OralHistory AparnaNarayanan

AparnaNarayanan

Aparna Narayanan is a writer andeditor in New YorkCity. She enjoys exploringcities. Twitter: @aparna_2012; Instagram: @itchforscribbling.

IcametoLondonwith300pounds andasuitcasethatrolled. Ihadwornathickshirttokeepwarm. ItwasOctober,andIwasfreezing. Iknewnobetter,couldyouimagine?

Theagentwhometmeattheairport said,we'regoingtoLeeds. Thenamemeantnothingtome. WhatIrememberofthatbusride

fromHeathrowisfieldsofyellow.

Yellowasfarastheeyecouldsee. Whetherleaforflower,Ihavenoidea. Ipassedmanybeautifulhouses, lovelierthananyI'dseenbefore, buttheyellownesscapturedmymind.

AtthebusstopinLeeds,wegotoff, myself,theagentandathirdman

somehopeful,godforsakenwretchlikeme. Theagenttoldme: sitinthisbusshelter; we'llcomebackforyou.

Isatthereandwaitedandwaited. I'dlookaroundbutIwastooafraid togetupandapproachanyone.Besides

Whenitwasfive,thesunbegantoset andtheshopsstartedtoclose.

Iwasoutofmymindwithworry. Astorekeeperpulledtheshuttersdown and,blesshim,cameovertotalktome.

I'veseenyousittinginthisbusstop thewholeday,hesaid.Whereareyoufrom? Malaysia,Ireplied,tellinghimmystory. Helookedatmypassportandfinallysaid: Youcannevergetworkonatouristvisa.

HewasPakistani.Alltheshopsaround thebusstopsoldPunjabisuitsandsweets. I'llneverknowwhatmadehimdoit, buthetookmehometohiswifeandkids. ThatnightIcriedlikeI'venevercried.

Shetaughtmetosew,hehelpedmelearn computerskills.I'dneverheldamouse. Isoongotafactoryjob,butwantedbetter. AnagencygotmenannyingworkinDublin.

Nothinghadpreparedmeforthecold.

Thosegirlsgrewtoloveme.Theeldest wouldgetjealousifIhuggedhersisters. Theirmothersuckedmybloodwithwork butshewasgood.Iburnedherkitchenonce andshesaid: Areyouandthekidsokay?

I'manannyinLondon,haveanNHSnumber. I'veputfourchildrenthroughcollege, boughtacondoinwhichtheylive, andtalktothemeverysingleday.

ThatdayIhadnochoicebuttotrust thePakistanishopkeeper,MrAhmadullah. Butwhatmadehimhelpme?Theworldstinks. Neverdoubtthat.Buthere'sthething: Itisn'tashopelessasyoumightthink.