THE CALL OF DARKNESS

turned around abruptly. No one was behind her. O

nough ” sh

r, flung it open and

th just the silver light of the moon fil

and cool. But her sk

The sound of creaking floorboards and foot

ed candle. Laks must have looked insane becau

n... What's goin

frequently in Calcutta. We lose power often here, it

noises in my room

ois

, rustling... Tha

a friendly smile

the colonial period. What you're hearing is the house settling

s it built back when India was s

years old and it's never bee

an's voice coming from the f

ck to your room ” Priyan

up, and you're underdres

i noticed that Priya

e her bedroom in pajamas, that's why

te my room in the dark, I didn't mean to

he eyes of the dancer but in those of the onlooker

r your candle? ” Laks gave Priyanka a pleading look. The thought

it. But do you really ne

n imagine how m

hey wished eachother good night. Laks

≈ ≈

again. In the daylight, all of her fears

e on her nightstand by the b

a knock

in ” sh

iyanka greeted entering the

I came in to bring you somet

what ” Lakshmi

s in priyanka's hand and a s

sari! And if you're dressed in Indian clothes, passers by will be less interested in you. The British aren't particularl

ending a foreigner isn't as scary as offendi

couple of minutes to wash up ” Laks

yanka began to show Laks

llow sari. She spun around to see he

wearing a sari! I wonder if I'll ever

ix your hair and pick out some

“ You're beautiful. I know you like it here in India, but i

d look herself in t

ve breakfast ”

minutes. I want to call my

er? ” Priyanka

mi as strange. She seemed

iran . He remained i

of sunshine. Such a love

He was a last child, so he was like the sun t

ortune and peace. Probably you were your mother's good fortune and

chest as she looked away “ The k

om leave us? If we meant so much to

the millionth time, especially in front of a stranger. Her

t because she needed to care for h

ibility. She didn't have time to cry. But the tangle of

f miss someone who doesn't even care about us. I'm not going to w

her a quick smile “ My brother is with a nanny,

ies shouldn't be a

while when schools break up

lcutta? ” Pr

d him a hotel or somethin

ld is t

n. He's j

ou won't have to worry, and the

stay here? ” La

e plenty of space ” Priyank

no words to express my gra

nce more before leaving the room

the hallway in searc

ed the London number and beg

conds, she hea

han's home

f her younger brot

I finally found a

dn't call because you ac

n't be silly.

. I failed my Engli

re responsible while I

er on the court! I think he'll make me t

ow's grandma? Are you

ual. Alright, I'm gonna go back to bed. I

ou up. I miss you so

Me too, see

it. Okey, go get some sleep. I

h U

at the other end o

time for me now ” she hung up

us bright room and wal