Painted ghosts, p.5
Painted Ghosts, page 5
‘So what’s the problem?’
‘It’s nothing, mum—’
‘Raj?’
‘One of the suppliers of your best selling fabrics and icons is no longer selling to small businesses. It’s got big emporiums in India and big retailers in England and America to serve.’
‘Shanta’s very resourceful,’ Carl reassured her. ‘She’ll get new contacts — she knows her way about—’
‘How long can your mother go before she can’t pay the women?’
‘They will have to rest soon,’ Raj said.
‘How long?’
‘Shanta can do it,’ Carl cut in before Raj could answer.
Daphne replied, ‘It sounds like you need money — fast.’
‘I’ve been saying how much they need what dad’s left them.’
‘My mother will sell her big house and get something smaller if she must. She will do anything to keep Kali Ko-op going and the women in work.’
Daphne continued to Raj, ‘The women — you call them—’
‘Devadasi,’ Raj supplied the words for her. Daphne noticed Carl exchange a glance at Raj, then Raj said to her, ‘They have other work. Devadasi never starve.’
‘What exactly are they? What do they do?’ Daphne carried on with Raj, noting he looked serious. ‘Why the special title?’
Raj looked at her. ‘Courtesans. They sing and dance,’ Raj said. ‘In the old time they were very well respected and very educated.’
‘Prostitutes, then,’ she said.
Raj intervened. ‘He did everything he could for the co-op and the women.’
‘That’s admirable, Raj — what your mother has done for these women and how Ben has helped her in that.’
‘My mother,’ Raj said quietly, ‘can come and tell you about it. And help you paint your picture. Everything will be fine.’
‘I will be very pleased to meet her.’
‘She has a degree, madam,’ Raj’s nod appeared more like a bow to her. ‘She works very hard for everyone.’
‘This afternoon then Raj, can you bring her here? I’m lunching in the hotel restaurant now. You two will join me?’
‘Later maybe, mum.’ Carl sipped his drink and looked over at Raj as she gathered her bag and left.
5
‘I told you,’ Carl waved his glass at Raj when Daphne had gone, ‘what would happen.’ He brought the bottle of gin over and topped himself up.
‘They’re going to meet sometime,’ Raj replied. ‘You can’t stop that.’
‘I said: “leave it as long as possible.” And you suggest your mum come over and paint pretty pictures with her. My mother can’t paint, for god’s sake. Nothing is going to change that.’
Raj sloshed another splash of whisky in his glass. ‘She’s not going to give up until they’ve met.’ He shrugged. ‘Let them be friends, that way it will work out all right—‘
‘She mustn’t know. No really, I don’t know what it would do to her. I do worry about her, her health isn’t good.’ Carl softened his tone and spoke gently to him. ‘It’s just for a while. We’ve been close for a few years now, haven’t we?’
‘Pretending I’m a taxi driver.’ Raj shook his head.
‘It’s for the best. Trust me. When this is all over, you’ll have everything. Let’s get this meeting over quickly then. And they must like each other — but not too much. We don’t want my mum making regular trips over here because she’s enamoured by Shanta.’
‘We do what we can.’
‘My dad was a saint in my mother’s eyes. Help me with this and then Shanta will get the inheritance from him.’
‘You will carry on?’ Raj glanced at Carl. ‘The business?’
‘I’m persuading everyone in Paint Clever the need to change: streamlining everything, developing on line sales. It’ll take some time, but in a few years I’m working towards having no more shops.’ Carl leaned forward selling his ideas, ‘I’ll help you develop on line sales with your mum, so when you’ve both sorted out new suppliers our two businesses expand our links with each other and other organisations, selling to a wider market and making more money. And — Kali Ko-op can get their wares out further — globally — the business opportunities for you are endless. Everyone wins. It’s all good. We don’t want any of it messed up, that’s what I’m saying, Raj.’
‘Your company knows all this?’
Carl smiled. ‘It’s the sensible thing for the future: get rid of all the buildings we rent, the people we employ. Why have that when you don’t need it anymore. Times are changing. We have to run with the changes, or we go down. One of our shops is already struggling — although my mum won’t admit it.’ He paused for a sip and anticipating Raj’s apprehension added, ‘Haven’t I always looked after you?’
