clothes. Do you remember anything at all?”
Feeling totally drained, Carla tried to recall the events of the previous day. Her mind was a hotchpotch of images, smells, emotions. “Can I have something to drink, please?”
“Of course.” George handed her a glass of salted nimbu pani. She drank it with a grimace, but regaining a little of her sparkle, she held up her hand and said, “I know—it’s good for me.”
George laughed. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. Sunil has made you some chicken broth. Try to have some, but if you can’t, don’t worry. You’ll slowly regain your appetite.”
Sitting back against the pillows, Carla said softly and with deliberation, “I can remember everything, well—almost.”
With a start, she suddenly sat up, frowning. “Elouise must be frantic! I have to call her right away. Do you have her number? I don’t have my phone.”
“It’s OK. I spoke to her, and she knows you are with me. But, Carla, we have to talk. Not now, though, you must first get better completely.”
Carla nodded obediently and tried the broth.
“I’ll do as you say for now, George, but you have a lot of explaining to do.”
George smiled and said, “I promise, but believe it or not, I’m going to insist you sleep some more. Here, take this; it is an Ayurvedic remedy that will relax you, and hopefully it will make you sleep. It is also known as a detox.” He handed her two large green capsules with a glass of water. After taking the capsules, Carla asked George to help her to the bathroom. As he was helping her up, there was a knock on the door, and Sunil entered with some folded garments that he gave to George.
“Those are my things!” Carla noted with surprise.
“Elouise sent them over. You can change in the bathroom; if you need my help I will be outside the door.”
“Thanks.” Carla changed into the navy tracksuit. When she saw her reflection in the mirror, she held her breath in dismay. She was pale and pasty with dark blotchy patches under her eyes. Her hair was lank and oily, and as she tucked some strands behind her ear, the fragrance of the oil reminded her of her nightmare experience.
Her large blue eyes stared back at her, and then, whether feeling sorry for herself or simply relieved, she started crying, silently, at first, tears rolling down her cheeks. But as she found release, she began sobbing uncontrollably. The bathroom door opened, revealing George’s face full of concern. He held her in his arms and waited for her crying to subside.
Leading her back to bed, he said, “It’s OK. Remember, Carla, you’re safe now.” Finally spent, she fell into a peaceful sleep.
George made her comfortable, adjusted the air-conditioner and left, closing the door softly behind him. He spent the day at home. Looking at her, restful in her sleep, he realized with much relief that the heroin dosage had been relatively light. He kissed her gently on the forehead, her skin cool against his lips. It was close, too close. The thought gripped George with horror and even remorse.
As the stretching shadows of the peepal trees in the garden indicated the cool onset of evening, Sunil entered the room and said, “They are waiting in your study, Sahib. Shall I bring some tea?”
“No thanks, Sunil. I want you to wait outside Madam Carla’s room, and don’t allow her to leave the room. She is sleeping, but I still want you to wait there.”
“Anjee, Sahib,” he replied dutifully.
As George entered his study, his driver, Kamal, was standing at the window. George smiled and greeted him politely. A man wearing a Pathani suit was seated on the leather armchair opposite the leather-bound desk, scattered with papers and document folders. George approached him, and as he stood up, they hugged each other warmly.
“Good to see you, my friend!” George said amiably. The man slapped him heartily on the back and laughed, his remarkable, light gray eyes alight with joviality.
.
CHAPTER
Feeling totally drained, Carla tried to recall the events of the previous day. Her mind was a hotchpotch of images, smells, emotions. “Can I have something to drink, please?”
“Of course.” George handed her a glass of salted nimbu pani. She drank it with a grimace, but regaining a little of her sparkle, she held up her hand and said, “I know—it’s good for me.”
George laughed. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. Sunil has made you some chicken broth. Try to have some, but if you can’t, don’t worry. You’ll slowly regain your appetite.”
Sitting back against the pillows, Carla said softly and with deliberation, “I can remember everything, well—almost.”
With a start, she suddenly sat up, frowning. “Elouise must be frantic! I have to call her right away. Do you have her number? I don’t have my phone.”
“It’s OK. I spoke to her, and she knows you are with me. But, Carla, we have to talk. Not now, though, you must first get better completely.”
Carla nodded obediently and tried the broth.
“I’ll do as you say for now, George, but you have a lot of explaining to do.”
George smiled and said, “I promise, but believe it or not, I’m going to insist you sleep some more. Here, take this; it is an Ayurvedic remedy that will relax you, and hopefully it will make you sleep. It is also known as a detox.” He handed her two large green capsules with a glass of water. After taking the capsules, Carla asked George to help her to the bathroom. As he was helping her up, there was a knock on the door, and Sunil entered with some folded garments that he gave to George.
“Those are my things!” Carla noted with surprise.
“Elouise sent them over. You can change in the bathroom; if you need my help I will be outside the door.”
“Thanks.” Carla changed into the navy tracksuit. When she saw her reflection in the mirror, she held her breath in dismay. She was pale and pasty with dark blotchy patches under her eyes. Her hair was lank and oily, and as she tucked some strands behind her ear, the fragrance of the oil reminded her of her nightmare experience.
Her large blue eyes stared back at her, and then, whether feeling sorry for herself or simply relieved, she started crying, silently, at first, tears rolling down her cheeks. But as she found release, she began sobbing uncontrollably. The bathroom door opened, revealing George’s face full of concern. He held her in his arms and waited for her crying to subside.
Leading her back to bed, he said, “It’s OK. Remember, Carla, you’re safe now.” Finally spent, she fell into a peaceful sleep.
George made her comfortable, adjusted the air-conditioner and left, closing the door softly behind him. He spent the day at home. Looking at her, restful in her sleep, he realized with much relief that the heroin dosage had been relatively light. He kissed her gently on the forehead, her skin cool against his lips. It was close, too close. The thought gripped George with horror and even remorse.
As the stretching shadows of the peepal trees in the garden indicated the cool onset of evening, Sunil entered the room and said, “They are waiting in your study, Sahib. Shall I bring some tea?”
“No thanks, Sunil. I want you to wait outside Madam Carla’s room, and don’t allow her to leave the room. She is sleeping, but I still want you to wait there.”
“Anjee, Sahib,” he replied dutifully.
As George entered his study, his driver, Kamal, was standing at the window. George smiled and greeted him politely. A man wearing a Pathani suit was seated on the leather armchair opposite the leather-bound desk, scattered with papers and document folders. George approached him, and as he stood up, they hugged each other warmly.
“Good to see you, my friend!” George said amiably. The man slapped him heartily on the back and laughed, his remarkable, light gray eyes alight with joviality.
.
CHAPTER
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