Poor Juliet
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| Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6097 |
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| Author: | mohini [ 23 May 2009, 10:04 ] |
| Post subject: | Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
A small drabble about what Carricks must have done in India. Hope you like it. **************************************************** “What about Juliet?”, Captain Carrick looked up from the papers he was reading and regarded his wife with surprise”What about her?” “We cannot take her with us. Not after what happened here. You can never trust her. If only she had kept silent, there would have been no need to move. Everything was going on so nicely.” “I know. She exposed us very neatly. Oh well we have collected quite an amount. So no problem. After all they cannot take away the money form us.” “Yes. But Juliet ……..” “I know. We will send her to the School in the Hills. Old Binks girls go there. It is a boarding school so we do not have to worry about her. They can keep her in holidays too. After all it is time she went to a good school and mixed with her own people and not with these natives.” So Juliet was sent to the school. A sadder girl was not seen on the platform. Her parents had simply handed her over to the mistress in charge and gone away with just a goodbye no promises of letters or planning of holidays. They had paid a term’s fee, so at least she was not on charity. She wondered if she would see her parents again or if they mean to abandon her again. She never felt so lonely in her life. Even if she wanted to run away there was no place to go. The Indian family which had befriended her in her father’s last posting was not ready to talk to her. Thanks to her parents. They had done unspeakable things which no one was willing to tell her. But the result was that her father was posted in South. Having disposed off their daughter Captain Carrick and his wife were enjoying the luxury of the train. They soon reached their destination where a carriage was there to welcome them. The Local Commissioner invited them into his house. ”Welcome. You must be tired after your journey. I will take you to your Quarters.” He led them to a colonial house with huge gardens. “This is your house. The servant quarters are there. Gopala Swami will see to all your need. You will be working as a British aide to the local Prince. You will also have to look after the administration of the Coffee Factory. Get fresh and then come for tea. I will tell you about your duties” Captain and his wife soon settled in their new life. It was an easy one. Once the morning chores were over, the captain would go to the office to oversee the administration or visit the durbar of the Prince. The Prince was a quiet fellow and having got educated in England could speak good English. He was keen to have a good administration in his kingdom and was always willing to listen to advice. But he was a shrewd fellow and Captain Carrick soon found out that it was not easy to dupe him. The captain’s money was rapidly dwindling. Though he had a good pay and was not needed to spend money on running the house, he was an extravagant person and loved gambling and was nearly always in debt. His wife also liked Jewelry and always needed rich silk gowns to wear in the Durbar. So it was essential to earn more money. He slowly started making friends with the little princes and their mother the Maharani. His wife was a great help in these things. The maharani who had not gone out of her state was thrilled to hear about the stories from abroad. Her husband was a kind man but was busy ruling his kingdom and had no time for his wife. Mrs. Carrick befriended the Maharani and regaled her with her talks of life in Britain. She painted such a rosy picture that the maharani and her children began to feel discontented with their life. She then promised to arrange a trip for them to England soon and slowly began to collect money from them. The maharani had no money so she was asked to give away her precious jewels one by one. The maharani was a very simple person and was not aware that she was being taken for a ride. While Mrs. Carrick was working on the royal family, Captain Carrick had other ideas. The British collected a variety of taxes from the farmers and coffee growers. Captain Carrick introduced a few new taxes of his own. As it was filling the British Treasury, his Commissioner did not protest much. But he was not satisfied. He needed more. So he tuned his attention to the Church. The Priest had been complaining that the attendance in the church and hence the collection was low. They needed more members. So he started trying to convert the Indian soldiers in his unit to adopt Christianity. He promised those better living conditions, better weapons and better pay. He painted such a rosy picture that most of them agreed on the spot. Their lives had been miserable and prospect of full stomach for themselves and their families sounded good. Then Captain Carrick played his last card. He told the prince of his plan and convinced the prince that with his army better equipped and contented, he, the Prince could play a major role in the Freedom struggle. The Prince agreed but said that there should be no compulsion of changing religion and all soldiers should be treated equally despite their different religion. The Captain gleefully assented. He was killing 3 birds with one stone. In one sweep he was in good books of the Church, the Prince and his unit. And now he had power. Captain Carrick was feeling complacent. Everything was going on fine. He had the Prince in his power. It had been a slow process but he had finally managed to ingratiate himself in the Prince’s mind and now he was a person to be reckoned with. The Prince took his advice in making major decisions. So the Captain was able to tell all the state secrets to the British Government. He was getting money from both the sides. He was not loyal to his own government and was always on the side of those who paid more. As a bonus Williams had fallen ill and Captain had to look after the Administrative work. He made hay while he had a chance. Luck was on his side as the higher authorities were interested in money and not the methods of obtaining them. Mr. Williams, the local Commissioner was worried. Captain’s Carrick’s reputation has preceded his arrival, but Williams was willing to give him a chance. But now Captain was getting above himself. Monsoon had found Williams a sick man and he had been glad to let Captain handle the affairs... But the power had been misused. The captain used to ride in the coffee gardens to oversee the work and he flogged the workers in the factory and the coffee gardens. When he had done it in front of Williams, it was with great restrain that Williams had controlled himself. Only the fact that one should not reprimand one‘s