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

Roubillard backed away; at the neighboring table he stumbled over a chair. A man bent to help him up. In that moment, Clive leaned forward and murmured, holding his palms out. “Sorry, Karak.” His expression made clear he felt he had no choice. Why would Clive believe that? What pull did Roubillard have on him? “I’ll see you next time.” Clive rose quickly and followed Roubillard out. Karak’s face flushed and his lips pursed. A vein appeared at his temple. Ram knew he was furious. But later, in the buckboard on the way home, Karak denied that it bothered him.

November 15, 1915

My dear nephew,

You are like a son to me. That is known to all. Every day I pray to the Creator Parmatma for your good health. In your telegram, you stated you would like to come back. I think that is an excellent idea. Here all is well, very fine.

Perhaps you have learned that I have found a match for your dear little cousin, none other than the eldest son of Gopal Singh, the sardar of the neighboring district. This is a great boon for us. What a fortunate alliance this will be, one that will benefit all of us long into the future, even after you return home. The boy is so desirable that they have asked us for a large dowry. No doubt they know that you are in foreign lands and can provide one. So I ask you, before you come back, please do the needful and send money for the wedding. Because the cotton is bringing so much, I trust that this is not too difficult—another six or twelve months, just one more planting. We must make the wedding a grand affair, as is suitable for Gopal Singh’s family, and we must not be seen to come up short. It is an important matter. Our standing in the community is at stake. All will know that it was made possible by you.

Your son is growing beautifully. You will be quite pleased when you see him, and your wife is a blessing on the household.

Your uncle,

Chanda Lal

14

November 1915

HE WAS REQUIRED TO STAY FOR ANOTHER SEASON, TO MAKE THE MONEY for his cousin’s dowry that would allow the marriage to go forward. Of course, Ram would do that. That was his duty. But.

It was not that he disliked Karak; he had no reason for that. It was that he did not like him enough.