Much later, I got up slowly, turned off the now-cold shower, washed my face, and climbed into bed. Thoughts of Ren ran through my mind again, and silent tears started streaming once more. I actually thought about putting Fanindra on my pillow and cuddling her. That was how des-perate I was for comfort. I cried myself to sleep, hoping that I would feel better the next day.
I again slept in late the next day and got up feeling hungry and numb. I was emotionally exhausted. I didn’t want to risk going downstairs to get something to eat. I didn’t want to run into Ren. I sat on the bed, pulled my knees up to my chest, and wondered what to do.
I decided to write in my journal. Pouring all my jumbled thoughts and emo-tions onto its pages helped me feel a bit better. My stomach growled.
I wish I had some of Mr. Kadam’s berry crepes.
Something moved at the corner of my vision. I turned and saw a breakfast laid out for me on the little table. I walked over to inspect it. Crepes with triple berries! My mouth fell open in shock.
That’s just too convenient.
I suddenly remembered that fizzing juice that I had tasted last night. When I wanted something to drink, it had appeared.
I decided to test these strange phenomena. I said out loud, ‘I would also like some chocolate milk.’ A tall cold glass of chocolate milk material-ized out of nowhere. This time, I decided to try to think something.
I wish I had a new pair of shoes.
Nothing happened. I voiced, ‘I wish I had a new pair of shoes.’ Still nothing.
Maybe it only works with food. I thought, I would like a strawberry milkshake.
A tall glass appeared, full to the brim with a thick strawberry milkshake topped with whipped cream and a sliced strawberry.
What is doing this? The gada? Fanindra? Durga? The Fruit? The Fruit! The Golden Fruit of India! Mr. Kadam had said that through the Golden Fruit, the people of India would be fed. The Golden Fruit provided food! I took the fruit out of the drawer and held it in my hand as I wished for something else.
‘A . . . radish, please.’
The fruit shimmered and glowed like a golden diamond, and a radish appeared in my free hand. I examined it thoughtfully and then chucked it in my trash can.
I mumbled ironically, ‘See? Even I don’t want a radish.’
I immediately wanted to share this exciting news with Ren and ran for the door. I twisted the knob, but then I hesitated. I didn’t want to undo all the things I’d said last night. I meant it about staying friends with him, but, ironically, I was the one who couldn’t be his friend right now. I needed time to get over him.
I decided to wait for Mr. Kadam to come back; then, I would tell Ren about the Fruit.
I dug into my crepes and enjoyed my meal – all the more special because it was magical. Then I got dressed and decided to read in my room. After awhile, someone knocked on my door.
‘May I come in, Miss Kelsey?’ It was Mr. Kadam.
‘Yes. The door’s open.’
He entered, shutting the door behind him and sat down on one of the easy chairs.
‘Mr. Kadam, stay right there. I have something to show you!’ I got up excitedly and ran to the dresser. Pulling out the Golden Fruit, I unwrapped it and set it carefully on the table. ‘Are you hungry?’
He laughed. ‘No. I just ate.’
‘Well, wish for something to eat anyway.’
‘Why?’
‘Just try it.’
‘Alright.’ His eyes twinkled. ‘I wish for a bowl of my mother’s stew.’
The fruit twinkled, and a white bowl appeared in front of us. The tangy aroma of an herbed lamb stew filled the room.
‘What is this?’
‘Go on, Mr. Kadam, wish for something else. Food, I mean.’
‘I wish for a mango yogurt.’
The fruit sparkled again, and a small dish of mango yogurt appeared.
‘Don’t you see? It’s the fruit! It feeds India. Get it?’
He picked up the fruit carefully. ‘What an amazing discovery! Have you shared this with Ren?’
I blushed guiltily. ‘No, not yet. But you go ahead.’
He nodded, stunned, and turned the fruit in his hands, looking at it from all angles.
‘Umm . . . Mr. Kadam? There’s something else I wanted to talk with you about.’
He set the fruit down carefully and gave me his full attention. ‘Of course, Miss Kelsey. What is it?’
I let out a deep breath. ‘I think it’s time . . . for me to go home.’
He sat back in his chair, steepled his fingers, and looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. ‘Why do you believe so?’
‘Well, like you said, there’s the Lokesh thing, and there are also other . . . things.’
‘Other things?’
‘Yes.’
‘Such as?’
‘Such as . . . well, I don’t want to take advantage of your hospitality forever.’
He scoffed, ‘Nonsense. You are a member of the family. We owe you an eternal debt, one that can never be repaid. This house is as much yours as it is ours.’
I smiled at him gratefully. ‘Thank you. It’s not only that, though, it’s also . . . Ren.’
‘Ren? Can you tell me about it?’
I sat on the edge of the couch and opened my mouth to say that I didn’t want to talk about it, but the whole thing came spilling out. Before I knew it, I was crying, and he was sitting next to me patting my hand and comforting me as if he were my grandfather.
He didn’t say a word. He just let me spill out all of the confu-sion, hurt, and tender new feelings. When I was done, he patted my back while I hiccupped with tears dropping onto my cheeks. He handed me an expensive cloth handkerchief, smiled, and wished for a cup of chamomile tea to give me.
I laughed wetly at his delighted expression as he handed me the tea; then, I blew my nose and calmed down. I was horrified that I had confessed everything to him. What must he think of me? Then another thought pierced my despair: Will he tell Ren?
As if reading my thoughts, he said, ‘Miss Kelsey, don’t you feel bad about what you have told me.’
I begged, ‘Please, please don’t tell Ren.’
‘Rest assured, I will never break your confidence.’ He chuckled. ‘I am very good at keeping secrets, my dear. Don’t despair. Life often seems hopeless and too complicated to hammer out a happy result. I only hope I can offer you some of the peace and harmony that you have given to me.’
He sat back and thoughtfully stroked his short beard. ‘Perhaps it is time for you to go back to Oregon. You are right that Ren needs time to learn how to be a man again, although not quite in the way you believe. Plus, I have a lot more research to do before we set off looking for Durga’s second gift.’
He paused for a moment. ‘Of course I will arrange for you to go back. Never forget, though, that this home is yours too, and you can always call me at a moment’s notice, and I will bring you back. If it’s not too forward of me, I consider you a daughter.’ He laughed. ‘Or perhaps, granddaughter would be more accurate.’
I smiled at him tremulously, threw my arms around his neck, and sobbed anew on his shoulder. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much. You are like family to me too. I will miss you terribly.’
He hugged me back. ‘And I will miss you. Now, enough tears. Why don’t you go out for a swim and get some fresh air while I make the arrangements.’
I swiped a sparkling tear from my eye. ‘That’s a good idea. I think I will.’
He squeezed my hand and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
I decided to take his advice, changed into my bathing suit, and headed for the pool. I swam laps for a while, trying to put my energy into something other than my emotions. When I got hungry, I tried wishing for a club sandwich and one appeared next to the swimming pool.
This sure comes in handy! I don’t have to even be in the same room! I wonder what the range on that thing is.
I ate my sandwich and lay out on a beach towel until my skin got hot, then I hopped back in the pool and floated lazily for a while to cool off.
A tall man walked up and stood by the pool directly in front of the sun. Even shading my eyes, I couldn’t see his face, but I knew who it was.
I scowled, ‘Ren! Can’t you leave me alone? I don’t want to talk to you right now.’
The man stepped out of the sun, and I squinted up at him.
‘You don’t want to see me? And after I came all this way?’ He clicked his tongue, ‘Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. Someone needs to teach you some manners, Miss.’
I gasped, ‘Kishan?’