Page 65 of The Sapphire Child
The speech ended. They sat in silence as Jimmy switched off the wireless. Then Fritwell stood up and began to clap. Others followed.
Jimmy ordered Sunil to pour out whiskies for all those who wanted one. Fritwell raised his glass and made a toast: ‘To the King and our Empire!’
The others chorused, ‘To King and Empire!’
Stella gazed around the dimly lit lobby and wondered what her father would have thought. Everything looked exactly as normal; the guests gathered for a final nightcap. Outside insects hummed and a night bird screeched. Someone rode past ringing their bicycle bell. Soon, everyone was dispersing and bidding each other goodnight.
By day, the routine of the hotel resumed as before, with Jimmy taking up his father’s role; by night, the residents gathered for the evening ritual of tuning into the news from London on All India Radio. The very next day after Britain and France had declared war on Germany, Viceroy Linlithgow had announced that India was at war with the Nazis too.
The news was sobering; Poland was being quickly overrun by fast-moving German Panzer divisions, and by the middle of September, the Soviets were invading from the east. The French had lost no time in attacking Germany in the west by marching over the border into the Saar.
Britain was on a war footing, but there was no talk of going to the rescue of the Poles. Merchant ships were being sunk at an alarming rate.
Fritwell complained, ‘All we seem to hear from the broadcaster-wallahs is depressing news of German successes.’
‘Will ships be able to get through to India from Britain?’ Hester asked anxiously.
‘Well, we appear to still be getting sea mail,’ said Ansom. ‘And airmail letters, for that matter.’
Prompted by her mother’s words, Stella sent a note to Monty asking to see him. It was time she put an end to their lukewarm romance. She suspected that he had only come to ask her father’s permission to marry her as a face-saving act after pressure from his own family to follow Clive’s lead and get married.
Not wanting to have her mother and Yvonne interfering, Stella arranged to meet him under the clock tower in the Saradan gardens. He was waiting for her, his expression wary.
He kissed her lightly on the cheek. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m okay, thank you. Keeping busy.’ To put him at his ease, Stella suggested, ‘Let’s walk through the park.’
For several minutes they strolled a little aimlessly, Stella talking about the family and the hotel. ‘You were right about war breaking out,’ she said. ‘That’s all the residents can talk about.’
‘I’m not happy to be proved right about it,’ Monty said glumly.
‘It all seems so far away, though,’ said Stella, ‘that I find it hard to believe it’s actually happening.’
‘But it is,’ said Monty, becoming animated. ‘And it’s already causing division in India, with Congress holding a gun to the government’s head, saying they’ll only support the war effort if they get independence at the end of it.’
Stella wasn’t greatly interested in politics, but she held the same opinion as her father had had: that one day – perhaps in her lifetime – India would become self-governing like other former colonies, such as Canada and Australia.
‘Some day, that might happen anyway,’ she pointed out.
‘Don’t say that!’ Monty exclaimed. ‘Imagine what would happen to the likes of us. We’d be left high and dry if the British handed over rule to Indians. It’s unthinkable.’
Stella was more optimistic about such a future but decided to say no more on the subject. They walked on in silence.
Abruptly, Monty stopped. ‘Stella, can we sit down? I’ve something to tell you.’
Stella nodded, her insides knotting. Now was the moment she was going to have to let him down as gently as possible. They chose a bench in the shade of a peepal tree.
Monty turned to her, his look resolute. ‘I’m leaving my job. I’ve enlisted with the army.’
Stella gaped at him. ‘Enlisted? When?’
‘Last week,’ he said. ‘I’ve been accepted for military training with the King’s Own Bengal Sappers. I’ll be leaving in a couple of weeks. Their headquarters are at Roorkee in United Province. A couple of days’ train ride away.’ He gave her an earnest look. ‘I’ll try and get back to Pindi as often as I can.’
She was trying to absorb his surprising news when Monty took hold of her hand. ‘Stella, I know this is a shock but it’s made me think more than ever about what I want for the future. I hate to leave Pindi and everyone here – but especially you. Do you think before I go – that we – that we could become engaged?’ His hand felt hot and sticky as he clasped hers. ‘Stella, will you marry me?’
Stella squirmed. ‘Monty, I do care for you but I don’t want to get married.’
He looked crestfallen. ‘Is there someone else? Someone in Kashmir? Is that why you go there every hot season?’
