Addict and therapist
By Poku Adaa
She could wear them, if only it won't keep falling off her shoulders. Besides, the weather is so cold up here, she couldn't submit to cultural and identity fanaticism and do away with jeans and boots. And now out of the presence of her aunt, Najar Biswas, the Sari can go to hell. Amelia has vowed to be grateful to that woman. She is the only person she'd known all her life and every vacation, she goes to South Yorkshire to her aunt, Najar Biswas.
Finding lodgings to live in at the beginning of the Session in October was difficult at first but luckily a landlord answered her little inset on the notice board at the College Accommodation Office. The Property was a very big terraced house, converted into a hostel with single study bedsits. It was owned by an Indian couple, Mr and Mrs Patwali. Mr Patwali was a bus driver while his wife and their daughter Kathar looked after their little oriental shop at the West End of the city.
Friday evening. Amelia got off from the bus and walked into the tobacconist's and collected four packets of 20-Benson & Hedges and made her way home. There was an odd and tired look, a cold blankness in her eyes. The day at the College had been busier than usual. Ordinarily at the close of a full week, she felt more than anything else a sense of relief. On this particular Friday evening, however, she was far from calm, rather terrified in a way she could not understand.
She was standing in front of her door staring at the carefully-wrapped package, addressed to her and propped against the door. She stared at it innocently and looked about. There was no-one about. All the other tenants, mostly students, appeared too busy. She hardly saw any of them, except when the coin-operated telephone-box that served all of them rang and she knocked at one door or another to report a call. Of course, she knew Chong Tan, the Malaysian student whose door was next to hers and the landlord's wife who came in to clean the house every day.
Amelia caught her breath sharply as she remembered the police warning about unexpected parcels and became more frightened and puzzled. She started thinking carefully. It could be one of her friends. She would soon find out, she assured herself.
In the security of her room, she put the package down and slumped into the comfort of the armchair. She unzipped her bag and took out the packets of cigarettes. Every evening, she brought home at least four packets and she made good use of them. Sometimes she ordered them in advance and Mr Bonnie brought them to the house.
THE PACKAGE
She lit a cigarette, drew hard on it and watched the smoke drift lazily from her nostrils. She became instantly nervous and unsteady. With shaking hands, she opened the package. "Thank God, it's not a bomb or something," she said to herself. "Would you still be yourself in one piece if it was one," she laughed at the wondering. silliness of the thought. Inside the package was a box of sweets and chocolates and assorted pieces of confectionary. Neatly packed but unlabelled. She flicked one into her mouth and rolled her tongue. "Very tasty. Really good", she mumbled the words. A pang of hunger urged her on and one after another she devoured the sweets like the way chickens do to grains of corn. "There is it. I've enjoyed it. Sooner or later, my benefactor will own up and claim the gratitude due her", she said to herself and decided to contact her friends to find out who sent the parcel.The next day, when she returned home from town, there was another package waiting for her. None of her close friends had admitted sending her the package. Now there was another one. Tension started building up in her. She was horribly aware that she was gradually being led into a game of which she'd no idea or for what purpose.
As she stood in front of her door, puzzled, the door of the adjacent room opened and Chong Tan came out. Amelia panicked momentarily and went red.
"Oh, it's you, Amelia?"
"Yes, Chong. I've not seen you for ages," she said looking at her from head to toe.
"I guess everyone is busy. You all right, Amelia? You seem a bit... er rather pale and gloomy. Pardon me but I can't help noticing. What's .. er... can I help?"
"Oh," she recomposed herself quickly. "I'm all right. I'm fine. Thank you."
I hope you haven't forgotten Mr Patwali's party for tonight."
"Oh, yes. You're right. I almost forgot. What did he say the party was for?"
"To celebrate twenty years of their marriage. Anyway, we've got to be there. Don't forget", Chong Tan said and turned to go, but she stopped suddenly.
"Did you see your package yesterday?"
"You brought it?"
"No. I thought it came through the post. I propped it against your door though."
"I can't figure out who sent them. They bear no postmark," Amelia said.
"They?" Chong Tan echoed,
"Another one came today. Seems a bit of a puzzle."
"What's in them?" Chong asked very curiously.
"Some really tasty chocolates and sweets. D'you like some?" She quickly slit the package open and showed them to her companion. "Rather queerly shaped. Haven't seen the sort before,” Amelia said.
They were still standing in front of their doors, the rest of the house quiet, as they chatted and puzzled.
