04 – The solving of the puzzle

Tuesday, the following day, was misty early in the morning. The mist cleared slowly and it turned into a lovely, sunny day. Now the sun is scorching down on the school grounds. The pupils try to hide from the African sun’s rays in every possible shadow. Kadin smiles at Billy when he sits down next to her on the bench during the break. This morning they were travelling on the bus together but it was too noisy for communication and she was looking forward to this opportunity in the middle of the day. Kadin smiles happily at Billy. "You look so strange in your school uniform.” Billy smiles back. "That short dress of yours really shows your nice legs.” Kadin blushes self-consciously. "You are peeping shamelessly at girls’ legs, sis for you, sir.” Embarrassed Billy retorts: "Sorry, it just slipped out; I don’t know what came over me.” Kadin secretly feels flattered. "For now you are forgiven; just don’t make the same mistake again, sir.” Billy mocks her command: "Okay, I promise, Your Highness.” "Oh no, now I am supposed to be a royal princess!” "Well, you are as beautiful as a princess.” He puts his hand in front of his mouth and widens his eyes. "Goodness, there I go again. I’m so sorry.” "Hi, are you now making a move on me? It’s going to ruin our friendship, sir.” "No, sorry Kadin. I just couldn’t help myself because you are quite pretty and it just slipped out.” "Well, you yourself aren’t too bad.” "What do you mean?” "Must I spell it out to you? You are damn attractive. Okay, we are quits now; time for business. Where are we going to start?” "I discovered a Sanskrit translator on the internet last night. However, I could find no way to load the writing in the program. Dead end.” "I don’t think that is going to work because only an expert can understand Sanskrit. We’ll have to find someone that can help us. That’s the only way.” "Where the heck are we going to find such an expert? This is South Africa, you know.” "Well, my father told me he encountered Sanskrit when he studied different religions. That indicates that there are religious writings in Sanskrit. I went through the internet with that in mind. I found some Hindu scripts in Sanskrit. Next, I searched for a Hindu temple, and just guess what …” Billy is curious: "What, say if …” "There is a Hindu temple quite near our home in Valley Street on the other side of Settlers Park. I think we must go and have a look around; maybe we’ll find someone that can help us.” "You are damn phenomenal!” "When are we going down to the temple?” "This afternoon after school; if you are free.” "Fine, see you at the main gate after school and we ride together on the bus to home. Let’s check out this place this afternoon. Maybe we can find someone who can show us the right path to follow.” Kadin becomes aware that a few of her friends are frequently looking in their direction. She points with her eyes. "I must go now because some of my girlish friends are gossiping about us.” "I’ve got the same problem.” He points with his eyes to his friends. "Some of them find us very interesting. Are we going to keep the secret between us?” "Off course! But what will be our excuse for spending so much time together?” "Tell you what; let’s give them what they want. What’s your surname, Kadin?” "Bosch, why? "Kadin Bosch, will you be Billy Shaw’s boyfriend?” Kadin flushes. "What? Just like that? You can’t be serious!” "I like you, Kadin, you are cool. I like to be in your presence. Don’t you like me?” For a while she looks at Billy quietly and then answers friendly: "I like you Billy Shaw; you are cool as well. I like to be with you. We can be friends as long as you promise to hold your hands off me.” ~*~*~ After school they meet at the main gate and walk to the bus stop. "What are you usually doing after school, Billy?” "Squash, or swimming or running or something …” "I know now why you look so fit and athletically. Do you do any sport for Framesby?” "No, Framesby hasn’t got a squash team and that’s my game. Tony, a friend of my mother, plays in the league for Crusaders squash club. That’s the club at the back of the cricket stand, you know. He’s my coach. I usually practice with his team and play for them in the winter league. At the moment I’m playing in the summer league. I really enjoy the game. Swimming and running only keep me fit for squash.” "Hi, I’ve never seen a live squash match before. It will be quite exciting to see you play.” "We are playing summer league this Thursday evening and you are most welcome. I will be playing first; at 17:30.” "Can’t wait to see you in action.” "You are also looking good. What is keeping your body in shape and slim?” "Well, I don’t overindulge in food and I like to walk a lot. I always wanted to run around the park, but I always tell myself ‘tomorrow’ and tomorrow never come. "Why don’t you come and jog with me this afternoon?” "I’ll have to get running shoes first.” "Okay, then