Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Drama

                Chapter One 
                 A Dry Day 
         Fall was always Catherine's favourite season in a year. She was breath taken by how leaves grew dormant on trees and especially all the faces her mother would make about the Diwali festival that took place in India every year. Catherine loved the cool of the weather and how fast winter and Christmas always seemed to approach. Today she was taking a stroll on Brown street. A street that was two streets away from her parents' house and a street that contained the only post office she ever went to. It was one of those strolls where she enclosed her mind with the thoughts of one ambition after another , where she visualized the woman she wanted to be by the time she was fifty. She was thirty three years away from that and it seemed a long time away. She tugged lightly at her coat and there he was, the guy from last night, about to wear his helmet, about to climb on his bike which was parked near the post office. She increased her pace and got to him before he could climb on his bike. He was tall and dressed in a black tee-shirt and faded ripped jeans. He looked completely the rough type. 
"Hi," she said. Catherine wasn't a fan of men like this. 
"Do i know you, " he said, barely looking at her, his English accent stained with a French one. 
"from last night .You rescued me from those boys at the club, the ones that wouldn't let me leave. remember "
He thought for a moment before
he spoke. 
"Oh you. I remember now. You were  wearing a long black gown with a slit. "
"Yes I was. "
Catherine noticed how his eyes rested on her now as if he was seeing something that he had failed to see at first. 
"Well i just wanted to say thanks, that's all, " she quickly said. 
"Oh it's nothing. Women deserve to be treated with respect,  you know and not just as sexual objects all the time "
Catherine gave a nod of gratitude and added 
"You have a French accent "
He smiled. 
"I'm actually from Paris, from a small town called Fontainebleau."     
         

        The time was about twenty one hours when Catherine lay down to sleep on her bed . She held so close to her blanket. The weather was quite cold. Some of her mother's relatives would visit from India in the next two weeks for Thanksgiving and  she would be caught up in the drama of her mother's background again. She couldn't avoid the dinner, not as it was for Thanksgiving. She wished the holidays would just pass away quickly and she would be back to being busy with her degree at Harvard.   
       She lay on her side now. The eyes that stared at her were that of her sister's and herself from a small photo in the frame on the cupboard beside her bed. She was a twelve year old in the picture while her younger sister Carolyn was ten. It did not seem that long ago, a studio picture taken in spring of '77. They used to be so close, she and Carolyn. They were almost like twins as they were the only children of their parents. Their relationship had become cluttered with so much distance  that they barely even spoke to each other anymore.   
        Catherine's  parents had gone to Boston for an educational conference the previous day. And Carolyn had failed to return home on time from one of her outings . Catherine had gone out a burden of worry in search for her at the club in Delvin, one of her notorious outing spots . She asked around for Carolyn but got no information about her whereabouts. Then as she was about to leave the club, some scary looking men stopped her at the exit of the club and then that guy, the one she stopped at the post office earlier  today, came and ordered them to let her alone. They appeared to be scared of him and backed off. 
        She focused her gaze on the ceiling now. If her mother's relatives eventually got wind of this, they would use the refrain that Catherine disliked so much, that it was what America did to women, gave them too much freedom and so made them wild. Her mother's prettiest cousin, Navya, was always the loudest. She could still not forget the look on their faces when her mother told them that she, Catherine  was pursuing a degree in law in fall of last year when she just turned 16 years . Navya began with expressing her disgust for lawyers and went on to say that it could scare the best suitors away from her. Her grandmother also wore her most disappointed face ever,  Catherine was sure. But her mother was quick to debunk all claims that studying Law would prevent her from getting married, spluttering that America was a liberal society. 
            Tonight, Carolyn was out again and Catherine  knew nothing of her whereabouts. She was probably doing something reckless and Catherine was unwilling to get her self in trouble again in the name of searching for her.

