Page 126 - You Only Live Once [BooksLD]

‘She came back to find Ricky and started performing again, but Ricky
had left by then. New performers had replaced them at the Hippie Trails
Cafe. She started working as a nurse here.’

‘Did she stay at Maria’s PG? Madhuri told me the other day that a nurse
occupied that place briefly for six months. Also, Maria mentioned that I
remind her of someone.’

‘Yes, she did live in the same room where you’re staying.’
‘You did not answer. Did she take her life?’

‘She was struggling hard to make ends meet and had no support except
for us. Also, her singing career had taken a backseat. Her relationship with
your father turned worse after their divorce when she got to know that he
was marrying again.’

‘Does my dad know the truth?’
‘Yes, he does. I called him up after the incident happened. He felt really

sorry. Your dad and I decided to acknowledge Elsiha’s last wish, to hide the
truth from you. She had asked me to hand you this letter only if you chose
to come find her someday. I never read the letter before she committed
suicide so I never knew what the future held. Your dad sends huge funds to
us every year. It’s because of his support that we’ve been able to run so
many vertices and bring out the best in the kids at the orphanage. The
hospital is named Elisabeth Nursing Home after you mother.’

‘Was that her true name?’

‘Elisha was her stage name. Sister Angela had named her Elisabeth as
she loved reading Portuguese Literature. We found here at the park,
abandoned at the age of one probably. We’ve buried her as Elisabeth in the
park. The fact that her stage name and real name are different helped us
maintain the secret of her disappearance.’

‘Did Parvathi know?’
‘Yes, she did. We wanted you to live like your mother for some days, feel
her presence in the best way possible, before telling you the truth. It was

our plan. We really want you to fulfill her last wish of releasing the album.’
‘Who else knows?’ I shout out loud.
‘No one out of this room except for your Dad. Aarav and Ricky know as

much as you know. Now that you know the truth, it’s up to you whether you
wish to tell others or not.’