‘Like a brother,’ Raj nodded.
‘All I’m saying is, just keep the lid on things we don’t want getting out — that way your mum gets Ben’s money, everyone’s happy and, best of all, business booms.’ Raj looked away. ‘The thing with your sister will be resolved — you can then pay for all the cancer treatment Rani needs. Mate.’ He patted his shoulder. ‘These days Lymphoma is treatable. Your mum won’t have to sell her house, I know you both love the place and don’t want to let go of it. We can do this — if we play this right.’
‘You really think so?’
Raj smiled with him but stayed silent for a while, then spoke enthusiastically, ‘Let your mother paint and be happy — in retirement.’ And carried on as though thinking out loud. ‘Keep telling her she’s brilliant. That way she’s happy. She knows she needs a bit of help and that’s where my mum comes in—’
‘Change tack, you mean?’ Carl leaned back thinking for a moment, ‘Encourage them together as artists. Maybe you’ve got it.’
‘There’s no reason for anything to get out — they can be happy painters — my mum and your mum absorbed in their own world of art.’
Carl whacked the arm of his chair. ‘You’re a genius Raj. I always said you were a fixer.’ They laughed together. ‘All right.’ Carl stood, straightening himself. ‘So get Shanta here as soon as you can, and let’s get this thing rolling—’
Raj stood for high fives. ‘We can do it. Together. We can get there, Carl.’
*****
‘Come in,’ Daphne greeted Shanta as she entered her room, looking her up and down in amazement. ’You’re absolutely glowing — even more than when we’ve done business links on video.’ She gestured at Shanta’s red and green silk sari. ‘At last we meet properly, face to face. Come and sit down. It’s been far too long.’ She ushered her towards the sofa. ‘And I couldn’t wait to meet you.’
‘How is it we’ve never managed to meet until now?’ Shanta laughed.
She had round gold earrings which matched a simple gold necklace. In her forties, she looked much younger, Daphne reflected, still retaining a shapely body. Her eyebrows were neatly trimmed and balanced over her deep brown eyes. She held her smile, which encouraged Daphne to smile back and relax. The general feeling of geniality that flowed to Daphne from her was an assurance to Daphne that they could become friends.
‘I’ll get you a drink. Juice? Water?’ Daphne headed for the bottles. ‘When the sun is passed its peak — the heat here —’
‘Water will be fine,’ Shanta’s tones were soft but clear.
‘You’ve travelled so far. I can’t get used to the distances in India,’ Daphne laughed.
‘Today?’ Shanta said. ‘Raj brought me from Aurangabad. He is such a good son. We came up from Karnataka several days ago. I heard there are some suppliers in this area. We visited some in Pune first, and now in Aurangabad. You have been to the Little Taj? It is so beautiful.’
‘The Taj of the Deccan? Ben and I went there on my first trip — yes, its white marble just shines in the sunlight.’
‘They say it is marvellous in moonlight too.’
Daphne headed for the water jug and poured a glass for her guest, dropping in a slice of lemon and some ice cubes. ‘Raj is so polite and charming. He and Carl get on so well. It’s been hard for Carl though, he will not admit it — losing his father.’
Shanta took the glass. ‘Your husband was very good to us. Without him my livelihood would not have been possible — not in the same way.’
Daphne placed a plate of biscuits on the table for her guest, along with Bombay Mix and some sweet Ladoo. ‘It’s good that Indian girls are now expected to get a good education. Ben was always keen on equality.’
Shanta’s tones were again soft and clear but with an edge of authority and confidence. ‘For one thing, they become a good marriage prospect that way.’
‘And you are an example of that with your education. It’s clear you run things at Kali Ko-op and it’s Vishnu that helps you—’
Shanta smiled. ‘And of course it means that if a woman can develop her own career and earn her own money she doesn’t have to get married at all and can still survive.’
‘That is happening now?’ Daphne showed interest and surprise.
Shanta said, ‘Ben could see the need for all women in India to be educated, so they can have some control over their lives. Carl has carried on with that, and with the help of Raj, the links between both families can be strong; I want that to continue. But we shouldn’t be talking about that now — you are still in grief.’
