Mr. Price woke early the next morning. He would be flying home as soon as he concluded his business with Mr. Nalwali. He had Abby pack his things and load them in the car that had just arrived. She also called the airport and had his private jet fueled and prepared for the flight home.
The Gulfstream jet had a range of a little less than 7000 miles. That long range was one of the deciding factors in his decision to purchase that model over several other fine aircraft. He knew he would be
using it to travel all over the world and needed something that wouldn’t need to be stopping too often to refuel. He had leased the aircraft to his employer. Through their monthly lease payments they were in effect paying for the jet. They also picked up the fuel and maintenance costs as well. In effect, thanks to his employer, Mr. Price owned the Gulfstream free of costs.
Upon his return to the Nalwali home, Mr. Nalwali greeted him warmly. Naina was quietly standing beside and slightly behind her father. Her head was again bowed.
Mr. Nalwali happily signed the contract presented to him by Mr. Price. “The money will be transferred to your account as soon as I deliver this contract to my company’s purchasing department in Chicago.
Again, the farmer then bowed deeply and again expressed his gratitude to Mr. Price for making such a generous bargain. The farmer then startled the worldly commodities buyer. “Mr. Price, Sir, I have no way of ever repaying your kindness to my family. We will not loose our land now. We owe you a great debt.”
“You owe me nothing more than a fine crop of rice next year, Mr. Nalwali.” Price responded.
“With respect, Sir, we owe you much more than rice. We owe you more than we can ever repay. You
seemed to like my daughter Naina when you met her yesterday. Is this not so, Sir?”
“Yes, Mr. Nalwali. Naina seems like a lovely young lady. I am sure you are very proud of her.”
“Naina, come here.” Her father instructed.
The girl somewhat nervously stepped forward and extended her hand to Mr. Price. Her head remained bowed.
John Price smiled and took Naina’s hand intending to shake it as he had done the day before. He felt a slight quiver in her small hand as he gently surrounded it with his own. With a smile he told her. “It’s a
pleasure to see you again, Naina.”
Naina smiled but kept her head bowed as she and Mr. Price shook hands.
Mr. Nalwali firmly surrounded Mr. Price’s and his daughter’s clasped hands in both of his strong and weathered hands. “Mr. Price, you have saved my families land. You like our Naina. I have only one way to repay our debt to you. Sir, Naina is yours! I make her my gift to you.”
A shocked Mr. Price stammered, unable to get his words out. For the first time in his life, John Price was speechless.
Mr. Nalwali continued holding their clasped hands in his.
Stammering, Mr. Price finally replied. “Mr. Nalwali, I can’t take your daughter. That isn’t done anymore. She is just coming of age and will probably be marrying soon. She probably already has a boyfriend. How can I take her from her friends and family?”
“Sir, it is true that Naina is now eighteen. She is of marrying age and has been for several years now. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to save enough for her dowry. Any mate from a good family would require a substantial dowry before marrying her. I have three other daughters to think about. You will be honoring both Naina and her family by accepting her as my gift to you. Sir, Naina is now yours.”
Regaining his composure, John Price spoke in his normally controlled voice. “With your permission Mr. Nalwali, I would like to speak of this to Naina.”
Still holding their hands together in his, the older man nodded his approval.
Price’s mind was reeling with all the delicious possibilities this situation presented as he addressed the teen. “Ms. Naina, I am soon going to need a lead maid and personal assistant. The girl I have is going to retire soon. Would you be interested in serving me as my maid and personal assistant in my home and perform other duties as I may direct?”
“Oh yes, Sir.” Naina answered excitedly. “If that is what my father wants, I will obey his wishes. My father has always done what was best for our family. If my father thinks I should go with you then I will go. I will do my best to be a good servant in your household. I will do whatever you require of me.” The girl raised her head slightly and smiled at Mr.
Price.
“Have you talked this over with your mother? It may be years before you return home to see them again.”
“We have….” Naina began to answer.
Mr. Nalwali interrupted his daughter. “The family agrees this is for the best and we will be happy for Naina! It will be an honor if you would accept my daughter as a servant in your household? She will work hard for you. Sir, she will make a good maid and do any other tasks you require of her.” He then released his grip on Mr. Price and Naina’s hands.
With a few seconds further thought, Mr. Price bowed to Mr. Nalwali and agreed to take Naina with him. “Mr. Nalwali, Naina will make a wonderful addition to my household staff. I am sure she will serve me well.”
