Untitled - Katha

36 ◆
supported his master. “This place is not safe for you. There’s
trouble brewing. The Simon Commission is due to sit at Pandu
in January ... we have heard that some Cotton College students
are ready with sticks ... they found a gun in the students’ hostel
only last night ... please open the door memsahib.”
No. Dorothy would not open the door.
Brown’s temper boiled over. “Come on out you stupid cow!”
He burst out, kicking at the door, hammering at it with his fists.
The munshi went round the back to see if a door or window had
been left open by chance. By now an audience of devotees and
ascetics from the neighbourhood had collected, spellbound by
the unfolding drama.
“Why are you making such a scene?” It was Dorothy from the
gamble tree window.
Henry exploded. Dorothy’s absurd decision to come and live
in this fashion wasn’t just a slap in his face. It was an affront to
the Empire, their Britishness, their heritage.
“The buggy’s waiting Dorothy. Stop this nonsense and let’s
go.” He grabbed at her hand as she tried to shut the window.
“Come on.”
Dorothy’s face came down on his hand. She tried to bite herself
free from her husband’s vice grip. “I’m not going back. Your Khasi
woman is pregnant.” She hissed.
“So that rascal’s put a spell on you. You slut! Mother of
all whores! That’s what you came for? To fornicate with that
godman fellow?”
Munshi tugged at Henry’s arm. Jatadhari rose from the
riverbed, stark naked. Water dripped from his dreadlocks, running
down his shoulders in little rivulets. He seemed to be emerging
from some deep trance.
The Man from Chinnamasta