officer in front of the juniors and natives made him keep silent. But he had scolded Carrick after coming back to office. He also had tried to take action, but the higher authorities were not willing to listen as Carrick had shown results. In the last few months the production and the money added to treasury was doubled. Williams was a kind and a just man. He respected the natives and was willing to work for their up gradation. They in turn found him to be honest and trustworthy and were willing to work cheerfully for him. But they were afraid of Captain Carrick He was a cruel man. How much dreaded he was by the workers could be seen by the way they ran away as soon they saw him riding towards the gate. He cut a fine figure on the horse. He carried a whip in his hand and it would lash anyone seen standing to take a breath or stretch the aching back. That was not the only complaint against Captain Carrick. The Prince had also hinted something and Williams was apprehensive. The Prince had a hot temper and one could never predict what he could do next. In addition, the local population was also protesting against the Captain’s wild ways and misbehavior. According to Williams’s secretary who was an Indian, the people were ready to protest. Their anger was being flamed by the growing unrest in the rest of the country and in their case they were justified in their fury against the Captain. Such was the state of affairs when visitors were announced.” A lady to see you, Sir” said his Secretary. ”Please send her in”, he said. Before he could finish his sentence, a trim, tall lady entered dragging a girl. “Where is Captain Carrick? I was told that he was posted here. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. How can you let such a person work under you? Of all the despicable, appalling, disgraceful, disreputable persons I have ever known, he is the most horrible. To leave his child with us without paying fees and ask us to do whatever we want to with her. She is not our responsibility. I run a reputed school I will not allow children of such, such ……… I have brought her here. My responsibility is over. Do whatever you want. Goodbye!” Before he could utter a word, she had swept out of the room. He turned to look at the miserable object sitting on the bench. “Who are you?” he asked “Juliet Carrick” “Is Captain Carrick your father?” “Yes” At this moment the Captain himself entered the room and was thunderstruck when a dirty object flung herself on him crying”Father!! I’m home” Williams had made up his mind Carrick will have to go. He could not tolerate anymore. Carrick’s other activities would have been forgiven but even the local British community would never forgive Carricks for abandoning their daughter. No one here even knew that a daughter existed. How were they going to explain the sudden appearance of a daughter? Captain Carrick had threatened to drag Williams name if action was taken. During Williams illness, he had forged Williams’ signature. He would have to think of some plan where Captain was send away with a reasonable explanation. He wished, he could expose the Captain. He was thinking about the problem when his secretary entered hurriedly. ”Sir, Please ask Captain Carrick to go away today! Immediately! All the workers are planning to burn his house tonight. He flogged a worker so hard that the worker died. Everyone is angry. My brother lives in the village and he told me. Please hurry! I have arranged a van in which they can hide. It won’t be stopped.” They rushed to Carrick’s bungalow and hurried them out with whatever they could carry. ”Hurry man! Hurry!! There is no time! They will come here any moment! “Hurriedly packing few clothes in 2 suitcases and all their money, the Carricks rushed out of the house and hid into the van. The driver had kept the engine running and they were away in minutes. The van would take them to the coast from where a ship would carry them away to Europe They were never to return to India Williams heaved a sigh of relief and turned to pacify the crowd who was gathering in the compound. The End. |
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| Author: | Joanne [ 23 May 2009, 10:17 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
An interesting idea of what the Carricks were up to. Thank you. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ 23 May 2009, 10:36 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
Very much in character - hope Juliet never tries to visit India in the future. Thanks Mohini |
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| Author: | Elbee [ 23 May 2009, 13:44 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
Very interesting, poor Juliet. Thanks, Mohini. |
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| Author: | Alison H [ 23 May 2009, 14:39 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
Poor Juliet .
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| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ 23 May 2009, 17:22 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
No wonder Dick never thought to pass on any details he might have heard! Thankyou 
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| Author: | Kathy_S [ 23 May 2009, 19:31 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
Good explanation of "too hot to hold him." Almost literally! It's a good thing we know that Juliet's future isn't as horrible as it appears here. Thanks, Mohini. |
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| Author: | mohini [ 25 May 2009, 05:35 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
Thanks everyone. Glad you like it. I had a sick feeling in my stomach while writing about Carrick.I seemed to have made him such a horrible man. |
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| Author: | Lesley [ 25 May 2009, 08:13 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
He was a horrible man, Mohini - after all he abandoned Juliet without a qualm - you just showed the depths of his warped character. |
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| Author: | leahbelle [ 26 May 2009, 17:53 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
I think he was a thoroughly nasty piece of work. Thanks! |
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| Author: | RroseSelavy [ 26 May 2009, 21:59 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
Gosh. This was utterly believable, Mohini. I really felt the plot develop in surprisingly few words. Thank you
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| Author: | Lyanne [ 27 May 2009, 22:23 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Drabble challange :- What Carricks did in India |
Poor Juliet, she must have been not sure what to hope: that they'd abandoned her so she'd not have to see them again, or that they'd come back for her, or that she'd end up back with them. |
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