The Witching Snakes pt 26

Bapsi wanders some more. Talks to Kevan. Spies Deoji and Snowgoose reciting poetry.

Read Part 25

She followed him, reflecting on her actions, growing steadily angrier at moody Deoji. At any moment he was going to snap and tell her that she was worthless. She would need to forgive him because Deoji was always on the verge of another suicide attempt. No one cared about Bapsi. Bapsi was the happy girl.

Chandra and Kevan were watching egrets. When they saw Deoji they invited him over. Kevan spoke about the latest hats. Chandra was silently watching Kevan talk. Deoji sunk into despair.

"Bapsi," said Kevan breaking off from her lecture on the wonders of cotton, "where have you been? I have not seen you for three whole days."

Bapsi smiled and tried to break eye contact. After a long pause, she lied about asking about Kevan; the estate could not be so big that Kevan could be hiding from her.

"Come over," said Kevan and broke away from his cousins. "I need to speak with you."

Bapsi had no choice but to follow Kevan as he slid to the shade of a mango tree.

'‘Did my father find you?"

"No."

"I thought he was asking for you."

"No," said Bapsi, "I saw him yesterday at Mass. He did not even greet me."

"He is going to Mass?"

"Your father likes to go to all the social functions. I don't think he's going to meet with Belgian nuns quite yet."

Kevan's repose seemed constipated and sad. Bapsi wondered if she was going to have to apologize to another cousin when finally he changed the subject.