The Monsoon Rain (11 page)

Not wanting to disturb her aunt and uncle, she tiptoed to her room. Little did she know that her aunt was wide-awake with her eye on the clock.

It was not too late, good nothing had happened. With that thought Dolly switched the bedside lamp off.

“Miranda is home?” Tom mumbled in his sleep.

“You can go to sleep now, in peace!”

She settled down to a restful night of deep slumber. Her niece’s virginity was intact thank God for that! After all, Derek’s reputation preceded him, and Dolly was a bit apprehensive and had been waiting all evening looking at the clock.

Morning came too soon unwelcome and unannounced. The first rays of the rising sun grew visible in the eastern sky. Slowly, gracefully the sun ascended. The sun was shrouded by the branches of the very tall gold mohur trees. The flaming-red flowers camouflaged the rays. The light peeped through the tall trees and heavily laden branches and made a crisscross pattern on the marble floor of the veranda.

Miranda rose from a very disturbed sleep. She was feeling awfully lethargic and tired.

Immediately she remembered the last evening and all the trimmings. She had expected some passion, but it was not to be. It was like two very old friends meeting up after a long time, a very pleasant evening in very pleasant surroundings.

“Chota, I did it for your own good.”

“You could have left us alone, chacha. She will think I have not grown up!” Derek was sulking. He had thrown himself on his bed, and he was livid with chacha.

“But, chota, how could I?”

“I know. You have given your word to my mother. Come on, repeat yourself. That’s what I have been hearing for the past seven years!”
Radhu silently left the room. He had anticipated such a scene. It was best to disappear until the next time!

The roads were devoid of any cars or people. A few of the farmers were already in their fields, starting to plow the paddy fields. There was a slight chill in the morning air. Derek drove fast. The first rays of the sun was peeping through. The eastern sky was bright. It was so wonderful—so bright and so peaceful!

A feeling came over him with great suddenness, and he decided to stop. Sitting in the vehicle, he thought back on his life. He felt lost. His macho image, the women, Rohit what had he achieved? What had he done with his life? He was at the edge of a precipice; there was no going back from here. A wrong step and he would fall, and it would be extremely difficult to pick up the pieces.

Well, since he was already out on this mission, he might as well soldier on and proceed.

He started the car, and he was on his way.

What was he going to say? Why was he venturing onto this difficult path? Why was he driving like a maniac? Why, why, why? There was no answer. Why did he have to see her? He did not know. He was confused, but see her he must.

He veered off the main road onto the narrow gravel road leading to Tom’s garden and bungalow. The tires made an awful screeching noise.

He had to see Miranda this morning. He had somehow managed to sneak out of the bungalow before the old goat stopped him! He could not sleep for the life of him, so rising early was not difficult.

He did look a sight, disheveled with tousled hair and a day’s stubble. He was going to invite her to go for a spot of golf. That was his plan anyway, which was really just a ploy to see her.

She heard the sound of the jeep screeching to a stop. He rushed out of the vehicle and raced into the bungalow. Then he lost his nerve and did not know what to do.

In a loud voice he demanded of the first servant he spotted to see Miranda memsahib.

Dolly and Tom heard him, and Miranda heard him. How awful his tone was to the poor servant, she thought to herself. How could he? Wasn’t he a gentleman?

As she expected, there was a soft tap on the door. Gingerly she opened the door.

“Derek sahib,” the servant mumbled. Poor chap must have just this minute rolled out of bed and was making his way to the outhouse to relieve himself! He did not wait for an answer—he literally bolted!

Sneaking up stealthily, Tom’s servant disappeared noiselessly behind the house, in case Derek sahib saw him and called him again, he had to go to the latrine!

The bearer ran, disappeared!

It was a long wait for Derek, as Miranda took her time getting dressed. “Let him wait,” she said to herself. What did he want this early anyway? It was a wonder he could extricate himself from the clutches of that old nanny of his.

Dolly and Tom were wide-awake by this time, and Tom decided to go and speak to Derek. He found the young man pacing up and down the veranda. Tom was taken aback by Derek’s bedraggled appearance. He looked unkempt and unshaven. He had never seen Derek in this state before.

