Blue, But as Azure as Pastel.

To Lost Love

Love, alcohol and the tumbling ocean made Dr. Stevens quite dizzy by the supper time. He somehow managed to reach the dining hall and in spite of his inebriated condition, he still managed to sit just opposite to Lady Anna. Arthur Brown was sitting next to his wife with a calm visage. Henry Hoffman, the convict and his escorting police officer, Mr. Ford were assigned to different table in the adjoining room. Anand Patel sat beside the doctor while Kristoff stood beside the door, waiting for the food trolley to stroll in.

Lady Anna was sitting with her face downwards, her face still a little puffed from all the crying. Her cheeks had a sweet tinge of reddish tint to it and her eyes were very hard to read. The three men discussed about the weather conditions, the crew and the quality of Neptunus.

Suddenly Anna spoke, “Where is Margaret? Why isn’t she dining with us?” Her voice silenced the chatter of the men.

Arthur shrugged and tried to fake a smile and said, “Don’t be absurd sweetie, do you think these gentlemen will like the fact that a black woman was dining with them?”

It was quite understandable that Margaret was the maid of Lady Anna, and her sympathies for the black lady surprised young Kristoff, whose mind was indoctrinated with racial prejudices.

Stevens barged in and exclaimed, “I don’t have a problem to dine with the coloured lady”

Lady Anna did not like the terminology used by Dr. Stevens and said, “Don’t you have colour doctor? Or are you a chameleon? Always concealing your true colours.”

Stevens said, “Pardon my Lady, my intentions were not to offend you. All this alcohol has made my judgement and choice of words very poor.”

Mr. Patel who was an Indian did not have any vendetta against the dark toned skin said, “I also do not harbour any anti feelings for Lady Margaret. I would be very happy, if she dined with us.”

Arthur Brown may seem like a decent man with control over his temperament but he had a furious ball of anger, resentment and temper in his heart which erupted out as his actions whenever he felt threatened or unvalidated.

The tension was apparent all over the table. Kristoff, without reading the room started serving the mushroom soup and sautéed potato with cream to the gentlemen and the lady.

Arthur tried to control his anger and tried to reason with his wife,” Maybe these gentlemen are saying as a courtesy dear, we should not break etiquettes and cause hindrance to the others.” The gritting of his teeth was heard over the sound of cutlery.

Lady Anna said defiantly, “Maybe these gentlemen don’t have a problem but you do.”

Stevens said excitedly, “We surely don’t have a problem Mr. Brown.”

Arthur had enough. He felt rage and fury running through his every single vein. He blurted out in disgust, “Do you ever stop talking doctor? Can you please for the Love of God shut your damn mouth for once? And If I ever see your perverted self fawning all over my wife, I warn you, the consequences will not be good!”

Mr. Patel tried to calm Arthur and said, “Why this sudden hostility? You should calm down Mr. Brown. Everything is fine.”

Kristoff, again failed to read the room and asked, “Do you gentlemen need anything?”

Stevens muttered, “A bottle of whiskey and a revolver.”

Arthur Brown felt humiliated as Mr. Patel tried to make him calm down. Arthur Brown shouted,” Now I have to listen to what this Indian nigger is telling me? Just because I conversed with him a little, this bloody nigger thinks he is one of us! How funny is that?”

Anand Patel was a calm man. He rarely involved himself in fights and disagreements and he knew how to control his temper. He had stayed two years in Britain just to make a living as a successful lawyer but he did not make it. He worked for big law firms but was never given a proper position. He has been humiliated, called several racial slurs, and the word ‘nigger’ was one of them. He had endured it all but every man has a breaking point and Patel had already reached his. He was returning home, where no one would racially subjugate him for his skin colour.

Anand Patel had enough of this.

The next events happened so unexpectedly that no one was prepared for it.

Anand Patel, without any hesitation punched Arthur Brown in the face. For Brown the next few seconds were a blur but he is sure that Mr. Patel screamed, “Don’t you dare use that word again, you arsehole!”

When Brown regained composure, he tried to punch Patel back but was stopped by Stevens. Stevens had punched Arthur right in the guts.

Taken aback, Lady Anna started screaming. Kristoff ran off to call the crew members and inform them about the recent bar-fight ongoing in the dining hall of Neptunus.

These three men had drunk quite much for the day and their fight was getting intense with second. With each punch Dr. Stevens landed on Arthur he screamed in joy, “To the Lost Love!”

It was within a few minutes, the crew arrived and put an end to the fight. Captain himself dragged Arthur to his room. Lady Anna left too.

Anand Patel and Dr. Cornelius Stevens took their seat and resumed their dinner as if nothing had happened.

Dr. Stevens ordered Kristoff, “Bring another bottle of Brandy for me and the Indian gentleman here. We got a victory to celebrate.”