Olivia, who was still mesmerized by the view in front of her, was caught off guard by the offer, and before she had a chance to fully register what was happening, Betty had somehow manoeuvred her into position and was reaching for her camera.
‘No,’ Olivia yelped, realization dawning. ‘No, honestly, it’s fine. I don’t want a pi—’
‘Nonsense!’ Betty grinned, her finger already happily clicking away. ‘You have to remember this moment. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.’
Olivia tried to force her tense jaw into some sort of smile, but all she could think about was Betty’s haunting words.
To show your sister when you get home.
A deep well of grief opened up inside her, carving a hole right through her centre. It should be Leah standing here, having her photo taken. It should be Leah dancing under the magenta sky and drinking in the incredible views. Except it wasn’t, and it never would be.
‘Are you OK, dear?’ Betty dropped the camera and cocked her head. ‘You look a little off all of a sudden. Did you eat anything before we left? I don’t even have a snack with me.’ She began digging her hands in her pockets, in search of sustenance.
‘The poor lass is probably overwhelmed by you forcing her into a bloody photoshoot,’ Peter quipped, pulling his wife towards him. ‘Leave her be, woman, and come and get into a picture with me. I think I’ve finally mastered this selfie thing our Annie was telling us about.’
Olivia watched as the elderly couple strained to fit themselves and the gigantic Taj Mahal into the tiny phone screen Peter was holding aloft.
‘Betty love, just move your head a bit to the left,’ he instructed through gritted teeth, his smile fixed and unwavering.
‘I can’t, your blasted shoulder is there,’ she replied, through the same frozen grin.
‘Ah, to be old and so in love.’ Tracey sighed next to her. ‘You fancy taking a walk together and letting those love birds be?’
‘Erm …’ Olivia’s entire body screamed no. ‘Yeah, OK. Sure.’
‘Great, let’s head this way.’ Tracey nodded to the left.
The pair began to weave their way through the grounds, closer towards the imposing white building.
‘I meant what I said, by the way: it’s great to see a young girl adventuring on her own. Not enough of us do it.’
‘Mmmm.’ Olivia wondered how great Tracey would think it was if she knew the true reason why she’d come, and that she was hating every second of it.
‘Do you know where you’re heading next, or is it more of a … see where the wind takes you kind of trip? Wake up in the morning and say, hell yeah, today I feel like going to Mumbai!’
Even the thought of such recklessness made Olivia’s stomach churn.
‘No. I’ve got a fixed plan.’
‘I see.’ Tracey’s disappointment at Olivia’s apparent lack of spontaneity was clear. ‘So, the next stop on the agenda is?’
‘Tonight, I head to Jaipur for five days. Then to Jodhpur, Udaipur, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and finally three weeks in Goa.’ Olivia recited her itinerary as easily as if it were written out in front of her. ‘I’ll head back to Delhi and fly home from there.’
‘No!’
‘Erm … yes?’
‘No way!’
Olivia looked around her to check if Tracey’s disbelief was aimed at something other than her.
‘Yes. That’s my plan. Why?’
‘Because I’m going to Jaipur tonight too.’
If insides could crash and burn, Olivia’s would have instantly turned to ashes.
‘Oh, really?’