‘You make Ben an even greater hero in my eyes. What a man he was.’ Daphne pushed back her emotions.
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘I have him in my heart, Shanta, with all his benevolence.’ Daphne put her hand on her chest. ‘I must sit a minute. My heart is not what it was. The doctor says I must take it easy. He was not keen on me travelling.’ Daphne sat gasping a moment. ‘But you know my family — headstrong.’
Shanta smiled in agreement. ‘I can arrange for you to see a doctor, Daphne. You mustn’t overdo it.’
‘Just palpitations, nothing much really. I’ve just got to take it easy. A little breathless you know, it’s nothing, Shanta. Just the heat and the different food. I’ll be all right. Don’t tell Carl.’
‘I think you should, you look very pale.’
Daphne waved her hand, ‘I can see Dr Brand when I get home. He’s the only one I trust.’
‘And you are grieving—’
‘But it’s even better meeting you at last. And in your finest jewellery for me. You must tell me about yourself. The few phone calls we have had and the recent video conferencing has all been about work.’ Daphne revived herself with a sip of gin and tonic. ‘You grew up in the south?’
‘Just a little village in Karnataka, there was nothing much there. The biggest town was miles away.’
Daphne nodded. ‘Brothers and sisters?’
‘A brother and two sisters.’
‘I like it that your father wasn’t too old fashioned to insist you get your education,’ Daphne smiled. ‘And Vishnu helps in all your enterprises?’
Shanta turned aside to sip some water. ‘We have so much in common—’
Daphne watched her a moment as she took in what she was saying. ‘You lost him too? Vishnu? Recently?’
‘Vishnu helps me run the co-op — my cousin.’ She smiled. ‘He’s running things while I’m up here. He’s so reliable.’
‘Oh, I thought — after all this time — I —’ She began, realising Vishnu wasn’t her husband and pondering on her ignorance about the co-op and Shanta’s suppliers in India, Daphne felt embarrassed and confused. Angry with herself for leaving everything to Ben and then to Carl for so long without getting full details of the set up, she hid her feelings from Shanta, offering her sympathy. ‘Your husband must have been very young.’
‘We do not have health care.’
‘He was very ill?’ Daphne sensed she did not want to talk about it.
Putting her glass aside, Shanta stood and stepped forward to the unfinished painting on the easel, ‘You are an artist.’
‘I try, but—’ Daphne felt embarrassed by the title.
‘This is marvellous.’ Shanta stood in front of the picture. ‘A Yakshi. Yes, you have caught her, rising out of her tree.’
‘You can see what it is? You exaggerate Shanta, it’s not right, I can’t do it. I’m about to give up.’
‘But you can.’ Shanta was excited, pointing at the image. ‘Raj said you needed help. You see the nose is not quite right, and the lips — with a little bit of adjustment—’
‘Show me.’ Daphne joined her, picked up a brush and handed it to her.
‘May I?’
‘Make it work for me—’
Shanta touched the face with the brush, stroking on a thin layer of paint while Daphne watched, intrigued. With slight touches Shanta adjusted the nose and the lips, refining their outlines, then worked on the jaw line and the chin, so that a younger more sensuous woman took shape.
‘She’s Indian at last,’ Daphne gasped. ‘Not European. She’s young now and vibrant — with real character — a person with a spirit. Where did you learn?’
‘A little at school, and practice—’
‘No formal art training at all, is that what you’re telling me? Self taught. A woman of many talents, Shanta. ’
‘I paint when I can.’
‘Just like that.’ Daphne laughed, pushing back the feelings of envy that went through her. ‘Natural talent. And here’s me grafting on — life’s not fair,’ Daphne carried on laughing.
‘But you did the main part, I just finished it.’
Daphne laughed again at Shanta’s praise, watching her add another small dab of paint along the neck and ease it along. ‘You have exhibitions?’
‘Some — when I can —’ Shanta concentrated on the earrings and bracelets smoothing the paint on with a light touch.
‘Your father and your husband must have helped you in that too? And selling? Commissions?’
‘With the help of your husband.’
‘Ben helped you with that too?’
‘He got my cousin Jagar to contact galleries and helped me set up a little studio at home.’
