lowered her gaze.
Dear heavenly Father. For what we are about to receive, may the lord make us truly grateful. Amen
When she looked up her smile was framed by her red lipstick and for the first time he noticed the green of her eyes. Under her auburn curls this woman was like a kalaidescope. Tonight her dress was covered in fruit. She raised her glass of water. Cheers she said and good luck with your adventure. They ate in silence for a few moments and then Eleanor said sorry and got up from the table and returned with two table napkins and a pen and a piece of paper. When she sat down again she searched for Eliot’s eyes. They ate in silence for a while.
So Eliot I would be right in saying that you are not a Christian.
For a moment Eliot considered the question. He had an answer of course but what should he say. Was it necessary to say his truth? Why did he always want Christians to feel bad?
Well I was bought up in the Church of England, taught about the love of God by the Very Reverend Stan Titler, got confirmed, sang in the choir and got married in a church. But no, I am not a Christian. I have no reason to believe in God, well the church God.
It’s funny. I knew that you wouldn’t be a believer Eliot. You can just tell. But that’s OK , there is enough room in God’s realm for all kinds of good people. ….just a small favour. Could I please have your email address so that I can keep in contact with you? I will miss you Eliot.
Only half an hour later, before the table was cleared he said thanks for the meal Eleanor and I have a big day tomorrow, I’d better get to bed. No thank you but he didn’t feel like a cup of tea or coffee. He bent down and picked up Elvie and stroked her head and when he said, be a good girl and I will see you in a couple of months. It occurred to him that it might not be obvious who he was talking to and it made him smile. He offered his outstretched hand to Eleanor. Thanks for everything he said.
As he climbed the stairs to his apartment , the letter from Marion that he had put away in his bedside drawer came into his head and now he made up his mind that he was going to take it with him, read it every day, confirm her support for what he was about to do. Her younger smile and the twinkle in her eye came to him now. He smiled again.
9.
A week before Louise dropped Eliot off at the airport, Jalal had arrived in stinking hot Jaunpur and the school driver Rajamata had met him at the train station and had driven him to the school and at the same moment that he approached the home of his childhood, Madan the school principal stepped down at Kajgaon station on the train from Kolkata. He had travelled all the way from his wife and children in Darjeeling.
He carried his case across the tracks and down the narrow path between to rice paddies and onto the road and then rolled it along the road the short distance to the school, a green double story building that was once the home of Jalal Singh and his parents and was now Madho Patti Junior Elementary School. Those who saw him wheeling his case gave little recognition to the principal other than sometimes a nod of their heads. Jalal and Madan greeted each other in a way that two people would, when they had come together for just the second time, formally, matter of fact and after a little while Jalal reminded Madan of the obligations of their beliefs so they went to their different rooms and lay their mats down on the floor.
Your wife and children are well in Darjeeling?
They are thank you Jalal. And your wife, how is her health?
I have come here from Bombay and Cochin where my wife has entered a sanatorium to help her get over some problems with her digestive system. She will attend this sanatorium and then I will return to Cochin. In these two weeks we have much to do Madan, but I must tell you, I have some news. I have not been idle back in Australia. I have employed two graduates, two young teachers to teach English at our school. I have recruited them through Jaunpur University. Their names are Karishma Singh and Scheweta Gopal and I know that the parents of our students will be very happy.
This is very good news Jalal.
It of course means Madan that you will not have to teach English anymore and you will have more time to concentrate on the administration of the school, the finances, the timetable, talking to the parents. All of those things.But I have other news Madan. I have employed a teacher trainer from Australia. His name is Eliot Wilson and he comes highly recommended, with lots of experience as an English teacher in many countries. He will arrive in just over a week and he will spend his time in the classes of our two new graduates helping them to become good English teachers. You will have to cook up food for us three at meal times.
But Jalal, this must be very costly, are you sure that we can afford it, where is the money to come from?
It is not your worry Madan, I have undertaken to cover these expenses myself. Just think what the parents will say when they know that their children are being taught by a teacher from Australia and how many other parents here and in Kajgaon will want their sons and daughters to come to our school.
I suppose you know best Jalal. Is he a follower of Ananda Marga?
No, but I have checked his past. He is a family man, his wife has recently passed away. He comes with a good reputation and he has a job to do here for eight weeks and he will be gone. He arrives on about the eighteenth so we will have to prepare for this. I will only be here for about five days until he settles in but he and I will have to share the room. Because of this, I think that we should put another ceiling fan in this room.
More expense Jalal, we must be careful with our budget.
The finances are my problem Madan. Well tomorrow morning we will have to start early, straight after breakfast we will go to the office and start planning and in the afternoon we will go into Jaunpur to buy a few things in preparation for Mr. Wilson’s arrival.
Yes Jalal and I will have to prepare myself for a lot of cooking he said in his head.
10.
As he checked in his green backpack and red rolling case he was telling himself that what he was doing was OK. Yes, the letter gave him her blessing. He sensed that he felt a little bit like a new man, one who noticed people around him, one who felt like having a conversation with them and even the shock of seeing Eleanor at the departure gate didn’t diminish this surprising new energy. When the time came he resolved to walk through those electronic doors without looking back and he managed that easily. Of course he was sure that Eleanor was very disappointed when he did this but why did she bother to come in the first place he asked himself? When he entered the immigration hall he felt suddenly empowered even more so because he was going to India. He was going to India to work.
Fifteen minutes earlier he couldn’t believe his eyes. He had just bought a magazine and he was watching and waiting for the queue at the entrance to customs to become smaller. It did seem strange that there was no sign of her at the apartment when he left for the airport in the morning. And yes last night she had asked what time his flight to KL was leaving. This morning her door stayed shut as he passed number three. If he was honest he was a little disappointed then.
Eliot, surprise, surprise!
He heard himself say bloody hell, you have to be joking. One of those dresses, a sunflower pattern, the finger thin belt, sensible shoes, the pearl necklace, just been to the hairdresser and bright red lipstick. She was dressed up even for Eleanor. A huge red smile as she waved at Eliot, a small package in that hand. Eliot heard himself say something stupid.
What are you doing