    
                   Chapter Two 
                  The library incident 
           "Catherine! Catherine!," A voice was calling from the sitting room. 
Catherine fastened her black leather belt and adjusted her hair a little. She knew that Sally had become impatient. She walked out of her room and into the sitting room. Sally was wearing a tired face.
"Did you get bored of the interior design?" 
"No I just didn't want you to end up falling asleep in your room"
Catherine  laughed loudly. 
"There's no way I could ever get bored of this house. Its way too colourful and I always get this air of serenity .The perks of having an Indian mother I guess."
Catherine smiled and said, "Let's go."
Catherine  led the way out of her parents house. They passed the lawn and continued chatting as they took the road leading to the town library. 
"So how about Carrie."
She didn't return last night and no calls yet. "
"That's awful. "
"It's worse than awful. I can't even tell if she's alright or not "
 "It'll get better. Probably she'll realize that she's  walking on the wrong foot and make amends. 
"I hope so. I mean you know talking to 
her is like talking to a stone. If it's not bitter silence then it will just end up in a huge argument. I'm so tired of it. "
"I get it. So when do your parents return from Boston. 
"Next tomorrow"
"Wow. One more day left. Do you want me to come over for a sleepover. "
"That will be great. I should have thought of it earlier and you can admire the interiors of the house as much as you want. "

       Catherine walked slowly as she entered the library. Sally did the same . After getting cleared by the librarian who was an old woman of about 60 years , they went to one of the shelves and began running their fingers through the books and looking at her left side, Catherine saw him, the guy from the previous day. David, she remembered was what he said his name was. He was wearing a white T-shirt that was properly tucked into a very faded Blue Jeans pants. Catherine didn't want them to have a third encounter.  She had no interest in wanting his face to remain familiar with  her memory. She thought of stealing away  before he would cast a glance at his right side and somehow recognize her,when Sally said,  "Kat  are you okay. You look lost. "
Catherine  noticed his footsteps approaching her and quickly turned to him and said. 
"Oh hi." 
"Yeah. Hi. How are you ?", he sounded very calm.
"Good and you "
"I'm ok. "
Catherine could make out the size of the gum he was chewing. She pulled her thoughts together. 
"Well this is my friend Sally. Sally this is David. He's the guy that saved me at the club the night I went to Delvin. "
"Oh," Sally threw a lustful gaze at David. 
"That's a great thing you did. "
"Oh it's nothing. I'm just not a fan of sexualizing and intimidating women."
"You sound like an activist "
"You know, we are late for an event . We just came to borrow a book. We have to be on our way now. It's nice seeing you again. Have a nice day. " Catherine grabbed Sally 's right hand without causing a scene and headed out before David could utter another word. 

     Catherine increased her pace on the road while leaving Sally behind. 
"Kat wait up. What was that about ?. "
Catherine stopped and stared at her sternly. "I should be asking you that. You were basically throwing yourself at him. " 
"No I was not. "
"Yes you were."
"Is that why you are so pissed. "
"Yes that's why."
"But he saved you at the club. "
"More reason why it's inappropriate to be friends with him or cast  lustful glances at  him. The fact that he was at the club gives you a clear description of the kind of person he is. "
"Well, you can't judge a book by its cover. "
"Yes, but that's when the book is not warning you of its danger. "
"Well, ok  counselor . But don't blame me for being lustful. It's natural to be alarmed by a pretty face who has gorgeous brown hair and gosh he has such a sexy accent. Sounds French, don't you think  "
"I don't intend to spend my time talking about a  guy that chews gum"
Sally laughed loudly.
"Kat you are so serious all the time. "
"No,  I'm being responsible. "
"It's why you don't have a boyfriend"
"I don't need a boyfriend. If I decide to date a guy, he's the one I'll marry. "
"Ok, " Sally raised her hands in concession.
"But let's just agree that his gum chewing was sexy. "
"You can still go in there and meet him. "
Catherine walked on while Sally was laughing and walking after her. 


