The Gurkha's Daughter Read Online Free

to Bombay, and now look at what a big actress she has become. Of course, I can’t take all the credit for it, because she was already very beautiful. You will be a film star with the nicest clothes. Now, now, I must warn you not to wear those revealing clothes all these actresses wear. That will not make me happy.
    â€œDaai, as in Sir?” Parvati asked, surprised that her docile husband would be asked to carry out so brutal a task.
    â€œYes, your Sir,” Sarita said. “He beat me with nettle leaves. He dipped them in cold water first and then brought the sishnu down on me—my hands, legs, everywhere—while Aamaa shouted encouragement. ‘No one in this family becomes a darji ,’ she screamed. The memory is still alive. I was married six months later.”
    â€œAnd it turned out well. You have a healthy son. Your husband makes good money. You’re about to move into your own house. I don’t see how the beating did any harm.”
    â€œHow do you think it looked? A grown eighteen-year-old daughter being beaten in full view of everyone? I was so ashamed that I refused to even walk down the street. Everyone in the tole talked about it. I’ve never been able to forgive Daai for it.”
    â€œYou and he were never really close.”
    â€œWe were, actually. It was after this episode that we drifted apart.”
    â€œHe never mentioned it to me.”
    â€œWell, you and he weren’t all that close either.”
    â€œBut we were married.”
    â€œThat doesn’t mean you share everything with each other. I like what Aamaa says. She thinks marriages aren’t so important. The expectations are much lower when you remain unmarried.”
    â€œYour Aamaa seems like a home wrecker to me. Soon you’ll be telling me that you think divorces are acceptable.”
    â€œThey should be,” Sarita said. “Did I tell you I’ve begun going to college?”
    â€œ Harey , college? At your age?”
    â€œYes, I joined classes at Padma Kanya three months ago. It’s strange going to class with students who are so muchyounger. They are so surprised when I tell them I have a teenage son.”
    â€œThey must think you’re a pagli , Sarita. I think you are mad. You have a husband and a growing son to take care of. You need to look after them. College? At your age? Please don’t tell me this was another of your Aamaa’s ideas. She will soon convert you to Christianity.”
    â€œI told you she’s Hindu.”
    â€œLet her be whatever she wants, but she’s definitely bent on wrecking your family life. What did jwaai have to say?”
    â€œHe thought I was being inconsiderate, but he doesn’t like to say that in front of Aamaa. When she’s around, he talks about things he doesn’t believe in, like women’s liberation, but once she’s out of the picture, he keeps telling me I am being unreasonable. He has even suggested driving her out, but because she pays so well, he can’t bring himself to do it.”
    Suddenly their driver jerked the wheel to avoid collision as a truck from the opposite direction veered close to the van.
    â€œ Bajiyaa ,” he screamed.
    The swerving and his swearing woke everyone up but Kaali.
    â€œDrunk drivers in the night,” Parvati growled.
    â€œIs everyone okay?” Erin asked. She counted the heads and discovered the number fewer than what they had set off with. “Where’s her helper?”
    â€œShe’s sleeping, Aamaa,” Sarita reassured her, reaching out to pat her on her shoulder. “She’s fine.”
    â€œOh, all right,” Erin said, and closed her drooping eyes again.
    The driver, shaken by this sudden encounter with death, asked if now might be the right time to stop for dinner. Parvati met his suggestion with happiness. She was hungry. Then, realizing that her mother-in-law’s death required that she abstainfrom proper meals