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  “Can I have a touch more wine?” Rose asked. She watched Chloe reluctantly stand and fetch the wine bottle from the cool box inside the tent.

  She topped up Rose’s glass and repeated, “What do you mean? I don’t understand.”

  “Thanks. Well, I’ve learnt my lessons the hard way, and when I think about Chris, I now realise how I should have treated him. Perhaps then we’d be on better terms.”

  “Your son?” interrupted Chloe, screwing the top back on the bottle. “Have you heard from him?”

  “Oh, we’ve exchanged a few emails, and do you know, that’s how I’ve worked out where I’ve been going wrong. I always wrote him these long letters telling him everything that was happening in Nanyuki, and all about the people he might know. His sister Heather loved it, she still does. But I don’t think Chris did.”

  Rose paused so Chloe could return the bottle to the cool box. “When I think about it, why should Chris be bothered if Mrs so-and-so’s cow develops Rift Valley fever or someone’s son runs away with a local girl? No, what he wanted was for me to ask about him. And I don’t mean the standard ‘what are you doing?’ questions. No, those that inquire about specific events and his feelings towards them, such as how are the boys in his dorm at school treating him? Do they make fun of him because he’s from Africa?”

  Rose placed her hand on Chloe’s leg. “I think we women cope better with loneliness in our relationships. We tend to just do things and keep ourselves busy. Of course, this can make the situation worse, particularly if we come across as forceful and we push the men in our lives away from us.”

  Rose paused and then said, “I think they’d prefer that sometimes we stop and just ask them how they feel. We should make an effort to include them. The trouble is, we’re so busy trying to keep our marriages and our families together, and do our work, that sometimes we just don’t see this. You must remember, Dan is on his own a lot with too much time to think, so his loneliness, and being away from you, may make things worse.”

  “Wow,” gulped Chloe. “I never thought of it like that. I’ve been so busy moving and trying to start a new life, which I’ve mostly done on my own, that I haven’t really thought how leaving the army and the UK has affected Dan. And I get so down and worry each time I think I’m pregnant and then find out I’m not. So when I ask Dan what he’s been doing and he just dismisses my questions, I get annoyed and offended. I just give up and go to bed. But I know he sits on his own and opens another bottle of wine because I find the empties in the morning. I guess it’s a vicious circle, but if he won’t talk to me, and won’t answer my questions, how do I break it?”

  Rose sat back and sipped her wine. “Can I suggest that instead of telling him what you’ve been doing, talk to him about how you’re feeling. We can all throw tantrums and blame our husbands for how rubbish our lives are. But try to keep calm and make him feel wanted. Make sure he knows that his feelings and opinions matter.”

  Someone bashed a pan.

  “Time for supper,” announced Rose. She stood and linked arms with Chloe and together they walked towards the large mess tent.

  Chapter Twelve

  Sam left Thabiti when they reached the bar tent in the centre of the headquarters. Thabiti felt conspicuous on his own, so he hastily made his way back to his own camp.

  “Thabiti, there you are,” called Mr Chauhan. “Come and join us for supper.”

  Under the events shelter, Mr Chauhan was seated at the head of the table with Jono on one side and Mayur on the other. He directed Thabiti to an empty seat next to Jono. There was a fifth place set at the foot of the table. Lavanya and two sweating African staff placed amazing looking Indian dishes on the table in front of him.

  Thabiti breathed in their rich, spicy smells and his stomach ached. Lavanya pulled out the chair at the end of the table, but froze when Mayur shouted, “Woman, where are the chutneys and sauces?”

  She dutifully left and returned carrying a metal tray on which were balanced small bowls of various coloured condiments. Jono sat silently staring down at the penknife he held in his clenched hands. Thabiti looked around and watched Mayur offer his father the dishes first, before helping himself and passing them on to Jono.

  Thabiti waited impatiently, but Jono didn’t pass him the bowls. Instead, he absentmindedly placed them on the table, so Thabiti reached over and started serving himself. He paused, looked at the other plates and resisted the urge to pile more onto his plate. He put his hand on his knife but felt a gentle pressure. Lavanya’s dainty hand was on his, and as he looked across at her she gave a barely perceptible shake of her head.

