Jasmine Skies Read Free Page B

Mira,’ I say.
    He nods and smiles as he keeps my hand in his, as if he can’t believe that we’re parting so soon.
    I do feel a bit weirded out as I watch the old couple wheel their trolley away. That’s why the tap, tap on my shoulder makes me jump right out of my skin.
    ‘Sorry! I am wandering around looking for miniskirt, not Indian girl in traditional dress!’ Creepy Guard laughs at his own joke. ‘Your family are waiting for you, worrying
where you are. Baggage may be lost. Make some report. Better not wait more, or you may be lost too.’ He fires these orders at me, then goes off through customs. I suppose I have to follow
him.
    Now he’s sitting behind a desk.
    ‘Probably your case is travelling in other direction,’ he chuckles, not exactly kindly.
    I nod without looking at him and start to walk past.
    ‘One minute! Quick check of hand luggage,’ he demands.
    I open my bag, feeling slightly sick that I have to let him paw over my belongings.
    ‘What is this?’ He asks, pulling out Mum’s letter album.
    ‘Personal letters,’ I explain.
    He looks up at me with a mischievous glint in his eye and begins to pull them out one by one: photos, cards and letters. He lays them on his white Formica table, just for his own amusement, I
think. A photo of Mum and Aunt Anjali I’ve never seen before, hugging each other and grinning happily, catches my eye.
    ‘This is you?’ he asks.
    ‘My mum and aunt,’ I tell him.
    ‘Looks like you!’ He smirks, glancing down at my covered legs, as I gather up the letters and place them back in the album.
    A few minutes ago I could have put these letters away forever, but now, after all that stuff with Grandad’s friend, and Creepy Guard putting them on display, it feels like I don’t
have much choice any more. There is no way I will be able to stop myself from reading them now. Bad karma or not.
    As I walk through to Arrivals I hold on to my silver bracelet, twisting its small artichoke-heart charm round and round. I don’t think I’ve ever felt such a mix-up of emotions as
I’m feeling right now, as I take my first steps into India on my own.

Meeting Priya

    ‘Mira! Mira!’
    I suppose that must be Priya leaping up and down, hollering and waving. She looks nothing like she did last week on Skype . . . I’m sure she had long hair. As I draw nearer she vaults over
the barrier and sprints towards me with her arms opening into the widest and warmest of hugs. The tears that have been threatening to spill over for the last half-hour suddenly cascade down my
face. To meet a whole side of your family in the flesh, for the first time in your life, is the strangest feeling in the world, sort of like coming home.
    Anjali steps forward and enfolds me in her graceful arms and the soft folds of her cotton sari. Her hair’s pulled back into a tight bun, and without wearing a spot of make-up she still
looks beautiful. She takes my head in her hands and studies my face. The tears are rolling down her cheeks too.
    ‘So pretty, like your ma at your age.’ She smiles at me and kisses my cheek. ‘We were getting so worried about you. How was your journey? Tiring, na?’ She sighs, wiping
my smudged eyeliner away.
    ‘Ha! You didn’t even recognize me!’ Priya laughs and scruffs up her hair, which is now a pixie crop with hennaed red tips. ‘And look at you, all trad! Anyone would think I am the London chick and you are the Hindu princess!’ Priya wafts my chunni scarf over my shoulder, blows an egg-sized gum bubble, then pops it with her tongue.
    ‘Priya!’ scolds Anjali.
    ‘Want some?’ Priya grins and hands me a piece.
    The peppermint feels fresh and cool in my mouth. I can’t wait to brush my teeth properly.
    ‘Well, thank goodness you’re here safely. We thought you were lost, let me take . . . but where is your case?’ asks Anjali.
    ‘Is that all you brought?’ Priya gasps, taking my shoulder bag from me.
    ‘Priya! Give Mira a chance to breathe! You