Page 38 of A Kiss in Kashmir

“Is this what love feels like, George?”

George was about to answer when his phone buzzed. It was a text from Wajid.

“Call me. It is urgent.”

“Can you text?” George replied.

“Vikram Pandit’s Death Certificate is missing. And there is more. Call.”

Chapter 15

George almost dropped his phone. This couldn’t be happening. Not after… everything. His mind raced. He was happy about this—or was he? He wished the text had come before he’d kissed her.

He was going to lose her, he knew it. This woman who had stolen his heart with her grace, her warmth, and her amazing spirit. And yet, she wasn’t his to lose. He wanted to throw his phone away, to go back in time. He didn’t want to go back to Srinagar. Selfishly, he wished that text had never come. Couldn’t they stay in this paradise?

“What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Sharmila said when she saw the look on his face. She squeezed his hand.

“Nothing, it’s nothing,” he said too quickly.Was he so obvious?

“Well, actually, there’s a situation in Srinagar and I need to get back there right now. Can you all take a taxi back and meet me when you’re done here? Is that okay? I’m sorry about this. I will talk to Suraj and make sure that you get back safely.”

Sharmila looked confused. “George, is everything okay? Was it the kiss? I’m sorry. Are you upset that that happened? Was it what I said? About love? Do you not feel that way?”

“No, no. Not that at all. That kiss. Our kiss was just perfect… and love… yes, the love… but—I don’t know what to tell you, I can’t say anything until I go and find out more. I’m sorry. I’ll text you when I get back there.” Before she could ask more questions, he got up from the grass, kissed her forehead, and left.

Sharmila called his name a few times, but he didn’t even turn around, just kept going.

“What happened to George?” Alina asked. She’d come back just as George rushed away and saw her mother’s stunned and upset face.

“Ma, I saw you two kiss,” Alina said quietly.

Sharmila blushed. She looked embarrassed and shaken. “I… I—”

“Stop, Ma.” Alina shook her head gently. “You don’t owe me an explanation. I see you with him. I see how he looks at you, and more importantly, how you look at him. I can see that you’re fond of him. It makes me so happy to see you like this, Ma.” She grabbed her mom’s hand.

Sharmila asked Alina to sit down on the grass with her and held her daughter’s hand close to her heart.

Alina said, “I have to say that at first, I wasn’t sure. I noticed it, but I wasn’t sure. But I like him, Ma. And as I’ve gotten to know him, I think he’s good for you. He’s goodtoyou. Both Emilio and I think so.”

Sharmila said nothing. She kept looking at the river. “I wonder if Vikram brought us to Kashmir to meet George? I mean, I just wonder—” The tears began to flow. Sharmila wept as she had never wept before. All the pain, all the loneliness, all the heartache began to leave her body and her spirit.

She said, “I wasn’t looking, you know. I had made peace with my life. And then he came in. I just… the world seems like such a great place to be with him.”

Alina hugged her mom tightly. “I know, Ma. I know. Emilio makes me feel the same. When I am with him, it is like being home. Safe and loved.”

The two of them sat quietly, with the Lidder River providing a symphony of music as birds sang into the evening sky.

Finally, Sharmila spoke, breaking the silence. “I just wish he had told me where he was rushing off to. He looked so upset. I hope it isn’t anything bad. Someone texted—I’m guessing it was Wajid—and George just left. I don’t know how he’s going to make it back there tonight. It’s already late. He could have waited.”

Suraj returned from his cricket match. He joined them by the river, and they ate the now-cold aloo paranthas he had packed earlier in the day. Sharmila checked her phone several times to see if George sent a message, but there was nothing. She texted him to ask if he was okay and there was no response.

Suraj hired a local taxi to take them all back to Aru Valley. It was late so they insisted that Sharmila and Alina spend the night there. Sharmila was grateful. The cottage felt snug and warm and safe.

“This culture is amazing, Ma. First, the love they show us here. Then Archana up in Betaab Valley. I mean, it is just so open-hearted. I have read so much about the difficulties that Kashmiris have experienced. I wonder if that makes them that much more open and understanding because of how much they’ve lost?”

Sharmila hugged her daughter tightly in response.

The next day, Suraj got them a taxi to take Sharmila and Alina back to their hotel. As soon as they arrived at the hotel, Sharmila checked at the reception desk to see if there was any news from George, but there was nothing.

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