Ipods in Accra Read online

  I couldn’t go straight home, so I took the train into central London and hoped that hiding behind my science revision guide would stop people staring at my tears.

  I texted Bharti, praying for a reply – she had been distant ever since her revision course but I had thought that was because of our exams. Now we only had one exam to go, I thought that I’d be able to see her, but she still seemed busy. It had been hard enough seeing her before our exams, when she was going to dance classes twice a week. Now it felt like she was more of an imaginary friend.

  Bharti: Soz, I can’t meet. Got relatives round.

  Me: Call me tonight. I really need 2 tlk.

  Bharti: Sure. X

  I sighed. I guessed it could wait. As I walked towards TopShop I saw a girl who looked like Bharti. I almost called her name out, but I stopped as I saw her heading into a shoe shop. As I got closer, I noticed she was holding hands with a boy. I followed them and my breath caught in my throat. This girl didn’t just look like Bharti. It was Bharti! Another huge tear rolled down my cheek and I went straight back to the station and headed home. Why did she lie to me?

  It suddenly made sense. She had barely contacted me since returning from her revision course, and now I knew why. Bharti had a boyfriend. But why wouldn’t she want me to know?

  Chapter 7

  Honest Secrets

  The final GCSE exam of my life was over. I watched as the invigilator collected the last paper. There was a mixture of anticipation and relief in the air as well as sweat. It was boiling in the gym – the heating had come on half an hour before the end. The rules meant we had to finish the exam anyway, but I reckoned I could use it as an excuse if I didn’t get a good grade in that paper. It seemed to take ages for us to be dismissed as we had to file out of the gym in rows.

  ‘Hey, Makeeda, how did it go?’ Bharti raced up to me.

  ‘OK,’ I said. I was still furious with her, so I just carried on walking.

  ‘Hey, what’s up? I tried calling you a few days ago, but Delphy said you were busy.’

  ‘Yeah, so?’ I said curtly.

  ‘What have I done wrong now?’

  ‘Bharti, why didn’t you tell me about your boyfriend?’

  ‘Shhh! Ohmigod, how did you find out?’ Bharti said, grabbing me by the arm.

  ‘Ouch, that hurts!’ I said, pulling away. ‘Last week. You know, the day you said you had relatives round? Well, I saw you on Oxford Street.’

  ‘Makeeda, I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t tell you. Can we go for a walk or something?’ Bharti asked.

  She kept looking over her shoulder and I realised she was worried that the other girls might have overheard us.

  ‘Fine, but you’d better give me a decent excuse,’ I replied.

  We walked from school all the way through Harrow and eventually headed towards Bharti’s house. The boy I had seen Bharti with was her boyfriend, Rafi. She had met him on the revision course she went on. She’d been lying to me all this time.

  ‘Technically it’s an omission, Makeeda. A huge omission, but not a lie.’

  ‘Bharti, you’re not really in a position to get all funny and technical with me. The fact is, you never told me about the biggest thing to happen to you in ages! Don’t you trust me?’

  ‘Makeeda, of course I trust you! I just didn’t want to put you in an awkward position, if my parents cornered you.’

  ‘Why would they?’ I questioned.

  ‘Rafi isn’t Hindu.’

  ‘Uh huh.’ I stared at Bharti waiting for a huge bombshell.

  ‘I’m Hindu and he’s not. His name is Rafi!’ Bharti said.

  ‘So?’

  ‘Makeeda, I’m a Hindu girl, dating a Muslim boy. Why don’t you get this?’

  I was puzzled. I mean, I’d heard some of the other girls in my year mention it as a big deal, but I never thought Bharti felt the same way.

  ‘Is it really that big a deal?’

  ‘Yeah, I doubt Gayatri would speak to me again.’

  ‘Your auntie?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  Bharti’s mum had a younger sister who was about thirty and really opinionated.

  I remembered Tejas being caught kissing his Polish girlfriend, in Harrow bus station, by one of his aunt’s friends. His parents hadn’t been bothered about it, but when his aunt confronted him he told her that he was never going to date a ‘nice Indian girl’. Although, according to Bharti, his current girlfriend was someone their aunt would really approve of, he still went to crazy lengths to avoid being seen with her. Tejas didn’t want his aunt in his business – he was actually pleased when his girlfriend’s family moved to St Albans, as his aunt’s spies were all in Harrow.

