London Awaits

Pravin Maharaj

Description

The day Prem had left India, with his young son, Aaravi, for London; it was one of the saddest days, in the Sharma family household, and all Prem’s relatives. Even Prem’s wife, Aarashi’s parents, brothers and sisters were sad at the airport to send them off abroad. As they went away, from their sight, sniffs with tears of sadness filled the air, as it marked a new beginning for father and son and an end of their life in India. Prem never knew that, the day at the airport, was the last time he would have seen his grandfather, alive, when he touched his feet, bowed as he left the airport through the departure gates.
In London, Prem led a life of misery and struggled to find his feet. However, he made sure that Aaravi was enrolled at a reputable local school. They rented a little downtrodden little run-down basement flat, which was a in the outskirts, and cockroaches and mice played where the rubbish bins lay. He paid cheap rent, which is what he could afford, and they lived there for a wee while to get their footing.
Not too long after, Aarashi, his wife, and Priya, his daughter, accompanied them in London. The family life once again began from its humble beginnings, and gradually they moved ahead, and their life took a turn.
The second book, ‘London Awaits’ in which Prem takes great risks and challenges and set out into the shores of England. Here, he restarts a new life with his wife and three children, in the outskirts of London. It gives a broad spectrum about what is in store as Prem ventures out into an unknown into a new territory with new vision and adventures that is awaiting him. He therefore transcends himself into getting acquainted with a new culture in London, with enormous struggles with very humble beginnings. In essence the book exemplifies a family bond he always had with his motherland, India, although he and his family become highly westernized. With all the influence that had from their neighbours and friends, in a new country, their culture, religious beliefs and being Indian still remained their driving force, dear to their heart. The dream is realised, when Prem and his family sow the seeds for their future in a new country.

Sujets

• Adventure (Guyana)
• Künstlerroman
• Adventure
• Fiction
• Action

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse
• Date de parution: 01 février 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781728378497
• Langue: English

Extrait

London Awaits
 
 
 
 
 
Pravin Maharaj
 
 
 
 

 
AuthorHouse™
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com
Phone: [phone]
 
 
 
 
© 2023 Pravin Maharaj. All rights reserved.
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
 
Published by AuthorHouse   02/01/2023
 
ISBN: 978-1-7283-7850-3 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-7283-7849-7 (e)
 
 
 
 
Print information available on the last page.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Contents
Leaving India
Second Visit Back to India
Back Home to London
Second Trip to India
Back to Normal Life in London
Tragedy Strikes
The Taste of Success
Love Is in the Air
More Acquaintances
Third Trip to India
Tajpur Beach
Mandarmani Resort
Kolkata City
The Family Holiday Ends
Final Weeks in India
Off to Goa
The Bush Bash
London Awaits Again!