                    Chapter Three 
                  Drama for dinner 
          The day finally came for the arrival of her mother's relatives from India. Everything was perfectly set from the neatness of the house to the food. Her mother had even touched up the interior of the house as usual. Catherine was quite nervous. It was always so whenever her mother's relatives were coming. She didn't want to hear their lengthy talks about men and marriage. She didn't want her grandma to raise up a topic against lawyers. She consolled herself that it was just going to be a three day thing anyway. And her paternal grandparents, Francoise and Raven Handlier were joining them for the Thanksgiving dinner. It was the first time that they would all be celebrating  Thanksgiving together. 
      She stared at Carolyn who was standing three steps away from her. They were standing at the door of their parents bungalow in wait of  their relatives. Carolyn was well covered up and she seemed to maintain an indifferent look. Catherine thought a little and realized that they no longer had silly conversations about their mother's relatives visiting from India. It was difficult for Catherine to tell what Carolyn's feelings about them were like now. 
    Her anxiety increased when she heard the screeching sound of car tyres approaching their compound. The car drove in well enough for her to observe that it was not her mother's relatives that had arrived but her paternal grandparents. Catherine walked briskly to the car while Carolyn walked sluggishly after her.
 "Hello my babies. "
Raven, their grandmother threw her arms around them before releasing them to hug their grand father. 
"Are your mother's relatives here already?," Raven adjusted her hair. 
"No. Our parents went to pick them from the airport. "
"So it's only you two?, " their grandfather's voice was horse. 
"Yes ", 
"Let's go in then. " Raven led the way with Catherine's left fingers entangled in hers . Catherine felt her anxiety die away quickly. She always felt like this with Raven. Raven's presence was a haven for her. This was a woman who got her perfectly well, her biggest role model after her mother and the biggest motivation behind her choosing to pursue a career in law at Harvard, at age 15. It was the reason why there was always so much emotion and pride in her mother's eyes whenever her mother talked about Raven. Like Raven, her mother had defiled the standards of womanhood in her country. Her mother had come to America to be something more than just a wife and a mother. 

       The Thanksgiving dinner was clustered with varieties of Indian and  American food. One of her mother's older sisters , Arjun was present . She had not come with the others when they had visited in October three years ago. Everyone seemed to be enjoying their meal. Catherine was very well comfortable sitting next to Raven. The air began to be peppered with words. 
 "This is delicious. But just a little more spice next time, "Navya's face struck out the prettiest as usual with her perfect Indian accent . 
"So Christian I heard that you are a preacher," Lavanya ,  one of her mother's cousins said 
"It's not an official thing. I just do spiritual counseling for my wife, our kids, some of my students and my friends. "
"That must be complex, balancing teaching politics with Christianity, " Navya let out sarcastically.
"Oh it's not. Politics is about leadership. And being a leader is a very demanding responsibility, knowing that the lives of people are almost entirely dependent on all your actions, that this people look up to you. It's like being a parent, whatever line you toe to nurture a child will affect the child either positively or negatively. But with God, you can operate with perfect wisdom to guide your actions which will in turn guide those who look up to you . "
Catherine observed how pleased her mother looked listening to her father. 
"The major difference between Hinduism and Christianity should be the belief of the existence of an ultimate sole source of sovereignty, " Arjun said. 
"The Christian ideology is righteousness according to the word of God while that of Hindu is Dharma, righteousness, a good life," She added. 
"Well at the end of the day, the religions are all aimed at a good life, " Catherine's mother said. 
"Isn't Mihika an expert on balancing everything, " Navya threw an unpleasant gaze. 
"Mihika, "
"Yes ma. "
"Christian"
"Yes mum. "
Deepika paused on her food, "When will you guys visit us in Mumbai? It's been a long while."
"Mihika has probably become too used to American ways to miss her home anymore. I mean this town is beautiful and Boston is just a stone throw away,  "Navya was staring at Catherine's mother. 
"And don't you seem to have all the answers Navya, " Arjun's eyes expressed irritation. 
Catherine was pleased. She looked at Carolyn who was sitting next to Lavanya . Her face still maintained indifference. 
"Mother you are right. It's been a long time since I visited India. "
"Two years after you had Carrie ," Catherine said and her mum smiled. "Yes two years after I had Madina ."
"I think it will be so much fun to visit again after such a long time," her father said. 
"And my parents could come. "
"Yes that would be nice, "her grandfather added.
"So Monita I hear you'll be graduating from Harvard next year. "
"Yes, " Catherine made sure to not look Navya in the eyes. 
"So you will finally be able to go to law school. Isn't that wonderful, "Navya licked her spoon with her eyes directly on Catherine. 
"Tell me, how do you intend to combine it with  religion, being a Christian? Can you balance Christianity and Law? "
Catherine swallowed hard. It was as if her lungs had suddenly shut down and her lips suddenly sealed with glue. 
"I am a lawyer and a Christian, a spiritual counselor and a gospel singer at that. The law,  many do not understand is a neutral tool. However it is used depends on who uses it. I use it to fight for justice, for the injured and against the unjust. The Lord has been my strength since I embarked on this journey and I have witnessed nothing but his grace which is  the secret of the success to my successful career. So I don't think Catherine will encounter any difficulty balancing law with God, " Raven was looking straight into Navya's eyes. 
Catherine was glad. She always felt intimidated whenever Navya asked her a question. Raven always knew how to handle situations. She knew that Raven had been silent from beginning of the meal because Raven knew quite well how her mother's relatives were not in total support of her mother's lecturing career at Harvard as well as her marriage to an American Christian.  And so any conversations that stirred up differences , Raven always stayed out of it. 
"Well isn't Catherine lucky to have a woman like you as her grandmother and also as  her mentor, "Navya barely smiled and Catherine knew that she would never really understand why Navya was always like this whenever she came, if it was just jealousy or something else that was serious. Forks and spoons continued to clink.


