Asking Questions by H. R. F. Keating

Author:H. R. F. Keating [H. R. F. Keating]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2020-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Ghote, on his way home, could not help contrasting the comforts that awaited him with those at the hostel Gauri Subbiah must by now have reached. For her only what food the hostel cared to provide. For him a meal almost certain to include some particular favourite, one of the dishes that in answer to persistent questioning he had at various times admitted to Protima that he especially liked. At home, too, he would be able to talk over the day’s doings, both his own and Protima’s and young Ved’s. Gauri Subbiah, he imagined, would have no one to talk to, would have to go to her room and read the evening away.

But, at home, he found he was not to be as contented as he had expected.

‘What it was Commissioner sahib was wanting you to do today?’ Protima asked, as she unbolted the door to his tap on the outer latch. ‘You were leaving so soon after he had spoken with you in his car.’

At once the first earth-cracks appeared in the smooth grassy maidan he had seen himself traversing. He would have liked to have replied with a full account of everything that had happened to him since that early hour. On the day before he had, without a second thought, told Protima all about the missing ACE-i samples, about his meeting with the superstar Asha Rani – Protima had been very impressed – as well as about the faint feelings of doubt that had come to him after speaking to the distinguished Professor Phaterpaker. And then he had described that shocking moment of discovery when Gauri Subbiah had at last unlocked the door of the Reptile Room.

Protima would expect to hear an equally full account today. But at once he foresaw a difficulty. In these home-coming chats Protima never hesitated, if she thought it right, to tell him what he ought to do. She did not play the detective, but if some question of behaviour came to the fore she would make her views known. Decidedly.

So, over the years, he had learnt to suppress anything he thought might give rise to a difference of opinion. And the day before, for that reason, he had carefully omitted saying anything about Nicky D’Costa and the way her case had been abruptly taken away from him and given to Inspector Adik.

Now, as he sat in his chair while Protima knelt taking off his shoes and socks before bringing him the easeful delight of having his feet pressed, he had a nasty feeling that, when he came to tell her about his meeting with Gauri Subbiah in Sewri Cemetery he would be unable to keep silent about that gravestone with the name D’Costa on it. No reason at all why he should mention it. But, even because of the very lack of reason, he felt sure it would somehow spill out.

And the coming need for carefulness at once upset the flow of his narrative. He sped it on. He skipped altogether

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