  Mr Chauhan, the palms of his hands together, recited, “Yagna shishta shinah shanto muchyante sarva kil bishaihi. Bhunjya tete tvagham papa, ye pachantyatma karnat.” He nodded towards his guests and began to eat.

  Thabiti felt his stomach quiver as he looked around uncertainly.

  Lavanya whispered, “You can eat now. Kumar said a simple prayer for our food which translates as, ‘A righteous person who eats the food after it has been offered for sacrifice is released from all sins. The others who cook and eat solely for their own sake, eat sin’.”

  “That seems a little harsh, but I’m happy to eat and be released of my sins.” Thabiti broke off a piece of chapati and dipped it in curry sauce. “Delicious,” he exclaimed to Lavanya, who smiled shyly.

  Kumar and Mayur talked animatedly, but Jono ate in silence, contemplating the chicken curry, rice and masala cauliflower on his plate. Thabiti twirled his fork. He didn’t usually start conversations, and neither did Lavanya, it appeared. He glanced over at her and then down at his plate. “How long have you been married?”

  “Thirteen years,” she replied and forked some vegetable sambar into her mouth.

  He was curious and realised he knew little of Indian customs despite living in Nairobi amongst a significant Indian population before moving to Nanyuki. Timidly, he asked, “Was it an arranged marriage?”

  Lavanya pushed pieces of crispy green okra around her plate. “Yes, it was. My family are Shudras, or labourers, in the Hindu caste system. This is lower than the Chauhans who are the merchant class of Vaishyas. So when Kumar approached my parents, and told them he wanted a quiet, gentle-mannered wife for his son, they couldn’t refuse. Even though they knew Mayur had a bad reputation and had been sent to work in London. You see, it brought them, indeed all my family, huge respect. Besides, I’m certain they received a substantial bride price from the Chauhans.”

  She pushed her plate away.

  “You’ve hardly eaten anything and this food is amazing.” Thabiti was always hungry. “May I?” He indicated towards her plate and she nodded. He pushed his empty plate to one side, drew hers closer and began to eat.

  Lavanya was silent.

  “Where are your kids?” He thought this a safe question. “Did you leave them in Nairobi?”

  In a broken voice, Lavanya answered, “Mayur and I aren’t able to have children.”

  Mayur must have heard her, as he shouted, “Barren dalit!”

  Thabiti recoiled at the harsh words and Lavanya hung her head.

  To his surprise, Jono pushed his chair back and jumped to his feet. Kumar extended his arm across the table. “Enough, Mayur.” Kumar turned to Lavanya, whose head was still bowed. “Lavanya, my dear, thank you for a lovely meal.”

  “I’m going to the bar,” announced Jono.

  He marched out of the camp as a female voice Thabiti recognised shouted, “Careful!” A wavering light approached and Marina was revealed as she stepped into the mess tent. He had to shield his eyes until she turned off her head torch.

  “Hi, do you mind if I join you? It’s not much fun in my camp,” proclaimed Marina.

  Mr Chauhan replied, “Of course, but I hope you don’t mind if I turn in. Lavanya, my dear, can you help me?” Lavanya fetched Mr Chauhan’s crutches and assisted him to his feet.

  “I’m going for a drink with Team 16,” declared Mayur, and strod
e into the night.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Thabiti and Marina sat down next to the glowing wood in the metal fire pit.

  “Kahawa?” one of the African staff asked, and they nodded their acceptance.

  “Coffee’s OK, but I’d prefer a Tusker,” mused Thabiti.

  “Ah, I thought you might,” Marina as she reached into her bag and triumphantly pulled out two tins of Tusker. “I grabbed these from Uncle Deepak’s supply before I left.”

  “Cooee,” shouted Chloe. “Do you mind if I join you? Bless her, Rose has gone to bed, but I’m just not sleepy.”

  Chloe sat down and removed a plastic wine glass and the half empty bottle of white wine from her bag. She lifted her head as Lavanya attempted to tiptoe past. “Come and join us around the fire,” she called.