"No postmark eei?...". Chong Tan said absentmindedly, flickered her eyebrows and thought hard. "It seems to me therefore that the sender must live within these walls," she raised her eyes to survey the ceiling and then lowered her gaze to the carpet on which they stood. "Or it must be someone who has access to this house," Chong Tan added.
"You're right Chong. I wonder why I never thought of that before,"
Amelia said with some tinge of relief. "Just take it easy, Amelia. Every tenant here has been invited to Mr Patwali's party. We'll ask around there. I don't see why you should feel worried about this." With the assurance, they returned to their rooms.
Shortly afterwards, the doorbell rang. Amelia went to open it. It was Mr Bonnie, the tobacconist. He smiled affectionately.
"Hello Miss. I brought your day's quota of cigarettes. I've waited for you all evening and since you're not coming, I've decided to deliver them. You're not the one to forget about your usual stuff, I know. Besides, I've business to attend at home. You don't mind?"
"Oh, not at all, Mr Bonnie. It's just that... oh... just oh...", she sighed, bobbing her shoulders childishly. "It's just that I don't feel like smoking. Tell you what, Mr Bonnie, I've still got the packets I collected yesterday intact."
"You! Not feeling like smoking... ee... my God! Miss... eee... this is a surprise to me!". Mr Bonnie said, his mouth wide open. "What's come over you, Miss? I mean, honestly, Miss ...I... don't..." "There you go again, Mr Bonnie. Fact is my appetite for smoking seems to have vanished overnight; my ash- tray can be seen through, scrupulously clean since Mrs Patwali did her job yesterday."
"I understand, Miss, but you've paid for this quota and ..."
"Well, I'll take it but may I ask you to stop the order. I'll contact you again if I feel like it. Thank you for coming, Mr Bonnie."
"That's fine, Miss. I hope it does you some good. Goodnight, Miss."
The Patwalis received a large number of guests that evening. Amelia sauntered cheerfully among the guests and finally took a seat in the midst of a group of men and women, drinking, chattering, all fun and very entertaining.
A young girl was carrying a tray of drinks and cigars around, offering them to the guests.
"Cigarettes, Mister?" she asked a young man.
"Yes please," he replied. "You over there, Sir. Cigarettes?"
"Cigar, please."
"You, Miss?" she asked Chong Tan who was sitting behind Amelia.
"No thank you. Not for me but my pal here smokes," Chong pointed to Amelia who was looking into the face of the girl. The girl turned sharply to go as if she didn't hear. Chong Tan didn't hesitate to accost her. "Hei, Girl..."
"Kathar Patwali. Call me Kathar, if you please," she snapped back.
"Well, Kathar, aren't you going to ask my pal here whether she wants a cigarette or not?" "There's a special brand for her. I'm acting on instructions, Miss," the girl said.
"Instructions? Whose? Who from? Chong, who was getting more and more fussed, asked.
"You'll find out in no time. Just wait for me, please. I'll be back soon," she said and dashed off, leaving Amelia to sip her brandy, tensed and anxious.
Soon she returned with a small box containing chocolates and sweets and handed it to Amelia. There was a note attached to it: From Mrs Sondia Patwali with Love - Her Majesty's Government Health Department Warning, Cigarettes can seriously damage your Health'. Amelia took it and unconsciously turned her eyes to meet that of Chong Tan. "What's the meaning of this? So it was Mrs Patwali?"
"Now you don't hit the sides of a drum when its skin-covered top is all there for the hitting, do you? Off you go. There's Mrs Patwali over there. Go and find out from the horse's own mouth," Chong told her bluntly.
Amelia obeyed instantly and went off.
"Hullo, Mrs Patwali."
"Hullo, Amelia, my dear."
"I've got your message but just what does it all mean?"
"You like the chocolates and sweets, don't you?" the elderly woman said with humour, smiling away from the strain on Amelia's face.
"Yes, they're very nice but I don't understand," Amelia said again
. "Am I right in saying that you haven't felt like smoking since you ate those chocolates and sweets?"
"That's true. Lost the urge. Have no appetite for cigarettes since yesterday. I..." "They contain anti-smoking ingredients, chocolate and sugar coated. One of the new products on the market. It'll do you lots of good, woman doesn't smoke her beauty and youth away like that. You never left an empty ash-tray. And to imagine that you're an Indian woman! You understand, Amelia?"
