of health. Also, the decision of whether an autopsy is indicated in a specific case is up to the police and the magistrates, not the doctors.”
“That’s my point. So I wouldn’t get your hopes up too high just because a couple of sharp medical examiners are coming to town. I get the feeling that you have done just about as much as anyone could do.”
“Maybe so, but I’m not going to give up, although I’m tempted after this episode today. I tell you, if Laurie and Jack weren’t coming tonight, I’d be out of here.”
“I’d be the one trying to get you to go, and I’m not sure it wouldn’t be the most sensible idea.”
They rode in silence, each lost in thought and each looking out their own window at the kaleidoscopic view of the Delhi street scene. After a while Jennifer hazarded a glance in Neil’s direction. She was still shocked by his presence. He was perhaps the last person on earth she’d expected to see when the curtain was whipped back while she was cowering in the toilet in the filthy butcher shop. She studied his profile. There was very little indentation where his nose abutted his forehead, like a head on a Greek coin. His lips were full, his Adam’s apple large. She thought he was a handsome man, and she was flattered that he came. But what did it mean? She had essentially given up on him because of the way he had brushed her off. Although Jennifer was unaccustomed to vacillating once she’d made up her mind, Neil’s effort in coming nine thousand miles suggested this might be the time to start.
“Are you planning on going out to the airport to welcome your friends?” Neil asked suddenly.
“I am. Would you like to come along?”
“Don’t you think you’d be safer staying in the hotel?”
“Maybe so, but security is high at the airport and at the hotel. I think I’ll be alright.”
“I’ll go with you, if I’m invited.”
“Absolutely,” Jennifer said.
Jennifer held her hand up. It was still shaking like she’d had eleven cups of coffee.
Every so often, Jennifer glanced out the back window. She was concerned about being followed, as she apparently had been when she left the hotel. Unfortunately, with the dense traffic and general chaos of the street, it was difficult to tell. But when they reached the Amal Palace Hotel and turned up the lengthy ramp, something mildly out of the ordinary happened.
Once again, she had glanced out the back as they rose up the driveway, and she was about to face around when a small white car pulled into the driveway behind them. But then it stopped, blocking the drive. Jennifer tried to see how many people were in the car, but she couldn’t, as the hazy sun was reflecting off the windshield.
Looking forward, she could see they were about to reach the porte cochere. Glancing back, she saw the small white car back out of the drive and drive away after causing a lot of honking, beeping, and angry shouts. Someone must have made a wrong turn, was all Jennifer could think, yet in her sensitized state it seemed out of the ordinary.
“Are you finished with the car?” the driver asked Jennifer, pulling her attention away from the curious antics of the white car.
“Absolutely,” Jennifer said, eager to get into the hotel. “Thank you.”
“I’m impressed you took a car,” Neil said, as they walked toward the entrance doors.
“I don’t know if I’ll get away with it,” Jennifer admitted. “The company, Foreign Medical Solutions, out of Chicago, is paying my hotel bill, but I don’t know whether it’s for extras or not. If not, it will have to go on my credit card.”
Inside the lobby they hesitated. “Are you hungry?” Neil asked.
“Not at all,” Jennifer admitted. “I feel like I ODed on caffeine.”
“What would you like to do? Or would you like me to make a suggestion, since you’re so wired?”
“The latter,” Jennifer responded without hesitation. She didn’t feel capable of thinking about practical issues.
“When I checked in last night, I was told they have a full spa with weights, stationary bikes, the works. Do you have some gym clothes?”
“I do.”
“Perfect. Maybe a little workout is what you need. After we do that, maybe you’ll be hungry for something, and if so, we can have it out by the pool. Then, later this afternoon, if you are up to it, we could go over and meet with someone in the consular section at the American embassy. They can give you their take on the episode in the bazaar and what you should do.”
“I don’t know if I want to go the embassy, but the idea of a workout and going out to the pool was my original plan. I’m definitely up for it.”
“Miss Hernandez!” a voice called out. Jennifer turned in its direction. She could see one of the concierges waving a slip of paper. She excused herself from Neil and stepped over to his desk.
“You are back early,” Sumit said. “I hope you enjoyed your sightseeing.”
“It wasn’t quite what I had in mind,” Jennifer said, reluctant to tell him exactly what had happened.
“I’m very sorry,” Sumit said. “Is there something we could have done differently?”
“I think it was my problem,” Jennifer admitted, and then changed the subject. “Do you have something for me?”
“Yes, we do. We got this urgent message for you. You are to call Kashmira Varini, and here is the message and the number.” Jennifer took the number. She was vexed to be bothered. On her way back to Neil, she opened the message. It said, “We have arranged to do something very special for your grandmother. Please call Kashmira Varini.” Jennifer stopped and reread the message. She was mystified. The first thing that went through her mind was that perhaps they had seen the light and were planning on doing an autopsy. Continuing on, she showed the message to Neil.
“This is the lady who’s been my bete noire,” Jennifer said.
“Give her a call!” Neil responded, handing the paper back.
“You think so? I just cannot believe that she might be doing something appropriate.”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
The two of them walked back to the concierge desk. Jennifer asked if there was a phone in the lobby that she could use to make a local call. Without a second’s hesitation, Sumit grabbed one of the several phones he had, lifted it up on top of the counter, and gave it a push toward Jennifer. As if that wasn’t enough, he lifted the receiver, handed it to her, and then punched an outside line with his index finger. All this was done with a gracious smile.
Jennifer tapped in the number and stared up at Neil while the call went through. She truly did not know what to expect.
“Ah, yes,” Kashmira said when Jennifer identified herself. “Thank you for getting back to me. I have excellent news. Our CEO, Rajish Bhurgava, has arranged something extraordinary for your grandmother. Have you ever heard of the burning ghats of Varanasi?”
“I can’t say that I have,” Jennifer responded.
“The city of Varanasi, or Banaras, as the English called it, or Kashi, as the ancients did, is by far India’s holiest Hindu city, with a religious legacy that goes back more than three thousand years.”
Jennifer shrugged at Neil, indicating she still had no idea what the hospital had in mind.
“The city is sanctified by Shiva and the Ganges and is by far the most sacred place for rites of passage.”
“Perhaps you could tell me how this all relates to my grandmother,” Jennifer said impatiently, recognizing it had nothing to do with an autopsy.
“Of course,” Kashmira said enthusiastically. “Mr. Bhurgava has arranged something unheard of for your grandmother. Although the burning ghats of Varanasi are reserved for Hindus, he has obtained permission for your grandmother to experience her rite of passage in Varanasi. All I need is for you to come to the hospital and sign a release.”
“I don’t mean to offend anyone,” Jennifer said, “but whether Granny is cremated in Varanasi or New Delhi doesn’t make a lot of difference to me.”
“Then you don’t understand. Those people cremated in Varanasi gain particularly good karma and a markedly good rebirth in the next life. We just need your permssion to proceed.”
“Mrs. Varini,” Jennifer said slowly, “tomorrow morning we will be coming to the hospital. I will be with my medical examiner friends, and we will come to some kind of agreement.”
