Page 48 of A Shimla Affair
‘Are you a spy? A spy for the Congress? Or perhaps even hired by the Germans?’
The idea was ridiculous yet tempting. How exciting would it be if I had been hired as a spy, to find classified information that would save us! How glamorous it sounded, as if from a film or a novel! I had to disappoint him with the truth: that I was just a simple girl fighting for her home. I decided to heed Begum Jaan’s advice and change tracks.
‘What is Beeson’s standing in the administration? How is he perceived?’
He looked at me, befuddled that I had asked, perhaps even shocked that I hadn’t referred to Beeson as ‘Lord’. I could see he was trying to think if he should answer the question.
Charles took some time. ‘Very ambitious, cutthroat rather … why?’
I took a long, deep breath and told him about the civil war, expecting his shock and concern. But he didn’t believe me, not even remotely.
‘It’s impossible,’ he said flatly.
I was outraged that he had dismissed me so. Did my word mean nothing?
‘Beeson would never … it’s beyond imagination! A decorated officer of the Raj would never break ranks in this monstrous way! I’m sorry, Nalini, but what you’re suggesting is inconceivable.’
‘How can you doubt me like that! I heard every word of it from my own ears—this man from London, Hastings, has come down here to plan a civil war with Beeson. They are well on their wayto incite it in other cities and tighten their control over India. They need India more than ever, now with the War—’
‘And the Viceroy gave his blessing to all of this?’
‘Reluctantly, but ultimately, yes! He agreed that it is an effective strategy to retain British hold, which is eroding by the day—if you hadn’t noticed, by the way.’
‘You must have misunderstood, Nalini. They must have been talking about something else and you understood it as a civil war.’
‘I didn’t misunderstand—’
‘How do you know that? Nobody who ever misunderstood something would know it at the time and say, “Yes, I have misunderstood the situation!’’’
I was crushed that he thought me incapable of understanding a political conversation. The evening light showered on us, filtering in through the branches of the trees.
‘You don’t believe me.’
‘Yes,’ he said without hesitation, ‘Absolutely. I think you’re very thoroughly mistaken, perhaps even using this preposterous story to deflect attention from why you were there in the first place!’
‘I could never make something like this up! It’s much beyond the limits of my thoughts and knowledge on the subject!’
He grunted with incredulity. ‘Why were you there? Who told you that this meeting was happening at Beeson’s residence? How did you and your sister even get in?’
‘It was … word on the street, that an important meeting was to take place.’
Disbelief was written on his face. ‘Word on the street?!’
‘No, really! Everybody knew about this man coming from London, and Charles, believe me, these things get around. Remember I had asked you if you knew who was the specialguest coming into town? Afreen and I knew a way to get in, so we decided to find out.’
‘What way?’
I told him about the sadhu. At least here he didn’t challenge me, having known about the ritual too. When I had finished telling him the whole story, lying as little as possible, and just omitting the parts I didn’t want to tell him—like the Shimla Circle or our plan for the Viceroy—he seemed a bit less shocked.
‘I know you’re hiding a lot more from me. I could arrest you right now.’
I flared up in anger. ‘Well, do it! What are you waiting for?’
He stared at me with an intensity that I hadn’t supposed possible, his blue eyes full of endless oceans that threatened to drown me. Why were things always so complicated between us? Was it too much to ask that the man I fall in love with to like me back without skin, rank and an entire empire coming between us? It served me right for not marrying the nice Parsi man and living the life of a good woman when I had the chance to.
Charles grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him but any notions of the moment turning romantic were immediately destroyed as he started leading me out of the forest.
‘If you’re taking me to jail already,’ I said my heart suddenly lightened as I realized that if he wanted to take drastic action against me, he would have done so already. I was now sure that, despite the seriousness of the situation, Charles would not betray me without knowing the whole truth, ‘Don’t think I won’t tell everyone about your obsession with Dorothy fromThe Wizard of Oz.’
