Good People: Chapter 24: Finally Love Knows No Bounds

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 24

Medhavi was back in USA after a short stint in Japan. Her headquarters in San Diego called her back and her replacement was sent.

Medhavi left Samskara’s apartment and rented a much smaller one all for herself.

On her first long holidays on reaching San Diego she met Kelly and Shaan at their home in San Jose. Kelly and Shaan had got married in the mean time and showed their wedding photographs to Medhavi on their laptop.

Kelly informed, “It was quite a quiet wedding. Pretty private affair. Two of us, Alice and Yusuf and Yin and Arun.”

“All of you are looking great in the photos. And yes, before I forget, please enroll me in ‘Humanity Forum”.

“Why did you think of it? You views may be quite at an angle to what ‘Humanity Forum’ believes. You know that already,” Kelly doubted Medhavi’s decision.

“Kelly, I was like that earlier. But I have changed a lot over the past few months. I have already learnt to align with the values and actions of ‘Humanity Forum’. It’s guiding principles, which I had heard from Shaan long time ago but did not understand them, now seem so important to me. I am fully in tune with the concepts of ‘boundarylessness’, ‘zero discrimination- zero hatred- zero war’, ‘one world’, ‘openness and flexibility’, ‘religion is all about feel, think and do good to self and others’. 

“Well you pass the test. So why don’t you accompany us to the forum meeting tomorrow evening?” 

“I shall,” Medhavi laughed lightheartedly. “May be I will find some nice husband material there. I have changed my thinking quite a bit now and may be a few of your forum people will consider my candidature as a wife favorably.”

Shaan and Kelly joined the laughter. 

Kelly cautioned, “Shaan is definitely not one of them. Am I right Shaan?”

“Let me give it a thought,” Shaan teased Kelly. 

Medhavi blushed. Kelly noticed it. Only a woman can sometimes understand the inner feelings of other woman.

Over a period of time one bachelor boy of ‘Humanity Forum’ fell for the charms of Medhavi and married her. After all Medhavi was very beautiful and smart! And her newly acquired open-mindedness was the jewel on the crown!! Any male feet could have been swept away by this winner.

………………….

After twenty five years…

Shaan, Kelly and their daughter Shelly sat sipping tea in the patio.

Shelly spoke, “Mom, when do you think should Jay and I get married?”

“It’s your choice. Since Shaan and I like Jay a lot we are very happy. Go ahead, get married any day. But do send us an invite; we will definitely like to participate in your wedding,” Kelly smiled.

All the three of them laughed in unison. 

Shelly cuddled her mom and dad instantaneously and chirped, “You are such darlings.”

Then she remained silent and tried to assess the situation. 

When she got convinced that the prevailing mood presented an amiable setup she continued, “And yes, one more thing. I am adopting Orthodox Christian Faith. Jay insists on it. You already know he is an Orthodox Christian. But he is just like you, mom and dad, as far as the human values are concerned except that he has not got over the religion phobia yet. And so he feels a bit odd me not having any tag of a religion.”

“Hope he is not a radical or what we call a fundamentalist or extremist?” Shaan enquired.

“Dad, no. A definite ‘no’. Both of you and I know him for past two years. Don’t you think he is just like you and mom in his beliefs and values? It’s just that he is uncomfortable without being affiliated to an organized religion. Just for namesake, he wants to remain within the religion he was handed down by his parents. And for uniformity’s sake between husband and wife he wants me to be known as Orthodox Christian.”

Kelly and Shaan spoke simultaneously with a smile, “We love you Shelly. Go ahead. But always remain a human being when it comes to taking sides.”

Shelly affirmed with full enthusiasm.

“I will call Jay.” Shelly left them in the patio and walked toward the house with cell phone in her hand.

………………….

Shaan and Kelly were amused over Shelly’s decision of affiliating to an organized religion for sake of her love. 

They thought, “Love seems sublime. Everything else gets dwarfed in front of love.”

But Shaan and Kelly also exchanged the following conversation between them.

“Human society crawls when it comes to changing the deep rooted paradigms. Look at Jay,” Shaan spoke philosophically, smiling.

