Unbearable silence

      Last chance to see the wonder of the world       This will be unforgettable with me!       Parks, squares, restaurants -       There will be little room for boredom.       Heart to heart will instantly become closer!       See you in Paris!       Sam chanted, actively following Amala. She rejected all his attempts, continuing to drink her cocktail. Sighing exhaustedly, the young man suddenly saw a luxurious convertible filled with elegant young ladies. Showed it to his companion:       So many different beauties here!       They walk around smiling!       How they chat sweetly:       Like flowers opening!       Amala rolled her eyes, moving forward. The dark night could have been much calmer, but with this impostor not allowing passage, the peace dissolved by itself. Trying to enjoy the sights on her last day, Amala turned into a local park filled with adorable couples. But even here she was pursued by a persistent aborigine:       Hand intertwined       They walk around smiling.       The best match for yourself       Meet without straining!       Amala pursed her lips indignantly, throwing the glass into the trash. Trying not to notice the annoying companion, she looked only forward. Then she came across a free car, while Sam was lagging behind unknown where, she slipped into the salon, giving the address, in the hope of enjoying a pleasant last trip. But then Sam suddenly appeared in the back seat:       If you are afraid of death,       Hurry up and fall in love!       Filling my heart with love       Rejoice and have fun!       Sam continued to repeat the verse smugly while Amala persistently looked out the window. She was pretty tired of this man, who so actively wanted to get to know her from the first days of her stay. The car finally stopped at the hotel, Sam followed it. Amala turned around:       "What do you want from me?"       "Like what?", He opened his blue eyes, "To meet you!"       "Please: my name is Amala Khan." She said irritably, “Do you need anything else?”       "Well, of course!" He clasped his hands while Amala lifted the hem of her sari to climb the steps of the hotel. "This is not enough! Even if we know each other's names, we can't become close!"       "Why become someone close, Sam?" Amala moaned dejectedly, “I’m leaving for India very soon, it’s very far from here, we’ll never see each other again... What’s the point of getting to know each other?”       "Oh, the fact that you are leaving is not at all a problem for a loving heart!"       Amala rolled her eyes tiredly.       "Where are you going?" He asked, hanging on the railing.       "To Calcutta. You don't know where it is."       "How so? I know perfectly well. You will see it for yourself."       "Stop following me, Sam. Good night." Amala asked helpfully. However, judging by Sam's confident face, he didn't want to give up at all.       Amala was finally left alone with herself in a cozy room. She sat down comfortably in her chair and dialed her home number.       "Please connect to London."       "One second, mademoiselle." The lady answered in a pleasant voice. Amala twirled the wire with a slight degree of excitement.       "Hello?" Indira’s creaky voice rang out.       "Grandma, hello." A smile appeared on Amala’s face. "I haven’t heard from you for a long time. How are you? How are you feeling?"       "Hello, Amala." Her voice warmed up. "It's okay, I'm fine. My heart has been pounding lately, but it’s tolerable. How are you doing?"       I'm happy to hear this, grandma." - Amala decided to speak directly, "I was given a direction to India, grandmother. Departure is the day after tomorrow."       Indira’s silence dragged on, after which she exhaled:       "What city?"       "Calcutta, grandma. There are some problems with communication with our ambassador. I think it won't last long. I would like to take my sisters with me, is that okay?"       Amala had an idea of ​​what the answer would be, so she looked expectantly at the ceiling. Indira didn't say even a word.       "I need to think."       "Okay, but only I need to buy tickets." Amala changed her position, leaning on the armrest. "Tomorrow at ten o'clock is convenient for you?"       Indira was clearly speechless. Confused, Amala looked at the telephone receiver, again putting it to her ear in hope.       "It's... very early."       "Okay, then they will arrive in the evening. I'll call Priyanka aunty, is that okay? We will stay with her, Manisha has already returned home."       "I'll think about it." Indira snapped.       "Okay, but if you won't be ready by ten, let me know at least an hour in advance. I'll change the tickets."       "Okay." Indira said, hanging up. Amala exhaled, rubbing her forehead. The conversation was not easy. She looked at the portrait of Valérie Giscard d'Estaing. The diplomatic mission in Paris was over. Now all she had to do was return to her homeland under urgent circumstances. And she couldn’t miss this chance to take her sisters with her to show them her native land, even if her grandmother was so against it.

***

      Indira hung up the phone with a bang, looking at one in horror. background.       "What, madam?" Razia shouted from another floor. “Did Elder Miss Khan call?”       Indira did not answer, rubbing her hands angrily. Razia approached her:       "Madam?.. Madam!..." She wailed in fear until Indira woke up from half-asleep. “Are you all right, madam?”       Indira looked at the maid with irritation. Hiding her anger, she looked at the view of London at night.       "Amala is going to India."       Razia clutched her heart and recoiled.       "My God!..." She gasped.       "Cursed be the day I told her she was Indian." Indira wrapped her sari around her, standing up. “Now she wants to drag Ambika and Aliya away too."       "Madam, well, maybe nothing like that will happen? The girls will go, have a look, and then go back!.."       "Won't happen?" Indira barked. "Also this damn Priyanka with her daughter. Where did it fall on my head! She definitely won't be able to hold her tongue. My granddaughters will find out from strangers who their father was!" Indira turned to Razia, 2Your relative, by the way!"       Razia lowered her eyes in shame.       "If you need, madam... I will fly with them. Maybe this will help somehow."       "Go. Just don’t even think about borrowing even a meter from this Chauhan. You will receive money for a new home. Just don’t meddle with anyone, got it? And keep an eye on everyone. Nobody will recognize you. I hope."       "As you want, madam, I will do everything you ask."       "The main thing is that Vimal doesn’t find out." Indira said worriedly, twisting the edge of her sari. "And their whole vile family. Don't let it happen, okay?"       Aliya, leaning against the door, stuck out her lip meaningfully.       "What, what is there?" Ambika whispered in hope.       "There is news: good, bad and satisfactory."       "Come on with a good one!"       "We are going to India."       "Hurray!.." Before Ambika had to exclaim, Aliya shut her mouth, hissing.       "Why are you yelling! Keep silent."       "And the bad one?"       "Razia is coming with us."       "Damn..."       "And third: we will find out who our father is."       "What?..."       "I don’t know how to feel about this, but my memory has not been lost. As far as I remember, he was human. Our grandmother is not happy with this."       Ambika giggled. Aliya smiled, putting down the glass with which the wiretapping took place.       "What time are we leaving?"       "Tomorrow morning. If nothing else comes to her mind."       Aliya went to her sleeping place.       "Aliya, listen." Ambika was fiddling with the strings on her pajamas. "Who might our father turn out to be?..."       "I don’t know, Ambika, I don’t know. Grandmother has such high demands that even a person from another country can, by definition, turn out to be an enemy of the people."       "Was this only his fault?..."       "I don’t know anything, Ambika. Everything I heard I immediately conveyed to you. If I had other information, you would definitely hear it. Get some sleep. And turn off the light. There's nothing to shine here!"       Aliya covered her head while Ambika climbed under the blanket.       “Your relative, by the way!” it was spinning in Aliya's head for a long time.       “What would that mean?” Aliya thought, shaking her head, “We should find out.”