  Tejas had once stopped me from going into their home because Gayatri was there. She hated me being best friends with Bharti and I hated the fact that she was Bharti’s aunt. Once when Bharti’s parents were away and she was in charge, she kept asking me odd questions about what Mum and Dad did for a living. It felt like she was trying to work out whether I was good enough to be her niece’s friend. Aunt Grace told me to be really careful around her and not give her any cause to think that I was a bad influence. But Mum had interrupted her and said that I should never let anyone make me feel like I wasn’t worth talking to or being around.

  I guessed Bharti’s auntie was like one of Aunt Grace’s friends, Auntie Yaa, who believed that Ghanaian girls should only date Ghanaian boys. Auntie Yaa would come round and question Afua, Tanisha and me about who we were going out with. Afua caught on quickly and would say any male Ghanaian name she could think of, but I was always a bit slow at that, so it was obvious that I was lying. Tanisha would purposely choose male names from across the world, just to wind her up. Mum would defend us and say, as long as we were happy, she didn’t mind who we went out with. Then she qualified it and said that she didn’t want any criminals or drug addicts.

  ‘So don’t tell them,’ I said. ‘Actually, scratch that. Do you remember what happened with Nelson?’

  When I first started going out with Nelson, I’d hidden it from my parents. This had meant lying every time I went out with him. Eventually, I’d got caught out big time, when he’d shown up at my house with my scarf. It had been pretty ugly. Mum and Dad had been shocked that I had a boyfriend and had lied about it, and he had been hurt that I hadn’t told them about him!

  ‘Ohmigod! What’s happening with you and Nelson?’ Bharti asked, suddenly stopping.

  ‘We’ve split up for good,’ I said coolly.

  ‘Oh Makeeda, I’m really sorry,’ she said and she hugged me.

  ‘I should’ve been there for you. Was it really awful?’

  ‘Yeah, and it would’ve been easier if I had my best friend to talk to …’ I added.

  ‘Yeah, fair enough. I’ve been a shoddy mate. I get it. You can ease up on the guilt trip,’ Bharti said.

  I grinned at her. I was more interested in what I’d missed than being angry with her.

  ‘Tell your parents about Rafi, Bharti, now!’ I said.

  ‘I can’t! I don’t know what to do – he makes me so happy. He’s into the same books as me and …’

  ‘What that freaky horror stuff?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Oh God, marry him then!’ I said, and we both laughed hysterically.

  Bharti loved to read and despite our exams she’d still managed to feed her addiction to the latest five-hundred-page horror book. Personally, I couldn’t see the appeal of reading something that was guaranteed to freak you out every ten pages.

  ‘So how did you two get together?’ I asked.

  Bharti grinned. ‘He was in my revision class, by mistake.’

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘There had been a mix-up and he thought he was meant to start the same day as me, but he was a week early.’

  ‘Hmm …’ I didn’t want to tell her Rafi sounded kind of dumb.

  ‘I know what you’re thinking, but it was an honest mistake. He even showed me his enrolment f
orm.’

  ‘I never said a word!’ I said smirking.

  ‘He sat next to me in class.’ Bharti smiled.

  ‘Did he ask you out straight away?’

  ‘No, don’t be daft! That would be totally illogical!’ Bharti said. ‘I didn’t like him then.’

  ‘A-ha, the old love-hate vibe!’ I smiled.

  ‘No, just hate! He was so obnoxious – it was like he thought he was the brightest kid in the room or something! Every two minutes he was answering the questions and not giving anyone else a look in.’

  ‘Oh, so how did you go from that to a couple?’ I was confused.

  ‘Well, one day we had an argument …’

  ‘About what?’ I prompted.

  ‘Um …’ Bharti looked away. ‘I can’t remember.’

  ‘Huh? How can you forget your first argument? That’s totally illogical, Bharti!’

  I watched as a sheepish look crossed her face.

  ‘What are you hiding?’ I added.

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Bharti! Ohmigod, just tell me!’ I said.