Leaving India
S aying goodbye at the airport seemed like attending a funeral, the only difference being the departing of two living souls, in this case, Premchandra Sharma (Prem) and his son, Aaravindra Sharma (Aaravi – aged 10 years). Prem’s grandfather ( Baba ) stood and spoke to him for nearly an hour at the airport, remembering that the young man had been just seven years old when he lost his young dad. Traveling to England for a new life, Prem was so much older now, but he had no idea what to expect on his first visit. Baba reminded Prem that his father, Krishnand, had been identical to Prem. Once upon a time when his dad was alive, as a young adult, he also wanted to leave Deganga, but he became sick, which spoiled all his plans and got in the way of his success, causing him to be unable to achieve many of his dreams.
The day Prem left for London, thirty years after the death of his father, was one of the saddest days the Sharma family had ever experienced. Resigning his position as an educationist form his school, and the saying goodbye to his wife, Aarashinie Sharma, his elder daughter, Priyavashnie Sharma (Priya - aged 8 years), and his youngest daughter, Premashinie Sharma (Premy - 2 years), was weird and tearful but had deep inner happiness, as they had never been away from their darling brother, Aaravindra Sharma and their doting dad, from the time they lived in India. Mum had to keep her two-year-old daughter from trying to go with dad, away to the departure gates. All Prem’s relatives, along with his wife Aarashi’s parents, brothers, and sisters, were there to send him off. As Prem’s form receded from their sight, tears of sadness and joy filled those who were there, as his departure marked an end and a new beginning in so many ways.
There were moments when Prem considered that if he were unable to make ends meet, he would return to India and continue his life, although he would have to start all over again. However, he was adamant that the risks he had taken and the challenges he faced had always paid off throughout his young years in Deganga and Barasat.
Prem was ever obliging, willing to do anything his grandfather (Baba) asked of him. The two of them had become very close, their hearts melting together. The attachment suddenly was very strong, and Prem found himself of two minds about leaving India. He heard the grief in his grandfather’s voice and felt it in his hug at the airport. The sorrow in his eyes made Prem and Aaravi tear up and cry. Prem’s sister Ramilene wiped away tears as Prem was about to leave.
Jasmeera Maharaj, his eldest sister, and Prem’s two other younger sisters, Ramilene Panday and Premilla Rani Maharaj, had to console Prem’s mum because she was in turmoil over Prem’s leaving for good. His doting sister Premilla Rani cried nonstop and held his hands, preventing him from leaving. Ramilene had to pull her off to allow Prem to walk away. Prem never turned back once as he walked away, his eyes filled with tears, making his vision blurry. Aaravi turned many times to look back and waved as he and his father strode toward oblivion. Out of sight of his relatives, Prem didn’t know that that day at the airport would be the last time he would ever see his grandfather alive, a day when Prem had touched Baba’s feet, bowed, and hugged him just before Prem had gone through the departure gate.
Once in London, Prem and his son had no idea where they would stay or how they would make a start. It was a Sunday afternoon, as they walked out of the airport, they were accosted by a horde of taxi operators, most of them looking to be Indians, from either India or Pakistan, and speaking to Prem in English and Hindi. Prem and his son just walked ahead, trying to locate an honest taxi operator who could advise them well and give them some hope. A nicely clad man about Prem’s age who seemed lovely smiled at them as they passed, standing near his car, and refrained from rushing up to Prem to beg for his patronage. Prem, finding it strange, stopped for a moment. Their eyes met. Prem waited a bit with Aaravi standing beside him, their many bags on the trolley.
In a flash, the middle-aged man used a hand signal, pointed to his car, and stated in fluent English, “Can I take you to your accommodation, sir?”
Prem, moving the trolley back, answered, “I certainly would like to hire your car, but I need some advice first, and I don’t mind paying you extra for it. Er, what is your name?”
“Certainly, sir. My name is Rohith Chahal. I am at your service.” Rohith opened the boot to load the bags.
“My name is Prem Sharma, and this is my son, Aaravi Sharma,” Prem said. Aaravi went to help the taxi driver with the bags.
Rohith said politely, “Sit in the car, Prem, sir, and you too, young man Aaravi.” He opened the back door for them and then returned to loading the boot.
Before they left, Rohith and Prem had a healthy discussion. Taking the taxi driver’s advice, Prem decided to stay on the outskirts of London, which would be affordable as a starter. Rohith took Prem and Aaravi to an estate agent’s office, one of his close contacts, to find them a suitable place. Prem and his son paged through many pictures of apartments. The manager, Mr. Singh-Rathore, advised Prem that living in a downtrodden area would be dangerous, although it provided better and cheaper rentals near the train stop. It was better to pay a little more in another suburb, saying it was safer and a better option. Prem jumped on the opportunity to make his start in London.
Although he was renting a little rental shabby flat on the outskirts of London in a run-down area, Greenwood, Prem found it to be liveable for a few months. Aaravi, having noticed some cockroaches and mice in the basement and on the ground floor, didn’t mind the rubbish bins sprinkled all around, some having fallen over, and litter strewn down all over. He alerted his dad, but Prem just said that they’d be there for only a short time and that he was standing by his choice to go with the estate agent’s suggestion. Prem stated that they were on the upper floor, which was safer, so, because of the cheap rent, which is what he could afford, he could save money for other things.
Prem had chosen this rental for many other reasons. First, the metro was close by, so traveling to and from London was convenient. Second, he was living on a tight budget until he could earn enough money to build up a deposit on a home and start a better life, which was his priority. Third, having a little place, Prem and Aaravi could do the house chores together, cook for themselves, and travel around on weekends just to get acquainted and learn how to live in a new country. Fourth, the school bus route was close by, so it would be easier for Aaravi to get to school and back. In the meantime, he also realized that Aaravi would make a few friends at school and might invite them to the rental house, which was close to the football fields for playing soccer, tennis, and other games, enabling a friendship to blossom among schoolmates.
After the trial period of staying in the upstairs rental, Prem and his son concluded that it worked well for them. Prem appreciated the recommendation from the agent, as their neighbors were lovely people who, much like Prem and Aaravi, were immigrants to London and wanted a head start.
When Aaravi was out with his friends one day, Prem made friends with a couple, Desiree and Donald, known as Des and Don, who lived in the next room over. They helped Prem gain a greater understanding of the place. Also, they were people he could talk to after returning late in the afternoon from job hunting at the university. Des and Don bought the cheaper brand of whiskey and drank a few tots each night after dinner before going to bed.
Prem opened a bank account and deposited the money his grandfather had loaned him, along with other cash he had on hand. After conversion, he had about twenty-five hundred pounds in his account, which he used sparingly as money was very tight, his not yet having a job and therefore earning nothing.
In looking for a university job in the mathematics department, Prem visited ten universities in and around London, ult