“You are being philosophical. But that’s the way the world moves,” Kelly responded. She smiled too.

Get your copy of the novels "Good People" and "The Peace Crusaders" as eBook or paperback from any of the Amazon marketplaces (Amazon sites)

Read the blog "The Peace Crusaders" http://peacecrusaders.blogspot.com/ 

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Good People: Chapter 19: Prejudices and Conflicts

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 19

Medhavi’s wrote her diary day wise:

Day 1:

This is the first day of my life when I thought of writing a diary for the first time. I am not a diary freak but today’s incident disturbed me beyond my imagination and I need to vent them out somewhere. 

So what if I ate omelet in the company of my closest friend Anji? 

Don’t eat this. Don’t eat that. Eat only these things. What rubbish! Funny- yet every religion prescribes such unreasonable permissions and restrictions. What’s the harm in eating whatever one likes? Why and how does any religion enter into such a personal issue? 

I hated Samskara commenting on my eating an omelet. I do not eat it normally. I am still not used to eat other non-veg stuff. But omelet, I have started liking its taste and so I ate. Is it any sin that Samskara made a mountain out of a molehill?

Day 2:

I hate this shuddhikaran (purification) process that Samskara carries out every time I am done with my periods. 

He also did it when I ate omelet as if I became impure after eating an omelet.

I feel terribly violated when he does that act of sprinkling the Ganga water all over me and the house and the fridge.

My mother used to perform similar ritual. Now I remember that even when my mother did this shuddhikaran business on me, I used to get worked up.

I never questioned her thinking that she was an elder and knew better than me. But today I really want to ask myself, “Has this shuddhikaran any meaning in it at all?” My answer is, “None.” So I do not wish to be violated by Samskara any more.

It’s all about hygiene. Modern accessories take care of it.

And I guess such or similar unreasonable rituals must be true of every other religion and community. I have come to realize that all of that is no good irrespective of whichever religions prescribe such or similar things.

Day 3:

Is doing frequent poojas (prayers and worships) and that too over long and odd hours really all that pious? I am religious too. But I do not perform the poojas as frequently as Samskara does. Am I a sinner or degraded person?

And why does he have to get up at an ungodly hour of 5 AM every day and also disturb my sleep in the process? He never has time for a quiet breakfast with me, not even on the weekends. 

I have started missing the companionship I had expected from my husband in marriage.

Today as I am writing this I am remembering Shaan. He was such a great company always. What I knew of him he hardly spent time in any poojas or service or any other kind of worship. Every time I asked him the reason, he told me, “Medhavi, if there is a god, he or she resides in you and thus you are alive. So I silently salute him or her every now and then and no one even comes to know of it. Isn’t that wonderful?”

I have started seeing some point in Shaan’s philosophy. 

………………….

Before reading the diary of the fourth day, Samskara wondered about the mention of Shaan in the diary. Medhavi never spoke of him earlier, Samskara thought.

………………….

Day 4:

I am repeating here in my diary exactly what Samskara uttered the other day. 

He said, “Oh these people of other communities can be a bad influence on our children. And I am quite serious about it. Our samskaras (cultural heritage and upbringing) are far more superior to the samskaras people of other communities give to their children. We do not want our children to pick them up.”

And then he asked me to cut down on my relationship with Anji since she is a Christian. 

I got quite shocked at such utterances of Samskara and I am certain that he is not quite correct. There are good and bad people in every race, religion and community. You cannot rule out any community with such sweeping statements.

But it is not just Samskara who thought lowly of other communities or races. On rethinking I find such statements being made by many people of various communities about the people of other communities, races and religions. But doing that is not correct in any way even on their part. Does their religion allow it? No good religion teaches it.

I will never break my friendship with the people of other communities who are already my friends. And least of all Anji- she is my best friend, so what if she is a Christian. And after all I am not marrying her.

I agree that one should marry in the same communities. I am still fussy about it or I would have married Shaan. Imagine I have problems with a person of my own religion and sub-caste, what kind of problems one might face in marrying a person from other religion or race?

