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his mother. “She is coming back with me.” Faridah stared at her son, her eyes unbelieving, shocked. She knew better than to argue in public. She did not wish to give people any more cause for tittle-tattle. She would deal with her son’s lack of manners and respect for his elders later. Not now in front of the girl. Without a word she took Shalimar’s hand and headed for the Mercedes.
*****
    “I’m sorry,” Hussein whispered as he held on to An Mei’s cold hands. She was shivering in the blast of cold air from the air conditioner of the car. “It’s my fault. You were right. I should not have subjected you to this. It has also not been fair to my mother. I should have prepared her.”
    “So what do we do now? Where will I go? I cannot go back with you to your parents’ place, not like this. They will not like it, despite what you say,” said An Mei in a voice so soft that he had to bend low to hear her. She kept seeing the contempt on Faridah’s face and the vision of Shalimar’s large soft eyes and heart-shaped face, shrouded in a
hijab
, a headscarf, of luminous silk.
    “Just give me a chance to sort this out. You can stay in the guesthouse for the time being. I’ll get the caretaker to prepare the room. I’ll come to you later this evening after speaking to my parents. Please?”
*****
    Hussein stood before his parents. He had been talking for two hours: explaining his relationship with An Mei; his wish that they would accept her as his bride; his love for her; who she was and her family background. But it was all to no avail. Their minds were already made up. They wanted nothing to do with An Mei. They warned him of the precariousness of his future.
    “It is simple. Do as you wish and you will break our hearts,” said Faridah. Her voice grew louder and coarser as her vehemence grew. She glared at her son. “We cannot, and
will not
, accept her into our family. Think of your future. She will become your baggage. Such a marriage just leads to bad publicity. And what if you have children? What will they be? We have great plans for you. You had great plans for yourself. Remember? So what will become of them? Think!” She turned to her husband for support. “Rahim,
Chakap dengan–nya
! Rahim, speak to him!”
    “Yes,” said his father, his voice reasonable and modulated but firm. “The world is within your grasp if you will only put this madness aside. Doors to important positions will open and it will be just a matter of time before you are leader of the party or at least as near to the top as you can possibly be at your age. A few years further down the line I guarantee you will be at the top. The party needs young blood, intelligent and educated young blood.”
    Rahim was desperate that Hussein should not let him down. His eyes bored into his son’s, holding his gaze. “Marry her and I can guarantee you will be as good as lost to us.”
    Hussein looked beseechingly from one parent to the other. “Mother! Please...”
    Faridah brought both hands to her face and cried-out, “
Adoi! Hati sakit!
You wound my heart!” She slammed her clenched fist on her chest. “You cause us such pain and all because of a Chinese girl. Have you lost your senses? Marrying a Chinese girl would not be good at the best of times, but at this particular moment, it will be suicidal as far as your career is concerned.”
    “You are wrong. It will demonstrate our impartiality and pave the way for a harmonious relationship between the races,” Hussein replied. He dropped his voice. He knew the futility of his argument. He could see the grim determination in their faces. His mother’s chin, square and resolute, was quivering with rage and ready for battle. His father, face thrust forward, glowered at him, all semblance of moderation gone.
    Hussein dropped his voice. “At least let her stay here. She has nowhere to go.”
    Faridah exchanged a look with her husband. Hussein could not fathom what passed between them