Page 174 of The Secrets of the Tea Garden

‘Shimti’s putting herself in front of the gates,’ Libby said, marvelling. ‘The other women are following.’

Still the men shouted and jostled. Some of the women were punched to the ground. The situation was volatile. Libby felt that the violence could erupt into a bloodbath at any minute. The women had no more than pots and sticks with which to protect themselves. The stand-off seemed to last an age.

Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, Libby saw a movement. The garden below was now in complete shadow. But someone was creeping across it.

‘Clarrie!’ Libby warned.

Clarrie swung her gun around and took aim at the figure emerging on to the path.

‘Wait!’ Libby gasped. ‘It’s Ayah Mimi.’

They watched in disbelief as the tiny frail woman made her way determinedly down the drive.

‘Mimi!’ Sophie cried. She dashed out of the gloom.

Clarrie grabbed her. ‘No, Sophie, not you.’ Clarrie turned to Nitin. ‘Go and stop Mataji.’

Libby struggled to breathe as she watched Nitin hurry down the steps after the oldsadhvi. She saw him remonstrating with her. Then a moment later, she was leaning on his arm and he was helping her continue down the track.

‘What’s he doing?’ Clarrie exclaimed.

‘Mimi’s bidding,’ Sophie answered.

Appalled, they stood looking on as the old ayah reached the gates. For a moment she stopped, catching her breath, and then Nitin was lifting her on to his shoulders. From there she scrabbled on to one of the gateposts and stood up straight. Libby was astonished at how lithe she still was. Erect in her homespun sari, she looked as serene as a statue.

Libby watched through the binoculars, heart in mouth, as the old woman put her hands together in a prayerful greeting to the people below and then began to speak. She was too far away for them to hear her words but Libby was awestruck at the sight of her lined face, streaked in yellow and white paint, lit up in the dying sun.

The clamour beyond the gates began to subside. Libby was sure she saw fear on the faces of the men – in the fading light they looked even younger than before. Ayah Mimi remained at her post, praying over the crowd as the sky turned green and the sun sank below the tea bushes. Abruptly, the fight went out of the intruders – either fear or shame making them back away.

Next, Sen was ordering them back into the trucks. The women parted to let them through. They climbed aboard and with some shaking of fists retreated in a cloud of exhaust smoke. The sound of the women singing rang out in the sudden dark, chasing them away from Belgooree.

Sophie was the first to run down the drive and help Ayah Mimi down from the gatepost. The old woman collapsed into her arms after the effort, as Sophie wept and thanked her for helping save her. She and Nitin carried the frailsadhviback to her hut in the garden, where she insisted on being taken, asking only for milk and no fuss.

That night, the three British women elected to sleep in the same room, while Nitin, Banu and Mohammed Din took it in turns to patrol and guard the house. Banu explained how Shimti had organised the women’s resistance and forbidden him to challenge the Gulgat men with guns. Clarrie gave thanks for the wisdom of the village headwoman and the loyal support of the brave Khasi people. To Libby’s great relief, Banu had also brought Manzur safely back into the compound. They went out to greet him.

‘Until things are clearer,’ Clarrie said, ‘I want you to teach the children inside the compound.’

The women got little sleep. They sat up late into the night discussing what should be done.

‘They’ll come back,’ said Sophie. ‘A man like Sen won’t want to be outwitted by mere women.’

Libby voiced her fear. ‘And they might return in larger numbers.’

‘We need to get you away from here as quickly as possible,’ said Clarrie. ‘Both of you.’ She eyed Libby. ‘You were very brave out there earlier but I won’t have you putting yourself in danger a second time.’

‘I’m not leaving you on your own,’ Libby protested.

‘Dear Libby, I’m not on my own,’ said Clarrie. ‘I’m surrounded by friends here – and soon I will have Sam and Adela too.’

‘But what if Sen is lying in wait somewhere along the road?’ Libby worried.

‘When the police arrive,’ said Clarrie, ‘I’ll get them to escort you down to Shillong.’

‘And if they don’t come?’ Sophie asked quietly.

‘They will,’ said Clarrie stoutly. ‘And if not, then Daleep and Banu will see you safely away from here.’

They lay in the shuttered bedroom, hot and unable to sleep. In the middle of the night, Libby was struck by a thought.