Day 5:

Samskara believes in each and every religious diktats that some people of ancient times passed on to the next generations without checking their veracity. At times even to a somewhat religious person like me those diktats seem quite unreasonable and particularly in the present times. 

I realize now that we should always find the scientific reasons before following any diktat of any religion. Samskara’s opinions on this do not match with mine. He takes every written and spoken word of the religious teachings and preaching as a gospel truth and hundred percent sacrosanct.

Day 6:

Samskara has started imposing some more new whims lately. He handed me a chart the other day. It is called ‘Rahu Kalam’. As per him it is very useful as it prescribes the inauspicious period of the day when one should never undertake any auspicious activity. The duration of this period is one and half an hour every day. For example 7.30 AM to 9 AM is inauspicious on all Mondays, 3 PM to 4.30 PM is inauspicious on Tuesdays, 12 noon to 1.30 PM is inauspicious on Wednesdays and so on for the rest of the days of every week. 

I remember that my parents are also ardent followers of ‘Rahu Kalam’. They refuse to carry out any important job during these hours. Though I am religious, I am a bit of rebel too at times and so I used to ask the rationale behind it to my parents. 

I used to argue, “Mom, if I am writing a university examination paper during this ‘Rahu Kalam’ should I stop writing the paper? And my experience so far shows that many a time when I wrote the exam papers in ‘Rahu Kalam’, I even got centum marks.” My parents won’t have any answer to this kind of questioning of mine. 

Many times we are engaged in very important tasks during this period because some one else with no knowledge of ‘Rahu Kalam’ had planned that activity during this inauspicious period. And I have seen that nothing went wrong in doing that planned work.

I have not argued on this aspect with Samskara for fear of getting into yet another conflict but I definitely do not like such restrictions.

One more thought came to my mind, “Are radically religious people superstitious too? Are they more superstitious than the people who are less religious or not religious at all?”

Day 7:

Today I read an article on the Internet about a group called  ‘Humanity Forum’. I was impressed by their work.

The group consists of persons of all kinds of faiths and also the people not having affiliation to any organized religions and yet all of them work together seamlessly.

‘Humanity Forum’ assists the entire humanity as per its requirements without any consideration of any kind of boundaries drawn by physical or political boundaries of nations or any other kinds of boundaries drawn based on race, color, religion, caste, sub-caste, language, gender etc. 

There was a mention of Shaan in the article and descriptions of the projects that he undertook during past few months for the benefit of the humanity.

After reading Shaan’s accomplishments I could not but admire Shaan. 

I lost a great friend like Shaan due to my immaturity, stupidity, over-ambitiousness and jealousy. I should meet him soon and apologize.

………………….

Samskara stopped reading the diary for a while after reading the mention of Shaan and now the mention of ‘Humanity Forum’ of America. He recalled hearing the name of ‘Humanity Forum’ this morning on television. What was it? Yes, the members of ‘Humanity Forum’ were the first rescue team to reach Japan from outside of Japan.

………………….

Day 8:

I am writing diary after a gap. 

In the mean time I have remained terribly disturbed by what I now call as ‘overdoing of religiousness’ by Samskara. He is trying to impose his ideas on me and now I am the last person to buy his ideas.

I am tired of Samskara’s weird ideas and wish to stay away from him at least for an year. I must save my marriage. My boss has confirmed about my deputation to Japan. That will help.

During this one-year’s time I will give some more deep thought to this matter between Samskara and me and see if Samskara will like to moderate his views and actions. I am all for saving my marriage.

Lately after checking the vast literature that is available on the Internet and also studying the objectives and the type of work ‘Humanity Forum’ does I am getting convinced of the futility of too much of religiousness bordering on fundamentalism or extremism.

I wonder if I am becoming like Shaan myself.

Why do I remember Shaan so very often these days?

Am I falling in love with him? Did I fall in love with him when I met him for the first time?

Oh, why am I thinking all this nonsense? 

I must save my marriage.

………………….

That was the end of Medhavi’s diary. Medhavi forgot to keep the diary with her while she traveled to Japan. She inadvertently left it on the table at home.

Samskara’s senses became numb on reading the diary. For a few minutes he remained still and his brain stopped thinking.

