Passage Across the Mersey by Robert Bhatia

Author:Robert Bhatia [Robert Bhatia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2016-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

I am thankful that my new job keeps me occupied to the utmost and I have no option but to concentrate really hard on it which means that at least 11 hours out of 24, I can’t think much about what is happening to us, except sometimes it hits me suddenly.

It was now two and a half months since Helen had seen Avadh, and her fate rested upon the crucial meeting between Kashi and Avadh’s families in Delhi over Holi. Would Kashi’s family accept a reasonable settlement? Would she soon be able to join her beloved fiancé in India? She wrote on 5 March:

My own Darling,

Today you will be home and I am wondering so much what sort of reception they have given you. I do so pray that they are being kind to you – somehow the fear of what you are going through far outweighs the fear I have of the decision which has to be taken. You are so precious to me that the fear of your being hurt either by word or deed troubles me greatly. Also the thought that I cannot write to you at Delhi. Still this torture will be over soon and then we shall be free to decide what we are going to do without consideration of people who do not deserve consideration.

I was touched to the heart by the words you wrote about growing together until we were almost one person. I did not know a man could feel like that about his wife – I thought only women dream of these things, but I’ll love being treated so and having someone whom I can trust. I have lived so many years inside myself that I can hardly believe that I shall soon be living with someone to whom I can talk freely. Usually such trust in this country is ruined by the criticisms of the families of both parties, but we shall be fortunate in a way that we shall be a fair distance from our people and can largely evolve whatever kind of life or thought in our home which makes us happy. Also we are both old enough not to be greatly influenced by other people.

She added a P.S.: ‘I bet you did not even honour Delhi with clean shoes???’

On 2 March, the day before he was to leave for Delhi, Avadh received a letter from his father:

in which for the first time he has mentioned that he himself has impressed upon Kashi’s mother that she should come to an agreement and that she appears to be in a reasoning mood. This means that Father himself has spoken about it and I feel now that things will brighten up. Don’t be angry if I write to you that it has really moved me seeing how my father has taken it and helped us. I had never expected it from him and I only hope we both are able to serve him a little and bring him some comfort, when he comes and stays with us.

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