Where the Secret Lies by Malika Gandhi Read Free Book Online Page A

vibrant street;
it was a vast contrast to her quiet, suburban street back home in London. She lived
in a sleepy part of the city with cars parked in driveways or on roadsides. Sycamore
Street’s wide pavement and large trees gave the area a nice suburban feel. The
summers were great and in winter, the street resembled a Christmas card full of
dotted snowmen on front lawns and driveways, twinkling fairy lights on trees
with festive, plastic Father Christmas figures and reindeers on roofs.
      Arianna wondered how India celebrated Christmas...someone
cleared their throat and Arianna turned around.
    ‘Good morning,’ said Khushboo.
‘You woke up early.’
    ‘Good morning,’ said Arianna.
    ‘What were you thinking about?
You looked deep in thought.’
    ‘I was just watching your
street. It is very different to my street in London.’
    Arianna told her about the
summer fun and the lush greenery in London during summer, and about snow and
Christmas.
      ‘Sounds magical,’ sighed Khushboo. ‘I have
seen snow once only when we went to Simla. It was beautiful but very, very
cold. Christmas in London – wow.’
    ‘Then, why don’t you come to
London this Christmas? You will love it! I will show you the City, the lights
and we will go to many parties and to the theatre too!’ Arianna said excitedly.
‘It will be brilliant!’
    ‘I would love that but Ma won’t
agree,’ said Khushboo, her excitement ebbing.
    ‘Why won’t she agree? I am sure Papa
would sponsor you to come, even the whole family,’ said Arianna. The thought of
her relatives coming to London cheered Arianna up further.
    ‘Okay, you talk to Ma,’ said
Khushboo.
    ‘What is all that noise?’ moaned
Tianna, waking up. ‘Why are you two talking loudly?’
    ‘It’s six thirty, little sis,’
said Arianna, throwing a pillow at her head.
    ‘Exactly!’ Tianna threw the
pillow back at her. ‘Now go and talk somewhere else and let me sleep.’
    Tianna turned around and went
back to her slumber.
    Arianna and Khushboo left Tianna
as requested. As Arianna exited, she threw the pillow back on Tianna.
    ‘Ari!’

 
      Arianna longed to
wander the busy street and kept glancing at the window, where the noise of tooting
cars and shouting vendors, was prominent. Her auntie closed the window.
    ‘They do give me a headache,’
she complained. ‘Especially during breakfast,’ auntie sat back in her place.
    ‘Why don’t you move to a quieter
city?’ suggested Arianna’s mother.
    ‘I would love to but it is your
brother in law, bhabhi,’ replied auntie. ‘He doesn’t like it too quiet; he says
he will get bored and ill without the racket! Can you believe it? Besides,
there is also the children’s schooling and your brother-in-law’s work to think
of.’
    ‘Well, maybe when all the
distractions subside,’ said Arianna’s mother.
    Khushboo nudged Arianna. ‘Ask
her.’
    ‘Ask what?’ asked Arianna and
Khushboo rolled her eyes. ‘Oh yes, sorry!’
    ‘Ask what, beta?’ asked auntie.
    ‘I was thinking...it would be
nice if everyone came to London this year during Christmas. What do you think
mum?’ said Arianna.
    ‘Yes, but not in December.   It is too cold and very dark. The summer
would be much better,’ enthused Arianna’s mother.
    ‘But it is not Christmas in the
summer, mum,’ Arianna moaned. ‘Khushboo wants to see the snow and go to all the
parties.’
    ‘Ha ha! So this is what it is
all about!’ laughed Arianna’s uncle.
    ‘Papa, can we go, please?’
begged Khushboo.
    ‘I don’t see why not,’ he
replied.
    ‘What about her exams?’ auntie
raised her eyebrows.
    ‘Ma, this is my final year and
college will finish in June. Please say yes. Gaurav wants to come too, don’t
you?’ Khushboo turned to her brother.
    ‘I can’t, sorry sister,’ Gaurav
said changing channels on the TV. ‘I am in Dubai in December.’
    ‘It is your final year? Oh then
we should think about your marriage,’ said auntie.
    ‘Ma! I am not