Distant+Whispers

The trembling Nalini finally managed to take a breath.
“Rajesh!” she said feebly.
Raj heard someone gasp behind him. He pivoted and froze. Tall skinny Irwin was seated in his
family’s wide hammock. Malini, the other twin was spooned in his crotch. Irwin had his arms gripped
tightly around Malini’s waist, rocking her slowly.
Like her twin sister, Malini was struggling to get out of Irwin’s lap, her terrified eyes fixed on her
brother. Irwin followed the girl’s gaze. He sat up straight, dumping the girl on the concrete floor.
Raj’s mouth seemed to twist angrily in slow motion. A split-second later came the boom.
“What’s dis shit, bwoy? WHAT’S DIS SHIT?”
Harold was caught up in the throes of passion and was slow to react, his behind humping against
Nalini. Raj lunged for Harold, grabbing the collar of his shirt and yanking the huge man off his sister.
The shirt ripped in two, exposing Harold’s fleshy pale white back.
Harold, still too intoxicated with passion, turned slowly with an attitude, thinking someone was
playing a joke.
“Hey dude. What’s the—”
The black fire blazing in Raj’s eyes silenced him. Raj grabbed Nalini’s thin arms. She was
trembling. He pulled her away from Harold.
“Nalini! Get in de damn house!” He beckoned to her twin sister, who had picked herself up off the
ground and was trying to stretch her short skirt beyond its limits to cover up her underwear. “You too,
Malini. Leh we go!” he said with a growl. The girls looked at each other and then at the two
Americans, their ‘great loves’ from the States, looking just like the stars in the soap operas. Raj
followed their eyes. He picked up the iron rod and waved it around.
“I said get in de damn house. Dem leavin’. Now! He glared at Irwin and Harold. “Get de hell
out!” he barked angrily. Irwin slid along the wall and jumped through the open door into the living
room. Harold eyed the iron rod as he edged his way around Raj. He squeezed the sliding glass door.
“Get de hell in de house!” Raj said angrily, pushing his two trembling sisters. His face twisted in
rage when he saw Harold and Irwin still in the house. “Get de hell out!”
“Okay, okay, man. We’re going.” Irwin said, hopping as he tried to put on his other shoe.
Raj’s eyes darted to and fro around the living room. “Where’s Neerja?” he barked, searching for
his youngest sister, his beloved. The twins exchanged nervous glances. He glared at one and then the
other. “Where’s Neerja?” he snarled.
At that moment, a tall figure strode down the hallway that led to one of the home’s bedrooms. A
familiar voice called from the shadows.
“Hey! What’s with all the commotion, dudes? I’m busy back here.”
Patrick appeared, shirtless, his pants unbuckled. Young Neerja, her long black hair disheveled,
was a step behind him. She was wearing Patrick’s shirt. When she saw Raj, she froze and ran into the
bathroom.
Four things saved Patrick’s life and limb; the sofa and then the coffee that Raj had to scramble
over as he went after his long-time friend. And the two girls, each one clutching Raj’s arms and being
dragged by their charging, snorting brother as he lunged for the foolish Yankee who was hurdling
cushions and lamps trying to find the door.