Mr. Price then stood up straight and addressed the teen. “Very well! Gather your things, Naina. We will be leaving in just a few minutes.”
All three of them smiled broadly. Naina almost instantly produce a worn cardboard fruit box. It contained everything the teen owned. After a tearful goodbye with her family, Naina carried the box out to
Mr. Price’s car. She was followed closely by her new employer.
The car’s driver bowed and took Naina’s box of belongings. He quickly stowed the box in the car’s trunk.
Due to the car’s darkened windows, Naina hadn’t seen Abby until the driver opened one of the rear doors. Naina nervously settled into the car’s rear seat next to the middle-aged woman.
Mr. Price then introduced the two women. “Naina, this is Abby. Abby is my present maid and personal servant. Unfortunately, she will be leaving me soon. She will be training you in your duties as her replacement. You will be taking her place in all of her duties.”
“Abby, this is Naina. She will be taking your place as my servant. Please instruct her in all she will need to know concerning her household duties and matters of respect. I will personally conduct any other training she may need.” Mr. Price instructed his servant.
With a knowing smile, Abby nodded. “Yes, Sir. It will be my pleasure.”
Mr. Price and Mr. Nalwali bid each other farewell as Price entered the car’s front seat. The car then pulled away from the only home Naina had ever known. As the car sped on its way toward the local airport, the adventure that would be Naina’s new life had begun.
Since Naina did not have a passport, Mr. Price had his driver pull the car through an unguarded back gate at the airport and drive right up to his plane. The jet’s engines were already warming up. In a matter of minutes, their things were loaded into the plane’s cargo hold. A few minutes later, they were hurtling down the runway and winging their way skyward.
Mr. Price sat quietly reading crop reports in his private office area. They had been in the air for over an hour and Abby and Naina were still chattering like a pair of teenaged schoolgirls. Naina was excited and nervous about her new life. Abby was happy her replacement had been found. She knew she could now retire soon.
Abby tried to calm and instruct the nervous teen. “Naina darling, I have been with Mr. Price for over twenty years. When I was about your age, I came to serve Mr. Price in much the same way as you have. My father owed Mr. Price a large debt that he could not repay. So, I became the payment to satisfy that debt. I went with him willingly and have happily served Master Price ever since. I have been well paid for my services. Over the years I have served him, I have seen the world. I have also saved enough money that I can retire in comfort. Master Price can be very generous. He can also be very stern if he needs to be. You will be expected to not only care for his house but also provide certain services of a personal nature to
Master Price. As long as you perform the duties and provide the services he expects, you will do as well as I have.”
‘Master Price?’ The words ‘Master Price’ echoed in Naina’s thoughts. The teen did not hear the part about providing him with personal services. “Abby, is it usual in America for a maid to call her employer master.” The teen asked.
“It is in Mr. Price’s house and some others we have visited as well. He requires you to call him ‘Master’ when at home and in private. You will call him ‘Sir’ when out in public. Remember that and you will be fine.”
Naina had her first twinge of regret as she thought to herself. ‘Should I have so quickly agreed to leave my family and go with this American businessman? Yes, it was her father’s wish, so she had done the right thing.’ She answered her own question. “I will remember, Abby.”
“Good! Now let’s get some rest. It’s a long flight home.”
Abby was soon dozing in one of the overstuffed chairs of the luxury jet. Naina was far too excited and nervous to sleep. She just stared out the window as the land and sea far below passed rapidly.
As they flew into darkness, it seemed to Naina like it had been such a short time in the air. When she felt the plane nose down slightly and heard the
engines noise grow slightly quieter. She woke Abby.
“What’s wrong, Naina?” The drowsy woman asked.
“I am not sure.” Naina then told Abby of the changes she had felt and heard.
After taking a few seconds to gather her senses, Abby looked at her watch and responded. “We’re alright, Naina. Master Price may just be making a brief stop somewhere. He does that now and then. He’ll let us know where we are, if he wants us to know. Now, just relax. We still have a long flight ahead of us.”
A few minutes later, Mr. Price came out of his air borne office and joined his maids. “Abby, Naina, I’m sure you have noticed we are descending. I have decided to make an unscheduled stop. We will be staying overnight in Tokyo. I want my new maid to get a taste of some of the many places she may be going with me. That is, if she is a good and obedient servant. Will that be alright with you, Naina?”
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