough on the surface, but Rick felt that Jassu had a hidden reason for asking where he was staying.

What connection does he have with Elena?
Is it more than she’d admitted?
There were too many questions without answers.
Who is K.?

“I don’t know exactly where I’m staying. It’s at a homestay and the address is in my bag somewhere.”

“Maybe you will find it in your carry-on,” he pressed. “Call me when you’re in Delhi, and we can have lunch.” He reached into his pocket. “Here is my mobile number. Please call me when you are free to meet. I will make myself available.”

“Sure,” Rick replied, slipping Jassu’s card into his shirt pocket.

Jassu squeezed Elena’s shoulder firmly as he walked back to his seat. Rick noticed Elena’s hand tremble. He chose not to ask her if he was really a stranger or what they had talked about, but he was convinced they shared something secretive.

Jassu had an ominous way about him. It wasn’t because he asked so many questions. It was that his questions weren’t part of the innocent, normal chitchat of first meetings. He became serious too quickly. Rick’s head wasn’t ready for deep issues like partition and Indian politics, at least not with Jassu.

“He seemed like a nice man,” Rick whispered, hoping Elena would tell him about her association with him.

“Yes, he is. Do you think we can get another Cointreau?” She reached for her Sudoku book and put it on her lap.

“Of course.” Rick ordered the drinks and asked, “Do you have any Indian friends in New York?”

“I don’t have any Indian friends there, but I have a Pakistani friend. His name is Ali. He studied medicine in Pakistan and then became licensed in the States.”

“They seem to get good medical training in India and Pakistan, but I wonder why so many want to come to the States.”

“It’s because the US is a better place to bring up children. Parents in India and Pakistan make strong sacrifices to do what is necessary to make the lives of their children better. I liked Ali, and learned a lot about Pakistan from him, all favorable.

“No boyfriend, Elena?” Rick asked, taking a bold risk. “You must have had love sometime in your life.”

“I’ve dated, but never really found anyone special. My last remembrance of love was when I was seventeen and vulnerable,” she recalled, scrunching her nose. She lowered her eyes and added, “It was my first and last love. Dan and I spent a lot of time leaning up against trees at night and looking at the stars. We were both romantics and I’ve never forgotten him. My collage of memories of what we shared is still with me. I guess I never have been able to close that door.”

“You were young, but love is love at any age,” Rick commented in a quiet voice.

“You’re right. We were together until I was nineteen. What can I say? We shared our innocence. I think that’s what I cherished most, the simplicity of it all. Everything was so sweet and intimate, but not
that
kind intimate, if you know what I mean.”

“You still think of him? Even now, after so many years?”

“Well, he’s not constantly on my mind, but I sometimes get lost in nostalgia and think of what we shared through rose-tinted lenses.”

“I love it when people reminisce about their sweet moments. It’s so human.”

The cabin lights dimmed and Rick and Elena drifted off to sleep, awakening a while later to bright lights and the co-pilot’s voice on the intercom announcing they would soon be landing.

Elena and Rick took turns freshening up. She again headed toward the rear lavatory, but Rick put any questions he had about it out of his mind.

It’s a trivial thing,
and she must have her reasons
.

Elena was already in her seat when Rick returned. She looked refreshed with a hint of newly applied lip gloss and light blue eye shadow. Rick had taken time to shave and used his electric razor to trim those errant nose hairs, thankful he hadn’t irritated his nasal passages while doing so.

He’d enjoyed hearing about Elena’s young love affair. He had a few loves of his own, but his first love with Julie was special and innocent as well.

Passengers hurried back from the lavatories. A few awakened from a deep sleep, stretching, yawning, and gathering possessions from the seat pockets. Soon, they heard the brash, rushed, mechanical announcement that the plane would soon be landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport as the fasten seat belt lights flashed.

Rick knew that Elena had arranged to be picked up at the airport and taken to the luxurious Delhi Taj Palace. His plan was to take an auto rickshaw to Rohit and Lubna’s homestay. It was all so exciting for him.

He felt a thud as the wheels touched down. People clapped. They were on the ground in India.

When the airplane doors opened, the night air poured in, replacing the clean cabin air with pollution. Elena didn’t seem to notice any difference. Rick thought it was because she had been to India many times and the pungent, foul air was familiar. Exiting was slow, as usual. Passport checks and customs still lay ahead of them.

The air inside the plane now smelled like a mixture of old urine and something burning. It wasn’t long before Rick’s tongue started to swell and he couldn’t take deep breaths.

A few minutes later, as he stood in the customs line, he looked out of the airport window into the night. All he could see were yellow bursts of streetlights trying to permeate the thick, smoky haze. For him, Delhi was hate at first sight.

“Rick, remember to get a mobile phone so we can stay in touch. Please don’t forget.”

“I’ll get one. I don’t want to lose you,” he assured her, smiling flirtatiously.

“You won’t. Get Airtel. It’s a phone service that will allow unlimited calls to anywhere in India and the USA.”

“Thank you. I’ll call you at your hotel after I settle in.”

After customs, they walked out of the airport, where a man in a white Mercedes sedan met Elena. She introduced Rick to Sudar, the driver. Rick kissed Elena’s cheek and they said their goodbyes. After blowing another kiss to Rick from the open car window, she was off. He pondered how he could have such warm feelings for Elena. He hardly knew her.