It’s not right.”
“It’s the island way. Where are you staying?” Ajay must have been in a hurry as his rate of speech quickened and the words started to run together.
“Javette’s guesthouse, near the church.”
“Man, we’re virtually neighbours. Javette is a good friend of my parents.” Ajay would drop past tonight about six o’clock.
Dink hesitated, thinking this was a big imposition and he could easily get the phone tomorrow. “I don’t want to put you out.”
“I’ll see you then, man!” Ajay was already riding down the road laughing and waving.
Dink would soon realise that once Ajay had set his mind to something, he was difficult, if not impossible, to dissuade. He was an irresistible force. Ajay continued to cycle smoothly next to the bay. The heat of the day had subsided, and the fishermen were standing bare-chested outside their huts trying to catch the breeze. Shouting noisy salutations to Ajay, a cacophony erupted into a loud cheering, acknowledging his progress. As Ajay disappeared along the road, the commotion subsided. Dink was impressed, thinking, This bloke knows everyone.
Chapter 2: Ajay
January 20th, 2010
Ajay cycled casually along the dirt path through the jungle twilight. As he rode, he whistled his favourite Bob Marley tune, 'Everything's Gonna be Alright'. He took the shortcut to Javette’s guesthouse, where Dink and his wife were staying. Ajay was on his way to deliver a phone, as promised. Travelling east from the coast towards Mont Centrale, the path was barely more than the width of a person, and the vegetation continuously encroached. This gave the physical sensation of passing through a narrow green tunnel. Ajay adored this area, the virgin woodland. He loved La Bajan, his island home.
Ajay was a phenomenon, bright and brilliant as sunshine, with an innate ability to make real personal connections with everyone he met. He had always been this way. His parents, Soval and Nita Pape, still wondered how Ajay was so garrulous, as they both had more reserved personalities. Ajay himself never really thought about it, it was just natural. It was who he was. He felt truly blessed to have been born on La Bajan and, more so, to have parents like Soval and Nita. They doted on him and loved him. They had also been strict disciplinarians on an island where casual laissez-faire attitudes were the norm.
His parents were of the Bahai faith, a moderate form of Islam, and they had instilled in Ajay a sound moral compass. Ajay had once heard his father say, “It’s nice to be important but it’s important to be nice,” and Ajay had adopted this as his personal motto. It had not been difficult for him to live by. He had enjoyed a beautiful, happy childhood. Safe, loved by his parents, and surrounded by an exquisite natural environment that was an outdoor playground for him and his friends.
Soval and Nita had only had one child of their own – Ajay – but had raised two other boys, Denis Laporte and Jonah Joubert. Jonah was orphaned as a young child and he and Ajay were raised as brothers. With time they became best friends. As boys they had roamed the island, inseparable and free to hike the island’s remote areas, swim, or fish. In this idyllic setting, adventure was assured.
Jonah and Ajay had started working on fishing boats as teenagers. Soval’s friend, Captain Albert, had hired and trained them in the vagaries of the ocean, the ways of boats, and the art of fishing. Firm but fair, and amiably grim, Captain Albert had been an invaluable mentor to these boys. Despite the fact that neither Ajay nor Jonah were destined for a life on the sea, they had learnt enough to know the difficulties that others faced in making a living on ships. Sadly for Ajay, three years ago, Jonah had decided to move to Israel. He wished to further his passion for professional gardening, and his spiritual study, at the Baháʼí Gardens in Haifa. They missed each other terribly but communicated regularly through social media. Ajay was reminiscing about Jonah and his quirky sense of humour as he approached Javette’s house. Ajay could see Dink and his wife sitting on the balcony, chatting quietly, and sipping cool drinks from tall glasses. They look happy, he thought.
“Hey, Jay,” the trilled sweet voice interrupted his thoughts, but he was glad of it. Camille had cycled up behind him on the path without his noticing and was now standing on her bike almost next to him. He could smell her sweet perfume and he felt his heart race at her familiarity. He welcomed the warming glow of friendship and love, with a tinge of lust, enveloping him. “Camille. How are you?” he stuttered lamely before recovering. “You’re very stealthy, aren’t you? Like a cat?”
“Rooow,” she purred, clawing the air between them, and she tittered contentedly. It was both cute and sexy. Her light-green eyes sparkled. Camille and Ajay had an easy rapport and he had probably always known that he loved her, but he was too afraid to let her know.
“Are you spying on the tourists, like a peeping tom?” She stared at him hard.
“No!” he blurted out, a bit too loudly, genuinely hurt at the accusation, even in jest. The exhortation had alerted Dink and Kylie to their presence in the jungle bordering Javette’s house.
“Oh, c’mon, Jay, lighten up!” She playfully brushed his shoulder with the palm of her hand and was unaware that this sent electricity tingling through him. “I’m just winding you up. Successfully, it seems.” She made a sad face and then laughed again. Camille placed her feet in the bike pedals.
“It’s fine, Camille. I’m just dropping an old phone to Dink. His broke but at least he can take photos with this one.”
“Such a lovely heart,” she teased as she mocked a half-faint whilst riding off. “See ya, Jay.”
“Bye,” he replied pitifully, aware that he was never short of words except when he was with Camille. He watched her cycle away, noting her athletic limbs and shapely bottom as well as the strength of her movements. It was no wonder she was such a magnificent dancer.
“Ajay, How are ya?” Dink was striding across the house yard clutching two bottles. “I’ve got you a local brew.”
“Thanks, man, but I don’t drink.”
“Fair enough. More for me. Come and meet Kylie.” He swigged his beer and they walked together across the large flat garden as the dusky sky coloured orange and red. The towering cumulus clouds above the mountain peak shone with the sun’s fiery reflection.
Kylie was standing at the edge of the verandah. Her tousled blonde hair was unmanicured and she wore a simple white flowing dress.
Dink made the introductions.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Ajay. You sure made an impression on my husband. He’s been singing your praises.”
“You’re too kind. It’s a simple thing,” he said, producing the phone from his pocket. “You would do the same, I’m sure.” Dink wasn’t, but he knew Kylie would.
“Thanks, mate,” Dink said genuinely. “I can’t wait to take some pictures tomorrow.”
“Have you had a chance to look around the island?” Ajay asked Kylie.
“Not yet, but it sounds like paradise.” She suggested that tomorrow they would probably go for a walk to the beach, and maybe have a swim.
Ajay espoused about the many fabulous beaches. “Shipwreck Beach is the best, on the other side of the island. It’s very
