Chapters (53)
- Cover
- Title page
- Prologue
- Part One
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Part Two
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Part Three
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Author’s Note and Acknowledgements
Mei Lin looked at Pulok. A few moments passed in silence.
‘I’ve spoken to my father about us,’ he said quietly.
She looked at Pulok with apprehension.
‘He doesn’t approve of our marriage. Maa has also tried to reason with him but he refuses to listen.’
The glow on Mei Lin’s face disappeared. After a few quiet moments, Pulok spoke, ‘If my father doesn’t agree, I will take you with me. Addison sahab has promised to give me family quarters in the tea garden by August or September. We will wait till then. Before that, if Deuta agrees, well and good. If not, I’ll marry you the Chinese way if needed and take you with me to the garden.’
Mei Lin looked at Pulok with deep longing and said, ‘You are the only son.’
‘I know. I have never done anything to hurt my family. I’ve always listened to them. But this is my life, Mei Lin. I won’t be able to live without you. Look at me. Tell me, can you live without me?’
Tears filled Mei Lin’s eyes, ‘Don’t you know?’
‘I can’t sacrifice my love just because I am the only son. You may be able to do so, but I can’t.’
‘September is still some time away. You can try to reason with your father again.’
‘I’ll definitely do that. But if he persists in being unreasonable, then after getting the quarters, I’ll take you away. Don’t object then.’
Mei Lin did not answer. After a while she stood up. ‘I’ll go now. I feel shy talking to you like this for long.’
‘Will you feel shy even after we are married and I take you around with me?’
‘You are impossible. I am leaving.’
‘Will you not allow me to even hold your hand?’
‘Dhet!’
‘What kind of a girl are you?’
‘A Chinese girl.’ She giggled. ‘I must go now.’
‘I have something for you.’ Gently lifting up her hand, he placed in it the bag he had brought from Lee Chang’s shop.
‘It’s for you.’
Holding the bag with both hands, Mei Lin looked at it closely for a few seconds. She felt herself blush. Then, hugging the bag, she slowly walked away.
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