THE CITY

CHAPTER FOUR

Mother India Orphans home is on 16-86, New Mirzalguda. Malkajgiri Hyderabad.

“I can’t believe daddy grew up in this place.” Veronica said in a voice that sounded like she was about to burst out in tears.

“There many things we didn’t know about our father we really didn’t know him at all. I didn’t think I would ever say this but I am glad he did this.” Edward added.

“Don’t forget why we are here, we are here to figure out what the city is. If it’s this place we will know after this.” Michael cut in.

“Michael doesn’t any of this mean anything to you? Or is the money so important to you that Dad’s past doesn’t matter?” Ruth asked him.

Edward brought the rented car to a stop in the orphanages’ parking lot and they all got out. There were plenty of kids looking at them as they walked to what they thought was the administration block. Just then a very pretty Indian woman came to greet them. At a guess she was around twenty three. She was quite tall with very long black hair. She had the best set of eyes Edward had ever seen who couldn’t stop looking at her as she came towards them.
“Namaste.” She said to them in greeting with her hands pressed together and bowed.

They too said it back and bowed too.

“Welcome to our orphanage. How may I be of help?” she continued. Her voice was gold to Edward’s ears.

“Are you the one in charge of this place?” Michael asked her.

“I am.” She said and smiled.

“We are looking for records. We need anything you can tell us on this boy. He was our father. He was brought here several years ago after his family died several years ago.” Michael said handing her the photograph they had found in the box.
She studied the photograph before saying,

“What was the family name?”

"Montgomery. " He said.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever meet any descendant of Crispin Montgomery. He has been very generous with us. He has been constantly sending us donations this place wouldn’t be what is without him. The person you will want to talk to is Saanvi Khatri. She was in charge of this place when it started, if anyone can tell you want you want to know about him it’s her. Follow me I will take you to her.”

They found Saanvi in her garden watering her rose garden. She was an old woman probably eighty.

“You won’t believe who stopped by. Crispin’s children. I know how much you loved him you wouldn’t stop talking about how he was as a child.” Aanya said. The girl that had received them when they arrived.

“An honor. He always promised me I wouldn’t die before I saw his children. You are welcome.”

“We are hoping you could tell us about his childhood.” Michael said to her.

“Oh yes. Crispin was very young when he was brought here many years ago. He was the smartest boy I ever knew. Even as a little boy I knew he would grow up to be a very successful man. How he had ways to make money surprised me. We were going through a very rough time at one point and the orphanage was going to be closed down Crispin single handedly raised the money we need. He was only 18 at the time. How he managed such a feat beats me till this day. When I asked him how he did he didn’t say.” She paused and laughed softly. “He wasn’t always happy and rarely spoke what happened to him and his family was really bad no child has to go through that. Seeing your parents and sister burn and there is nothing you could can about it.”

“Did he have any friends?”

“Oh no Crispin wasn’t like that. Like I told you he barely spoke. But he changed when he met the city that changed him. Like I’d tease him.” She said and laughed.

“What city?” Michael asked his face lighting up at the thought that their search was finally over.

“I promised Crispin I would never tell a soul
I am sorry.” She told him.

Michael did not know what to feel it was a mixture of anger and frustration. He was running out of time and he knew it.
Saanvi asked Aanya to bring the photo album in her bedroom. She showed them all his childhood photos up until he was nineteen the year he left the orphanage. She took them around the orphanage sharing with them how great Crispin was. Michael had tried to ask about the city but she shook off the question.

When they told Saanvi that Crispin was dead she wouldn’t stop crying. She really did love him like her own son. They thanked her for her hospitality and left but of course not before Edward had talked to Aanya got her phone number.