Jenny here.
I was talking with Mega the other day at the café where the Riverhead Road meets State Highway 16. She was telling me about the stories she was writing concerning their coming to New Zealand. I asked if she wanted any help, thinking I might be able to help with her stories. To my surprise, she gave me one to write myself. There were some handwritten notes, to begin with, otherwise, it's all how we remembered it.
The final decision was made a few days before Mega and Brian left to return to India. Four of us couples had decided to go out for a meal. Mike chose the place as he often did. We usually leave things like that to him since he seems to know the best places. The place he chose this time was one I had heard about but never been to, 'The Riverhead,' a historic tavern to the north-west of Auckland.
We arrived at the tavern as it started to rain. You know, one of those summer heat showers, Auckland often gets on hot afternoons. Heavy rain for a while, then it’s gone.
The restaurant was an amazing place, full of history from this area. Photographs and artefacts on the walls, the room fully restored much as it must have been years ago. I kind of wish we’d brought our other Indian friends here as well when you were all in New Zealand.
We were shown to our table, on the covered deck, overlooking the river. I thought the guys would get together at one end leaving us girls at the other, but no, we scattered around the table mixed together. I like it that way better as everyone is involved in the conversations.
The waitress brought our menus over and there was another surprise. The cover looked like an old newspaper with the feature story being a history of this historic building. It’s amazing, one of the first built in this area. Inside, the menu itself was laid out like adverts from a newspaper. In columns down each side was a sort of dictionary of common and not-so-common New Zealand expressions. Of course, the boys were right into these, saying them, joking about them and having their usual fun.
We took so long playing with these; that we almost forgot to order our food. Finally, we made up our minds and the waitress came over to take our orders. We asked if they could leave some menus on the table so the fun could continue.
The rain had stopped, so we went out to the edge of the deck for a while until the food arrived. It was good food, a nice location and an evening to remember.
Over the meal, an interesting conversation began that changed the whole mood of the evening. Since it's a major turning point in the Letters Story. I want to include it, in as much detail as I can remember it.
“I love New Zealand,” said Mega.
“So do I,” her husband Brian replied.
“I could almost live here.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “This area in particular.”
“Why here?” Mega asked.
“Didn’t you see on the way here? All those gardens and orchards. This area looks good for growing plants.”
“Oh!” was all she replied.
Up until that point, we had stayed out of their conversations. Many of us were thinking they should come to live here but it was Peter who voiced this first.
“Well, why don’t you?”
“What?” Mega asked looking at him.
“Why don’t you move to live here?”
“Here in New Zealand?”
“Sure,” said Joseph. “Lizamoa and I did.”
“It’s a big step to make.”
“Yes,” Lizamoa agreed. “We did it. We came from India.”
“I’ve seen that Liz.”
“And it will be better here for your children too,” Lizamoa added as she looked down at Mega's stomach.
Suddenly I realised what that meant. “Are you….?” I asked her.
She looked at me for a moment, then smiled, “Yes, I am. I found out a few days ago.”
Well, that was a show-stopper. Finding out Mega was pregnant like that. I later learnt they had intended to keep it quiet until they had got past the first couple of months but Lizamoa had let it out, glancing at Mega’s stomach like that.
It was also the selling point too. Well, at least it was for Mega. She looked over at her husband. No words were exchanged between them, just a look. I was wondering which way this was going to go. Then he smiled and nodded yes.
Wow! That was it! The deciding moment! They had decided just like that. There was no more discussion on whether should we come. From that moment it was taken, as a matter of fact, they were moving to New Zealand. The only questions now were; How would they do it? What would they do when they got here?
The meal was now over. It was a warm summer night so we had moved further out onto the deck. Drinks were ordered and we sat around talking. Behind us, it looked like the sun was setting. Not that we could see it because of the building but the trees across the river had taken on a golden/reddish colour.
We watched a smaller ferry boat slowly come up the river, dock at the jetty below us. We heard voices and laughter as some people got off and made their way up to the bar and restaurant. Meanwhile, the ferry had pulled away and was slowly making its way back down the river.
We returned to the subject we had started over dinner.
“So what does it take to come to New Zealand?” Brian asked.
This was when the wise man of our group, Mike entered the discussion. He hadn’t said too much up until this point.
“It’s a process,” he said. “There are conditions that have to be met. But it’s not impossible.”
“We’ll help you,” Peter added.
While the boys continued talking about getting to New Zealand us girls had moved ahead to what they would do once they got here.
“I think Brian would like to live in this area,” Mega said.
“It’s a nice area,” I said. “And not too far from us either. Shanti and Liz are a bit further away in Titirangi.”
“Will we be able to buy land here?”
“I should think so. Just a matter of finding a good deal I suppose.”
“Yes, I know Brian wants to grow things. We could grow plants and sell them.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “And you can work for Mike and Peter in the car yard until Brian gets established.”
“I think before long my working days will be over,” Mega said holding her stomach.
We giggled at that, causing the guys to look over.
“Yes it will,” Shanti said. “And you better stop with the drinks too.”
Mega looked down at her drink and then placed it on the table as if suddenly it was poison. She looked a bit worried.
“No Mega. It’s OK for now. Just stop from now on.”
She smiled over a Lizamoa as if thanking her for her assurance.
I was amazed at how fast this was moving. Not that long ago it had been a tongue-in-the-cheek suggestion from my husband Peter. Now plans were being made in considerable detail.
After a last round of drinks, we left the Tavern returning to our house in the van. Over the next few days, further progress was made. An online chat with India revealed that Amita and Sarvesh were keen on the idea. I knew they would be sad to see more of their friends leaving but I’m sure they realised what a good move it was for Brian and Mega. Sarvesh agreed to help them over there too.
A visit and talk with an immigration officer gave them some helpful advice. They took a drive around the Riverhead/Kumeu areas looking at land. Further discussions between us all set an action plan in place to get them to New Zealand.
They left New Zealand to return to India with a firm plan in place. A few weeks later they flew to the capital, New Delhi, to visit the New Zealand High Commission. Soon an application was underway.
Over the next few months, Mega began to show. She grew bigger until finally, she had a little boy. They were both overjoyed and proudly showed him to us over the internet.
Then just over 12 months after that evening at 'The Riverhead' the news came through that they were able to move to New Zealand. Shanti and I decided to fly over to help them since Steve was going there on a business trip.
Of course, there were our usual 'business' commitments in the hotel room in Singapore. A hot threesome with that naughty man. But when we got to India, it was nice to see Amita and Hansini again.
Brian was very busy getting his plant business ready to sell. Steve returned to New Zealand but we stayed on for another couple of weeks to help Mega with the packing. The other girls were helping too. In those last couple of weeks, things happened so fast. Their business had been sold, and so had their house. The container arrived and Jeevan had arranged for it to be dropped at the house. Everyone joined us to pack it full of their things. I noticed Brian took a lot of his tools and equipment too.
Once the container was gone the house was empty so we moved up to the big house until we left. I went into the warehouse office and watched Katrina talking with Steve, arranging the shipping to New Zealand. Of course, we got back here a long time before the container so they stayed with us while they waited.
It turned out Brian had enough to buy some land and start his business. By the time the container arrived, they were ready to move to their new house. So things are well underway getting themselves established now.
Just one last thing before I finish. I’m going to beat Lizamoa this time and drop the news, Mega is pregnant again too.
Ha! Ha! See Liz you don’t know everything first!
Allan, you tried something really different here. Not sexy, like you say but still an good story. It fits well as it adds an important change for Mega and Brian.
ReplyDeleteThomas