However, soon the writing of Medhavi started sinking in and he started realizing the enormity of the turmoil that was taking pace in Medhavi’s mind. And he felt that he was the reason for the turmoil. First he got enraged but sanity set in soon and the first thing he thought was how to contact Medhavi and save her life.

He must take immediate steps, he decided.

(Get your copy of the novel "Good People" as an eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BHH37G  only for $ 0.99. You may also like to get its Printed Book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Good-People-Dream-Boundary-World/dp/1479333085/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380916602&sr=1-8&keywords=shyam+bhatawdekar%27s+books)

Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/

Good People: Chapter 17: Romance and Tough Decisions

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 17

On one holiday when Shaan and Kelly were together and generally chitchatting, Kelly shifted closer to Shaan, such that Shaan could feel the warmth of her entire body, she said, “I am in different mood today. I feel like getting more personal with you. Will you answer one very important question I am going to ask you?”

“No problem.”

“But you have to be absolutely frank with me. If you feel like answering only then answer but do tell me the truth.”

“I am always truthful to you, you know about it.”

“I know that. But my query is going to be a bit sensitive and that’s why all of this prelude.”

“Now please keep this prelude aside and come to the point. The mystery is killing me. So please hurry up and shoot your question.”

“I know that you are not a married guy. But do you have any girl friend?” She was pretty nervous; she did not know what Shaan’s reply would be.

“No, I don’t have any.”

“Did you love any girl before?”

“Yes and no.”

“Shaan, that’s why I asked you to be truthful. Now I see that you are dillydallying. Come straight or forget about my curiosity. Just don’t answer.”

“I am being absolutely truthful. I did love a girl immensely once upon a time. But I stopped loving that girl completely quite long time back. She has no place whatsoever in mind and heart now.”

“Who was that lucky one whom you loved so much and why is she so unlucky now that you do not love her at all? How is that possible? Is it that easy to do so?”

“Kelly, I will tell you everything. First let us order a pot of hot coffee. It’s a bit longish story. I need to tell you over a cup of coffee.”

They ordered a pot of coffee between two of them. Kelly was still close to Shaan and she adjusted herself closer to him. Shaan felt a bit different today about Kelly’s overall behavior towards him. But whatever was happening between Kelly and him he liked it.

The coffee came and he started reeling out the entire story. He told her how he met Medhavi after colliding with her in the college corridor and instantly fell in love with her. He told Kelly each and every detail of the things that happened between Medhavi and him.

Kelly heard the entire story non-stop. At the end of the story she became quite sentimental. Her heart went out to Shaan and she found it natural on her part to plant a kiss of mixed emotions on Shaan’s lips. She said, “Don’t tell me any more.”

Then they sat together for a long time holding each other’s palms without speaking a word to each other.

Afterwards they walked back to Kelly’s home hand in hand. No one spoke with each other. Silence suited both of them under the given situation. After bidding good night to her at her doorstep, he retreated to his apartment. 

Shaan felt released of his pent-up emotions. 

Kelly felt satisfied learning Shaan’s story. Why? She was not aware of.

………………….

Medhavi came home from office. Samskara was home too. 

He enquired matter of fact, “Hey you got late from office? More workload?”

“No, the usual. But today boss requested me to stay a bit late. His entire day was crowded with one meeting or the other. But he thought that my meeting him was important.”

“Anything really important?”

“Yes. A new project is coming up in Japan. He wanted a few persons from here to join the Japan team. So I have been earmarked as I have all the skill sets that they need there. I will have to shift to Japan for an year or so within next one month or earlier. The company will make every bit of arrangements for me there.”

“But don’t you think one year is quite a long period?”

“But I may travel back and forth between US and Japan during this period as per the company’s needs. So it should be OK, I suppose.”

“OK. Let us see how this whole thing takes shape.”

Medhavi was happy to notice that Samskara did not object to her shifting to Japan. Perhaps because she would be able to travel back and forth between US and Japan and one year will not feel like a long period.