                     Chapter Four
                  Something new 
           Relief tasted like sugar in Catherine's mouth when her mother's relatives finally left for India. She had tolerated them for five days and she was more than elated to breathe fresh air again.  They left very early in the morning and so it was left for Catherine to spend the rest of the day as she pleased.   
         
      She and Sally had just returned from Toledo museum of arts. They chose to go to Sally's house to relax . The signs of heavy snow was becoming more conspicuous now. 
"Sally your room is so warm today, "Catherine landed lazily on Sally's bed.
"Yeah, my old woman is out. "
Catherine laughed.
 "Sal your mum's not that bad. "
"At least you admitted that she has an element of bad in her, " Sally sat down on her bed  and continued,
 " She's such a nag. Gosh! I'm so happy that I will be moving out next year."
"You mean finally growing up. "
"Yeah finally turning 18. Oh 1982, how much I await you. "
Catherine let out a wild smile. "
"I like the fact that you don't have any celebrity pictures on your wall Sal. I think you are my only friend who does not. Kristen is so obsessed with celebrities. 
"Yeah I just like the purity of it. Nothing but a mirror and my dad's picture on my wall. "
"Is he coming home for Christmas? "
"I don't know. Hope so. He hasn't said anything about it yet. I really hope he does. I'll lose my mind if I have to spend Christmas alone with my mom. I might even decide to spend Christmas with your family. I mean, I never get bored of your mum's fascination towards Christmas. She loves it. This Western way of celebrating Christmas. 
"I heard that Kimberly is getting married. "
"As in Kimberly Donovan"
"Yes as in Kimberly Donovan "
"She's just 18 "
"You sound as if you had other plans for her."
"No it's just that "
"Cmon Sally, High school snub plus bimbo equals what. "
"Well you do have a point . So who is she marrying? "
"Well I heard that it's some Hollywood producer. "
"Who told you?"
"Monique"
"Wow. Does this mean she'll be moving to California with him"
"Obviously. I mean it's a big deal. he's young, rich and handsome. "
"Have you seen him. "
"No. Kristen told me . "
"She might go into acting. It's not like she has to work for it now. "
"I guess. And one thing is for sure, her arrogance will be up to here. "
"I hope that I don't run into her, I don't want to have to deal with her rubbish".
"I thank God we were never in the same class. "Yeah but she still knew you  and hated you"
"Yes she did. But she concluded that I was too  curvy and stuck up to be her competition anyway. " Catherine sat up. " Nicole will surely be at the wedding. "
"Yeah our set's very own celebrated snob. "
"You seem disappointed. "
"I know. I just don't know why people like Kimberly get to have everything going on well for them. "