"Mrs Patwali, you don't think you're interfering with my personal freedom to choose whatever habit I find desirable to indulge in?"
"Personal freedom?" she burst out laughing. "My dear girl, all things that are desirable are not necessarily the best or ideal."
"What makes you think that I'll go what you consider to be a vice for another. I value my teeth, you know,"
"More than your heart?"
Amelia looked into her face, dumbfounded. There was an uneasy silence and the older woman continued.
"Habits die hard, I know, Amelia. This is only an attempt to enable you to shrug off the constant urge to smoke. Sooner you'll get used to it."
"Is it any business of yours? My health is my responsibility. Would you please leave me alone?"
"I wish I could, my dear girl, but I've responsibility for you and I wouldn't shirk it," she paused for her reaction, still smiling confidently.
"R-e-s-p-o-n-s-i-b-i-l-i-t-y?" her voice rose almost to choking point as she emphasised the word. "What a thing to say. It's just like causing further ripples in a disturbed pond. I'm your husband's tenant and that's where our relationship, if ever there was one, begins and ends. No more."
"Who is your father, Amelia?"
"What has my father got to do with this?" she replied more puzzled than before. "My father was English, I was told. He was a lawyer or something like that. I learnt he died when I was four."
"And your mother?" Mrs Patwali asked her again.
"I've never had the chance of a real mother. She may have died at childbirth for all I know. I was brought up by my mother's sister, Najar Biswas."
They were walking side by side until they came to a quiet corner away from the party and the dancing. Amelia could not suppress her anxiety.
"Mrs Patwali, you still haven't come to the point. What's it you're concealing from me?"
"Nothing, my dear. Tell me, this aunt of yours; did she have any relations at all?"
"Yes, she told me there were three sisters in all. She, Aunt Najar is the second, my mother is the youngest. The eldest I've never met in all my life. She might be in India, perhaps." Mrs Patwali held her by the shoulders and looked into her face. In a subdued tone, she said, "Before I was married, my name was Sondia Biswas. I'm the eldest of your aunts.”
In a moment, they were in a tight embrace. With tears streaming down her eyes, she asked, "And why has this been kept secret from me all these years."
"You father's wish it was that these facts be not revealed to you until time you'd have come of age. He died fifteen years after his death by which time you’d have come of age. He died on an occasion like this, at the celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of my marriage."
"How, I mean, why did he make such a wish?"
"He knew he was going to die. He was ill for a long time."
"Oh, and what of my mother?"
"It was on account of your mother that your father made that wish. When your mother arrived in this country from India, she was to marry a husband already arranged for her. Instead, she rejected this man when she met your father Edward Sims. No one could change her mind about Mr Sims, a brilliant lawyer who had worked in India for many years. Consequently, your mother, Maijila, was rejected by the family at home and over here when she became pregnant. The shock and anguish caused her death when you were born. Edward Sims entrusted responsibility for you to Najar and I. He also left you a large sum of money which we've held in trust for you. I received a letter from Majar that you will be looking for accommodation, somewhere to stay in the City. About the same time, my husband and I had bought this property ready to receive tenants. I sent a letter to the College. Needless to say that all the rent you've paid has been put into a special account for you."
Amelia was flabbergasted, completely taken off her hook and dropped down to melt.
"That sounds like a dream. I... I don't know what to say...
"You see, Amelia, that I've indeed a special responsibility and a special liking for you. As for the bit about smoking, it's an advice which every other or dear relation is obliged to offer and I urge you to consider it seriously."
"I understand now, Mr Patwali, but the way you went about it..."
"It was planned by Najar and I. We wanted to trap two birds with a single bait, to make it more dramatic." She paused and turned, "Look who's coming!"
"Aunt Najarrrrrrr!!!!!, she turned and shouted hysterically. "How nice to see you. I've been hearing the most wonderful things in my life."
"Mr dear Amelia, I was determined to be here to corroborate whatever is to be revealed to you and to assure you of our constant love and affection. I brought you a new Indian sari which you must wear now and join in the dancing. You're a grown-up now. It isn't too much to go back to your roots and take your share of what Indian Custom and Society has to offer," she said.
"I shall do whatever is expected of me and I'm grateful for both of you for all that you've done for me." She hugged the two women in turn and said, "Mrs Patwali…”
"Call me Sondia, Aunt Sondia, if you like." "Aunt Sondia, isn't it time for the Indian Dance?"
The two women looked at each other and smiled.