come and swim with me. I’ve got a season ticket and a key for a side entrance of St George’s Park. I usually swim after hours when the visitors are gone and mostly alone.” "I’m not a good swimmer and I don’t have swimming goggles.” Billy’s eyes look extra blue when he smiles. "I’ve got an extra one especially for you and even a cap for that lovely brown hair of yours.” "I think you’re not going to stop. Fine, but I must be home before dark. My mother will worry herself sick if I roam the streets and it is dark. Central isn’t as safe as it used to be.” "I promise I’ll take you all the way to your front gate before it gets dark, Kadin Bosch.” On the bus later Kadin burns to talk to Billy but the bus is too noisy. They exchange cell phone numbers and test WhatsApp. Kadin opens Billy’s profile photo. He is next to his mother with his arm around her neck. She looks quite sophisticated in her office attire. She has beautiful blond hair and smiles happily with her left arm around Billy’s backside. She sends him a message: ‘Mother lovely.’ Billy opens her profile photo; she is sitting between Jack and Rene. He messages: ‘You & mother pretty. Father proud.’ They smile at each other. Billy texts again: ‘Throw down everything. Meet me at circle in Western Street.’ ‘Beat you to there.’ ‘Never. Costume + towel … temple, then swim …’ ‘OK’ Billy jumps out of the bus at Cape road and she rides all the way to Trinder Park. Rene is at work and the house is quiet. She downs everything, grabs her costume and a towel and in her school clothes rushes out. She must beat him to the circle. She is mildly surprised when she sees him waiting for her at the circle. The devil must have run like the wind because he lives at the far side of the park. She gets the feeling Billy is super fit. He has a t-shirt on and sneakers on his feet. She wonders what is hidden under the t-shirt. They take the Brickmaker’s Cliff path and walks down to where it meets the Valley road. Kadin is a little afraid to ask but eventually musters her courage. "Billy, I see it’s only you and your mother on your profile photo?” "We were in a car accident when I was fourteen. My mother and I survived but my father didn’t make it.” "Oh, I’m so sorry; that is horrible.” "My mother works extremely hard and I seldom see her. She wants to save money to send me to university and to stay in that house of ours. She quite enjoys her work as a marketing manager at an international firm and earns a good salary but she must travel a lot and is frequently out of town. So, I see you are also the only child like me.” "Yes, I am and my parents also work very hard to earn money for my university studies and I also feel guilty.” "I don’t have a choice; I must simply do my part.” "My friends waste their time with boys but I don’t have time for such nonsense.” "Same here. Some of my friends are always in competition and try to impress one another. I don’t like it when they talk about girls as if they are pieces of meat. It’s disgusting and immature.” Kadin smiles happily. "You are really cool, Billy Shaw. I hope I don’t bother you in your school work.” "We’ll be home before dark. Enough time for our school tasks, don’t you think? "Yep.” They stop at the front side of the Hindu temple in the Upper Valley road. Kadin thinks back about the research she did about this temple. One of the basic doctrines of the Hindu is that they should not stay at a place where there is no temple and that’s why it was their first priority when they landed here in Algoa Bay in 1890. The Indian Church bought this piece of land in the Baakens River Valley on 27 November 1891. Construction of the temple complex began in 1896 and it was inaugurated in 1901. It was the first Hindu temple in the whole of the Eastern and Western Cape. They find the main gate open and descend along the steps until they reach the courtyard in the centre of the complex. There is a beautiful, blue statue of a strange man on a fountain in the middle of the courtyard. Actually, Kadin notices, there are two temples and on the nearest one above the door, the words Shri Krishna are immured. Billy looks around, fascinated by the place. "What a strange place with a strange atmosphere, it feels as if we are moving into a strange land here in the heart of Port Elizabeth. We used to go to church on Sundays, but this place has a different ambience. It’s stranger and weirder.” "It is. I also get this strange feeling. My parents aren’t religious people, so I have never experienced a religious place before. My father studied philosophy, but my parents don’t adhere to any religion?” Billy frowns at Kadin. "That also doesn’t make sense to me.” "Meaning …?" "Look at the world; how is God perfect, but his creation is imperfect. There is so much suffering. There is so much imperfection for a ‘perfect creator’.” "Don’t you think we are the cause of our own suffering and imperfection?” "If people get cancer, is