      Catherine began arranging new books in the shelves in her mother's office after she was done with cleaning the floors . The office was colourful and spacious. It had a splendid interior decoration like the rest of the house and sometimes she slept here when her mother wasn't in. It was very different from her father's office which had more books and which was less colourful. Her father's office walls were  plastered with so many African and African American symbolic pictures, a symbolism of his roots from his mother and also so many Christians sayings as a symbolism of his religion. It had a mysterious infection of a room filled with history. Her father was obsessed with history. His office suited him anyway, a biracial man who looked completely white and whose eye glasses, gave him the look of an intelligent professor. One day, she would have something like this, she thought. A spacious and a beautiful office in her own house with a family and a contented life. She and her dream husband would be able to work all their problems the way her parents worked their inability to have more children. But she didn't intend to lecture like any of her parents even though she knew that being a lecturer at Harvard was a big deal. She, Sally, Monique and Kristen were going to Exeter Street Theatre in Boston in an hour time. But first, she wanted to ask her mother about Navya . She had been planning on it and her mother was off from work today. There was sound of footsteps approaching the door and she watched the door knob turn and the door was pushed open. 
"Where's mum? " Carolyn looked dressed up to go out. 
"I don't know. "
Carolyn made her way to walk out. 
"Hey Carrie. "
Carolyn turned back . 
"My girls and I are going to Exeter Street Theatre in Boston, would you like to come. "
"No thanks. I'm going out with grandma. "
"You are going to Boston? "
"Yeah. But she's coming to pick me up."
"That means she could give us a ride. "
"It's supposed to be a meeting just between the both of us. "
"Ok, " Carolyn walked out. 
Catherine continued to arrange the new books until her mother came in dressed in a purple seri from head to toe looking as beautiful as ever. She wondered if her mother's students felt the same way as she did or if they judged her mother for always being dressed in traditional Indian attires. Harvard didn't seem to have a problem with it but she knew that her mother was being judged by so many people for it. Her mother had no Western clothes and wasn't taken by the Western style of dressing. 
"Monita, "
"Yes mum. Won't you be late for your outing with your friends, " her mother began arranging her table. 
"I will but I wanted to, " Catherine paused. 
"To do what. "
Catherine couldn't find the courage to bring up the Navya issue. She was always careful when talking about her mother's relatives in order not to create the impression that she disliked them which would end up displeasing her mother. She could remember vividly, the incident between her grandfather and her mother about Deepika 's unreceptive attitude towards the existence of God. 

       The trip to Boston was a fun one as Catherine and her friends dwelt a lot on Kimberly Donovan's upcoming wedding in
 L. A. Kristen continuously gushed about Kimberly's expensive wedding dress while Monique spilled on the cost of her wedding ring from Tiffany and co. The girls arrived and stopped before the theater to purchase some things. Catherine was wearing a high wasted black pants and a purple top. Sally had too much makeup on and so did Kristen and Monique. Catherine seemed to taken by how cold the atmosphere was. Boston was too cold. 
"Hey girls!," Sally got their attention. 
"Guess who I just saw? "
"Who?," Catherine flipped her hair. 
"The hot dude who saved Catherine at the club in Delvin.Turn your backs"
They all turned and David's was standing by his motorbike talking to another guy that looked like him but was taller and had longer hair. 
"Wow. He's gorgeous, " Monique breathed in. 
"And the other dude with him looks cute ," Kristen said. 
"I told you. Let's go say hi, " Sally said. 
Before Catherine could utter a word, the girls had dragged themselves and her to where David was. 
"Hi David, " Sally quickly said. 
"Hi," Catherine noticed how David stared as if he was trying to recognize them. And when he caught a glance of her, he smiled. 
"How are you Sally? "
"Well I'm cool. "
And you Catherine. How are you? "
"Fine," Catherine made sure not to stare at his face as she noticed that he kept staring at her. 
"And you are? "
"Kristen "
"What about you? "
"Monique. "
"You all are beautiful. "
Catherine noticed how lustfully her friends were staring. 
"Well this is my brother, Jacob. "
"Hi, " Jacob said. 
"So what are you girls doing in Boston Catherine?"
"Well we are here for a show at the Exeter Street Theatre "
"Wow that's great. "
"We are in a hurry. So we'll be on our way now. See you later. "  Catherine observed how irritated her friends looked at her comments but she continued 
"We'll be off now. Bye." Catherine walked off and so did the other girls after saying bye. 
"What was that for? " Kristen asked. 
"She has a problem with pretty boys. "
"I do not. "
"Kat what's your problem with him. I mean that guy is so gorgeous. He's shoulders are so wide. He's well built with those gorgeous eyes and that brown hair, " Monique said. 
"True. And his brother is just as cute, " Kristen turned to catch a glance at the two men again.
"Did you guys notice his French accent, " Sally licked her lips. 
"I did. "
"Me too "
"You guys can meet me inside the theater," Catherine walked off living the girls behind. 
"What's her problem?" Monique said. 
" I don't know. And can you imagine the way he was even staring at her with so much interest," Sally said. 

