Mystery Of The Maharajah's Tomb
Chapter 3
Qasim! I shouted. Behind
us!
Qasim gunned the engine
of the limousine and we shot forward. Luckily no one was ahead of us. The truck
loomed up behind us and was almost upon us when Qasim suddenly turned right,
tires screeching on the pavement.
The truck shot past us
as we went up the side street. Qasim pulled over and turned to us.
Are you OK?, he asked, a
worried expression on his face.
Yes, I muttered. I am
now. That was a nice piece of driving.
Qasim used to be a race
car driver, Raj explained and Qasim nodded. Mumbai traffic is a nightmare
sometimes, but I can handle it.
Any idea who was in that
truck or why they tried to hit us? Raj asked.
Qasim shook his head. I
didn't notice any name on the truck. It looked like a delivery truck of some
kind .
I got a partial license
plate number, I said. I will report it to the police later. But we have to get
to class.
I will make the report,
Qasim said.
OK, I said, handing him
the slip of paper with the number on it.
He nodded and turned
back around. Within minutes we were at the sprawling campus of the University
of Mumbai. We grabbed our back packs and bade goodbye to Qasim. Watch out for
speeding trucks, I said with a grin as he pulled away.
Raj and I slung our
backpacks on and with a map in hand headed onto the busy campus.
Did you know that the
university was founded by a British missionary in the 1850's ? Raj said as we
walked along a paved path.
Yes, I said. I did some
research last night. This is the larger and newer campus, the Kalina campus.
The smaller older campus is located a few kilometres to the south of here. That
is where the famous Rajabai Clock Tower is located , I said. Built in the
1870's , it was the tallest tower in Mumbai at the time .
I'm impressed, Raj said.
Come on, let's get to class.
We hurried off and with
the aid of the map soon found the building that housed the English Lit
department. It was an older stone building with two floors. We followed some
students inside and up the stairs to room 204.
The room was large with
long tables in rows with chairs lined up behind. We chose two seats at the back
of the room, next to a pretty young
woman in a turquoise sari. She smiled at Raj as we took our seats. I am Nalina,
she said.
I'm Raj and this is Justin,
Raj remarked.
Hello Raj. Hello Justin,
she said. You must be new to this class. I don't remember seeing you before.
Our first day, I said. I
am an exchange student from Canada staying with Raj's family here in the city.
We had a family emergency so that is why we are delayed .
She nodded. The
professor is Mr. Atwal. He is an older man but he is nice. We are studying
Charles Dickens—Great Expectations. We are on chapter 4.
Professor Atwal came
into the class at that moment.
Welcome class, he said
with a bright smile. He was a short man with greying hair down to his
shoulders. He was clean shaven and was dressed in a light coloured shalwar
and kurta, the common Indian attire.
We have two new
arrivals, he went on, scanning the class. When he saw us he nodded. This is Justin
Macdonald from Canada and Raj Mistry from here in Mumbai. Welcome gentlemen . I
hope you enjoy this class. Ms. Gulati has no doubt introduced herself to you
and told you all about me. All good things, I hope, Ms. Gulati?
The class snickered and
Nalina blushed slightly. Yes, sir, professor, she said shyly. He just grinned
and nodded.
After our English Lit
class, we had a few hours before our History lecture which was a short distance
away. We grabbed some lunch in one of the campus canteens. They served Indian
food as well as some western fare. At the next table there were a group of
youths, three guys and two girls that we recognized from our English Lit class.
They seemed to be talking amongst themselves in hushed tones and one of the
youths stole a glance at Raj and me every minute or so .
Finally he got up from
the table and approached us. Would you like to join us for lunch?, he said with
a wide smile. He was dressed in western attire, tan Bermuda shorts and button
up blue shirt with sandals. He was tall and had longish dark hair and a few
days growth of beard. He introduced himself as Jag and offered his hand. We
shook it and introduced ourselves.
You are the exchange
student from Canada? He asked as we collected our lunch and went over to their
table.
Yes, I said. I've only
been in Mumbai a short time. My friend Raj here is a great host.
This is Sahay, Jag said
introducing one of the youths . He was shorter and heavyset with a wispy dark
beard and dark hair and glasses. He wore a sweat shirt and jeans. He nodded
shyly when we were introduced . Sahay's only been in our little group a few
weeks. He is very shy as you can see.
And I’m Taran, the third
youth said, standing up and offering his hand which we both shook. He was tall
and slim. Again with dark brown hair cut in a buzz cut style and sporting a
moustache. He wore a black t-shirt and black Bermuda shorts and had on white
sneakers and low cut socks.
