In the 4th instalment from his forthcoming book “An Unsuitable Boy”, Jas Kalsi writes about an episode from London in 1983…
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Ravinder couldn't believe that he was actually going to do it - as he sat in front of the mirror of the dressing table, scissors in his hand, alone in the hotel room. What was he just about to do? That dreaded feeling of guilt came back yet again as he reflected the events of the last week...
How could he have been so deceitful to his family, hiding the truth about his plans for so long - his plans to escape. Well, it worked and he had done it - he actually had gone through with it! “Oh my God” he said to himself, “what have I done?” |
Ravinder Singh Rathor, at the age of 21, was the eldest son of Mrs & Mrs Rathor, a well respected Sikh couple living in North London, together with his elder sister Kieran and twin brother Raju who was only a couple of hours younger than him. As Sikhs, the family adhered to the long standing tradition of keeping long hair, which meant that the father and the boys had their hair tied up and wore turbans, as well as beards. Every morning, the father would tie his own beard with a sort of hair fixative gel, temporarily hold it in place with a satin band and then blow dry it into position, removing the band once dry. In fairness it looked great, long strands of greying beard hair in a perfectly coiffured look on his face, giving him a very regal presence, especially with his always-crisp white shirt, tie and tall frame. The mother and daughter were not supposed to cut their hair either, but both did waxing and Kieran regularly snipped the odd inch or two now and then off her fringe, much to the annoyance of her parents. Ravinder and Raju, having come to the UK from Kenya at only the age of 6 and excelled at their studies, had always questioned why they had to keep long hair and wear turbans. After all, their best friends from Kenya had come over the London with them and albeit two years older, their father had cut their hair to allow them to integrate better into western society. However, every time they asked for the reason from their parents, Mr & Mrs Rathor would become angry, reminding them that the Muslims “had bricked the Sikhs alive” for their beliefs and that we should never question our sacred Religion. Well that just didn’t make sense to the boys, but they accepted it, despite all the bullying at school and never really understanding the culture into which they were born. Ravinder had other ideas though… He did not feel right about it and at the age of 21, had decided that he had to make his own way in his life and to become the person he felt he really was on the inside. He believed in God, but one God for all the people of the World, encompassing all beliefs and religions.
He just knew that God wanted everyone to be happy and enjoy their lives, not live a way of life alien to them, no matter what anyone said. And of course he was right, but he did not realise the consequences of his actions.
His plan was made. He had parked the Mini Metro hire car down the street of the family home just a few days ago. It was ready to go with the empty suitcase in the boot, as he waited for his Mum and Dad to go off that Wednesday morning to see his brother in the middle of his 1st Year of Medical School. How planned, how clinical and cold of him.. where did he get it from? He knew it must be from is Uncle, the illustrious but foreboding Uncle Kartar…
As usual, he knew she would spend ages in the shower, she always did, his beautiful sister Kieran. "What's up with you - what are you hiding?” she said, quincing her eyes at him with that turned down expression. "Nothing, why?" said Ravinder, looking away . "Hmmm…." she responded. She could always tell when he was lying. "Don't take the whole day in there!" he falsely smiled as she went into the downstairs shower, looking back at him as she shut the door and suddenly realising that he was sad. "Hey Ravi, cheer up - it can't be that bad - whatever it is" as she shut the door. Little did she know, he was planning never to see her again. He could start to feel the knot in his stomach.
“OK, right, that's it. She's in the shower”. He said to himself.. “I’ve got 30 minutes to pack and get out of here! Firstly, I need to get that suitcase out of the car, pack and leave”. Running outside, the front door slammed shut and Oh no - he forgot the house keys- “damn! Hold on, the back door's open” he uttered, so he ran around the back, over the fence and slipped as he went over and gashed his knee. Not going so well he thought to himself, never mind he thought- “I’ll make it - I have to - I have no choice”.
As he headed towards the back garden door, he saw the open window of the shower room, light clouds of warm condensed air emanating from inside. He felt like going back in and telling his sister what he was about to do.. Leave home and cut his hair and never return, but he didn’t have the courage for that and just had to attend top the job in hand, escaping..
A few hours later, Ravinder Singh Rathor checked into the Fairview Lodge Hotel, sat in front of the dressing room mirror and with a newly purchased set of scissors, proceeded to cut the hair that moments earlier had reached down to his waist. What he didn’t realise was the bombshell that was about to strike… |