Medhavi was happy that she was finally getting her private space away from Samskara. She needed it badly. She needed to think over the issues that were creating some serious problems between her and Samskara. She needed clarity on them. She thought that she could do so by being away from Samskara for some time.

(Get your copy of the novel "Good People" as an eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BHH37G  only for $ 0.99. You may also like to get its Printed Book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Good-People-Dream-Boundary-World/dp/1479333085/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380916602&sr=1-8&keywords=shyam+bhatawdekar%27s+books)

Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/

Good People: Chapter 8: A Global Perspective

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 8

Kelly was the adopted daughter of a couple recently immigrated in USA. 

The husband Arun- an Indian and mother Yin- a Chinese became the citizens of USA some two years ago.  They got married while doing their research work in a reputed university of USA. Before coming to USA Arun lived in Delhi and Yin lived in Beijing. And they were destined to meet in USA some day later and they did. They had almost similar points of view as far as nationalities, religion, race, ethnicity etc were concerned. They were not much concerned about such peripheral issues. They were quite broadminded. It was good enough for them that they loved each other. 

After their marriage when they found that they were not capable of having a child of their own, they adopted Kelly. Plus they had promised Christie that they would adopt Kelly. 

Kelly’s mother Christie was their very close friend and colleague. She worked in the department where they were pursuing their research work.  But as luck would have it, Christie died of cancer and before she died she entrusted Kelly in the care of Kelly’s present legal parents Arun and Yin. Kelly was fourteen at that time.

In due course they adopted Kelly as their daughter.

Kelly’s biological mother was a single black American, an orphan brought up by an orphanage. Christie was born out of wedlock. She did not know her parentage and her religion. She soon turned into an agnostic. So she gave very little consideration to any religion. She further moved away from any religious inkling after her fiancé, a white, ditched her in favor of a younger girl and without any of her own faults. 

She once commented to Kelly, “Being associated with any organized religion or race does not compulsorily make you a necessarily good person. There are good and bad persons in every religion despite every religion’s commandments. And good people are good because they follow the real good commandments of life irrespective of the imperfections of the commandments of their own religions.”

Deception by her fiancé left deep painful scar on her mind. 

Emotionally torn by this incident, the single mother decided to remain single and nurtured Kelly to become a confident and independent young girl. As per wishes of Kelly’s real mother, Kelly completed her graduation and later her PhD after her present parents adopted her. 

When Kelly’s mother Christie came to know that she suffered from cancer and it was already in the advanced stage she had met Arun and Yin at their home. Arun and Yin already knew about her worsening condition.

She said, “As a good friend can I request you to look after my Kelly as your own child? Perhaps this might be our last meeting at you home.” And she grasped the hands of Yin in hers with tears in her eyes. 

Yin squeezed her hands in affirmation.

“Also let her pursue her graduate studies. I also have a strong desire that she should ultimately get a PhD. I want her to be intellectually, emotionally and economically independent after I am gone. Higher education does good things to people. And don’t worry about the money. I have saved enough and you can use it for all of her expenses,” Christie urged to Arun and Yin.

They promised to look after Kelly as per Christie’s desire.

That was their almost last meeting. Christie could not keep good attendance in the office and Arun and Yin got very busy writing their thesis. They did meet Christie on a few occasions but only for a few minutes at a time as she was already hospitalized soon after the meeting at their house.

After the death of Christie, Arun and Yin coaxed Kelly to stay with them. Knowing her mom’s last wish she agreed. She also agreed to pursue her PhD and with her hard work she completed her studies in just about three years. She also agreed to be adopted by Arun and Yin as their daughter. She had started liking them lots. She thought that they were excellent people.

So by now Kelly was a beautiful and highly learned woman ready to launch her professional career. She was strikingly beautiful with sharp features of her mother and the color that was a perfect blend of the colors of her father and her mother. 

Most of all she was a good human being.

So here was a girl born to a black mom, a white pop and adopted by a couple consisting of Indian American and Chinese American. Perhaps such a thing is probable in very few countries of the world. US could be one such rarity. 