  ‘Yeah, but if I do, you’ll think he’s a geek!’

  ‘Well, I already know he is; he answers all the questions in class! Only geeks do that, but then some geeks are really cute …’ I said thinking of Nick.

  ‘OK, we were arguing over the use of ASBOs as a deterrent for young people. I was against and he was pro. It was a class debate.’

  ‘Okayeee …’ I said. I suddenly thought that it was something I could imagine Nick doing with Sanari, but not with a girl like me. I’ve never felt comfortable in a debate – I always seemed to get angry quickly and lose it.

  ‘Thing is,’ Bharti continued, ‘our debate went beyond the classroom and we started arguing in the TV room. He accused me of being a soft socialist, so I called him a right-wing idiot! Then I left the room.’

  ‘Whoa, dramarama!’ I said, surprised.

  ‘Seriously, Makeeda, I was furious! Um … but I wanted to kiss him too,’ Bharti whispered.

  ‘Yup.’ I grinned.

  She looked embarrassed.

  ‘It was totally illogical, right?’

  ‘Anyway, even though I made the debate personal when I didn’t need to, he chased me out of the room and asked me out.’

  Bharti’s eyes lit up then. It was like she was suddenly glowing.

  ‘That’s so cool!’ I said, hugging her.

  By the time we had reached her front door, I knew more about their first date and had already given her the details about Nelson and Nick. She asked me if I had a thing about boys with the initial N, something I’d barely noticed because Nelson and Nick are so different. When Bharti told me she knew before I did that Nick was always going to be the right person for me, I was stunned. I had only worked it out properly after seeing Nick with Sanari. I wondered how everyone else could see something that I was not even aware of feeling.

  A bit later, Bharti and I were messing about with her brother’s Wii when Nana-Sunita walked in. She said hello to me in a curt manner, then marched Bharti downstairs.

  Within minutes an almighty argument erupted, then the front door opened and Bharti’s mum walked in, then another argument roared through the house. I decided to leave. I made it to the front door, just as Bharti’s brother Tejas was entering.

  ‘What’s going on?’ he asked.

  I shrugged. ‘Just tell her to call me later.’

  ‘Sure, Makeeda,’ Tejas replied as he joined his family in the living room.

  As I was walking away, I heard Nana-Sunita call Bharti a name in Gujarati that definitely wasn’t a term of endearment. I realised Bharti’s worst fears had come true – her family had clearly found out about Rafi and there was nothing I nor anyone else could now do. I wished I could’ve gone into that room and made them all realise that my best friend must have been really frightened to keep him a secret for so long. I knew what happened, I’d been there. It’s like the lies build up and become toxic, and then you end up believing that the truth will make everything worse. That’s the biggest lie of all.

  When I’d been lying to my parents about Nelson, I had actually felt relieved when everything came out. I mean, I didn’t tell Mum everything going on in my life now, but I wouldn’t lie about how I was feeling, either.

  As I stepped on to the bus, I could see Bharti’s Aunt Gayatri making her way towards their home. She was almost skipping along the road and I knew Bharti’s evening was about to get a whole lot worse.

  Chapter 8

  Losing Enemies and Winning Hearts

  Bharti had been grounded. I couldn’t believe I was being deprived of my best friend just before I went on holiday.

  Bharti: This is a total nightmare! I’m on lockdown; I swear prisoners get more freedom than I have!

  Me: I know. I was looking fwd 2 us hanging out in London and stuff.

  Bharti: Yeah, I’m soz, I really wanted 2 hang out b4 U left 4 Ghana. I can’t believe my grandma! The woman is being ridiculous! S he won’t talk 2 me + keeps telling my mum it’s all her fault.

  Me: Does your Aunt Gayatri agree?

  Bharti: Oh yeah, you can imagine the stuff she’s saying!

  I could, too. Exaggerated horror stories weren’t just the stuff Bharti read but also her aunt’s way of getting what she wanted. She had once convinced Bharti’s nana to stop using her favourite shop in Wembley Central because it was too close to a rough secondary school. Her evidence: a former student had been arrested for theft. Turns out she’d got the wrong school, but it worked.

