haven’t touched your food. Is everything okay?” Jas asked, interrupting my train of thought.
“Huh, oh, yeah, everything is fine. I was just wondering if Ekant will be joining us.”
“Oh! He . . . he was here this morning. He already left,” Jas answered in a slightly shaky voice. “Another meeting. Work can get busy sometimes, you know,” she continued with a weak laugh. “He is anxious to see you. Tonight for sure, uh, but first eat, then you should also call home to Canada and notify your mother of your arrival.”
I nodded and smiled, turning my attention to the plateful of food before me. I hadn’t called Mom yet. She would be worried, as usual. Right now, what concerned me more was the eerie feeling I was getting regarding Ekant. I’d met the other members of this family, but the main person was still missing in action. Perhaps he really was busy, but still something just didn’t feel right.
After breakfast, Jas was kind enough to give me some time alone in the living room so I could use the only phone in the house. It was refreshing to hear Mom’s voice on the other end of the line.
“Esha dear, how are you? How was the flight? Did you sleep, did you eat? Are you sick?” She was shooting off one question after another, and I’d barely had a chance to respond to one yet.
“Mom, Mom . . . Mom! Calm down, let me speak!” I pleaded.
“Sorry dear, I am just so happy to hear your voice. It feels like it has been so long. You cannot blame a mother, can you?”
“Of course not, mother dearest. Now, to answer your questions, yes, I am fine, the flight was okay. It was just very tiring and looong. But I’m okay, you don’t have to worry, it’s not that bad.”
“And how is your Dhadhi ji?” she asked in a slightly lower tone.
“Oh, she’s good. She was quite sad last night when she saw Dad’s . . . well, you know, but she’s okay.”
“And how . . . how is everyone else?” I could tell by her tone that it was getting uncomfortable for her to talk about the other family.
“Okay. Ekant has a wife and a son, and they’re both cool. I actually haven’t seen Ekant yet. Apparently he’s been busy with work. I guess I’ll see him tonight.”
“A wife and son? That’s wonderful,” she replied, her tone lightening again.
“Yeah, but Mom, there’s something you should know. Ekant’s mother . . . well, she’s not here. I mean, she’s already passed away,” I said. I didn’t know how else to tell her. It was best that I just come out with it now. Perhaps it would make her feel more at ease that she wouldn’t ever have to face that woman again.
“Oh no! That’s terrible, Esha, when did that happen?” she asked, sounding genuinely hurt.
“Actually, Mom, it’s been a couple of years. I ended up asking Ekant’s wife, Jas, where his mother was. It was so damn embarrassing! I’m surprised you didn’t know,” I answered.
“Esha, you know there was very little communication all these years between us. I don’t know, perhaps your father knew.”
“Well, it doesn’t really make a difference now. I already made a total fool out of myself. Anyway, do me a favour and let Mandy and the rest know that I’ve arrived,” I said, changing the subject.
“Yes, I will. Those girls are driving me crazy asking about you. By the way, your sister is doing great, in case you are wondering!”
“Of course she is, Mom, she’s always all right. I’m the one roasting here in this heat,” I muttered.
“I am going to pretend I did not hear that. So, tell me now, have you all discussed when you will be leaving for Kiratpur?”
“No, nothing yet. I got in pretty late last night, knocked out, and now I’ve just had breakfast. Plus, Ekant hasn’t shown up yet, remember. I have to wait for him to make the arrangements, right?”
“Yes, but be polite, Esha. Try not to be bossy and so headstrong,” she warned.
“Mom! I’m not stupid! I think I can handle some Indians. I was raised by you, wasn’t I?” I countered.
“You know how you can get sometimes. I’m just telling you that they are family, but you are in India, and you are a girl. You cannot go bossing people around. There is a way to do things over there. Just take care and speak to Ekant. I’m sure he will make the proper arrangements soon. Stay close to Dhadhi ji and don’t wander off. I miss you very much, my child.”
“Miss you too, Mom. Anyways, I should go now. Take care and talk to you soon. Bye,” I said before hanging up. Try not to be bossy? Oh, please! Above all else, my mother always made it a point to criticize me. “Don’t be like this and don’t be like that.” It was annoying. I wasn’t a child any more, yet she never stopped.
The day continued with little excitement. Dhadhi wouldn’t let me leave the premises, because she said it was “dangerous for a girl like me to walk around alone in the streets.” So I just wandered about inside the house.
I discovered a stairway leading to the open rooftop, which provided an extraordinary view of the surrounding city. The houses were extremely close to one another in both proximity and height, so I could see far into the distance on every side. On the rooftop were chairs and hammocks and tables. I brought up some of my magazines and settled into a chair by the doorway.
Every now and then, neighbours would come and stand and stare at me from their own balconies. It was odd that they found me so interesting. I mean, Delhi was the capital of the country. Many foreigners must come through these streets, but these people behaved as if they were seeing a foreigner for the first time. I felt like I was on display, and I soon realized that I could do nothing about it except ignore them until they disappeared.
Slowly but surely, the day passed by, and the sun began to set. Evening prayers from the nearby Gurdwara could be heard through loudspeakers. The day was coming to an end, and Ekant still had not shown up. As nightfall approached, I ventured downstairs to escape the mosquitoes and lizards that were starting to appear. Jas and Dhadhi were in the living room, and Bhagat sat at a desk doing his school work.
“Esha! Come sit with us,” Jas said, smiling up at me as she patted the seat next to her.
“Thanks,” I said, walking over.
“How was your reading?” she asked.
“It was fine. The rooftop is quite comfortable, and the heat wasn’t so deadly today,” I answered, stealing glances around the room as I looked for evidence of Ekant’s return. This was getting to be too much. I had planned on travelling to Kiratpur within a day or two of my arrival so that I could return quickly, but the man that was supposed to help me wasn’t showing up! “Dhadhi,” I said, looking in her direction.
“Yes, child.”
“I need to travel to Kiratpur soon. Do you think we can start making the travel plans?” I said plainly. I figured Dad’s mother would be concerned about his last rites.
“Oh yes, you do need to travel there soon,” she agreed, “but . . . you will need Ekant’s assistance. I am sure he will have some time tomorrow to
