Showing posts with label Best Novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best Novel. Show all posts

Saturday, January 18, 2014

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 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.

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Monday, December 30, 2013

Good People: Chapter 22: Interesting Climax




All the Chapters
Chapter 22


Next day Shaan woke up quite early in the morning and before he could set out with Kelly on the next day’s rescue operations, he went to meet Medhavi.

Kelly was already awake when Shaan woke up but kept lazing around on her mattress. 

She got curious to know what Shaan was doing. Shaan took the direction of the camp and Kelly followed him. She had an inkling that Shaan wanted to meet Medhavi. She was in love with Shaan and wished to understand the relationship between Medhavi and Shaan.

Shaan reached Medhavi’s bed and sat near her. He smiled at her, “How are you this morning, Medhavi?”

“I am good. I could not even thank you properly yesterday.”

“No formalities. Aren’t we old friends? Formalities don’t have any place between the friends.”

Medhavi felt ashamed of herself. She had tears in her eyes. She mumbled, “I am sorry Shaan. I did not understand you then. I have started understanding only recently what you used to tell me about humanity being over and above the petty things like religions and castes. How wrong I was!”

“Medhavi, it’s all right. Just relax.”

“No, I need to tell you that I was utterly stupid. I was overambitious and very jealous of you. I was a fool then.”

“Medhavi, I must not forget to tell you that your husband reached here yesterday and in the evening he came to see you. You were asleep then. We did not think it proper to wake you up. He will meet you shortly. Take a full day’s rest and then you can move with him in his hotel after consulting the doctors.” 

Kelly was standing a little away from the bed of Medhavi but out of her or Shaan’s sight. But she could hear the entire conversation that took place between Shaan and Medhavi.

Then she saw Shaan moving away from Medhavi’s bed only to turn back and reach Medhavi again. Kelly got more curious to know why Shaan wanted to meet Medhavi again.

So Kelly remained where she was positioned earlier and listened to the conversation between Shaan and Medhavi.

Shaan reached Medhavi and said, “Hey one more thing. I am curious to know why you still have my handkerchief with you?”

Medhavi smiled and replied, “Shaan, when you travelled with me to USA and dropped me at Anji’s apartment that day, I have been very angry with you all the time. On top of that I hurt myself while removing my bag from the carousel at the airport and you bandaged my wound by your handkerchief. So I was angry because of that too. In the rage of my anger I forgot to give back your handkerchief to you.”

“I wouldn’t have accepted it then because it was meant for your hurt leg.”

“Yet I wanted to be rid of everything that was associated with you. But your handkerchief remained with me. And then I don’t know what occurred to me, I could not throw it away. Not only that, over the recent months I started carrying it with me in my purse all the time. Subconsciously I always felt that your handkerchief would always protect me. I am so stupid and superstitious. But see in the end your handkerchief did save me today. It has literally given me the second life. I am so much indebted to you Shaan.” 

She further added, “I was waving the handkerchief at each and every rescue team that passed my building where I had taken the shelter but everyone ignored me. I don’t know the reason. Then I remembered that even in the last rescue operations that took place in the Indian Ocean, the rescue operators had practiced discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion and nationality. So I gave up all the hope. Death stared straight in my face every single minute. But I kept on unfurling your handkerchief to attract the attention of the rescuers. And finally your handkerchief proved so lucky for me.”

“Yes it was the handkerchief that gave me the clue that the girl holding it must be Medhavi. I had never before left any of my handkerchiefs with anyone. When I saw it through the binoculars, I saw my name woven in it. My mom did that to all of my handkerchiefs. Then I saw your face once again to confirm if you really were Medhavi.” 

“Shaan, even if you ask me that handkerchief back now, I will never ever return it to you. That’s my decision.”

Kelly was secretly listening to this conversation.

Kelly thought, “Is this girl still in love with Shaan? And what about Shaan?” 

Kelly moved from there before Shaan could reach the place where they resided. 

Then Shaan and Kelly resumed their rescue operations for the day. Shaan had no clue that Kelly had heard his conversation with Medhavi that morning.

But Shaan sensed some change in Kelly. Kelly acted every bit professional but quite detached from him at the personal level. Shaan wondered at her such behavior. Why such sudden change in her?

But they were too busy rescuing the people throughout the whole day and had no time to exchange any personal conversation.

………………….

Samskara was in constant touch with Medhavi’s parents. They arrived from India the early morning and met Samskara in his hotel room.

Samskara told them that he had met Shaan and through him he saw Medhavi in the camp. Since she was taking rest and already asleep he could not speak with her. 

Medhavi’s parents felt quite puzzled. Medhavi’s father asked, “What way Shaan comes into picture?”

“Perhaps you may be knowing Shaan because Medhavi and Shaan were classmates while studying in India. Shaan now works for a humanitarian organization of America called ‘Humanity Forum’. He along with his associate Kelly saved Medhavi’s life.”

“Did he really save Medhavi?” Surprise as well as doubt loomed large on Medhavi’s father’s face.

“Yes, it’s only because of Shaan that Medhavi is alive today.”

