Chapters (59)
They avoided each other after that. They spoke only when others were near, during breakfast or dinner, and only about matters regarding the fields.
THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY, Jivan accompanied Karak to the barrio. Several children called out to Karak as he arrived. He had some sweets in his pocket, and he gave these out to two or three of them, who scampered away, laughing. The previous two Sundays, men and women had noticed his passing through: a Hindu man with a dastar in the Mexican barrio. But today, with Jivan, Karak drew even greater attention. A few of the Mexicans had worked on Jivan’s farm. He stood a foot taller than most of the residents. Men stood on the thresholds of their homes to stare. Karak could sense their antagonism. He had been seen leaving with Rosa. He was a threat. Later, Rosa would tell him that some men in the barrio had questioned Alejandro about allowing Karak to court her. The women had gossiped about them as they scrubbed their washboards. Now he saw only that a small group of men stared at him as he passed, and he, in response, carried himself with greater boldness.
Alejandro’s door opened before they knocked. Karak felt a moment of panic. Should he have asked Rosa to marry him before this visit? What would a Mexican suitor have done?
“Señor Singh,” Alejandro said, looking up at Jivan, allowing them inside the house. “What brings you here?”
Karak did not want him to grow tense. He said, quickly, “I have come to ask for Rosa’s hand in marriage.”
A cry rang out from the other room, and Esperanza appeared, her hands clasped together. “¡Gloria a Dios!”
Alejandro looked from Karak to Jivan. Karak explained, “In our country, it is proper for the head of the family to be involved.”
Alejandro and Esperanza went into the back room, leaving him and Jivan alone. Karak saw Jivan cast his eyes around the home: the table where he had eaten dinner three weeks ago, the saints clustered near the doorway to the bedroom. Karak wondered where Rosa was. Alejandro emerged with his hands on his hips, but his face showed his ambivalence. He addressed himself to Karak. “Sí, señor,” he said, with too much formality. “Tiene mi bendición.”
Heat swept through Karak’s body. The future stretched out before him, a settled place, secure and hard-won and different from the past. Rosa emerged from the back room, looking at him brightly. She had been there all the time. He felt light-headed. He had not known himself to still be capable of elation.