Just to refresh your memory I reproduce here the last few words of part 2.
Ten years went by.
During these years, in the beginning Razia and I exchanged letters nearly every month but soon it came down to a New Year greeting card once a year. A couple of years later this also stopped. In other words I lost contact with her completely. In these years I did not visit 'The Vacation Inn' thus losing contact with Shanti also.
Then an assignment took me to the movie capital of the south. The hotel I chose to stay in was not ultra modern but had earned itself a reputation of having clean rooms, great food and down to earth prices. I arrived here ten days ago and expected to stay for another fortnight or so.
One late afternoon while I drank my afternoon tea in the coffee shop a young man of 15/16 years of age approached me, 'Excuse me sir are you by any chance Mr. Saheb Sahebji?'
'Yes son I am Saheb Sahebji but I regret I have not been able to place you' I replied.
'I didn't expect you to sir' he smiled, 'it was a long time ago that we met, ten years to be more precise'.
'Really, why don't sit down and tell me your name; maybe it will ring a bell' I suggested.
'Sorry sir in my excitement of meeting you I forgot my manners. My name is Rashid. We met ten years ago on a holiday with my mother and sister' he said.
'Oh my god you are Razia Khan's son. Sit down son, sit down and tell me what you are doing in this city?' I asked excitedly.
'Sir we live here' Rashid replied.
'Since when? I thought you lived in....' I asked surprised.
'We used to but we shifted here about three years back'.
'How are your mother and your sister?' I inquired.
'They are well but mommy still feels the loss of uncle Habib' Rashid said.
'I beg your pardon what did you say?' I asked surprised.
'Oh you don't know? I will explain. I think you know that few months after we returned from our holiday my mother married Mr. Habib Mirza, the lawyer'.
'Yes that is so' I nodded.
'Three years ago we discovered that uncle Habib, that is how appa (elder sister) and I addressed our stepfather, was suffering from cancer. As the hospitals in this city were better equipped to treat cancer patients we took up residence here. Unfortunately his cancer was in a very advanced stage and despite best of treatment that money could buy uncle Habib did not survive the first year. We never did go back and settled here permanently' Rashid explained, 'does mommy know that you are in town?'
'I am sorry to hear about your stepfather' I replied sympathetically, 'no she doesn't. I did not even know that you lived here. Tell me what are you doing in this hotel?'
'I am here with some friends' he smiled pointing to a table on which four youngsters were seated, 'I am going back to the boarding school tonight and my friends are giving me a small farewell party'.
'That is very nice. Let me not keep you from your friends. Just give me your telephone number, I will call your mother later. Do me a favor son don't tell her that you met me, I want to surprise her'.
'Sure what ever you say' he said giving me the number stood up to leave, 'good bye sir it was a pleasure to see you again'
'You too son. Have a good time and study diligently' I said.
That evening after dinner I called Razia. A maid attended the phone. 'Madam had gone to the railway station to see off master Rashid. Let me check if she is back' she said. In the background I heard Razia say, 'Mary I am tired. I don't want to speak to anyone. Who is on the line?'
'It is a gentleman. He wants to talk to you. He says his name is Saheb Sahebji' the maid replied.
'Mary give me the phone immediately' I heard Razia shout with subdued excitement in her voice.
'Hello Razia it is Saheb Sahebji speaking' I said.
Razia shouted, 'SAAHHHEBB SAAHHEEBBJJIIIII' so loudly into the receiver that it nearly damaged my eardrum and a barrage of questions followed, 'From where are you speaking? How long are you here? Where are you staying?' 'Why haven't you come to see me?'
Now for part 3:
'I have been here ten days now and am speaking from the hotel I am staying in' I replied.
'Why did you not tell me you were coming and why are you staying in a hotel when I have loads of space in my house?' she complained.
'The answer to both your questions is that I did not know you lived here now' I replied.
'You are right how could you know' she said, 'tell me when are you coming to see me? Why don't you come right now?'
'Not now it is late but I will see you tomorrow evening around six if it is convenient?' I inquired.
'Of course silly, it is okay. Listen I want you to check out from the hotel and stay with me. I have lots of spare room' she suggested.
'Thanks a lot Razia I will see you tomorrow at six' I said, 'hey tell me how did you find out that I am here?' she asked.