The Indian Bride Read Online Free

"Culture. Music. That sort of thing."
    "Yes, I believe it," Marie laughed. "When I next come to dinner I shall expect a casserole to make my eyes water. And there will be dragons all over the walls."
    "I can't promise you that there won't be," he smiled. Then they were silent for a long time, eating their waffles and drinking their coffee.
    "Don't go around when you get there with your wallet sticking out of your back pocket," she said after a long pause. "Buy one of those little money belts. No, don't buy one, you can borrow one from me. It's quite plain, not in the least feminine."
    "I can't walk around with a bag," Gunder said.
    "Yes, you'll have to. A big city like that is teeming with pickpockets. Imagine a peasant like you alone in a city with twelve million people."
    "I am not a peasant," said Gunder, hurt.
    "Of course you're a peasant," Marie said. "You're a peasant if ever anyone was. And what's more, it shows. When you're out walking you can't just stroll around."
    "Not stroll around?" He was baffled.
    "You have to stride, as though you were going to an important meeting, and look preoccupied. You're a businessman on an important trip and, most importantly, you know Bombay like the back of your hand."
    "Mumbai," he corrected her. "Mumbai like the back of my hand."
    "You look people straight in the eye when they come toward you on the pavement. You walk straight, taking determined steps, and button your jacket so the money belt doesn't show."
    "Can't wear a jacket there," he said. "It's one hundred degrees at this time of year."
    "You have to," Marie said. "You have to keep out of the sun." She licked a blob of crème fraîche from the corner of her mouth. "Otherwise you'll have to get yourself a tunic."
    "A tunic?" Gunder chuckled.
    "Where are you staying?" his sister went on.
    "At a hotel, of course."
    "Yes, but what type?"
    "A nice one."
    "But what's it called?"
    "No idea," Gunder said. "I'll work it out when I get there."
    Her eyes widened. "You haven't booked your hotel?"
    "I know what to say," he said, a little offended now. He looked quickly at her, at her white forehead and the narrow brows, which she darkened with a brush.
    "Tell me," she said, lapping up her coffee. "Tell me exactly what you're going to say. You come out of this vast, complex, sweltering, chaotic airport teeming with people and you look around for a taxi stand. Then some stranger comes up to you, grabs your shirt, babbles something incomprehensible while taking hold of your suitcase, and heads off in the direction of a dodgy vehicle. And you are so worn out and sweaty and confused that you can hardly remember your own name, plus your watch is several hours behind the time. You are desperate for a cool shower. Tell me what you're going to say, Gunder. To this small, dark stranger."
    He put his waffle down, speechless. Was she joking? Then he

pulled himself together and, looking straight at his sister, said: "Would you please take me to a decent hotel?"
    Marie nodded. "Very well! But before that. What do you do before that?"
    "I've no idea," Gunder said.
    "You find out how much it costs! Don't get into a taxi without negotiating the price beforehand. Ask inside the airport. Perhaps Lufthansa has an information desk there, they'll be on your side."
    He shook his head and reasoned that in all likelihood she was just jealous. She had never been to India. Only Lanzarote and Crete, places like that. That was where all Norwegians and Swedes went and the waiters called out "Hey, Swedish girl" after her and she didn't like it. No, India was something else.
    "What about a malaria vaccine?" she said. "Do you need one of those?"
    "Don't know," he said.
    "You have to call the doctor. You're not coming back here with malaria or TB or hepatitis or anything like that, I can tell you. And don't drink the tap water. Don't drink juice or eat fruit. Make sure the meat is thoroughly cooked. Stay away from ice cream, too, you who are so fond of ice cream, and