Amazon Best Selling Novel “Malabar A Flame” in Lima World Library
20. Home away home
Antony and Mary were not happy to leave Rajan alone
after his discharge from the hospital. Without anyone to help
it was also not easy for Rajan to fend for himself. But to have
him where they have a daughter of ‘marriageable age’ was
a question that could arise in any traditional Indian home.
But after all they were in England but still…Sara also had the
inkling to ask for Rajan’s accommodation in their home for
some time. But she left it for her parents to decide.
Antony in his heart of hearts wanted Sara to be married
off to a Christian boy, either in England or back home in
Kerala. A suitable boy who could be brought to England and
settled provided he had the right qualifications. Mary also
was for it. However, the sudden entry of Rajan, a gentleman
of all attributes other than faith, unsettled their dreams.
But they were sure that the ultimate decision lied with Sara,
who had of late appeared to like him very much. Antony
made arrangements to make discreet enquiries about his
background and family details back in Kerala.
Rajan was packing up to go back to his rented home near
his workplace when Antony and Sara arrived. Rajan thanked
them for all their help.
“Rajan, we thought it would be fine for you to stay back
with us in our home till at leasr the plaster-cast on your hand is removed.. You need someone to take care of many things
though they may appear trivial but crucial for your complete
recovery to be back to normal. Till exactly when, we will
decide later,” Antony told him. Rajan was ready with the
answer.
” No uncle. I would manage. But thanks for your concern.
You have already suffered a lot for my sake,” Rajan said. “You
see, Sara had taken one whole week’s leave for me.”
Sara was looking at Rajan intently. He takes very long time
to dress up with bandage on the right hand. His moustache
had grown thick during the last few weeks. He will not be
able to shave them off by himself for a while though he
had learned to make the best use of his left hand even for
scribbling on a notepad. After a long pause, Sra asked her
father “Does Rajan come with us or not?”
Antony turned towards Rajan and asked curtly, “I am
asking you to come with us. Your injury is not fully healed.
You need some more external assistance. Don’t you know?”
Rajan was at the end of his wits. Reluctantly he agreed,.
“Okay, if you are that keen, I am prepared to come.” He
looked at Sara who sighed in great relief. Her eyes fluttered
in joy. “Especially when you are in command,” he told her in
hush when they walked down the long corridor to reach the
stairs down the surgery ward.
Sara was driving. London was in its sunny best with birches
on the walkways blowing to the winds and bougainvilleas
dancing. Fragrance from home gardens wafted and danced
around them. After driving for half an hour, Sara suddenlystopped the car and came out. She opened the rear door to
have a look at their guest. Rajan was snoozing in the cold
breeze. After all it was his first outing after a month in the
hospital. His head was turned to the right and was about to
fall. “Appa come out and place this pillow on his back,” she
asked Antony. He came out to the back seat and did so. Sara
thought if Appa was driving, I could have held Rajan to my
bosom and kissed him!
Car reached home. Nimmi’s car was parked at the portico.
Mary opened the door. They got in Mary asked Rajan to sit.
Antony came with the bags from the car.”Bring a cup of hot
coffee or tea, “ Antony told Mary.
Sara searched for Nimmi. Where is she? From the
next room Abu and Nimmi emerged with two bunch of
flowers They promptly offered them to Rajan and Sara
saying.“Welcome home for both in advance,” said Abu and
Nimmi in one voice..
Sara was visibly embarrassed. She advanced to Abu and
clenched his ear lobe and uttered “Stupid”. “Is this your idea
or Nimmi’s” she asked.
“Leave my ear, it’s aching’’, Abu protested while laughing..
“You leave my hubby, it was mine!’ Nimmi said while
joining the laughing parade.
Nirmala nee Nimmi was Sara’s classmate at the nursing
school. In fact it was Sara who played the cupid between Abu
and Nimmi, whose parents were relocated to England from
Uganda. They were Hindu Nairs, though Sara had no qualms
about the caste differences that bothered Malayalees. Nordid Nimmi care about or her parents bothered when they
met Abu, a modern youngster who was Muslim only by birth.
After tea with all, Antony ushered Rajan to the spare
bed room upstairs. Abu and Nimmi taunted Sara to go to
Rajan’s room to take care of things there. But Sara was timid.
Though she jumped at them when they offered flowers like a
tiger, she sank on the sofa as a fawn.
“You pumpkin eyes! You go yourself. What did you think
of me!” Sara flared up to Abu. Nimmi was equally shocked at
Sara’s wild reaction.
Nimmi was curious. “After all these days, there is nothing
between you? I can’t believe it.” She told Sara in a low voice
that she only could hear.
Sara said “Yes. Nothing happened between us.”
“Not even a kiss?’ Nimmi could not believe her.
“Tell me you haven’t slept together. Tell me, I won’t tell
anybody, even Abu, “ she said while lobbing her ear to Sara’s
lips. Sara went into a rage and gnawed her earlobe. When in
pain Nimmi screamed.
Mary came from kitchen and Sara ran upstairs to her
room..
Nimmi cried to Mary, “She bit my ear, Ma, Does it bleed?’’
After massaging her ear, Mary said,“ no”.
Sara went to Rajan’s bedroom where Abu sat.
The talked about many things. Sara told Abu how she
liked the book she had borrowed from him the other day.It told the story of a an affair between an Algerian boy and
a French girl that defied all logic except their hearts. Abu
agreed. They talked of many other books but stopped short
of speaking about anything between Rajan and Sara. Rajan
sat wondering how these two devoured books of modern
romance and shared their thrills in gay abandon. He wished
he had such a ‘novel’ company.
Mary called everybody for lunch. Nimmi was at the
kitchen to lend a hand.
A delicious lunch that Rajan missed from his mother
for years. The Christian, the Hindu and the Muslim sharing
the same delicacies from the same table as the prophets
has demanded. Nimmi who sat by Rajan helped him to eat,
spoon-feeding him all the delicacies he wanted. Rajan wished
he was a permanent part of such august company.
“Some one here do not like me serving the new arrival as I
do, “ Nimmi commented looking up at Sara.
“Some one here does more than spoon-feeding her
husband at home!” Sara sent the jibe back at Nimmi.
“Don’t quarrel while eating”, Antony admonished both.
But the mirth and the laughter continued.
While exchanging furtive look with Rajan Sara wished
her own brother Danny and his new wife Reena were also
there. Both worked, he in the railways and she at the Mayor’s
Office. She had been to some of the best schools in London.
Then she did a course at the LSE too. Proud of that and
proud of her rich parents, she would rather tender her own
home rather than to visit her hubby’s. If there is a choice, she prefers to visit her own parents. Danny on his part, found
time to make discreet visits to his parents.
After meals, Abu and Nimmi said goodbye to all and
moved along. Sara came out with them. Before getting into
the car they kissed each on both the cheeks. Nimmi drives the
car. Before boarding she whispered to Sara: “If something
happens tonight, pl notify me or in The Times
“Chee, podi”. (Damn, you crazy).
She drove off.
At the same time another car came and halted in front of
their home.
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