Page 143 of The Secrets of the Tea Garden

In the light of such turmoil, no wonder Ghulam had rounded on her. Daily, he must feel anxiety in the pit of his stomach, worrying about his sister and the days ahead. Libby was only adding to his worry. Only now did it dawn on her how selfish was her desire to be with him. His instincts had warned him to resist becoming involved with her emotionally – Fatima had also cautioned her against a relationship with Ghulam – but Libby had ignored the advice and gone after him. Shewas the one who had pressed him to come to her party, had encouraged a correspondence between them and had urged him to go to bed with her. She had turned his world upside down.

He had shown last night that he enjoyed intimacy with her – relished it even – but it could only be a temporary affair. They both knew that they lived in very different worlds and that once she left Calcutta they were unlikely to see each other again. Libby felt winded by the thought. However much it would devastate her to be parted from Ghulam, she couldn’t stay here; it wasn’t fair on Ghulam and it was probably causing Fatima embarrassment. The doctor was liberal-minded about many things but Libby suspected she was a prude when it came to sex outside of marriage, let alone between people of different races.

Please just let them be all right!Libby began to pray in her head.Let them be safe, please, God! Then I promise I will leave them alone.

A few minutes after the clock chimed ten, Libby heard footsteps outside and a knock on the door. She leapt up, heart hammering.

‘Libby, it’s me.’ Ghulam called. ‘Open up.’

Libby scrabbled with the bolts and unlocked the door. To her relief, Ghulam stood there with an exhausted-looking Fatima. Libby flung her arms around the doctor, who almost lost her footing in surprise.

‘Thank goodness you’re both safe!’ Libby cried. ‘I’ve been so worried.’

‘I’m fine,’ said Fatima, gently disengaging herself. ‘Just tired.’

As Ghulam locked the door behind them, he said, ‘I found her at the hospital working late.’

‘There’s been a string of attacks across the city,’ Fatima said, her look harrowed. ‘Knife wounds mainly. Even children.’

‘Oh, how horrendous!’ exclaimed Libby.

She wanted to ask more but the warning look Ghulam gave silenced her. Fatima sank into a chair and closed her eyes. Sitara hurried back into the room with fresh tea and hot samosas.

They ate without speaking. Eventually Libby couldn’t bear the silence any longer.

‘What is happening out there? Why the sudden increase in violence?’

When Fatima said nothing, Ghulam answered. ‘It may be because of the news that Gandhiji is about to arrive in the city. Gangs are settling their scores before he comes. But who knows? There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the killing.’

‘What will you do?’ asked Libby. ‘Is it safe for you to stay here? Perhaps I could arrange for you to take rooms in New House. Alipore is safe.’

Ghulam gave her a sad smile – the first tender look since he’d returned – and said, ‘That’s kind of you but it doesn’t really solve anything. We still have to go to work in the city and it would be a longer journey home after dark.’

‘So are you going to just carry on as if nothing happened outside here tonight?’ she asked.

Ghulam glanced at his sister and she nodded for him to speak.

‘No we are not. Fatima is going to live in at the hospital for the next few weeks until things settle down,’ he said. ‘It’ll be safer there.’

‘And you?’ Libby pressed him.

‘I’ll stay here,’ he said. ‘If things get worse I know I will be welcome at Sanjeev’s or with another of my Hindu friends.’

‘Can’t I do anything to help?’ she asked, hating the feeling of helplessness.

Fatima spoke up. ‘You have done more than enough,’ she said. ‘You saved a little girl’s life and we’ll never forget that. But you’re not safe staying here, Libby. We can’t look after you and guarantee no harm comes to you when we are struggling to do that for ourselves.’

‘I understand that,’ Libby replied. ‘I’ll go back to Alipore.’

Ghulam frowned. ‘I don’t think you should stay in Calcutta on your own. I think you should go to Belgooree as soon as you can.’

Libby felt pained by his haste to see her gone.

‘I agree,’ said Fatima. ‘You’ll be safer in the Khasia Hills away from the violence. Ghulam says that you’ve promised Sophie you’ll be there for the celebrations on the fifteenth. I’m so glad you’ll be able to keep her company while Rafi’s away in the Punjab – it’ll help keep her spirits up.’

‘Yes, I’ll try.’ Libby nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat.

‘Is there anyone you can travel with?’ Fatima asked. ‘I’d be concerned about you making the journey alone.’