The two girls looked up
at us and stared extra long at Raj. They introduced themselves as twin sisters,
Aaliyah and Saniya. They both wore saris, Aaliyah had a red one and Saniya had
blue. Both had long dark curly hair, and as Maya Mistry, their hair was
intertwined with jewels. Their eyes were a deep mocha brown.
Hi, Raj, Saniya said
with a bright smile.
Hey, he replied shyly.
Taran said something
sharply to Aaliyah in what I guessed was Hindi. She quickly looked away from us
and put her head down.
Taran, don’t be jealous,
Saniya said to Taran who just scowled. Saniya turned to us. Don’t mind Taran.
He and Aaliyah are dating and he can be a little jealous sometimes. I, on the
other hand am not dating anyone, she added looking at Raj, who just nodded but
didn’t respond.
Well, I said. Thank you
for inviting us to your table. We really appreciate it.
Taran glanced at me and
I could sense something behind his dark brown eyes. He looked like the leader
of the little clique and someone who had his fingers in a lot of pies and might
be a good asset on locating information on the tomb. I made a mental note to
talk to him later.
We finished our lunch,
after giving a brief life story. I only mentioned that I was an exchange
student and was vague about my home life back in Port Salser.
The group broke up soon
after. Raj and I approached Taran as he was headed out the door. Can we talk
later? I asked. He hesitated a moment then smiling, said, Sure. My last class
is at 4, he said. Can we meet in the library at 5:30?
Sounds good, Taran, I
said shaking his hand again. He turned and headed out the door.
Why do you want to talk
to Taran? Raj asked as we headed out of the canteen into the warm afternoon
sun.
He looks like a guy who
gets around on this campus—he also seemed like the leader of this group. It
might be a lost cause, but we have to find out who knows about the tomb. If he
doesn’t know he might be able to point us in the right direction.
Our history class was
not as exciting as the English Lit class except for the professor. The
professor was a woman, Ms. Raval who was a younger woman dressed in western
attire of a cream coloured pant suit. He hair was shorter and styled in a western
cut. She spoke English with a British accent. She introduced Raj and me then
got right into the lesson, Indian history. Saniya and Aaliyah Jain were in this
class and we had sat with them, Saniya sitting next to Raj and making goo goo
eyes at him the whole class. He was oblivious as usual. I really had to have a
discussion with this guy to see what his secret was.
After the class we
walked out with the Jain sisters.
Where are you off to?
Saniya asked, looking at Raj. I had mentioned to him not to let everyone know
what we were doing here and to let me do most of the talking. But he had
forgotten this.
We’re meeting with
Taran, he said, brightly. He looked at me and when I glared at him, he cringed.
Why are you meeting him?
Aaliyah asked.
We just wanted to ask
him a few questions, I said lamely.
Maybe I could answer
them, she said. You don’t need to talk to Taran. He’s not very helpful
sometimes.
It’s a guy thing, I said
finally. But we could get together later, I said. Trying to get them off our
backs for now. How about 7 pm. Maybe we could study?
Sure, Saniya remarked,
beaming. Aaliyah nodded. OK, sounds good. We can meet in the student restaurant
and have a meal, then head to the library to study. It’s an old style English
pub. She pulled out a campus map and marked where the restaurant was.
OK, we’ll meet at 7.
Oh, and Taran will be
there, Aaliyah remarked as she walked away.
It was nearing 4 pm and
we had agreed to meet Taran in the library entrance. He was waiting outside the
building when we arrived, flicking a cigarette onto the ground and stubbing it
out with his sneaker when he caught sight of us.
He nodded to us then
turned and headed into the library. Once inside he headed to the back where
some tables were set out along a wall of windows. A beautiful view of a small
lake was beyond, the sun waning in the sky.
So, what do you guys
want? He said, taking a seat. Raj and I sat across from him.
You look like the kind
of guy who knows a lot of what’s happening around here, I said, getting right
to the point.
Sure, he said in a bored
voice.
You know a lot of people
at the university and you know what’s happening?
He nodded. Yes, he said.
Look, are you two looking for some—how shall I say it—illegal substances.
‘ Cause if you are, I’m the wrong guy. I don’t do that stuff. Neither do any of
my associates. I don’t know where you heard that I could get this stuff. You’re
wrong if you thought that .
No, I said, closing my
eyes. Nothing like that, Taran. I’m sorry if we misled you.
Then what is it? He
said, leaning his chair back on it’s back legs.
I lowered my voice. Do
you know anything about the Maharajah Singh’s tomb?
He grabbed the table
with his hands as it suddenly flew forward back to a seated position. He
smacked his knee on the table in the process . Ow! He grunted.
He stared at me. How did
you find out about the tomb? Who are you guys?
So you know about it
then?
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