Free Truth Lake by Shakuntala Banaji Page A

would like to go further than Charmoli one day, see the cities down below.'
    Karmel nodded, then smiled at the boy who continued, 'and have you walked very far? Have you seen many places?'
    'Indeed, little one. Many places. But mostly around the capital, Delhi. That is big enough for a life time, in my opinion.' Chand sighed theatrically and repeated the word, 'Delhi', 'Dillhi'! Then he burst out laughing.
    Karmel regarded the garrulous Chand with pleasure. He could rarely recollect having seen such a joyful youngster before. His hair, which was lightened in patches by malnutrition, gave the deceptive impression of health when it caught the light and shone around the boy's sweet face. His cap too was embroidered leather and had all the rustic charm of a tourist post-card in a Delhi mall.
    'Can I come back with you to Delhi? Say yes! Our father's there, isn't he Sonu? – mother used to promise he would come home to take us all but now she says he can't. Our mother's sister, Thahéra aunty, also knows someone there –' a glance at his brother then, abruptly: 'anyway, women wouldn't like it in Delhi I think.'
                  'And why is that?' Karmel raised his eyebrows and the boy looked sheepish.
    'Sahusingh told us that they all want to go to this place called “Ballywood” to become actresses. No actresses in Delhi, huh?'
                  'Really?' Karmel bit his index finger and turned his head at a coquettish angle, making both boys laugh. 
    He guessed that they were more familiar with old Hindi films that they might have seen on cable during rare excursions to wealthier homes in their village.
    He found it hard to believe that the diminutive Chand was really fourteen or that his tall, delicate looking brother, Sonu, was only ten. Suddenly he altered the course of the conversation, studying their expressions.
    'Do either of you boys remember a man who came to stay in the village some months ago, a ghora from down there, he maybe spoke English?' They looked at each other, then Chand nodded. Karmel felt a current of excitement pass across his back. He stopped skimming stones but did not turn fully towards the boys, allowing his eyes only the briefest glance towards them to show interest before returning his scrutiny to the water.
    The lake reflected Chand's animated profile and Sonu's face, much stiller and more restrained.
    'About four months back, he came. Sonu, remember?' Chand was obviously unaware of tension, bursting to speak, but Sonu had become pale and distracted; Chand cast a fleeting look at his brother and continued, his tone a little dampened.
    'He was here for some time. It's hard to remember when he came.' Another oblique glance at his brother caused Karmel to wonder if Chand was apprehensive for some reason, but then the boy's recollection continued, 'I used to deliver milk for him from the goats sometimes. Yes, yes! He talked some Pahadi for sure! His voice made us young ones laugh at first. He had a cabin quite close belonging to our family, my aunt showed him, in our village, and then his friend–' Sonu had risen abruptly. ' –What's the matter little one?' The younger boy was shivering; despite the cold there was a fine beading of perspiration on his upper lip; he didn't respond to his brother. Then, without warning, he yelled 'Mother! Mother! Mother!' and leapt away from the lake, stumbling down the slope, startling the goats and disappearing into the dark space between two trees. Mother. Had he seen someone in the forest shadows below Saahitaal, Karmel wondered; had Thahéra’s sister been watching them all along? Or was Sonu calling on her for protection?
                  'Didn't your little brother like that man, that foreigner?' Karmel moved towards Chand and lightly touched the boy's arm.
                  'I don't know. I can't say.' Chand was looking puzzled. And worried. But he continued speaking politely. 'He talked to him more than I did. My