By this time Derek had simmered down and was taking stock of his situation. Was he crazy? What was he thinking? How foolish could he get?

“Good morning!” he managed to say.

“Tea?”

Derek just nodded his head. “I wanted to have a word with Miranda.” He carried on with his pacing, only much slower now. The stone floor of the veranda was reverberating with the sound of his shoes, up and down, up and down.

“Sit down,” Tom said, himself taking a chair. “She should be down soon.”

The pacing carried on until the tea came. Tom handed him a cup of hot tea. Did he detect a mild tremor in Derek’s hands? The young man was in an awful state whatever for? He was rather a strange man, he thought to himself. Tom was surprised by this rather unusual behavior of Derek’s.

Tom’s face took on a very somber look, and he silently proceeded to light his pipe.

Finally Miranda and Dolly came in together as if they had conspired to do so. Derek stopped in his tracks and looked Miranda up and down with a tired expression on his face. There were rings round his eyes, and he was unshaven.

Miranda and Dolly both stared in utter disbelief at his disarrayed appearance.

At last he sat down, silent and taking sips of tea.

It was very disconcerting for the others.

“What about golf, Mira?” But before she could even answer he held his hands up. “A suggestion,” he mumbled, looked inquiringly at her. He tried desperately to make eye contact with her but failed.

Miranda excused herself, blaming the heat.

Derek by this time had calmed down considerably, and after a second cup of tea, he left.

The trio had plenty to talk about from his appearance to his rather odd behavior.

In a little while a Land Rover drove up to the bungalow, only this time instead of Derek it was the driver and, of all people, Radhu chacha. Radhu clambered from the front of the car with a letter and a bunch of flowers from Derek’s garden for Miranda.

Miranda was watching from an upstairs window and could not believe her eyes! The nanny! She laughed mirthlessly.

Radhu handed the flowers and the letter to Dolly who happened to be downstairs.

The letter was full of apologies and questions of how he would ever atone for his utterly despicable behavior this morning. And then there was a question mark and the word “
TRUCE
” written in bold capitals. She could not help but laugh out loud at the humor of it.

Finally the letter asked that if she could let bygones be bygones would she be willing to meet him that evening at the Planters Club for the weekly club night.

Miranda was speechless. Could she depend on his reliability? He was as fickle as the English weather!

The evening Miranda had waited for impatiently rolled in at last. The cool evening was rejuvenating—especially after the oppressive heat of the day. She had slept most of the afternoon, feeling deliciously lazy. After lunch it was positively difficult to keep her eyes open. Excusing herself, off she went for her siesta. In a short while she had drifted off.

Miranda felt alive after the bath; it revived her. She chose to wear a sleeveless red dress that came up to her knees. She wore her shoulder-length hair up, and a pair of red coral earrings finished off the whole ensemble with lipstick to match.

Aunt Dolly appraised her looks and was slightly afraid of what might happen. But she let her fears pass. There was no use pondering such morbid thoughts!

By the time the three arrived at the club it was a little late, and they could hear the noise from the car park. Everybody was very merry and having a good time!

Derek was nowhere to be seen. Miranda felt slightly disappointed. Following her aunt toward the main room she was waylaid by two of the men she had met when she had first arrived from England in Calcutta. Gosh, it had been only a month and a bit, and such a lot had happened. The two men asked Miranda to join them at the bar. Excusing herself from her aunt, she followed the two young planters to the bar. Drink in hand, she was busy talking to the two men when suddenly looking up she saw Derek striding toward them. Tall
and muscular, he was in an open-necked beige shirt and his perpetual khaki trousers.

“Enjoying yourself?” he said to no one in particular, but the remark was directed toward Miranda, who was looking very amused and very confident. He held a drink in his hand. It seemed the others were slightly in awe of him. Being very rich and the owner of a number of tea estates he was respected by young and old.

He turned to look at Miranda directly. His eyes held hers for a brief moment, and then they both looked away. She smiled. The music started, and some people went to the dancefloor to dance. Others sauntered off to the next room to see a movie. And many of the men made their way toward the billiard room.

Derek leaned against the bar, standing near Miranda. His eyes were on her. She looked so radiantly beautiful. He wanted to take her in his arms there and then and kiss her. Seeing her surrounded by the other young men made him slightly jealous, and he could not keep himself from making a caustic remark.

