entrance, and the two of them fell down clumsily, laughing and moaning as they crashed to the wooden floor.
“Wow! What a smashing start to our marriage,” Andrew said, laughter lines accentuated by his glorious tropical suntan.
Carla remained motionless on her back, too winded to move. Andrew leaned over her; he stopped smiling, and his eyes were filled with concern. “Are you OK? Carla, can you hear me?”
Mustering a smile, she gasped: “I’ll be OK, Andrew, stop fussing! ”
“No, Carla, it’s me, George. Do you know where you are? Do you remember what happened? Come. Sit up. Drink something.” George lifted Carla and gave her some water from a plastic bottle. It tasted strange and made her gag. “It’s OK. I’ve added some electrolytes and paracetamol. Drink as much as you can. You’ll feel better, I promise.”
After a few sips, Carla sank back into George’s arms.
“I don’t understand. How did you find me?” Carla asked.
“We’ll discuss that later, but right now you must try and sleep. But you’re going to feel very unwell for the next twenty-four hours.” He stroked her face gently and continued, “I won’t leave you. You have nothing to worry about now. You’re going to be safe. OK?”
She nodded, the effort sapping her of every bit of energy. Watching the ceiling fan spinning hypnotically, round and round, Carla closed her eyes and fell asleep.
“Sunil, is the room ready?” George called out.
His bearer hurried to his side and said, “Anjee, Sahib. I can help you with the madam?”
“No, thanks, it’s fine. I can manage.”
The slightly built Sunil moved nimbly, quite youthfully despite the round potbelly that betrayed his age. He led the way as George lifted Carla effortlessly and carried her through to a bedroom, where he lay her down on a large bed. On the bedside table were a pile of clean white towels and a bowl of water. An empty bucket was on the floor next to the bed.
When Sunil left the room, George undressed Carla, throwing the clothes on the floor. Wetting a towel, he wiped her down, and then he covered her with a white cotton quilt embroidered with a tree-of-life motif. He carefully brushed a few strands of hair off her face and, with a sigh, sank into a large rattan armchair next to the bed. He looked at her face relaxed in sleep, but her skin was pale, the freckles over the bridge of her nose pronounced, making her look very young. He felt a pang of regret and held her clammy hand in his.
He let go of her hand as Sunil knocked softly on the door and entered carrying a tray with a cup of tea and a small plate of biscuits. “Thank you, Sunil. You can go to bed. I’ll call you if I need you.”
“Good night, Sahib.”
Taking a sip of his tea, George quickly called Sunil back. “Don’t mention tonight to anyone, especially that gossiper Saroj. You understand?”
“Of course, Sahib.” Sunil mimicked locking up his mouth and tossing the key away with an exaggerated cricket-bowling move. George smiled, despite himself.
Throughout the night George watched Carla as she broke out in cold sweats, running high fevers and vomiting. He was worn out, but resisted sleep. Finally, as Carla was resting peacefully and only when the first rays of the dawn broke through the blinds, George surrendered to sleep.
The incessant chirping of the mynahs nettled Carla. Her nerves were frayed. Her head pounded terribly. She tried standing, but her legs buckled, and she felt herself falling.
“I’ve got you. You’re still weak. If you’re in a hurry to go somewhere, just ask, OK?” George smiled a little roguishly and said, “Plus, you’re stark naked!”
Carla grabbed the sheet from the bed and covered herself hurriedly. George handed her an oxford blue men’s shirt, which she put on very quickly, her eyes on George, confused and accusing.
“You had a bad night, Carla. You were running a high temperature, seizures and vomiting. It was easier to manage you without
“Wow! What a smashing start to our marriage,” Andrew said, laughter lines accentuated by his glorious tropical suntan.
Carla remained motionless on her back, too winded to move. Andrew leaned over her; he stopped smiling, and his eyes were filled with concern. “Are you OK? Carla, can you hear me?”
Mustering a smile, she gasped: “I’ll be OK, Andrew, stop fussing! ”
“No, Carla, it’s me, George. Do you know where you are? Do you remember what happened? Come. Sit up. Drink something.” George lifted Carla and gave her some water from a plastic bottle. It tasted strange and made her gag. “It’s OK. I’ve added some electrolytes and paracetamol. Drink as much as you can. You’ll feel better, I promise.”
After a few sips, Carla sank back into George’s arms.
“I don’t understand. How did you find me?” Carla asked.
“We’ll discuss that later, but right now you must try and sleep. But you’re going to feel very unwell for the next twenty-four hours.” He stroked her face gently and continued, “I won’t leave you. You have nothing to worry about now. You’re going to be safe. OK?”
She nodded, the effort sapping her of every bit of energy. Watching the ceiling fan spinning hypnotically, round and round, Carla closed her eyes and fell asleep.
“Sunil, is the room ready?” George called out.
His bearer hurried to his side and said, “Anjee, Sahib. I can help you with the madam?”
“No, thanks, it’s fine. I can manage.”
The slightly built Sunil moved nimbly, quite youthfully despite the round potbelly that betrayed his age. He led the way as George lifted Carla effortlessly and carried her through to a bedroom, where he lay her down on a large bed. On the bedside table were a pile of clean white towels and a bowl of water. An empty bucket was on the floor next to the bed.
When Sunil left the room, George undressed Carla, throwing the clothes on the floor. Wetting a towel, he wiped her down, and then he covered her with a white cotton quilt embroidered with a tree-of-life motif. He carefully brushed a few strands of hair off her face and, with a sigh, sank into a large rattan armchair next to the bed. He looked at her face relaxed in sleep, but her skin was pale, the freckles over the bridge of her nose pronounced, making her look very young. He felt a pang of regret and held her clammy hand in his.
He let go of her hand as Sunil knocked softly on the door and entered carrying a tray with a cup of tea and a small plate of biscuits. “Thank you, Sunil. You can go to bed. I’ll call you if I need you.”
“Good night, Sahib.”
Taking a sip of his tea, George quickly called Sunil back. “Don’t mention tonight to anyone, especially that gossiper Saroj. You understand?”
“Of course, Sahib.” Sunil mimicked locking up his mouth and tossing the key away with an exaggerated cricket-bowling move. George smiled, despite himself.
Throughout the night George watched Carla as she broke out in cold sweats, running high fevers and vomiting. He was worn out, but resisted sleep. Finally, as Carla was resting peacefully and only when the first rays of the dawn broke through the blinds, George surrendered to sleep.
The incessant chirping of the mynahs nettled Carla. Her nerves were frayed. Her head pounded terribly. She tried standing, but her legs buckled, and she felt herself falling.
“I’ve got you. You’re still weak. If you’re in a hurry to go somewhere, just ask, OK?” George smiled a little roguishly and said, “Plus, you’re stark naked!”
Carla grabbed the sheet from the bed and covered herself hurriedly. George handed her an oxford blue men’s shirt, which she put on very quickly, her eyes on George, confused and accusing.
“You had a bad night, Carla. You were running a high temperature, seizures and vomiting. It was easier to manage you without
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