‘Ben did so much for you,’ Daphne contemplated for a moment, ‘that he never told me about. Neither did Carl. It’s as though they kept you in the dark somehow—’
‘I didn’t mean to take over your painting—’
‘You’ve done it perfectly well.’ Daphne turned from the painting and found herself observing the smoothness of Shanta’s facial skin, her eyes made up with blacks and shades of ice blue, her pupils darting as she looked over the painting. ‘I’m pleased Ben found you, you’ve been a real asset to Paint Clever.’ Daphne drew breath. ‘You needn’t worry. What Ben’s left you will cover all your costs. You can pay your daughter’s hospital bills, pay the women at Kali Ko-op. You won’t have to sell your house.’
‘Thank you,’ Shanta smiled.
‘I would like to see the co-op. It would mean a lot to me.’
‘Of course,’ Shanta replied. ‘But do you think it’s the right time, it’s a long journey. And your health—’
‘I’d like to meet the Devadasi women—’
‘They work very hard,’ Shanta said. ‘It’s to get them out of a bad way of life and sets them up with skills so they don’t need their old ways to survive. In Kali Ko-op they learn to read and write in their own language as well as English. They learn sewing and embroidery skills needed to make the purses, bags and cushions and throw-overs we send to you to sell. They embroider the chunni scarves and kameez you get from us. Some learn to carve wooden boxes. There’s a small area for weaving and dyeing. Others can paint pictures on fabric in old style Indian design. We even train women on computers, working with numbers, so they can do office work.’
‘Does it really work?’
‘A few have gone on to get office jobs, one has left and married a man who knows about her and supports her. Most stay for a long time living off what the co-op provides — and feeding their children. But you have to understand they’ve been forced into a life they don’t want — a life of sexual slavery from a young age. As young as twelve, from their first period — it’s true. You cannot imagine.’
Daphne shook her head. ‘This sort of things really goes on — it’s appalling.’
‘Girls are made ready to dedicate themselves to the goddess Yellamma,’ Shanta continued. ‘That means they are wedded only to the goddess Yellamma through a special ceremony when they achieve puberty. The girls don’t know what’s going on, they are promised everything will be all right and told they are privileged. And then any man in the village can have her as his right, any time he wants. A Devadasi girl must always wear a necklace of red and white beads so she can always be recognised for who she is. All can know — especially men. They can never marry, and even people in their family, even Brahmins, can have them when they want. It’s a tradition that goes back thousands of years when Devadasis were attached to places of worship — temples that were greedy for the money they brought in. Village people still believe if Devadasi women don’t serve Yellamma properly by granting sexual favours to all men, crops will fail, they will starve and the well being of the community will be at stake. Others say by doing the sex work and being a vehicle for men to reach moksha, or heaven, they too will achieve a better life in the next reincarnation. But they are slaves, Daphne, there is no way out for them and I can only do a little for a few. But I was expanding, until—’ She stopped herself.
‘We can keep it going—’ Daphne said.
‘If they can learn a skill,’ Shanta carried on, ‘they can survive. You don’t know how hard it is for a women to survive without a husband, to break free and make her own life. Some of our Devadasi women have learned to make and sell things and so, not being dependent on money from male visitors, or from begging, they can make a life for themselves with some dignity.’
‘And all this — because—’ Daphne shook her head again, ‘of poverty—’
‘If a family in a village in Karnataka cannot afford the dowry for a daughter, she cannot marry — and as she grows up the family haven’t got the money to feed another mouth. Then there’s pressure from local landowners who want to buy her virginity — at the age of twelve or thirteen. You cannot understand the pressures. The girls don’t know what’s happening to them, they’re just told it’s a once in a life time ritual and they’re privileged to be selected and that they won’t have to worry for the rest of their lives. They’re never told that old men and married men will force themselves on them and they will go on to have babies, not knowing who the fathers are. That they are likely to get AIDs and will never be able to afford medication and will die young—’ Daphne could see Shanta’s fist shaking. ‘Ben helped me set up Kali Ko-op to teach them skills. To show them a way.’ She turned aside, her bottom lip trembling. ‘With money we can keep this going and open co-ops in other villages. We can’t let it go—’