Hearing this Medhavi’s father looked at his wife with some meaningful gestures but Samskara did not notice it.

Samskara said, “Let us go to the rescue camp.”

Presently they were in Medhavi’s company in the camp.

Medhavi addressed to Samskara, “How do you know Shaan? You mentioned that you met him yesterday.”

“I do not know him personally but got to know his whereabouts through your diary.”

Medhavi was taken aback at this revelation. After reaching Japan she had realized that she had left her diary at home in San Diego. She was quite apprehensive about it because she wrote so many things in the diary, which she did not want Samskara to know at this stage. But she thought now that the damage was already done.

Yet she did not continue with the subject of diary in presence of her parents. But she decided that she would soon discuss with Samskara everything that was disturbing her because Samskara already knew everything after reading her diary.

Samskara was also keen on discussing Medhavi’s concerns that she wrote in her diary but not in presence of Medhavi’s parents.

(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/
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Sunday, December 8, 2013

Good People: Chapter 20: Anxiety and Love Story




All the Chapters
Chapter 20


By now Samskara found the other diary where the addresses and phone numbers were written.

He dialed the landline number of the apartment where Medhavi was residing in Japan. He did not hear any ring on the other side. He tried several times but the telephone lines were dead. It was the effect of the tsunami. Natural disasters always disarmed the man-made technologies.

Next best thing, Samskara thought, was to get in touch with Medhavi’s office in San Diego. He did that. But the office also was not in a position to contact its people in Japan. The whole communication system got disrupted.

He took out his car from the garage and dashed to the office of ‘Humanity Forum’. He met the receptionist.

He introduced himself and requested, “Can you please give me the whereabouts of your teams in Japan? I understand they have already reached Japan to start the rescue operations there. I wish to meet them personally so that I can urge upon them to save my wife who seems to have been affected by the tsunami.”

The receptionist gave the address where members of ‘Humanity Forum’ could be found in Japan.

Samskara then bought air ticket to travel to Japan by the next earliest available flight. He completed the other paper work that was required in connection with travel to Japan. He did everything on emergency footing. For him each and every minute was precious. He must save Medhavi.

………………….

Medhavi’s parents in India were equally worried. They knew that Medhavi was in Japan on an year’s deputation. They tried contacting her over the phone but they too could not get through to her. The communication from India to the tsunami-affected areas was totally disrupted.

Then they contacted their son-in-law Samskara. He told them that he too could not reach Medhavi on the phones and now he was already boarding a Japan bound airplane. He consoled them, “Please do not worry. I am going there personally and will meet the ‘Humanity Forum’ team from America who have already started the rescue operations.”

This did not satisfy the parents of Medhavi. They too started their preparations to travel to Japan as early as possible. It took them couple of days to get done the required formalities. And they too were heading towards Japan.

………………….

Kelly and Shaan were working in the team that was assigned the frontline rescue operations in Sendai area. All of them were working tirelessly for several hours without any break. Finally they were dog-tired. 

Shaan suggested to Kelly, “Let us take a break. Perhaps an hour’s break would help. After taking some rest we can work still longer hours with improved effectiveness and efficiency.”

Kelly was in quite a pensive mood. She remarked, “Human life seems so transitory at times like this. It is so very depressing. The total casualties in Sendai area alone have reached a gigantic figure within just few hours of outbreak of the tsunami. When we save one we find two already dead. The total of 13000 deaths have already been reported and it is likely to go up to around 16000 people. Tally of injured people is estimated at 6000 and missing people at 3000.”

They were conversing while they ate granolas to beat their hunger. They had brought good supply of dry foodstuff and mineral water bottles for distribution to the victims of the tsunami. They pinched some food and water from it for themselves.  

“One very disturbing fact has come to light. It is about discriminatory behavior of some rescue teams towards the victims. These particular rescue teams have been sponsored by some organized religions and nationalities. So they are showing their obvious preferences to the victims of their own communities and nations. That’s really sad.”

“Its good that we from ‘Humanity Forum’ are around and we are trying to save every single person we are coming across. We just saved one person who was bypassed by a religion-sponsored rescue team. He had pleaded with this rescue team but they did not pay heed to him. Around that time out team approached the spot and rescued this person.”

Kelly and Shaan decided to remain silent for next half an hour so as to feel appropriately rested.

Kelly spoke finally, “Shaan, I mentioned some time earlier that life seems so transitory. You are alive this moment and the next moment you are gone.” 

She paused for a while and looked at Shaan meaningfully.

She continued to speak, “Then I started thinking what is one most important thing I would like to do if I was destined to die this moment.”

“Why should you think this way? Don’t.”

“Let me continue. I need to grab this one moment before I die to complete my most important work before I finally die. Otherwise that important work will remain undone. And that most important work for me is to declare my love for you right away. Who knows I might be gone before I do so. Shaan, I love you too much.”

Shaan clutched her in his arms and reciprocated, “Why, that is my most important work too for this moment. Kelly. I love you too, too much.”

And they remained lip-locked for a period unknown to both of them. 

