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19 f^^y n e n a d gamble d everythin g when , carryin g he r bundl e o f ^ ^ ^ ^ things , she had left th e house, deliberately treadin g in the mud *_S an d puddles in the street. She was taking a risk by abandoning him, but she couldn't se e any better solution . For thre e months , sh e hadn't ha d a moment o f happiness. Onl y ba d moods, silent rancour or unbecoming outbursts of anger. He was quite clearly ashamed of her, blamed her for his misfortune. I t was too much! If he still loved her as he used to, he would know how to find her . She still vaguely harboured such a hope, although he had not stopped her leaving. What she needed was peace of mind, a balm for her nerves, which had been severely tested . Once removed from tha t hellish existence, she could giv e more thought t o the question o f how t o start a new lif e withou t hi m an d away from Cheo k Chai Un. She chose th e shadows , s o that people wouldn' t se e her tear-staine d face. Fo r a water-seller als o had feelings, i n spite o f being illiterat e an d barefoot. An d sh e had pride too, to prevent he r fro m becomin g a mat o n which all could wipe their feet . Her frien d wa s alread y prepare d fo r th e outcome , an d welcomed he r withou t an y surprise . Sh e aske d n o questions , bu t led he r t o the back o f th e sho p where, amon g th e baskets o f joss-sticks, there wa s a canva s cam p bed , wit h som e blanket s t o protec t he r from th e cold . Ther e wa s a chil l tha t ros e fro m th e bar e floor , th e smell o f sandalwoo d wa s suffocating , an d i t wa s a gloom y corne r that only increased her unhappiness. She was worse off than in the hovel in Cheok Chai Un, but it wasn't a time for complaints. Her friend had already done a lot for her, and the main thing was that sh e didn't distur b her o r the family wh o lived o n the firs t floor. She was like the poor relative who was fed a bowl of soup in the jossstick shop, in return for her labours. Finding some solace in not having to sleep out in the open, she recounted THEBEWITCHINGBRAI D10 3 her misfortunes. A-Soi listened to her, shaking her head, but not interrupting her. Only when the other stopped did she take her turn to speak . She had made a huge mistake by getting involved with a kwai. Sh e was a native o f Cheok Cha i Un and sh e should have staye d there , among he r people, wher e sh e enjoye d respec t an d consideration , a truly favoure d daughter. Wh o wa s th e poo r gir l wh o ha d eve r achieve d th e statu s o f 'princess'? Sh e was well loved among her folk, but she had dared deviat e from th e line, without an y other guarantees . In a fit o f madness, sh e ha d surrendered to the weaknesses o f her heart. 'I know all this, A-Soi. You don't have to go over it again. These things happen .. . they are beyond our control. It was all so different fro m m y dayto -day life . I couldn' t resis t it , an d no r coul d anyon e els e wh o ha d experienced hi s swee t ways. During al l that time, he never made me fee l like a water-seller. ' She was overcome with anguish, her head bowed, as she looked at her toes, bare and covered in mud. In a low, resigned voice , her tears wellin g up once again, she mumbled : 'I'm s o fond o f him.' Her friend put an arm round her shoulder and their heads touched. There was nothing more to...
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