BooksBarbecue
Back Passage West
Chapters (59)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. Cast of Characters
  5. Part One
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. Letters
  14. Part Two
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. Letters
  26. Part Three
  27. 18
  28. 19
  29. 20
  30. 21
  31. 22
  32. 23
  33. Letters
  34. Part Four
  35. 24
  36. 25
  37. 26
  38. 27
  39. 28
  40. Letters
  41. Part Five
  42. 29
  43. 30
  44. 31
  45. 32
  46. 33
  47. 34
  48. 35
  49. 36
  50. 37
  51. 38
  52. 39
  53. 40
  54. 41
  55. Epilogue
  56. Acknowledgments
  57. About the Author
  58. Also by Rishi Reddi
  59. About the Publisher

THEY ALL FILLED IN for Amarjeet’s absence. Ram took charge of feeding the mare, milking the cow, and helped Jivan bale the alfalfa. Karak took up Amarjeet’s errands in town. Ram helped Kishen with the cooking, hauling water for the laundry. On any morning, Leela might ask, “Isn’t the war finished yet? I miss Jeetu Veer-ji.” When her father told her no, it was not yet over, she would say, “Please don’t forget to tell me when it’s done. Okay, Abba? Please don’t forget.”

Sometimes Jivan would say, “If that silly boy were here, he could nurse the horse. I would not have to ask the veterinarian to come.” When an extra man was hired for the harvest, Karak remarked, “That is one more man that we would not have had to pay.” Or “When Amarjeet comes back, I will tell him what a shabby job he did with fixing these reins.” But no one said anything when Amarjeet’s wages came by mail. Jivan would silently open the envelope, look gravely at the amount on the check, and take it into the bedroom. Ram did not know if he cashed them or not.

One morning, Jivan was clearing silt from the area near the headgate. Ram joined him with another shovel. They worked quietly. The morning was still cool, and Kishen’s breakfast had been heavy and delicious.

“It is good that you have come,” Jivan said.

“The silt is too much today, perhaps we waited too long,” Ram said.

“It is good that you have come to stay with us,” Jivan said.

Ram hesitated. “More than three years have passed, bhai-ji.”

“You have been a great help.”

“If I must be in America, I am content to be here,” Ram said.

Jivan did not look up from his work. He was struggling through a heavy section of silt. He seemed oddly lonely, even though surrounded by his family and all that he had built. Ram shifted position and stood near him. They pushed their shovels in and lifted, together.

20

Camp Lewis, Washington

1 October 1917

My esteemed Jivan Chacha-ji:

We arrived at Camp Lewis a few days ago. First thing I did after arrival was to send off a detailed letter to Father telling him the situation. I told the truth, that you are furious with me for joining up with the U.S. Army, that you are completely against the decision. If I have overstepped my limits, please accept my pardon. I have done only as I thought correct in telling him the truth.