  Bharti: She started off by saying that I was just being taken advantage of because of my religion. Then she said I was being led on because he was my first boyfriend and that I shouldn’t trust teenage boys.

  Me: Wow, maybe in her world, but not always in ours.

  Bharti: Exactly! It was like she didn’t give me credit for being able 2 suss out a creepo when I met one, or actually being attractive enough to get a decent boyf.

  Me: Totally illogical! Bharti, it isn’t about looks.

  Bharti: I know, I know, you can have an attractive personality like me! : )

  Me: Or just a huge ego! What does your mum think?

  Bharti: She wants me to dump him, so we can get back to normal. Tejas wants me to keep seeing him or lie about it, so Auntie G won’t start hassling him! Dad just wants 2 be happy and eat his mum’sfood without the threat of being poisoned!

  Me: No pressure then.

  Bharti: Nah, none at all.

  Me: LOL! Wait, so how come you’re grounded!

  Bharti: I lied to them about where I was for months. That’s what really upset them.

  Me: Yeah, mine were like that about Nelson.

  Bharti: Yeah, but they never gave you an ultimatum. My nan is like, dump him immediately or I’ll never speak 2 u again. My parents want me 2 make up my mind pronto, but either way I’m still grounded 4 lying. I wish I knew what to do! I wish they’d never found out. I actually wanted 2 enjoy the su m mer hols. I must be the only kid in London who’s just begun their summer hols being grounded! You know what? I had more flipping freedom when I was in revision mode! This is totally illogical! What you doing?

  Me: Got my jabs done and been shopping 4 hol. About to go to Nick’s.

  Bharti: Have fun!

  Me: OK, chat soon. X

  I really felt sorry for Bharti; it was hard enough being grounded without all the extra grief from her nana and aunt. I hurried out to Nick’s, as I knew it would be the last time we saw each other for a while. I was leaving for Ghana within a week and Mum would need my help with the packing closer to the time we left. So I suggested I’d drop round with his books and he said I could watch a DVD with him and have dinner. Mum, Dad and Delphy were all out, so the thought of having dinner somewhere other than home was very appealing. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen him since our almost-kiss, but it would be the first time we’d seen each other since Nelson and I had split up. I told Nick a few days after I’d split up
with Nelson. He just went quiet on the phone and asked if I was OK. It still felt raw so I changed the subject. I knew I’d made the right decision but I wasn’t ready to discuss it then.

  I was still a bit nervous deciding about the puberty ceremony, but that was nothing compared to the butterflies in my stomach on the way to Nick’s. I felt sick and, worse of all, I was nervous. I hated feeling nervous. Things always went awry. I felt better when I had something else to concentrate on – that was why talking to Bharti on IM had helped. Now all I could do was the bus-stop countdown to Nick’s stop.

  I had just jumped off the bus, when I saw a girl heading towards me.

  As she approached, I could see clearly that she was one of those girls. The girls who never ever cut themselves shaving their legs, or smudge their eye make-up in a non-rock-star way. She looked immaculate in her lilac hijab, indigo jeans, white shirt and lilac flats. The girl’s make-up was just like something out of one of my mum’s magazines. It was Sanari.

  ‘Hey, Makeeda!’ she said, smiling at me.

  ‘Oh hi, Sanari,’ I replied brightly, trying not to completely freak out.

  Please, please, please, let her tell me that she hadn’t just come from Nick’s house and had actually been to the library or something, even though she has no books and a tiny handbag.

  ‘Nick told me you were on your way, so I thought I’d better leave you to it.’

  ‘Huh? You were with Nick?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Sanari said. ‘He was helping me out with a job application.’

  Oh great! So that meant they’d been sitting really close together at a table in Nick’s house. She was with Nick! That was it! GAME OVER! I was officially the loser in Quest for Nick’s Heart. It was like I reached level ten, then found out there was another hidden level that I didn’t have the passwords for.

  ‘You OK, Makeeda?’

  ‘Um … yeah,’ I lied.

  ‘Listen, I’d better go or I’ll miss my bus. You look really nice by the way.’ Sanari smiled.

  ‘Um … thanks,’ I replied. It’s kind of wasted now he’s your boyfriend, I thought.