BooksBarbecue
Back Bombay Monsoon Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  4. PART ONE
  5. CHAPTER ONE
  6. CHAPTER TWO
  7. CHAPTER THREE
  8. CHAPTER FOUR
  9. CHAPTER FIVE
  10. CHAPTER SIX
  11. CHAPTER SEVEN
  12. CHAPTER EIGHT
  13. CHAPTER NINE
  14. CHAPTER TEN
  15. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  16. CHAPTER TWELVE
  17. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  18. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  19. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  20. PART TWO
  21. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  22. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  23. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  24. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  34. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  39. PART THREE
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  44. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  45. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  46. CHAPTER FORTY
  47. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  48. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  49. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  50. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  51. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
  52. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
  53. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
  54. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
  55. CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
  56. CHAPTER FIFTY
  57. CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
  58. CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
  59. CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
  60. EPILOGUE
  61. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  62. BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION GUIDE

Happily ever after? With a girl who’d willingly signed on with a man wanted in several countries? A girl who lived with him, made love with him? Not in his houses, but in hers? I had to assume he’d duped her into believing he was a good man, otherwise I could have no respect for her. But even if she’d been tricked, why had she stayed with him? Would I, could I, be happy with such a girl?

Perhaps not happy. But obsessed? In too deep? I could be all those things. Of course I let Sushmita into my bed, thinking it would be the last time. I wanted it to be and, at the same time, I never wanted it to end.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1975, 8:16 A.M.

Sushmita was gone when I emerged from my bath the next morning. I’d missed my run. I asked Willy where she was.

“I wanted to say goodbye to her. You’ve both been so kind to me. And she’s been a patient babysitter.”

“She and I quarreled after you retired last night, and she ran out this morning. I’m afraid I’m not very loved right now.”

Had they argued before Sushmita came to my room? She hadn’t mentioned it. She’d been upset about my leaving, but said nothing about Willy. Was she so cool that she could turn her emotions off and on like a spigot?

“What did you quarrel about?” I asked.

“Nothing important,” he said, waving a hand. “About Chhotu. She despises him. When I told her he’s returning here to stay for a few days, she had a crying fit. Don’t worry, Danny Boy. She’ll come around. She always does.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said. “Please convey my thanks to her when she comes back.”

“I shall. Now you don’t want to miss your train. Shankar is waiting outside in the Ambassador, the second car. I’m afraid Mita has taken the Mercedes.”

He apologized for not being able to accompany me to the station, but I was glad. Glad to be alone with my own thoughts. The driver, Shankar, left me in peace as we made our way to the Poona Junction Station. He only spoke to me once, as I climbed out of the car.

“Pleasant journey, sir.”

The Bombay Express, which originated in Hyderabad, was running late. Scheduled to leave Poona at 9:05, it was now expected in the station at 10:15. I sat on a bench in the waiting room, my bag on my lap, as I really didn’t want to put it on the floor. The less said about that the better.