Free Valmiki's Daughter by Shani Mootoo Page B

a fast fading pink. The birds in the mango trees at the back of the house were well into their usual morning bickering session, louder in anticipation of rain. With a sudden conviction that he could go into the study, use the phone there, and call Tony in Goa, just to say hello, he came completely awake. And awakening so fully, he felt the heat underthe blankets of another human being. Devika. He closed his eyes, turned on his side, and scuttled closer to her. The ache in his body dulled, his penis limped. There was, instead, a more tolerable numbness. He brought a hand up to rest on Devika’s shoulder. Her shoulder, however, was not heavy with the weight of sleep. He opened his eyes again. Devika was already well awake, and he was immediately aware that she bore the brunt of last evening’s quarrel still. He could hear sounds outside of their door.
    â€œYou okay?” he whispered hoarsely. Devika did not answer, but her breathing sharpened.
    He said, “What is it? Is it still Viveka? Are you still on about her?”
    â€œListen to her. She is storming about outside. She is the one who is not finished. I don’t want to start my morning like this. Why did you leave me to deal with her alone last night? She is as own-way as you are. You are the one she takes after.”
    He pulled his hand away and returned to his favourite sleeping position, flat on his back, his face to the ceiling, fingertips resting on pelvic bones, and he shut his eyes again. In an instant the door to their bedroom was opened, the attempt to do so quietly clearly halfhearted. Seeing both her parents awake, Viveka charged in to say that she was leaving for the day, that she had changed her mind from last night and although she had no classes she would spend the day studying at the university library.
    Valmiki’s heart lurched. He could see that if his son Anand had lived, these two children, particularly because of Viveka’s angular facial features, her lankiness, and her short hair, would have been unmistakable as siblings. He wished Viveka would grow her hair longer like all the other attractive young ladies he and Devika knew, at least to her shoulders.
    Viveka’s aggression first thing in the morning wore him down instantly, and he had not even got out of bed as yet. Valmiki asked her only how she was going to get to the university. She grumbled that she would take a taxi. There was a long silence while each waited for the other to respond. Finally, Valmiki asked Devika if she needed her car. Devika pursed her lips tight. He tried again. “Didn’t you say you don’t have anything to do outside of the house today?”
    â€œSo I have to report to you everything I am doing now?”
    Viveka groaned audibly. She said, “Forget it. I am not driving on the highway in any case.”
    â€œListen, it looks like it’s going to rain again. Why don’t you take my car and your mother can drop me to work in hers?” Valmiki offered.
    Devika immediately protested. “But Viveka just told you she doesn’t want to drive on the highway. She isn’t confident to drive on the highway and you are going to give her your car. You don’t see how ridiculous you can be? Why can’t you stand up to her just once?”
    At this Viveka looked as if she was trying to shout, but a whisper came out. “I said I will take a taxi. I don’t want to drive.”
    Valmiki shook his head in feigned disbelief, but making sure to employ a smile he told Viveka that if she waited half an hour he would get the chauffeur to take her. Viveka replied that practically everyone got to the university by taxi, even the professors. Valmiki winked in an attempt to cajole his daughter and said, “But do they all have access to a chauffeur? It’s no trouble, sweetheart, I don’t need him today.” He turned to Devika. “Do you?” His wife was sitting up now, propped against the pillows, and