Obviously Kelly did not belong to any religion. Being an independent thinker she had concluded by now the futility of attaching herself to any religion. Her deep studies and keen observations on the subject more than convinced her that no religion could offer or add more value to her existence any more than what she was enjoying being only a human being and not being labeled a Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist or Sikh or any other. Additionally even her adopted parents did not make any fuss about her non-alliance with any religion because of their own thinking, clarity and broadmindedness in this matter.

And no one dared to ask or probe into her religious or ethnic identity in USA. On paper, since the 1970s Americans tended to agree about the constitutionality and justice of guaranteeing equality of civil rights and liberties to all individuals in the country, regardless of race, ethnicity or gender. 

However, in reality one could always question whether such equality was a real thing in USA. Yet many individuals, societies and organizations did believe in it truly and followed it in spirit and to the letter. Kelly found not too much difficulty in finding a high profile job in such an organization though it was not all that easy.

In four of her earlier interviews, the recruiters tried to pry or probe into her religious and ethnic backgrounds directly or indirectly. Kelly had point blank asked them, “Are you aware of the constitutional stand on it?” Then the recruiters retracted but did not recruit her saying that her profile did not match the job requirements. So there were always some smart and fishy ways of circumventing the spirit of constitution of USA by those who were bent upon doing it.

Finally she had stumbled on her present employer ‘Super Soft Technologies’. Her present employer had the record of disqualifying and blacklisting the interviewers who were found asking questions pertaining to race, ethnicity, religion, sex or other such things of the interviewees. She came to respect this company more and more in due course of her employment there.

And she had maximum respect for her mom who had once told her, “You are lucky to have three different people around you- me as your mother and you new parents-to-be as your parents. You can learn so many different and good things from three different people having three different backgrounds. But make sure not to pickup the wrong things from any one of us from anyone else.”

Kelly always treasured this conversation in her mind.

She promised to herself that she would forever remember the essence of this advice of her mom whether it was related to a person or an organization or an organized religion. Take in good of all and shun bad of all.

(Get your copy of the novel "Good People" as an eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BHH37G  only for $ 0.99. You may also like to get its Printed Book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Good-People-Dream-Boundary-World/dp/1479333085/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380916602&sr=1-8&keywords=shyam+bhatawdekar%27s+books)

Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/

Good People: Chapter 7: Interesting Reading

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 7

Shaan did not reach his hostel room. Under the circumstances in which he was, his trained legs led him automatically towards the rocks at the bank of the huge lake some distance away from the hostel. Whenever he needed to think over any issue of importance he went to these rocks near the lake. The recently concluded meeting with Medhavi’s father and more so, Medhavi’s sharp reaction presented an important issue. 

He needed to think. He needed solitude. The serene atmosphere of the rocks and the lake facilitated in bringing home the clarity of thinking he needed. For a while he sat there all alone camouflaged by the rocks. Before he could start pondering on what happened at Medhavi’s place, he heard the giggle of a girl from another rock some distance away from where he sat.

“Why are you giggling like mad?” asked another girly voice.

The giggling girl somehow controlled her giggle and answered, “Wait a minute. Let us settle down on these rocks and I will tell you everything. I needed to share my victory with you. You are after all my best friend. Good thing, you were in your hostel room and I could drag you out here. I was impatient to spill out everything.”

Shaan’s curiosity got aroused as if it was a scene from some mystery movie. He shifted closer to the rock where the two girls were sitting. He made sure that they did not see him. He could not see them nor could he put a finger on whose giggle and whose voice he heard.  

Then he heard the giggling girl say something in whispers, “Anji, boys are real fools. And if the boy is weird one claiming that he is religion less, he acts still a bigger fool.”

The last remark made Shaan to bring his ear closer to the rock behind which the girls were whispering now. He wanted to hear more.

Obviously Anji could not have made out what the other girl was hinting at as she enquired, “Come out straight Medhavi, don’t talk so mysteriously and stupidly.”

Shaan got a jolt. He thought, “Oh! Then these two girls are Medhavi and Anjali (Anji for her short name). So Medhavi is trying to leak out secretly something about me to Anji- her best friend who lives in the girls’ hostel nearby.”

“This boy thinks that just being a topper in the university makes him eligible to propose me,” Medhavi quipped.

