Thirst by Shree Ghatage

Author:Shree Ghatage [Ghatage, Shree]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-36812-6
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Published: 2012-06-05T00:00:00+00:00

The day following the disclosure of Baba’s news, Vasanti said, “Do none of the family mind that you are leaving?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I thought they might have tried to dissuade you. England is so far away. And there is the fighting.”

“If the Axis powers had landed in Great Britain I would have postponed my plans. So I’m not worried about my safety, and I don’t want you to be either.”

“This morning I asked my sisters-in-law what they think about you leaving. All they said was, once you make up your mind there is very little anyone can do to change it.”

“I’m afraid they know me too well. What else did they say?”

“Sheelatai said she extracted a promise that you will not eat meat, or drink spirits.”

“Yes, and I intend to keep that promise.”

And just like that, as he was looking at her, the tears rolled down her cheeks.

She dabbed her handkerchief to her eyes and after giving one last shudder, said, “I understand from them that you made plans to go away even before we were married. So why did you not say anything? There must have been a reason for you not to tell me.”

“During all those stories about Christopher and my mother … I wish now I had told you then.”

Her nose red and glistening, she waited for him to continue.

“It’s just that you are so very young, Vasanti, and so very innocent. I was afraid if I told you, you would get worried and become sad, just the way you are now. I wanted you to feel settled at Chafékar Wadi first, before springing the news. Besides, I didn’t know for certain whether I had a berth on that ship or not. And as soon as I knew I had, you were the very first person I told.”

She raised the handkerchief once again and this time covered her face with it.

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