The World Beyond by Sangeeta Bhargava

Author:Sangeeta Bhargava [Bhargava, Sangeeta]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2011-07-24T21:00:00+00:00

Rachael smiled to herself as she looked at the little necklace. She had been going to the orphanage every morning to read to the sick children. Today, just as she was leaving, Kalan had shoved something into her hands. ‘For you, madam,’ he said. It was a little necklace made of a handful of marigold flowers, stitched clumsily together. She was surprised, as he was the shyest of the lot. She had never heard him utter a single word before.

The carriage entered the gates of the Bristow residence and halted before the main entrance. As Rachael stepped out, she noticed a woman in a white sari. Daima? What was she doing here? And what was she carrying? It was a silver tray covered with a velvet cloth. There were other women as well, each one wearing a colourful dress and carrying an equally colourful tray.

‘Daima? What a surprise!’

Daima looked at her, her face grim, her lips a thin straight line. Without saying a word she brushed past her. All the other women followed her in silence.

‘What was that?’ Rachael asked Papa as she stepped into the house and closed her parasol.

‘That was what comes of getting too cosy with the natives.’

‘Pray tell me what you mean?’

‘The nabob’s son …’

‘Yes?’

‘The audacity of that—’

‘Why, what’d he do?’

‘Apparently he has taken a fancy to you and wants to make you his concubine!’

‘What?’

‘You heard me.’

Rachael fumed inwardly. So this is what Salim meant when he said he would do it his way. She should have known better. A mistress indeed! And to think she had thought he loved her and was going to propose to her!

* * *

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