A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya

out a handkerchief from the pocket of
her hand woven brown woollen skirt and
wipes her nose.
“That’s what I want to tell you, dear.
When we go to England, home sweet home,
we shall stay in posh hotels in all the
cities that I’ve marked on the map .. Ruby,
don’t be so gloomy, dear. What a beautiful
sunshine! Now smile Ruby.”
Grace is wearing a long deep blue tweed
skirt and a sky blue pullover with polo
neck and over it a necklace of big glass
beads. She is about two inches taller than
Ruby. It appears in .her youth she must
have been a bit lanky and Ruby plumpish.
Grace’s enthusiasm does not seem to
work on her. “You just read out to me
the names of these cities,” she says in
a listless tone. “Today my eyes are watering
more than usual.”
“Hm, a week in London. Make it a
fortnight if you so wish it.
And then ... and then ... Oh, how I
wish we had all that money.”
“Grace, let me make it clear to you.
I’m not going to live ‘here any longer.
Not under any circumstances. I hate this
country, this atrocious weather.”
“Don’t worry, my dear. We shall sell
off the house, the lawn and the servant’s
quarters-everything. All told, it will fetch
us a lot of money. Listen, this time I’m
going to buy you a new coat. Your coat
looks so worn out. Ruby, when did we
buy it?”
“We never bought it. How forgetful
you are! When I was working in that London
store its proprietor ... ’’
“Oh, Ruby could there be a greater
fool than you? You should have known
that he was in love with you. You should
have married him. You were indeed a
fool. What if he was older than you in
age? He would have died that much earlier.
You wouldn’t have to bear with him for
long.”
“How could I have married him, Grace?
You would have been left alone. I couldn’t
desert you.”
“I could have lived alone all right.
And there was that army doctor.”
“Yes, I remember him. A brave man
indeed if there was one.
You called me a fool but what about
you? If only you had fallen in with his
wishes ... “
“No, Ruby, no. I know better. He was
bold no doubt but he was something of
a philanderer too. You must be
remembering our last quarrel. I wish I
knew if he is like that even now.”
“Now? He must be sleeping in his grave
now. If I remember correctly he was seven
years older than you. You know your
age don’t you?”
“Maybe eighty.”
“Not eighty. It’s I who am eighty and
112 :: January-March 2012