Chapter Five

Selvi ran all the way home. She needed to get there before Jansz did. Her feet flew down the mountainside to the village below. Unlike Amir, who lived in the middle of nowhere, she lived in a hamlet made up of a dozen houses. This was how it was in this remote part of Serendib—a few hamlets scattered throughout the mountains, as well as remote, isolated dwellings tucked away among the peaks.

Selvi took her usual shortcut and squeezed through scraping branches onto the roof of her house, which was on a path lower than the wilderness behind. She dropped down to the ground at the front door and stood up, dusting her hands. She stepped back in fright when she noticed someone was there.

It was her uncle, Kandaraja, and he was staring at her in contempt.

Selvi groaned under her breath. Of all the bad luck!

Why did he have to be visiting right now?

Just then, Jansz and one of his men came running around the corner. Uncle looked up at the noise and started when he saw who it was.

Selvi’s heart was beating wildly. Uncle was bad enough on his own, always haranguing Mother about her parenting and Selvi’s wildness. If the men started hassling Kandaraja about what happened on the mountainside, he’d come down even harder on her and she’d never be allowed out again.

She wanted to speak but didn’t know what to say, how to explain the situation. But for some reason she couldn’t understand, Jansz and his goon looked at each other and then took off. They disappeared down the path and around a bend, Jansz thumping heavily at the back.

Uncle turned to face Selvi. “Do you know those men?”

She shook her head silently. She wasn’t sure if it was a lie, exactly, but she didn’t really know anything about them. Other than the fact that they liked to kill harmless animals.

“Good. Stay away from them. They’re good-for-nothings.” Uncle Kandaraja smoothed down his immaculate fullwhite shirt and sarong.

Selvi’s mother came to the door. “Brother,” she said. “Sorry, were you waiting long? I was washing some clothes at the back and didn’t hear you.”

Uncle Kandaraja didn’t answer but sighed, going past her into the house without invitation and settling himself down on the reed-woven chair.

Selvi followed him, dreading the conversation. Her uncle was her mother’s much older brother. He was big on respectability, and what one should and shouldn’t do, and keeping up appearances. Uncle was always interfering in their lives, and it annoyed Selvi that her mother always meekly listened and never stood up for herself.

“Get me something to drink, Gayathri,” said Uncle. Mother went away at once to make him a hot drink.

Selvi bristled as she always did when he bossed them around. She turned to leave.

“Wait,” said Uncle, snapping his fingers. “I haven’t finished with you.”

Uncle took his time, waiting for Mother to come back while Selvi stood there twiddling her thumbs and wondering what he had to say this time. She didn’t dare leave, not because she was afraid of her uncle but because she didn’t want to upset her mother.

Once Mother had handed her brother a cup, she perched nervously on the edge of a chair. Selvi stood there waiting. Uncle sipped slowly. Some small boys went past the open front door, rotating a wheel with a stick on the gravel outside and laughing noisily.

Uncle gestured to Selvi to take his cup once he’d finished. When she’d done so, he looked directly at Mother for the first time. Selvi hesitated on the way to the kitchen when she heard his words. “I was hoping that things would have improved around here. But nothing’s changed. The girl still comes and goes whenever she wants.”

Selvi’s mother flushed. “She just likes being outdoors, brother. She’s a little girl; I think it’s good for her to be out playing.”

“Playing?” roared Uncle suddenly, making them both jump. “Don’t be ridiculous. She’s twelve, not five. She should be home attending to her duties with you.”

Selvi rolled her eyes inwardly as she put the cup down.

No one was sure what these duties were that Uncle kept going on about. She helped her mother with pounding the rice, and sometimes she cooked or helped with other things around the house. They grew some vegetables too. But she had time to go to school and do other things as well.

Mother nodded. “She does help—”

“Clearly not enough!” Uncle fiddled with the thick gold band on his wrist, which stood out against the dark brown of his skin. Uncle was very rich from his big shop in town, but his money created a problem for Selvi. He helped Mother financially, and in return he felt he could control everything about their lives.

He looked away suddenly, as if disgusted at the sight of them both, and stood up to go. “I will see you next week then. Although I’m sorry to see you’re still not doing an adequate job of bringing the girl up properly.”

Any brightness drained out of Mother’s face at his parting shot. All his visits were like this. Short and abrupt, they always ended with her mother in tears and full of self-doubt. Uncle went out of the door and they watched him disappear down the path to where his cart would be waiting for him. Soon he’d be rolling off to his big house on a mountain peak.

“Good riddance!” Selvi turned to her mother. “Why do you put up with him?”

“Selvi!” Mother went back into the house wearily. “Don’t talk about your uncle that way.”

“I know you don’t like this either!” Selvi followed her inside. “We don’t need him. We get by just fine on the sewing that you do. Stop accepting his money.”

Mother pressed a hand to her head. “He won’t take no for an answer.”

“Of course he won’t! He wouldn’t get to control our lives then.”

“Okay, so he is a little strict—”

“Strict!” said Selvi. “This is beyond strict.”

“Strict and old-fashioned then,” said Mother placatingly. “A bit.”

Selvi sighed. “No one thinks like him. Even his own family doesn’t agree with him. I don’t see why we have to listen.”

“He cares about us, Selvi. He’s been taking an interest in our lives ever since your father died. He could have left me to struggle alone but, as my older brother, he’s thinking of his familial duty and is helping me.” She scratched her hands in agitation, as she always did at the end of these visits. “He’s probably right. I am too soft on you. It would be good for you to go out less and get ready for life.”

“You’re already preparing me for life! Whatever that is. Stop listening to him.” Selvi found the way her mother didn’t stand up to Uncle so infuriating!

“Please, Selvi, that’s enough. If I’m not doing a good enough job with you I’d rather know. My brother means well.” She rubbed her temples and Selvi knew a headache must be coming on. “Go and get some water.”

Selvi didn’t want to agitate her any more so she went out of the back door to the well, picking up a basin from the kitchen on her way. This was a running argument between her and her mother. Her uncle had too much say in their lives, and it was always to Selvi’s detriment. She knew Mother wasn’t keen on the interference either, but she wanted to keep the peace and wouldn’t ever challenge Uncle.

She dropped the bucket in the well and it hit the water with an echoing splash. Selvi pulled on the rope, cranking up the filled bucket the pulley. She placed the basin on the lip of the well and poured water into it. Picking up the basin, she turned to go.

She started and nearly dropped the basin, sloshing water down her skirt and feet.

Standing in front of her, in their little backyard, was Jansz.