that their fault? Or, if a lorry breaks down and runs over a car and leave your family alone and they must fend for themselves without you, is it your fault?” "You are now sounding like a philosopher. I would like to bring you and my father together someday and then you can ask him all these difficult questions. It would be quite interesting.” "I’ll rather play squash with him. We’ll never find logical answers to these questions because life in many instances is not logical. Doesn’t matter how deep we delve.” Kadin laughs. "You sound just like my dad!” A man enters through the main gate and friendly greets them. "Hello, I am Ben, the caretaker. What are you doing here? Can I help?” Billy answers quickly. "We are just inquisitive about the place and the people who pray here.” "I’m the caretaker here and my family lives on the premises; we have our own quarters. Why don’t you come on Sunday to the Krishna temple when the ISKCON people will be praying here? A special, holy man is visiting Port Elizabeth up to the end of next week and he will lead the prayers on Sunday. Kadin smiles happily. "What is ISKCON? At what time should we be here and what must we wear?” "It’s the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. It starts at nine in the morning and they would like to have visitors. Plain clothing is all right, but mind you, remove your shoes before you enter the temple.” Billy pushes his luck: "Do you perhaps know someone that knows Sanskrit and can read it?” The man laughs. "I’m only the caretaker. I don’t know much about their faith and luckily it doesn’t bother them.” Billy looks at Kadin. "Damn, it is a long wait until Sunday and we don’t even know if it will be worth our while.” ~*~*~ They slip through the side entrance with Billy’s special key. Kadin rushes to the cloakrooms and quickly puts on her one-piece, black costume. She struggles to get her hair into the cap. She wraps the giant towel around her as to hide most of her body. They move to the shallow end of the pool. Kadin looks at Billy. "What is the distance of the length?” "Sixteen meters. This is an uncomfortable length. I usually swim 64 lengths of roughly one kilometer at a time.” "Sixty four lengths, you must be mad!” "No, it’s few. I like to swim a five kilometers once a week, sometimes more.” Kadin’s eyes widen stunned. "Hundred fifty-six rounds, you must be playing. I only start and then must stop.” "No, it’s easy, you’ll see. You will soon get accustomed to it and then it will feel as if you are flying. I’m mad about it.” "Just remember, I am not a good swimmer.” "If you struggle, I will give you a few tips and then it will be wonderful, you’ll see.” Billy suddenly takes off his clothes and stands in front of her in his black Speedo. He is looking away from her and astonished she observes his sturdy body. Good definition overall; the abdominal muscles; the scapulae and broad shoulders must be the result of swimming. She marvels about his legs with full definition overall and thinks this must be the result of the running. Her eyes follow him while he walks into the water and fasten on his firm round buttocks. That’s definitely the squash’s contribution. Billy is up to his knees in the water and looks up. "Don’t just stand there, girl. Time for action.” She blushes and feels terribly shy. Why is she so reluctant to shed the massive towel under which she is hiding so comfortably thus far? She knew beforehand this moment had to arrive. He is waiting. She drops the towel and walks hastily down the steps into the shallow water while she feels his eyes burning on her. She can’t get into the water quickly enough and tries to hide under the water from Billy’s eyes. This part of the swimming pool is so shallow that even toddlers can bathe here and in a desperate move she tries to go flat on her stomach to hide from his gaze. "Why are you shy? There’s no reason for.” "Is it so obvious?” Billy laughs shamelessly. "You’re so weird. Swim to the farthest side, I want to see how you do.” Kadin enjoys the time at the swimming pool immensely. Billy teaches her different techniques and before long she swims like a fish incessantly only by regulating her breathing. She can just keep on swimming while Billy passes her time and again and after his kilometer, he changes to butterfly stroke. It fascinates her when he passes her underwater like a dolphin. Later he accompanies her to her front gate and she smiles happily. "Thanks for a wonderful day. I’ve never enjoyed a day like this before. You are full of surprises, Billy Shaw.” Billy takes her hand and goes down on his one knee and kisses her hand. "Your knight at your service, my princess Kadin Bosch.” She blushes and smiles shyly before she pulls her hand from his. She runs to the front door and waves. That night Kadin dreams of a water world in which she is the princess of Atlantis in the arms of her underwater prince that swims with the dolphins.