The Hungry Ghosts by Shyam Selvadurai

Author:Shyam Selvadurai [Selvadurai, Shyam]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Contemporary
ISBN: 9780385670678
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Published: 2013-04-02T04:00:00+00:00

When I got home, my grandmother was seated on the verandah, and she called out with a teasing smile, “Was the tea pleasant?”

I frowned at her suspiciously as I came up the steps. “How did you know?”

“Chandralal asked my permission before you left.”

“I see.” There was a pitcher of water and glasses on the verandah table and I poured myself some.

“And the daughters? Were you surprised they were just like our Cinnamon Gardens girls with their tennis and piano?” My grandmother threw back her head and laughed. “Yes-yes, how all those British things go on. But that is how people like Chandralal rise up, nah, Puthey, teaching their children tennis, piano, elocution. And fortuitous marriages into good but impoverished families.”

I gave her a narrowed look and she chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m not marrying you off to one of his daughters. We certainly don’t need their money.”

Yet I felt a strategic marriage was precisely what Chandralal had in mind.

“Puthey.” My grandmother patted the low stool next to her chair. I sat down by her feet. “As you know, I am on the board of trustees at our local temple. I have been thinking for some time I would like to build a new bana maduwa. Our one is so old, and the roof is leaking. Other Colombo temples have such lovely bana maduwas. I want to build one in the old Kandyan style with a pagoda roof and carved wooden pillars. But this requires time and money. While I have money, my time is running out. I must collect as much merit as possible to ensure a better future life.” She played with her glasses for a moment. “I was wondering if you could look after my properties. This is good training, nah? After all, they will be yours sooner than you expect, and I want you to be ready for them.”

I had anticipated this, and had already assumed some of the responsibility by telling Chandralal we must get the Pettah property fixed up.

“Aacho, I will do it, but on my terms.” I stood up. “If I am going to run your properties, I want to run them the way I wish.”

She waited for me to continue.

I leant on the balustrade, looking down at her. “To start with, that Pettah property must be repaired.”

“What for?” she cried. “I am going to run it into the ground and then sell off the land.”

“No, Aacho, I don’t want that. In fact, Chandralal is going to send a baas to give me an estimate. That verandah is dangerous. Someone could seriously hurt themselves.”

Her lips thinned, but I pushed on. “Even if I have to rent that property a little cheaper, I want the right kind of tenant.”

“Cheaper? Why should you rent it cheaper? After fixing it up, you should charge more.”

“And I will. All I’m saying is, I would prefer to go cheaper and get someone who will actually pay the rent rather than have another tenant like that man.”

She shrugged, not pleased at all.

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