Page 31 of The Secrets of the Tea Garden
‘This is Miss Libby Robson,’ Fatima said. ‘A relation of Adela Robson’s. Libby, this is my brother Ghulam.’
Libby stood. ‘How do you do?’ She smiled and put out her hand, wishing she had kept her shoes on to look more sophisticated.
Ghulam hesitated, his look suddenly guarded and the excitement gone.
‘Miss Robson,’ he said with a nod, taking her hand in a brief handshake.
Libby feared he must be thinking her a typical memsahib in her crisp frock and cardigan. She wanted him to like her.
‘Through my mother I’m a distant cousin of your sister-in-law, Sophie.’
He gave her a droll look. ‘Ah, the glamorous Sophie.’
‘Sophie and Rafi were very kind to me when I was a child,’ said Libby, ‘and they were great fun.’
‘Yes,’ he said, ‘my brother has always enjoyed the company of sahibs more than his own kind.’
Libby coloured at his sarcastic tone.
‘Ghulam, you know that’s unfair,’ Fatima chided. ‘Rafi has been a loyal brother to us both – and he works for a rajah, not the British.’
Ghulam gave an amused snort. ‘Indian princes are even worse. When Independence comes, the rajahs will be dragged into the modern world or forfeit their wealth.’ He glanced at Libby. ‘Please, sit down. I didn’t mean to interrupt your tea party.’
‘Join us,’ said Fatima, ‘and then you can tell us what it is that brings you rushing home early.’
Ghulam threw off his jacket and straddled one of the hard wooden chairs. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, exposing hairy muscled arms. His broad face became animated again.
‘The news is just coming through from London – the Britishers will hand over by next year.’ He gave a triumphant smile. ‘It’s really happening.’
Fatima gasped in excitement. ‘Are you sure? When next year?’
‘By next June at the latest,’ said Ghulam. ‘Even after the elections I never really believed they would give us proper independence. But now they have to – the pressure for them to go is too strong.’
‘Congratulations,’ said Libby. ‘I’m glad. I didn’t doubt that the Atlee Government would stick to their promise.’
Ghulam scrutinised her. ‘So you are a supporter of the socialist Labour Government, Miss Robson?’
‘Very much,’ said Libby. ‘I would have voted for them but I wasn’t quite twenty-one at the election.’
She felt her cheeks grow hotter at his assessing look and wished she hadn’t mentioned her age. It made her sound immature when she felt much older. Ghulam looked to be in his late thirties or early forties. She couldn’t decide if he was handsome or not. He was heavy-jawed and at some time his nose had been broken but he had the most startlingly green eyes under thick dark eyebrows and his mouth was sensuous. He was well spoken, with a deep voice, and she remembered Adela telling her how she had once seen him hold a crowd enthralled with his oratory at a political demonstration in Simla before the War.
‘We hope for a progressive government in India too,’ he said. ‘Once you Britishers have gone.’
He held her gaze as he stretched over and picked up one of the Indian cakes, popping it into his mouth whole.
‘Not all of us intend going,’ said Libby. ‘I’ve only just returned. My father thinks the tea planters will still be needed.’
‘Does he think we Indians are incapable of running our own tea gardens? We do all the hard work as it is.’
‘I’m sure he doesn’t think that,’ said Libby. ‘He is training up a very capable deputy manager, Manzur, to take his place.’
‘But not his place on the company board, I imagine?’ Ghulam said with a look of derision. ‘The Britishers will try and cling on to their wealth as long as possible. But the day will come when the headquarters of the big commercial houses – the tea and jute and oil – must be in India, not London or Dundee. India must have control of its own resources and trade. There will be no long-term future for men like your father.’
‘Well, I think you are wrong.’ Libby felt her face grow hotter with annoyance. ‘And I too plan to stay.’
He looked sceptical. ‘And do what, Miss Robson?’
Libby couldn’t think of a reply. She hadn’t really thought beyond getting back out to India and being reunited with her father.