“But I thought you two were already in love with each other. What’s wrong if he proposed?”

“Anji, the love thing was a put-on from my side from the very beginning. The fool thought I was in love with him. I wanted him for a short while for myself, but for an entirely different reason. I wanted to learn the tricks of trade from him so that I could achieve my ambition of topping the university.”

“And you missed it and you are annoyed with him and want to take the revenge on him? Is that true? You are a first rate mercenary.” 

“The reason cannot be exactly the way you put it. The main reason is I never thought of loving him or marrying him because I knew about his social background. He has no social background- he is a religion less creature.”

“What do you mean?”

“Anji, Shaan does not belong to any religion. A couple- wife a Christian and husband- a Muslim adopted him from an orphanage.”

Anjali interrupted Medhavi, “The he must be either a Christian or a Muslim.”

“No. His legal parents were undecided about it. Though they themselves had got into an inter-religion marriage, for some reason they could not muster enough courage to decide the religion of their adopted son. So he grew up without being given a religion.”

“But he can now embrace anyone of his legal parent’s religions. He is quite an adult and has freedom to do so.”

“And Shaan has decided. He does not believe in being a part of any organized religion. He is weird. As per him he wants to remain liberated, does not want to be constrained by the narrowness of the existing religions, their lack of generosity and their enforced rituals.”

“Oh! It’s definitely a problem then for you. I cannot visualize even myself getting married to a religion less person. But why did you encourage him? And you talked about your victory. What victory?”

“Oh. I was mad. I wanted to take my revenge. This year again he did not let me top the list.  This was our final year and my last chance to be the university topper. Topping the final exam has been my biggest ambition all these years. As usual Shaan put a spoke in my ambition. I cannot pardon him.”

“So, where comes your victory? It is he who really won. He topped again.”

“No. I wanted to hit him harder than he did to me. I pretended that I was in love with him. Finally I encouraged him to talk to my parents and he did today. I knew that my parents would never agree for this marriage. They are devout Hindus and cannot think of marrying their daughter to a boy who belongs to any other religion. And Shaan is a far cry from it- he does not belong to any religion whatsoever.”

“My, you are a heartless person. So finally your parents refused. And you must have refused too by saying that you cannot displease your parents? Is that true?”

“Not exactly that way. My parents have been more civil with him than the way you put it. They have requested Shaan to give them some time to think and I reiterated the same to Shaan.”

“Will Shaan meet your parents again? He must have been mighty upset with you for not supporting him in his meeting with your parents. You towed your parents’ line.”

“Yes. Yet he will meet my parents. I am sure he will. He has deeply fallen in love with me. But I will pose helpless when he visits them next. My parents will declare their decision and I will go along with them somewhat indirectly. I will want to see his face getting disappointed in his ambition of marrying me. That will equalize.”

“But tell me had you topped the university would it have made any difference. Then there wasn’t any case of a revenge.”

“Revenge? No. But even then it would have been the same way. I can never think of marrying a person who does not belong to any religion. And of course I will always prefer a Hindu boy that too preferably from my own community.”

Shaan listened to this entire conversation between Medhavi and Anjali quite intently. Initially he felt hurt but soon controlled his emotions. By the time he heard their conversation up to this point, he became quite at ease with himself.

He enquired to himself, “How could I ever fall in love with this kind of crooked girl? I now feel as if I didn’t know her at all. The real Medhavi was a stranger to me.”

But he also felt downcast and dejected.

However, he was glad too that before he made a fool of himself in yet another meeting with Medhavi and her parents he came to know all of Medhavi’s intentions. So his job was done. He saved another meeting with Medhavi and her parents.

Medhavi would soon go out of his system.

(Get your copy of the novel "Good People" as an eBook from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BHH37G  only for $ 0.99. You may also like to get its Printed Book from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Good-People-Dream-Boundary-World/dp/1479333085/ref=sr_1_8_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380916602&sr=1-8&keywords=shyam+bhatawdekar%27s+books)

Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
Funny (and Not So Funny) Short Stories http://management-anecdotes.blogspot.com/
Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/