‘Hey, Butt-scratcher,’ said Nitesh taking a few steps to stand near him. He wore a black embroidered kurta that fell just below his knees and below it he wore loose-fitting white pants. He carried a bottle of Thums Up. ‘Here, sip.’

Govinda sipped the drink. It was hot and spicy and pungent. He drank more.

‘Whisky and Thums Up,’ said Nitesh. ‘This is a number one adult drink. Drink more.’

Govinda’s head felt dizzy. He did not want more but took another sip anyway. Nitesh walked away. Just then, while his father was looking on at the sinking Kali and his mother spoke to Ali Khan and his wife, Govinda tripped and fell into the river.

As he entered the cool water, he felt fearful, but he knew what to do. He swam back to the bank. He touched the slippery river’s edge but could not get a grip. The strong tide was dragging him away from the bank and spiralling him toward a whirlpool. He thought of the hijra’s curse.

Everything slowly washed before his mind’s eye. All he saw now were weeds Serpent Lane red sheet Casio watch Tenzing goats waves dancing bears Australia Hooghly Sunil Mumbles dead children Gitanjali racing horses harmoniums lepers Ashok burning trams fireballs Kali skulls black arms. He witnessed his life in a way he had never known and had no wish to know. Govinda felt everything waiting for him: his action, his response, his death.

The river carried him away. Everything spun out and came back. Everything damaged was repaired. His family and home and future and past were one. He was swimming beyond life itself. He knew he would have to swim harder if he didn’t want to be carried out into the bay where the river flowed into the sea, but he was tiring. His body flung about as if in a dance, and he laboured to keep his face above the water. A boat went past, Govinda hollered and screamed but the boat pushed by. Soon his legs started to go numb. He felt a growing distance from his own body. I’m in heaven. The words of a song in his head, he could not find the tune that went with it. Yeah, I’m in heaven...Everything was as it should be and nothing could be as it was again. Then something hit him. He reached out and was enveloped by the effigy of Kali. She appeared with devilish eyes, a protruding tongue, with snakes entwined around her neck. Her dark, hard arms held him. Perched on top of the idol, Govinda drifted into darkness.

Kali Whispers

Kali Whispers

When Govinda opened his eyes he saw many eyes staring down at him. ‘What happened? Was I dreaming?’ he asked. He couldn’t see his mother and father. Ali Khan reached out to him and patted him on the head. ‘This can only be good,’ he said.