Awaken

2Changing of the Guard

A Whole New World

Proud, somewhat stunned owners of brand‐new passports, my mother, my sister, and I packed up our belongings to leave India in the summer of 1965. I had just turned seven. We made our way to Palam International Airport in New Delhi for our flight to Aden and then to London. We were beside ourselves with excitement as we boarded the plane. We gripped the armrests tightly as the plane rumbled down the runway and ascended into the dark night.

In those days, international flights were luxurious experiences. My parents dressed formally, and Mummy had cleaned us kids up as much as she could. Soon, the glamorous flight attendants arrived with an array of exotic drinks and foods. Everything I put into my mouth was a brand‐new sensation.

It was cold and rainy when we landed in London, so our first stop was at Harrods department store. I emerged transformed, in a stylish trench coat, baggy trousers, and shiny black shoes. We then went to see one of the iconic sights of London: the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. This was an apt metaphor for what was happening in my family: a new regime, my father replacing my mother as the dominant influence in my life.

Bewildered in Barbados

After a few magical days in London, we boarded a flight to Bridgetown, Barbados. We spent the first couple of weeks at the Hilton Hotel on the beach – the first time I saw the ocean. My mother and I sat on chaise lounges on the sand, being served drinks with ...