Losing Touch Read Online Free Page A

pale skin, the same pretty fingers. Jonti always joked that Nawal had been short-sighted and only agreed to marry him because she couldn’t see him properly. How could she want some blackie like me?
    He clears his throat. ‘So, how is Nawal?’
    Haseena’s hands become still. ‘They always did things together, she and Jonti.’ She laughs. ‘They did this bird-call thing in the house. If they were in different rooms and she wanted him, she’d call “cheep”and he’d reply “cheep-cheep”. Sunila said it drove her mad.’ She smiles. ‘But even if they were a bit crazy, at least they were crazy together.’
    She fills her cup and holds the tiny two-cup teapot. ‘The lavender sachets are the first thing Nawal’s shown an interest in. She comes over. We make sachets and drink tea. So far, it’s nothing stronger than tea!’
    He smiles, then leans forward and gently takes the teapot from her, holds it in both hands. ‘Haseena, you are such a good sister to Nawal.’
    She reaches across the table. He looks down at her open palm as though someone has handed him something precious to hold. He tenderly places the teapot in her hand. For a moment she looks at it, then back at him. Her face opens into a smile, and then she begins laughing. Seeing what he has done, he also begins to laugh.
    â€˜Really, Haseena. What a clumsy idiot I am. You give me your hand and I give you a teapot.’
    â€˜It is also a gift. God moves in mysterious ways.’ She opens the door and calls Sadiq.
    Sadiq bounces into the kitchen. ‘Mum? You know my school lunch, right? Well, Aysha keeps eating all my biscuits .’
    â€˜Aysha is the new girlfriend,’ Haseena explains. ‘The old girlfriend was last week.’
    Sadiq plonks himself on a chair. ‘I mean, I offered her one but she took them all .’ His round eyes are astonished.
    â€˜It’s good to share. Come. Eat.’ Haseena serves Sadiq some rice and curried chicken.
    Over lunch, Haseena tells Arjun that she and Nawal are arranging a party for family and friends to sell the sachets and other small handmade things. Nawal, she says, could sell the shah his own jewels.
    Sadiq asks to leave the table and goes off singing, ‘Silence is golden, but my eyes still see ’ . Haseena and Arjun finish eating and Arjun pushes his chair back.
    â€˜Excellent cooking, Haseena. First rate.’
    Haseena pulls a face. ‘You sound like you’re reviewing the troops and I am a kitchen cook.’
    He laughs. ‘But a superior kitchen cook.’ He stands up. ‘You sit. I’ll clear the dishes. I’m an excellent bottle-washer.’ It is an effort to stand. He has eaten much more than he usually does at home.
    Haseena follows him into the kitchen, sits on a stool and watches while he piles the dishes on the counter next to the sink, fills the sink with hot water and adds a squirt of Fairy Liquid. He starts with the plates, washing and rinsing. She picks up a tea towel. It is peaceful: the soft clop of soapy water, the musical jingle as he rinses the spoons and forks, the clean clack of plate to plate, dish to dish, as Haseena dries and stacks.
    â€˜Jonti loved washing up. He said his favourite thing was to have his hands in hot soapy water.’ Haseena rubs at a fork with her tea towel. ‘And then you’d come back to find him dreaming out of the window. All the dirty dishes still piled up and Nawal comes in and throws her hands up.’
    Arjun does the Indian head wobble. ‘Okay, okay, sweetie. I’m so sorry. Just this minute I’m doing them, isn’t it?’
    â€˜That’s exactly like him!’ Haseena, laughing, wipes down the counter.
    He dries his hands and looks at the satisfying arrangement of clean crockery on the table. Haseena hangs up the damp towel and moves to put the plates away. Arjun puts out a hand.
    She looks at him,