Page 113 of The Secrets of the Tea Garden

‘Is that why you don’t want to stay in Gulgat while Rafi’s away?’ asked Libby.

Sophie and Rafi exchanged knowing looks.

‘Not just that,’ said Sophie. ‘This picking on Rafi has taken a worrying turn. The palace cabal are using the excuse of him being Muslim to attack his character further.’

‘That’s terrible!’ cried Libby. She remembered Ghulam confiding in her that Rafi’s job might no longer be safe under Sanjay’s careless rule.

‘But surely,’ said James, ‘the Rajah won’t hold with that?’

‘Sanjay’s too weak to stand up to his grandmother,’ said Sophie.

‘And he’s hardly been there this past month,’ said Rafi. ‘He’s in Delhi being sweet-talked by Mountbatten. The Viceroy’s putting all his charm into persuading the princely states to give up their autonomy and join either India or Pakistan.’

‘The old Rani is putting about the rumour that Rafi is trying to force Sanjay to join Pakistan,’ said Sophie.

‘It’s nonsense of course,’ said Rafi. ‘When Sanjay asked me, I told him it would make sense to join India as most of the population of Gulgat is Hindu. And Gulgat is too small to stand on its own.’

‘But since Sanjay has been away,’ said Sophie, ‘there have been disturbances in the east of the state.’

‘What kind of disturbances?’ Clarrie asked in concern.

‘Some refugees have arrived from East Bengal,’ Sophie explained. ‘Horror stories are spreading like wildfire of how Hindus were butchered by Muslim gangs.’

‘Some Gulgat Muslim fishermen have had their boats and homes set on fire,’ said Rafi. ‘Nothing has been done to stop the retaliation.’

‘Rafi has telegrammed Sanjay about it,’ said Sophie, ‘but he says it’s a matter for his chief of police and not to worry.’

Clarrie stretched across the table and put a hand over Sophie’s. ‘I’m so glad you’ve decided to come here while Rafi’s in Delhi, my dear. You can stay as long as you want.’

‘Thank you,’ Sophie said with a grateful smile.

‘Quite right,’ said James. ‘You can’t possibly go back to Gulgat until things have settled down. The Rajah will have to put his house in order first.’

Rafi cleared his throat. ‘We won’t be going back, ever.’

They all looked at him, startled.

‘What do you mean, not ever?’ gasped James.

‘I have no confidence in Sanjay keeping Sophie and me safe,’ said Rafi. ‘There is a backlash going on already over Partition and we will be in a vulnerable minority if we stay in Gulgat.’

‘But if Gulgat becomes a part of a democratic India,’ said Libby, ‘you’ll be safe from the scheming in the palace, won’t you?’

‘We will still be at the mercy of this Hindu nationalism that is being stoked up everywhere,’ Rafi said. ‘It will only get worse. Sanjay’s grandmother will see to that.’

‘We couldn’t risk telling you this in a letter or telegram,’ said Sophie, ‘in case the palace got wind that we were escaping for good. They might have whipped up a crowd to cause us trouble.’

Libby felt her stomach churn. Were things really so bad in Gulgat? Ghulam had feared they might be. She remembered him telling her of a letter from Rafi that hinted he was contemplating moving back to the Punjab if Pakistan became a reality. How despicable Rajah Sanjay was, not to stand up for Rafi who had served the royal family so loyally. But knowing how Sanjay had manipulated and used Adela for his own gratification, Libby wasn’t surprised to learn that he was a weak and selfish man. So if it was unsafe for a couple like the Khans, who were well integrated into the princely state where they had lived happily for years, then how much worse would it be for Muslims like Ghulam and Fatima in the overheated cauldron of Calcutta?

‘I think it’s awful that you’re being harassed out of Gulgat,’ said Libby, her eyes stinging with angry tears. ‘Is there nothing that can be done?’

‘I don’t see what,’ said Rafi, sadness clouding his eyes.

They sat in silence as the enormity of the Khans’ situation sank in.

Eventually James asked, ‘So what will you do?’

Clarrie hazarded a guess. ‘Go back to Scotland?’