Page 85 - Train to Pakistan

the back. Dribble ran down the tip onto the table. He could smell his own breath.
It must have been nauseating for the girl! No wonder she spent the night in an

uncomfortable chair. Hukum Chand took out a bottle of liver salts and put
several large teaspoonfuls into a glass. He unscrewed the thermos flask and

poured in the water. The effervescence bubbled over from all sides of the
tumbler onto the table. He stirred the water till the fizz died down, then drank it
quickly. For some time he stood with his head bent and his hands resting on the

table.
The dose of salts gurgled down pleasantly. An airy fullness rose from the pit
of his stomach up to his throat and burped out in a long satisfying belch. The

throbbing ebbed away and the ache receded into the back of his head. A few
cups of strong hot tea and he would be himself again. Hukum Chand went to the
bathroom. From the door opening out towards the servants’ quarters he shouted

for his bearer.
‘Bring shaving water and bring my tea. Bring it here. I will take it in myself.’
When the bearer came, Hukum Chand took the tea tray and the mug of hot

shaving water into the bedroom and put them on the table. He poured himself a
cup of tea and laid out his shaving things. He lathered his chin and shaved and
sipped his tea. The tinkle of the china and silver did not disturb the girl. She slept

with her mouth slightly open. She looked dead except for the periodic upward
movement of her breasts vainly trying to fill her bodice. Her hair was scattered
all over her face. A pink celluloid clip made in the shape of a butterfly dangled

by the leg of the chair. Her sari was crushed and creased, and bits of sequins
glistened on the floor. Hukum Chand could not take his eyes off her while he
sipped his tea and shaved. He could not analyse his feelings except that he

wanted to make up to her. If she wanted to be slept with, he would sleep with
her. The thought made him uneasy. He would have to drink hard to do that to her
now.

The noise of shuffling feet and coughing on the veranda disturbed Hukum
Chand’s thoughts. It was a cough intended to draw attention. That meant the
subinspector. Hukum Chand finished his tea and took his clothes into the

bathroom to change. Afterwards, he went out of the door which opened towards
the quarters and stepped onto the veranda. The subinspector was reading a
newspaper. He jumped up from his chair and saluted.

‘Has your honour been out walking in the rain?’
‘No, no. I just went round the servants’ quarters. You are early. I hope all is