      Although, Catherine didn't find her outing with the girls fun because the girls spent most of the time gushing about David and his brother, something else happened. When Catherine got back,  Carolyn was already home and as she walked into the bungalow, Carolyn said to her, "How was your outing? "
She thought for a moment. 
"Well it wasn't really fun. "
"Why? "
"It's a long story. "
"I'm all ears. "
Shock ran through Catherine's system. She observed Carolyn's face properly to be sure that she wasn't missing anything. She couldn't remember the last time Carolyn had cared about whatever was going on in her life.
"Are you too tired to talk ?"
"No. It's just. You know let's talk. Let's go to my room. "
Carolyn followed her as they walked to Catherine's room. 
Catherine began undressing in her room. 
"I went to look for you at the club in Delvin. "
"Wow. When? "
"The day after mum and dad went for that book  conference in Boston. "
"So?"
"You weren't there. And when I wans about to leave ,some men came to harass me and there was this guy who came and warned them off. "
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"What the hell are you thinking? "
"You are dating him. "
"No!  Gosh you have such a dirty mind Carrie, "
Carolyn gave Catherine a mischievous smile 
"You really are spoilt, "
Catherine laughed out loudly. 


                      Chapter Five 
                    Pregnant Future 
           The following days saw Catherine and Carolyn's relationship tighten up. Carolyn told Catherine about her wild parties, boyfriends,girlfriends and secret outings and 
how she wanted to cut off from such life and go to college. Catherine was so pleased, not just because of Carolyn's decision to change but also because of the way their relationship was becoming stronger. She suspected that Carolyn's meeting with Raven was responsible for the sudden change.
 When they had both gone to a supermarket to pick up some beverages, she told Carolyn about how much she was always so intimidated by Navya.
"It's because she's extremely pretty ," Carolyn responded. 
"Pretty, "
"Yes. Women who are beautiful naturally have an intimidating spirit towards both men and women. Take it from one, "Carolyn gave Catherine her usual sexually appealing look and Catherine laughed. 
"Be serious. "
"I am. But I feel it's just all jealousy for mum's success. Mum is beautiful. She studied at Harvard. She now works there as a lecturer. She's on her way to becoming a prominent Academic in the state. She's married to dad who's cute and understanding. And who lectures at Harvard as well. And she has two kids, one of which is on her to becoming a lawyer. What's there not to be jealous of. I mean aunt Navya is living in India like a typical average Indian woman. "
"That's makes sense. "
"It more than makes sense and why she particularly enjoys picking on you is because you are way more prettier than her. "
"Are you kidding me? "
"Kat I know you have a problem with acknowledging how beautiful you are but I don't. I know I'm that I am the hottest 15 year old girl in town. 
Catherine laughed loudly. 
  

    Christmas came with a lot of joy for Catherine. She enjoyed every bit of the snowing and everything seemed to be falling into place. Her father's cousin and his family spent Christmas with them and so did Sally and her mother because Sally's father had chosen to remain in Springfield. And when she and George, the son of her father's cousin, Gregory Handlier as well as Sally threw their fireworks into the air on new year's eve, she felt like an eagle because 1982 was going to be her final year in college and also the year she would turn 18.
 

      'Billie Jean' by Michael Jackson was playing when Catherine walked into Raven's sitting room. The day was the 30th day of September 1982. She walked  nervously  around the sitting room until Raven came in. 
"Oh my baby, how are you? " they hugged 
"Why are you standing? Sit down. "
They both sat down. 
"You look so nervous my baby. I'm guessing you didn't come all the way from Cambridge to give me a worried  face. "
"Grandma I got my test results, "
"OK, breath in, continue, "
"I'm pregnant "

      "Mrs Davais-Monteigne! Mrs Davais-Monteigne!" Catherine woke up and saw her maid, Elsa, in front of her. 
"Ma'am your children are here to see you. "
Catherine looked around and realised that it was no longer 1982, that she had been dreaming, dreaming about her childhood. The calendar was reading February 2005.