Read Online Desh by Kim Kellas - Free Book Online Page B

you’re in trouble there’s a way out. Contact the Forced Marriage Unit in London when you get back; they’ll help you. It’s completely confidential; your father need never know.
    â€œCome on hun, hold it together. Hang in there. You don’t even have to ask about your job. I want you back in one piece. You don’t have to tell anyone anything you don’t want to. No one’s forcing you, but I’m here for you.” The phone went black and he’d gone.
    Aila stayed on the roof and looked out over the lake. It was five in the afternoon in London. Another day and she might have been in the lake, face down. The air felt soft with the scent of henna, a peculiar waft of roses and bitter chocolate and she thought of her mother. Every birthday, her father gave Nessa Roses perfume and the smell of it restored her. There might be a way to endure this. Hope seeped back into her veins and that night she slept without a knife under her pillow.
    The following evening, after the children had been battened into their beds, and the mosquito nets drawn over them, she sat on the sofa beside her mother and the conversation turned to the newlyweds. Mazid would have to get back for uni soon and her father wanted to get everything organised. “Once the visa application goes through,” he said, “we’ll send a ticket for Sobia. It shouldn’t take too long.”
    â€œWill you be sending Gourab’s application at the same time?” said Aila.
    Sadhan smiled at Mazid as he answered “I would think so.”
    â€œAnd then he’ll start his new life in my bed.”
    Mazid glared at his sister, outraged that she would to speak like that, but Aila turned to him “Tell me bro, when did you first find out about my husband? I’m just trying to figure it out because as I remember it, you two seemed to know each other quite well, when you brought him into my room, you know, five minutes before I was married. How did that happen?”
    â€œThis isn’t the time, Affa.”
    Aila uncrossed her legs and leant forward. “No? Strikes me as the perfect time. There’s no one else around, and here we are. One big happy family. So come on, when did you first meet him?”
    Sadhan tried to answer.” We’re not talking about you at this point. Your brother has to leave soon.”
    Aila kept her eyes on Mazid. ”Well? When was it?”
    â€œThree years ago.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI met him last time we were here. There was a meal arranged in Sylhet to appraise him in person, and that was the first time. Dad had done the research back then. His family were the right caste and Maryam’s father knew him.”
    She turned to her mother. “And you knew about this?”
    â€Shuna, I knew they met, but it wasn’t a favourable outcome. He turned his back on your father during the meal, so I thought that was the end of that. It wasn’t until this April, on your birthday, that your father decided to progress the proposal.”
    â€œAll I ever asked was to marry someone from London. I would have been happy without a grand wedding, without a proper sari even, if you’d found me someone I could at least get on with. I thought you cared about me. How could any of you think this was right?”
    Nessa spoke through tears.” I don’t think you realise how bad things are. We have no money; your father was just doing the best he could.”
    â€œWell that’s not strictly true, is it? There’s the fifteen grand I borrowed. But here’s the thing. If you leave me here, I’ll lose my job, the loan will go into default and you lot will lose my salary. And I really wouldn’t hold out much hope of a janitor earning enough to support us all. So don’t bite the hand that feeds you – or give it away. Just get me on a plane home now.”
    Sadhan stood over her. “You’re so high and fucking mighty.