“Only for a minute. What are you doing in Bombay?”
“I’ve come to take you back to England.” He paused. “But only if that’s what you want.”
“Of course it’s what I want. Just tell me how.”
Seb quickly explained exactly what he had planned, and although she remained silent, he felt confident she was listening intently. Suddenly she spoke, her voice formal. “Thank you, yes. You can expect my mother and me around eleven—” A pause. “I’m also looking forward to seeing you.”
“Don’t forget to bring your passport,” said Seb, just before she put the phone down.
“Who was that?” Priya’s mother asked.
“Brides of Bombay,” said Priya, casually, not wanting her mother to become suspicious. “Just confirming our appointment for tomorrow,” she added, trying to conceal her excitement. “They suggested I wear something casual, as I’ll be trying on several outfits.”
Seb made no attempt to disguise how euphoric he felt. He punched the air and shouted “Hallelujah!” as if he’d just scored the winning goal in the cup final. Once he’d recovered, he sat down and thought about what needed to be done next. After a few moments, he left his room and went downstairs to the front desk.
“Did you find what you were looking for at the florist, Mr. Clifton?”
“She couldn’t have been more helpful, thank you. Now I’d like to book two first-class tickets on Air India’s flight to New Delhi at two twenty tomorrow afternoon.”
“Certainly, sir. I’ll ask our travel desk to send the tickets up to your room as soon as they’re confirmed.”
Seb sat alone in the hotel restaurant, picking at a curry as he went over his plan again and again, trying to eradicate any possible flaws. After lunch he left the hotel to find Vijay sitting on the bike. He could have given a lapdog lessons in loyalty.
“Where to now, sir?”
“Back to the airport,” said Seb, as he grabbed the handlebars and climbed on.
“Do you require me, sir?”
“Oh yes. I need someone sitting behind me.”
Seb knocked three minutes off their previous time to the airport, and once again walked across to Gate 14B, where he double-checked the departure board. On the return trip to the hotel, he knocked another minute off his time, without ever breaking the speed limit.
“See you at ten tomorrow morning, Vijay,” said Seb, knowing he was talking to someone who didn’t need to be reminded to be on time.
Vijay gave a mock salute as Sebastian entered the hotel and returned to his room. He ordered a light supper and tried to relax by watching Above Us the Waves on television. He finally climbed into bed just after eleven, but didn’t sleep.
21
DESPITE A SLEEPLESS night, Sebastian wasn’t tired when he pulled open the curtains the following morning, letting the first rays of the sun flood into his room. He now knew what an athlete must feel like the morning before an Olympic final.
He took a long cold shower, put on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and a pair of trainers. He ordered breakfast in his room, but only to kill time. He would have called his uncle Giles to bring him up to date if it hadn’t been the middle of the night in London. He went down to the front desk just after ten and asked for his bill.
“I hope you enjoyed your stay with us, Mr. Clifton,” said the concierge, “and will be returning soon.”
“I hope so too,” said Seb as he handed over his credit card, although he couldn’t imagine what circumstances would make it possible for him ever to return. When the receptionist handed him back his credit card, he asked, “Shall I send someone up to collect your luggage, Mr. Clifton?”
Seb was momentarily thrown. “No, I’ll pick it up later,” he stammered.
“As you wish, sir.”
When Seb stepped out of the hotel, he was pleased, though not surprised, to see Vijay leaning on the motorbike.
“Where to this time, sir?”
“114 Altamont Street.”
“Posh shopping area. You buy present for your girlfriend?”
“Something like that,” said Seb.
They arrived outside Brides of Bombay at twenty minutes past ten. This was never going to be an appointment Seb would be late for. Vijay didn’t comment when Seb asked him to park out of sight, but he was surprised by his next instruction.
“I want you to take a bus to the airport and wait for me outside the entrance to the domestic terminal.” He took five hundred rupees from his wallet and handed over the well-worn notes to Vijay.
“Thank you, sir,” said Vijay, before walking away looking even more bemused.
Seb kept the engine turning over as he remained hidden behind a dilapidated old lorry. He couldn’t decide whether it had been dumped or parked.