Ruth Prawer Jhabvala - Heat and Dust

She went on staring into the fireplace (it did not even have a grate) as if she saw haunting visions there. There was something haunted about the room: perhaps this was due to the furnishing which did not belong to the Saunders but had been handed on through several generations of government issue. The prints on the wall had also been there for a long time; they were mostly scenes from the Mutiny, as of Sir Henry Lawrence struck by a bullet in the Lucknow Residency.

"You hear a lot of stories,” Mrs. Saunders said. "There was one lady in Muzzafarbad or one of those places — she was a lady from Somerset.” She sighed (thinking of the fate of this lady, or of distant Somerset?). "Her dhobi” Mrs. Saunders whispered, leaning closer to Olivia. "He was ironing her undies and it must have been too much for him. They're very excitable, it’s their constitution. I've heard their spicy food’s got something to do with it — I wouldn't know if there's any truth in that but of this I'm sure, Mrs. Rivers: they've got only one thought in their heads and that's to you-know-what with a white woman.”

Olivia stared back at her. Mrs. Saunders nodded with grim knowledge; she adjusted her dress over her gaunt chest. Olivia found that her hand too had strayed to adjust the rather low neckline of her pale brown silk frock. Ridiculous!

She jumped up — it was time to go, the Nawab's car would nearly be there now.

The Nawab laughed at the idea of bringing in Dr. Saunders. He said, if a European doctor was needed, he would of course send for the best specialist — if necessary, all the way to Germany or England. However, to humour Olivia and Harry, he consented to send a car for Dr. Saunders.

Dr. Saunders, pleased and flattered to be called in by royalty, laid his finger-tips together and used many technical terms. He puffed while he spoke and with each word blew out the hairs of his moustache so that they fluttered around his mouth as if stirred by a breeze. The Nawab treated him with that exaggerated courtesy that Olivia had learned to recognise as his way of expressing contempt: but it made Dr. Saunders, who took it at face value, expand even further inside his tight shantung suit. The sight of the two of them seated opposite each other — the Nawab leaning forward deferentially while the doctor expounded and expanded gave Harry the giggles and, seeing him, Olivia too could not stop. Dr. Saunders did not notice but the Nawab did and, glad to provide such good entertainment for his friends, he insisted that the doctor stay for luncheon.

Dr. Saunders reached new heights at the dining table.

Flushed with enjoyment of his host's food and drink; he allowed himself to be prompted into expressing his considered opinion of India and Indians. He had many anecdotes to relate in illustration of his theme, mainly drawn from his hospital experience. Although Olivia had heard most of them before, she shared Harry's amusement at the Nawab's way of eliciting them.

"Then what did you do, Doctor?"

"Then. Nawab Sahib. I had the fellow called to my office and no further argument smartly boxed his ear for him; one-two. one-two.”

"You did quite right. Doctor. Quite right. You set a good example.”

"It’s the only way to deal with them. Nawab Sahib. It’s no use arguing with them. They’re not amenable to reason. They haven’t got it here, you see, up here, the way we have.”

"Exactly. Doctor. You have hit the-what is it, Harry?”

"Nail on the head.”

"Quite right. The nail on the head.” The Nawab nodded gravely.

After a while Olivia ceased to be amused. Dr. Saunders was too blatantly stupid, the joke had gone on too long. Harry also became weary of it. With his usual sensitivity, the Nawab at once became aware of the change in atmosphere. He threw down his napkin and said "Come. Olivia and Harry.” Leaving the doctor unceremoniously behind. he led the other two upstairs to Harry's suite. There he threw himself into a chair and laying back his head, gave way to loud laughter. He was quite hurt when the other two did not join in: "I have worked so hard and done so much only to amuse you two,” he complained.

"It's cruelty to animals.”

"But he calls us animals.” the Nawab pointed out.

Harry said "He's just an old bore. Why ever did you bring him.”.

"It was she, U the Nawab said, pointing at Olivia. But when she looked embarrassed, he tried to make it up to her:

"He is not a bore. He is very amusing. 'We doctors at home in England':” he said, laying his fingertips together and blowing out an imaginary moustache. It was not a very good imitation, but to oblige him the other two laughed. At first he was gratified but then his mood changed and he said with disgust "You are right. He is a bore. Tcha, why did we bring him, let's send him away. "

Olivia felt compelled to say: "He really is exceptionally obnoxious. Don't judge by him."

The Nawab looked at her rather coldly: "Don't judge what by him?"

"All of us."

"Who's us?" Harry asked her. He too sounded hostile.

Olivia felt herself floundering — it was the same sensation she had had at the Crawford's dinner party, of not knowing where she stood.

"I don't know how you feel about it," Harry pursued, "but please don't lump me in with all that lot."

"But, Harry, the Crawfords — for instance — they are not like Dr. Saunders, you know they're not. Or the Minnies. Or for that matter Douglas and — "

"You?"

"All are the same," the Nawab said suddenly and decisively.

Olivia had a shock — did he mean her too? Was she included? She looked at his face and was frightened by the feelings she saw so plainly expressed there: and it seemed to her that she could not bear to be included in these feelings, that she would do anything not to be.

"I shall send him away," the Nawab said, calling loudly for servants. He gave orders that Dr. Saunders was to be put in a car and despatched home. "Oh and pay him, pay him", he said. "You do it. Just give him the money, he will take it", he told his servant and laughed; and the servant smiled too at this insult that was being delivered to Dr. Saunders of being paid off by servants.

"I'd better go too, "Olivia said; swallowing tears.

"You?" cried the Nawab. "With him?" He sounded outraged. "Do you think I would allow you to go home in the same car with him? Is that the idea you have of my hospitality? Of my friendship?" He seemed deeply hurt.

She protested" But I have to go home soon — and since the car is going — " She was laughing, feeling suddenly terribly light-hearted:

"Another car will go. Ten cars will go if necessary. Sit down please. Oh we are having a rotten time instead of enjoying ourselves, why are we like this? Harry! Olivia! Please be jolly! I will tell you a dream I had last night — you will laugh — it was about Mrs. Crawford. No but wait, wait she was not Mrs. Crawford, she was an hijra and she was doing like this." He clapped his hands as one dancing and laughed uproariously. "She was with a whole troupe of them all singing and dancing, but I recognised her quite easily. It is true," he said, "she does look like an hijra."

Olivia asked "What is an hijra?"

The Nawab laughed again: "I will show you."

It was then that he called his attendant young men and ordered eunuchs to be brought to sing and dance. And for the rest of Olivia's stay that day she had a very enjoyable time.

* * * *

2OJune. Shortly before the monsoon, the heat becomes very intense. It is said that the more intense it becomes the more abundantly it will draw down the-rains, so one wants it to be as hot as can be. And by that time one has accepted it — not got used to but accepted; and moreover, too worn-out to fight against it, one submits and endures. There are compensations too. The hotter it is, the sweeter are the mangoes and the sugar melons, the more pungent the scent of the jasmine. The gul mohar tree, spreading its branches like a dancer, blooms with astonishing scarlet blossoms. All sorts of sweet sherbets are sold in the bazaar, and the glasses in which they are served (though perhaps not very clean) are packed to the top with crushed ice (also not very clean but who cares).