“Enjoying yourself, Mira?” he repeated. “The boys are very friendly here, aren’t they?” he continued in that same cold tone of voice. “And they have been looking after you very well, it seems.”

Why did he have to be so taciturn? What was the matter with him? Miranda flushed and looked down.

“Come,” he said, helping her down from the barstool.

“Going to the billiard room, Derek?” someone called out.

“No,” he replied.

“Oh, James,” he called out to someone. He turned toward Miranda, who was following him. “Meet Miranda.”

A man with a friendly face and broad smile held out his hand, and they shook hands.

Miranda was immediately drawn to him. He looked so kind and amiable. How could he be friends with Derek? They were like chalk and cheese.

“James is our tea garden doctor,” Derek said. “James,” Derek continued, “when is Mary returning?” Mary was James’s wife who had gone to England for a break and was soon to return. James mumbled something Mira could not catch.

The three of them made their way to the covered terrace. The terrace was situated slightly away from the main clubhouse, connected to the main building by a covered pathway lit by bright lanterns. A man-made stream flowed along the side of the terrace. The sound of the waterfall and the various plants managed to create an amazing ambience. Whoever had been the architect was an artist.

Miranda was slightly unsure as to what to say or do. She wanted to be back home safely tucked in bed. Everything was moving so fast.

Meeting so many new people that evening, she was confused with who was who, but something she observed, which was slightly disconcerting, was that many of the women present were extremely interested in Derek and she was often ignored. She was being scrutinized and being stared at, although very discreetly. It was rather off-putting! She would have to do some background checks of her own, she decided especially the one called Hannah that Derek had introduced her to the other morning at golf.

Hannah was there on the terrace with another man but watching them. The surreptitious glances of other females scattered around did not go unnoticed by Miranda. Hannah did try and speak to Miranda, but Derek invariably intervened. What was up with him, Miranda wondered. The woman was trying to be perfectly civilized; she was trying to be friendly. In fact, she was the only female there who was perfectly at ease and trying her best to be pleasant. So why was he being such a cad?

Miranda noticed that Derek was trying desperately to avoid Hannah.

Hannah was wearing a figure-hugging long dress with slits on the sides. She had a lovely figure, and she did look very chic. Her stilettoes accentuated her height, and she walked with a distinct swing. Hannah came toward them and laid a manicured hand on Derek’s shoulder, ever so lightly. He ignored her.

“Hello Derek,” she drawled. “Hi, Miranda.” She smiled. She seemed a lovely and friendly person. “How do you like the gardens?” she carried on, completely ignoring Derek’s scowls.

“We must get together sometime,” she said, looking more at Derek than at her.

He steered her away by holding her elbow to the far corner of the terrace. Miranda watched them exchanging words in undertones. Looking at them it was not difficult to see that they were having an argument of some sort. Still, Hannah had the presence of mind to wave to Miranda with a smile as she made her exit, taking her time with a final backward glance.

Miranda grew a little upset as the evening wore on. She had the distinct feeling that Derek and Hannah were connected in some way. Hannah was beautiful and very majestic looking. Why had they broken up? There was a lot of history there; it was easy to decipher that. Thankfully her aunt came out on the terrace and rescued her, eventually.

Aunt Dolly was more talkative after a few gin and tonics. She needed only a slight nudge in the right direction! She was more than willing to fill Miranda in with the local gossip. Dolly did not need much coaxing to start her off.

The local gossip was that Derek and Hannah had been going out for some time, for quite a number of years, in fact. Hannah was one of the local planters’ sister, and she came out to India quite often to stay with her brother and sister-in-law. Derek and Hannah had met in India at one of the club nights, and Derek took a shine to Hannah. One thing led to another, and he asked her to go out with him. They had been seeing each other for quite some time. Their affair was quite open, and they were an item. There could have been an engagement, but Dolly was not sure about that. There was even a talk of an impending marriage, but it all fizzled out. Apparently, as the local story went, before he left for England the year before, Derek had stopped seeing her. People were talking, and all were quite intrigued as to why Derek and Hannah had broken it off.