The Raffles Hotel and Narinder Singhs Emporium
As Richard prepared to take a shower there was a knock at the door, it was the Chinese chambermaid who asked if he wished to have his luggage unpacked. "Yes, please," he said, nodding at the girl. It gave him time to think over the situation he now found himself in.
Tan had caused quite a problem with the delay. Richard was supposed to be in Cape Town inside 48 hrs and the delay of 24 hrs was now a situation he could well do without. he knew damn well that his wife and her aunt would not believe his explanation for the delay, they would probably accuse him of finding some sexual deviation that had delayed him. He smiled to himself. Well, he may yet have that pleasure but meanwhile he would have to send a fax explaining just what had happened.
Amelia Burton, Richard's wife, who had insisted on keeping her maiden name for business reasons, and her Aunt, Emily Harris, were a right pair of viragos. If only Richard had realised that the young woman to whom he was attracted at university had such a hard masculine streak. he had indeed respected her plea that their courtship should be platonic. Her maiden aunt who had been responsible for her upbringing since her parents died certainly helped with that decision. What Richard had not expected after the marriage that the sexual situation would continue much as before. They had indeed consummated the marriage but Amelia found the whole thing quite distasteful and when he had suggested the idea that perhaps a little oral stimulation might improve her feelings he found himself sleeping in the bathroom for the rest of the so-called honeymoon. Still there were compensations. He was on the board of the company, albeit the junior member, with the title of Sales Director. It allowed him, indeed it was expected of him, to travel and get the necessary business for the company. neither Amelia or Emily wanted to visit - 'those disgusting foreign places, full of perverts who preyed on women' - That suited Richard to the ground. It enabled him to experience the delights of several young, and not so young women. Indeed in Cape Town the wife of the Director of South Africa Exports, Alison Schwartz, an elegant woman of 52, was an absolute tiger in bed.
The Chinese maid brought Richard's thoughts back to the present as she left the room. Throwing his clothes in the direction of the laundry bag Richard was amused to note that the thoughts of Alison had caused a reaction in his lower regions. His penis had reacted to the thoughts.
'Hmm hopefully you will react a little more later on - I wonder if Leilah practices the arts of the Kama Sutra?' and with that happy thought Richard entered the shower.
After dressing he composed a fax to be sent to the office, explaining the problem with Tan being detained in Kuala Lumpur. Checking his watch he saw that it was already 8.00pm which meant that it would be 10.30 a.m. in the office back home. Right, send fax and out on town.
Taking a trishaw from the front of Raffles, they passed the padang and St Andrews cathedral before turning into Orchard Road. It was quite a drag up to Orange Grove Road up by the old British Army base of Tanglin**(see note). Richard felt that he should have taken a taxi but the evening was much cooler the humidity was down and besides he was enjoying the spicy smells from the small food stalls that abounded. Unlike some places in the far east he knew that the food was excellent and very little fear of getting an upset stomach. He was aware that he was near to Orange Grove Road so stopped the trishaw and bought himself a half dozen sticks of Satay to enjoy as he walked around the night market.
After spending an hour Richard decided to find the Indian shop mentioned by Leilah.
Learning that Ben Coolan Street was down by Stephen Square not far from the Raffles Hotel, Richard took a taxi and as the driver had never heard of such a shop he found himself dropped at the top of the street. Although it was 9.30 the street was very busy and many local shops were open. After about 20 minutes he found himself standing outside a shop proclaiming to be the NARINDE R SINGH EMPORIUM; Purveyor of fine silks, Antique Jewellery, Cedarwood Chests and all manner of finery to the Australian and British Forces of the Imperial Crown, founded 1900 - God Bless Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V which rather surprised Richard, as the taxi driver had never heard of it. The other strange point being that there was no mention of George VI and Elizabeth II although Singapore had still been a Crown Colony when she came to the throne back in 1953, over forty years before.
On entering the store Richard's nostrils were assailed by the not unpleasant smell of burning joss sticks and other perfumes he could not put a name to. Suddenly a voice took him quite by surprise, he had not seen or heard the approach of the man who accosted him A large man, turbanned, with a fierce beard of a pepper and salt appearance. The hooded eyes were, however, friendly and welcoming.
"Good evening Sahib, may I introduce myself, I am Narinder Singh, the proprietor of this poor establishment you do me the great honour of visiting. Please take a chair, may I get you a drink, a fresh lime juice, or an ice cold beer, or on such an evening, perhaps both may satisfy your thirst.
Richard sat down on the chair and accepted the offer of the fresh lime juice, he remembered from previous visits to Malaya the thirst quenching properties of the proffered drink.
"Now Sahib", Richard half smiled to himself the use of the old Indian term of respect seemed out of place in the Singapore of the 1990's, but he was aware that many Indians of the old school still used the outdated term, the Sikhs next words seemed to confirm it.
"Now Sahib, are you here to buy for yourself or the Memsahib, I have attractive items, silverware, gold bracelets and rings, some fine old jewellery?"
Richard decided that he had better look for something for Amelia and he supposed Emily. He knew they would be not too pleased at the delay, so he asked to see the jewellery.
Taken to the rear of the store lit, surprisingly by oil lamps, Richard could see many items of silver, gold and what appeared to be precious stones. After a few moments Richard noticed a sandalwood box it seemed quite dusty but almost irresistibly his hand was drawn towards it. It did not seem to have any value or real attraction, it held four bracelets the silver appeared tarnished and the stones had to be glass, he ignored it but a seemingly magnetic urge attracted him to it once more. In desperation to look and put it out of his mind seized him. He picked up the box........................
To be continued