  Lavanya looked timidly at them and then nodded.

  “Wine?” Chloe offered, holding the bottle aloft.

  Lavanya bit her bottom lip. “I don’t usually, but perhaps just a little.” She found an empty water glass on the dining table. “Please call me Lavi. Lavanya is rather formal and I prefer Lavi amongst friends. We are friends, aren’t we?” she asked uncertainly.

  “Of course,” responded Chloe warmly. She lowered her voice and whispered, “Is Mayur your husband?”

  Lavi nodded.

  Thabiti poked the fire with a stick. “He was really rude to you at supper. Why is he like that?”

  Lavi drew her glass to her chest. “He blames me. You see, we can’t have children.”

  Chloe rested a hand on Lavi’s knee. “You poor thing.”

  In the light of the fire, Thabiti spotted tears glistening in Chloe’s eyes.

  Lavi must have noticed the sympathetic note in Chloe’s voice, as she turned to her and asked, “Do you have children?”

  Rubbing her arm, Chloe answered, “No, I’m afraid I keep losing my babies. It seems my body reacts against the foetus and decides to expel it.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Lavi placed a hand over Chloe’s and squeezed. “I’m so sorry. I presume you’ve seen lots of specialists and have been examined, prodded and probed?” Chloe nodded. “I know what it’s like. So have I. And the doctors found no reason that I can’t conceive.”

  Lavi raised her head to look over Chloe’s shoulder and then confided, “One whispered to me that it might be my husband who has the problem, but what can I do? He is an Indian man. There is no way he would tolerate a fertility test. And anyway, he would never admit if he was unable to have children. It would be seen as a weakness, a sign of failure.” She shuddered.

  “So instead he blames you?” Thabiti was both embarrassed and intrigued by this view into the world of women.

  “Of course.” Lavi gulped. “And he alternates between insulting and degrading me one minute, and threatening to send me back to my parents another.”

  Marina gasped.

  Chloe wiped away her tears with her free hand. “I don’t understand. Why is that an issue? At least you would be free of your vindictive husband.”

  Lavi hung her head, so Marina answered. “It’s the shame, you see. Her whole family would be disgraced and what about her father and brothers? They all work for the Chauhan family. So they would either lose their jobs or be shunned by the other workers.”

  There was silence.

  Then Chloe asked, “What about you Marina?”

  Marina sat up. “What about me?”

  “Well, firstly I’m intrigued by your name. Marina doesn’t sound very Indian,” Chloe commented.

  Marina laughed. “Oh, it’s not my real name. When I was little we visited relatives in India each year. Apparently, I insisted on swimming in the sea and visiting Marina Beach in Chennai. My cousins teased me about it, called me Marina and the name stuck. I like it, probably because it’s not Indian and gives me my own identity.”

  “And do you live at home?” Chloe asked.

  “I live with my parents and my brother Vijay Veejay. Both he and Baba work in the Seths’ business, run by Uncle Deepak. You see, my mum is Uncle Deepak’s youngest sister.”

  “So could you work in the family business?”

  Marina laughed. “You saw how my family reacted when I told then I had a place in the Rhino Charge. There’s no way I’d be accepted into the company, and anyway, it would be a nightmare working with my family. It’s probably why I enjoy my safari work so much, as it gets me away from them all.”

  “Why don’t you just move out?” Chloe probed.

  Marina cried, “I can’t afford Nairobi rents. And even if I moved to Nanyuki, I’m not offered enough work yet to support myself. It’s rather embarrassing at my age having to still rely on my parents.”

  Chloe sipped her wine and asked, “What about finding more work? Or could you get a permanent job at a lodge?”

  Marina raised her hands. “I’d love to and I’ve tried, but they usually want someone with more experience. Or a couple.”

  Thabiti had been following the conversation with interest, but now felt uncomfortable as if the girls were consciously trying not to look at him. He felt his face redden and quickly asked, “What about going to college or university? I’m trying to decide if I should go back and study.”

  Lavi said wistfully, “I loved university.”

  Thabiti looked at her in surprise. It was the first time she’d volunteered information. “What did you study?”

