The Holiday at Simla
DAY 1 Khan couldn’t get the image of Salma’s face from his mind as he looked down from the high mountain ridge at the steep and winding ski trail. He was angry and depressed, he pointed his ski tips straight down and set off at a breakneck pace. He went dangerously fast into his turns, his skis throwing up clouds of powder snow and skidding across ice patches. But the beauty of the mountain terrain calmed him down, the silence from apart from the ‘Shhhh’ of his skis, the clear blue skies and the feel of the mountain air on his face gradually relaxed him. In 10 minutes he was at the bottom of the trail and decided to have a coffee to reward himself for not breaking his neck. In the mountain cafe by himself, his depression returned. Two weeks by himself. Two weeks when he had expected to be with Salma He had been looking forward to it for months. His happiness had collapsed two years before when had he returned from a business trip and found his house empty: empty of people and just about empty of furniture. The fridge was still there with a note stuck to it. He could remember every word. “Dear Khan Salma and I have gone away. I’ll let you know where, when I have the courage. Khan, I’ve left you for another man, I know you won’t want to read this but he makes me feel things in a way I’ve never felt before. Salma has said she wants to come with me. You have been a wonderful husband for me and a wonderful fath “Salma I think you are very brave and very kind to even listen to us. If my parents had separated and I found my Dad with a girl the same age as me, I would have run screaming out of the room,” said Kavita. “I still might,” said Salma. “I can understand you being shocked Salma, maybe thinking it’s disgusting. But don’t prejudge us please. Spend a bit of time with us and judge for yourself. We’re going skiing. Please come. We won’t embarrass you in public.” Khan said almost pleadingly. Salma thought. It was either that or leaving and never seeing her father again. She didn’t want that. At least she should try to understand and not prejudge. “You sit in the front Salma. There’s probably a lot you want to talk to Khan about,” said Kavita as they went to the car. The conversation was became easier and Salma enjoyed the loving banter between Kavita and her father. She found herself talking a lot to Kavita and liking her more and more. It was another perfect day on the mountain and the three enjoyed the long runs. “We’d better see if Mum and Dad have made it,” said Kavita and they went to the restaurant. “Watch out Salma, they are very boring and they aren’t very nice people.” Salma was shocked to hear Kavita talk about her parents like that. She soon understood after Khan introduced her. “It’s nice to meet you Salma. It’s great to see you here. Poor Khan was so hurt when you couldn’t be bothered to come down at the start,” said Bhartbhai. “See what I mean,” whispered Kavita in her ear as they walked inside. Salma saw more as Kavita’s parents called her ‘my little darling’, how they corrected just about everything Kavita said and how they never listened to her or Khan. “Well, it’ll be nice for Kavita to have a friend, she’s such an anti-social little girl. And I’m sure you’ll be a good influence. Kavita says how Khan is so strict.” Salma raised an eyebrow at her father. “Khan has been very good looking after her but he said he does find her exhausting.” “Does Kavita exhaust you Dad?” asked Salma smiling and was given an angry frown by her father. Khan went skiing with Bhartbhai and Taraben and the two girls talked. “I can understand the way you feel about them, Kavita.” “It is awful. It’s easy with you and Khan here, but when I’m alone with them they just drive me down.” Kavita took Salma’s hand. “This isn’t some schoolgirl fling with Khan. I’m going to stay with him forever. One night he told me how the sun always shone for him when he’s with me, even when it’s snowing or dark. I thought that was lovely and that’s the way I feel about him.” “That was lovely. I hope I find a man who says things like that to me.” They spent the afternoon enjoying the others company more and more. Khan and Salma drove back together. “It’s alright Dad. I’ve got over it. You’re great for her and I can see how you love her. But I still think it’s strange.” “So do we. Sometimes I have to pinch myself because I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.” “I bet. The even stranger thing is, so does Kavita.” Khan looked at his daughter “It’s so lovely having you here.” “It’s so lovely being here.” Bhartbhai and Taraben were pleased that Kavita and Salma got on so well. It was good for Kavita to have a friend her own age and it meant they could do the things they wanted to do by themselves. They didn’t mind when Kavita said that she and Salma were going to watch a late movie together and could she stay the night in Salma’s bedroom. They lost track of Kavita’s movements. Sometimes she went up skiing with them, other times with Khan and Salma, sometimes she slept in their suite and other times with Salma although unbeknown to them a lot of that time was in Khan’s bed. DAY 12 Salma had made some friends and had gone out for the evening with them. Kavita was sitting on Khan’s knee in the bedroom. “Khan, why don’t we ever have anal sex?” He was a bit shocked. “What do you know about anal sex?” “I’ve never done it, but I have found out about it on the internet when I’ve been looking for things I can do to make you happy.” Khan had certainly enjoyed the variety Kavita had brought. “Why haven’t we?” “Kavita, I’ve never done it. When I was young no-one did. When I learned about it my wife didn’t like the idea.” “But you’ve been with other women since?” “I’ve just felt that it would be something special which I only wanted to do with someone special. None of them were like that.” “I’m someone special.” He kissed her. “You are someone very special. But you’re so . . . “ “Don’t you dare say that Mr Khan Aslam.