The Witching Snakes pt 23

The Singh Family thrives from Colonialism, buying possibly haunted estate. Bai Suzhen and Greenie work for the family and help them with lost handkerchiefs and sad cousins.

Read Part 22

The Family Estate

The Cooke Estates began as outposts for the Portuguese invaders and remained solid investment opportunities after the Cooke family had obtained contracts with the crown, setting them high above their station. Happily for the Singh family the Cookes could only sustain three generations within courtyards and crystal goblets before they lost their East Indian contacts, their fortune and three youngest children to the hurricanes. When Vivek Singh was in a unique position to buy the property from the Cookes, they actually thanked him.

The aunties swear that the ghosts of the Cooke children wander the estate, demanding that Singh family members play with them, dress them, tell them stories and bring their breakfast. When toys are thrown about or plates broken, the Singh children blame ghosts.

In the western courtyards, surrounded by tulips freshly imported from Europe, Deoji was weeping. He wouldn't say if he was weeping for love or curry, but his tears were not enough to render him deaf to the courtyard gate, opening for a procession of his cousins - Chandra, Bapsi and Arundhati. The cousins were chattering about Arundhati's departure. Their servants blocked their view of Deoji. Deoji took the opportunity to slip into a secluded garden where fruit was green and ugly. The procession talked; Deoji longed to emerge and confront Bapsi but feared embarrassment.

Finally the cousins drank their tea and ate their persimmon and departed. Deoji was happy to keep his tears in his face throughout the hugs. Once the party left, they went back through their gate and locked it again. Deoji could never be allowed outside the gate, so he walked silently back to his room and took off his jewelry.

Greenie and Bai Suzhen (who had taken to the names Nightingale and Snowgoose) had long been working within the estate. They knew to leave Deoji alone when he sulked moody; anticipate fits of poetry. At first, they tried reason, but as the days of their service turned into months, they came to understand. When he came in crying, they looked appropriately sorrowful. They took to knitting in the adjoining room as he stood before the windows. By the time he moved into his bed and closed his eyes, darkness came thick.