  “Medicine. I wanted to be a doctor and help people.”

  “Oh, you must be clever,” said Marina. “There’s always so much competition for places to study medicine in Kenya, particularly amongst the Indian community. I’m afraid I was nowhere near bright enough.”

  Lavi blushed.

  Thabiti was confused. He squinted at Lavi. “Are you a qualified doctor?”

  Lavi bowed her head and shook it. “No, I didn’t finish my course as I had to get married.” Thabiti was about to ask why her marriage would stop her studying, but spotted Marina mouth “no” at him and shake her head. Embarrassed, he sank back into his chair.

  Chloe tapped her legs. “I’m not very religious myself, unlike Rose who is a devout Catholic, but I know there are many Indian faiths. Do you participate in any?” Chloe looked from Lavi to Marina.

  Marina locked eyes with Lavi and answered, “We are of the Hindu faith.”

  Lavi dropped her eyes and began to pick at a thread in her sari.

  Marina crossed her ankles and continued, “It’s a hard one for me. I’ve been brought up in the Hindu faith and I love the festivals like Diwali, the festival of light. And the numerous gods, particularly the goddess Durga. She represents the preservation of moral order and righteousness.”

  Marina gave Lavi a pitying look. “But where I struggle is that Hinduism defines a person’s worth according to their position in a social hierarchy which is determined by birth. This means Lavi will always be considered inferior to my family because she was born into the Shudra caste of labourers.”

  Lavi looked up and murmured, “But that is because of karma. My spirit must have done something to displease the gods in my past life.”

  Marina shook her head. “You see I really struggle with that. I accept karma in that the actions I take have consequences, but it is my behaviour in the current life, which I have control over, that should count, not something that I did in a past life. And that is where I come into conflict with the Hindu religion. What do you think, Lavi?”

  Lavi did not look up, but said softly, “I think there is no escape. I worked hard when I was young and I achieved a place to study medicine. But the gods made sure I didn’t finish the course and they pulled me back to a life where I am just a wife. One who is ridiculed for not having children, so I have to spend my day cooking and looking after my husband and his family.”

  She looked up and smiled faintly. “But Kumar is good to me. And he lets me come on adventures like this one, to the Rhino Charge.”

  There was a further silence.

  Chloe
drained her glass and poured more wine. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m surprised there’s such a large Indian community in Kenya. I hadn’t expected it.”

  Marina grinned. “It’s the fault of you British, but our history is fascinating. It started with trade at the end of the nineteenth century. Some Indian merchants had developed their own routes along the East African coast, but along came the British who set up an East African trading company in India. Soon afterwards, they moved the company to Mombasa, on the Kenyan coast, and they brought their Indian clerks and accountants with them. Do you know, the rupee was the first official currency in the British Colonial Protectorate? And it was run under Indian law.”

  Thabiti struggled to remember his colonial history lessons. “I thought lots of Indians died building the railway. Weren’t they eaten by lions?”

  “Oh, there were a pair of man-eating lions in Tsavo,” agreed Marina.

  Lavi piped up, “Two and a half thousand Indian workers died building the railway from Mombasa to Uganda. Of those who survived, some brought their families and settled here in Kenya. Of course, they weren’t allowed to buy the best land, that was reserved for British farmers, but many became successful merchants and shopkeepers throughout the Kenyan Colony. By the 1920s, the Indian community was well represented on the legislative council.” Lavi stopped and looked embarrassed.

  “That’s really interesting,” encouraged Chloe. “And I have a feeling there’s a but coming. What happened?”

  Lavi looked at Marina who gave her an encouraging nod. “In the nineteen fifties, Indians were at the forefront of the campaign for increased rights. In fact, some Indian lawyers were probably linked to the African freedom fighters, better known as the Mau Mau. But at independence, the Indian economic dominance was too strong. So in an attempt to curb it, the new regime required Indians to apply for work permits, and then it banned them from trading in certain geographical areas. Many others lost their jobs and found their positions filled by Africans. Numerous families found they could no longer afford to live here, so they either returned to India or used their British passports to settle in the UK. The Asian population dropped by over fifty percent.”