Dahaba is asking, “Mum, have you read much gay literature?”
“Gay literature, did you say?”
“You see,” says Dahaba, “my friend Qamar has told me that nowadays you can take queer literature courses in America and the UK at universities. You can even do a PhD on the subject, it is so rich.”
Salif makes threatening pistol-shaped gestures with his fingers at Dahaba, warning her away from this topic, and even Bella tries to catch the girl’s eyes to suggest that she rein it in. But even when Salif kicks Dahaba in the shin and Valerie says to Salif, “Please. Where are your manners?” she doesn’t stop.
“I can give you a list of classic gay authors that my friend Qamar says you’ll enjoy reading,” Dahaba says.
“Have you read any of them yourself?” asks Valerie.
Dahaba replies, “No, I haven’t. But Qamar has.”
“Give the list to Padmini.”
Padmini says to Dahaba, “Give them to me. I am partial to such writing. Your mum likes thrillers and crime fiction. I can’t bear reading any of that.”
“Because murder has a built-in narrative structure,” Valerie declares.
Padmini says, “I just love gay classics like Nightwood by Djuna Barnes; The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde; Death in Venice by Thomas Mann; The Color Purple by Alice Walker; Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde; and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeannette Winterson. They are wonderful.”
Despite her worries that this discussion will lead the conversation back to areas that are best avoided, Bella is relieved that the topic of sexuality is now on the table. Nevertheless, she takes the opportunity to change the subject before too much more can be said. “We are having a dinner party tomorrow evening,” she announces. “What do you say to that?”
“It depends on who is invited,” says Dahaba.
“Your mum and Auntie Padmini for starters,” says Bella.
“Oh, that’s wonderful. I love parties,” says Valerie.
Padmini says, “I’ll help cook.”
Salif says, “That’s super. I love Indian food.”
Dahaba asks, “And who else?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Kariuki,” says Bella.
Valerie says, “Who are they?”
Salif explains, “The principal of our school and his wife, who we stayed with. They were our hosts and they were very, very kind, especially the Mrs. She is large and generous and fun.”
“Can we invite Qamar and Zubair?” says Dahaba.
“Yes, of course,” says Bella.
“Can their mum and dad come too, please?” asks Salif.
“Sure,” says Bella.
“And who else?” asks Salif.
“Your father’s colleague Gunilla.”
This time, Bella senses the presence of a ripple of tension from Valerie at the mention of Gunilla’s name, which brings on a feeling of renewed apprehension.
“We know her,” says Dahaba. “She’s cool.”
Bella asks, “By the way, when is Uncle Mahdi coming to pick you up for the movie? Maybe it is time you showered, no?”
Dahaba goes upstairs.
“What movie are you going to see?” asks Valerie.
Salif replies, “A film called The First Grader, based on the true tale of an eighty-four-year-old former freedom fighter during the struggle for Kenyan independence from British rule. Never having gone to school, he enrolls himself in primary school with six-year-olds. It’s about the uneasiness his presence in the classroom creates among the educational and political authorities.”
“Fascinating,” says Bella.
“Mum, interested in coming?”
“Not my type of film,” says Valerie.
—
A quarter of an hour later, Mahdi, Zubair, and Qamar arrive to pick up Dahaba and Salif. Dahaba immediately invites them to the dinner party tomorrow evening, and Mahdi immediately says that the family would be delighted to come. Bella introduces him to Valerie and Padmini, and she can see his flicker of recognition as he puts the names and faces together with all that he has heard.
Mahdi says to Valerie, “My children mentioned you were here visiting. I am so pleased to meet you.”
Valerie says, “You have lovely children.”
Mahdi welcomes Valerie and Padmini, and he smiles at both, a little too formally, thinks Bella. Nothing in his manner betrays that he knows anything about the legal rows and custody battles that have been raging in the family. He is impeccably polite, and he also treats Padmini with the respect due an honored guest.
Bella brings Mahdi tea and pours him and her some. Valerie and Padmini take their usual sundowners. But the conversation doesn’t flow easily, and they are all relieved when the stairway echoes with the shouts of teenagers as the children and their friends roughhouse. Not that they lower their voices or make the slightest effort to calm down when they come into the room where the adults are. All four speak at the same time. Zubair and Qamar are impatient to get to the movie. “Dad,” Zubair says, “we’re going to be late.”
Mahdi looks at his watch. He says, “You’re not.”
Bella says, “The impatience of youth!”
“Please let me finish my tea,” Mahdi says.
“There is tea everywhere,” says Zubair.
They troop out, still full of excitement, and the younger ones race each other to the car. Watching them, it’s easy to forget that Dahaba and Salif have only recently lost their father.
Now that the three women are alone, the tension in the room is all the more heightened, and their conversation flows much less naturally. Bella points Valerie and Padmini to the liquor cabinet, saying, “Please do drink and be merry.” She moves away on the pretext of warming up dinner after taking their order for leftovers from the afternoon’s takeaway.
Valerie makes herself a whiskey on the rocks and Padmini pours herself some red wine. Bella takes only water with a slice of lemon. They sip their drinks silently, evasively holding back what is on their minds despite the fact that a lot needs to be said. Yet not one of them is prepared to speak.
Finally Valerie slips out to the bathroom, and Padmini hurriedly says, “We owe you a big thanks, Bella, for settling the bills. I’ll make sure we pay you back.” When Valerie returns, looking much the worse for wear, Bella abruptly changes the conversation and talks about the Nairobi weather. How cold it can get at night up in the mountains and near the lakes! Bella is too wary to trust that nothing nefarious is afoot, and she is therefore extra solicitous, fearful of rousing Valerie’s demons. What is more, Bella doesn’t want the rapport between Valerie and Padmini to unravel now that they seem to be on course for departure back to Pondicherry. She is relieved when the conversation starts to flow again, with Valerie suggesting they eat at the big dining room table for a change. And they find a legion of discussion topics that Bella presses into service, such as the state of their restaurant and hotel business, the children’s welfare, Bella’s place in the children’s lives — as well as Valerie and Padmini’s future. For the first time since Valerie’s arrival, Bella begins to feel the butterflies in her stomach settle.
Valerie says to Bella, “What occasion has prompted you to throw a party tomorrow evening? Of course, we are delighted that you’ve invited us too.”
Bella is aware that it won’t do for her to say that the party is their farewell party. “This is a welcome dinner for you, to which I’ve also invited friends of Aar’s, most of whom you haven’t met before. It is also a party I am throwing for myself now that my new life here in this new country is taking shape. In addition, I see this as a housewarming party.”