“Tell me frankly, do you still miss Medhavi?”

“No, Kelly. She is totally out of my system.”

“Medhavi let go a good catch like you. I won’t ever commit that mistake.”

They embraced each other again.

“Now we are fully refreshed. Kelly, let us move on and save some more people.”

“Let us move on, Shaan.”

Both of them resumed their mission of saving people.

(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/
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Monday, November 11, 2013

Good People: Chapter 16: Dilemma and Solutions




All the Chapters

Chapter 16


Kelly once said, “Shaan, with the world becoming a global village people seem coming closer to each other when it comes to business and making money. But socially people have remained as backward as they were hundreds of years ago.”

“Yes Kelly, grouping together only on the considerations of race, color, religion, caste, sub-caste etc still remains dominant socially. We cannot deny accepting that these considerations also enter the professional and political domains.”

“You and me and our parents are miniscule minority.” 

“Our parents united together despite all these considerations because they were satisfied with only one thing and that one thing is ‘goodness of human beings’ irrespective of these considerations.”

“If two good people like each other they can as well unite together irrespective of their other affiliations. Such an action will be more conducive to make the human race as one single race.”

“But it’s a long shot. It’s a distant dream and one cannot be too sure of it becoming a reality even in next hundreds of years.”

“Shaan, let us not be too philosophical about it nor too pessimistic about it. Let us be happy with the fact that you and me and your parents and my parents form a pretty decent group of human beings of diverse considerations. That’s good start in a good direction.”

“And hope other people learn to do similar things.”

“Shaan, our group members of ‘Humanity Forum’ also are great examples. They have already achieved what we are discussing. So the numbers are increasing.”

By this time Shaan’s parents Yusuf and Alice had visited America and met Kelly and her parents Arun and Yin. They spent some real good time together. Thus Christians, Hindus, Muslims and persons not affiliated to any organized religion from India, China and USA had become closely knit family friends. 

Arun and Yin often remembered Christie, Kelly’s real mother. Thus this member, an African American, also became a part of this wonderful fellowship in absentia. They had a special place for Christie in their hearts. 

Kelly and Shaan gradually became very good friends in addition to being good colleagues of professional and human activities.

They clicked together because basically they were good human beings though from very diverse backgrounds.

………………….

But Medhavi and Samskara were getting drifted away from each other despite having absolutely identical backgrounds.

On their first marriage anniversary they decided to eat out in some top-notch restaurant of the city. 

Medhavi suggested, “Let us go to ‘Thai Fest’. They serve authentic vegetarian Thai food and the ambience of the restaurant is absolutely amazing. I love Thai food; I have not eaten even once after our marriage.”

“I can’t stand any restaurant where they also cook non-vegetarian food. So, let us stick to a pure vegetarian Indian restaurant.”

“But none of the Indian restaurants here provide the kind of ambience I want for our first marriage anniversary. And this Thai restaurant I am suggesting does not mix non-veg stuff into the veg stuff or for that matter any other restaurant too. They must be cooking it separately. Or you suggest where we can have nice ambience as well as good food.”

“Let us not get into any argument. You know my views. Only Indian restaurants and only a few of them cook exclusive veggie stuff.  Let us choose one of those. Ambience is secondary.”

Medhavi did not argue. She did not want to make it worse on her first marriage anniversary. 

Medhavi’s first marriage anniversary was thus a washout right from the word go. The dissatisfaction lingered on till late that night. 

This dissatisfaction remained a permanent scar on Medhavi’s mind then on. She started judging every word, gesture and movement of Samskara with a jaundiced eye.

One day Samskara instructed Medhavi, “Our religious doctrines do not allow consumption of onion and garlic from July to September, the typical rainy season. So avoid using them during this period.”

“I did not know about it that this matter was so important. We knew this kind of restriction but my mom did not follow it strictly. In fact she thought it was always healthy to consume garlic in all the seasons. Now you tell me why this restriction?”

“I don’t know that. But we follow many traditions and regulations prescribed by our respective religions. It is true of every religion, not only of Hindu religion. People of each religion are supposed to follow such prescriptions, rituals and commandments decided by that religion. They are not supposed to ask questions.”

“I was like this before. I never asked any questions on religious rituals earlier. But now I feel like asking questions.”

Medhavi was assertive.

“Don’t do it. It will do more harm than good. It’s almost a sin to argue about the commandments of any religion.”

Medhavi did not utter a word. She preferred silence. Her arguments could have resulted in more flare-ups between them. One or two such weekly discussions bordering on serious disagreements had become a habit between Medhavi and Samskara. If it continued it could become a threat to their marriage. Medhavi wanted to save their marriage.

But soon Samskara’s repeated staunch religious behavior started getting on her nerves. At times she felt humiliated and other times she felt utter frustration.  Sticking to too many religious rituals too often was harassing Medhavi beyond her tolerance. She started to think that his behavior was getting more and more weird.

Now she was not willing to overdo the religious rituals as well as look down upon the people of other religions as Samskara normally did.

She thought, “I wish I had married any other decent man but without any religious tie-ups. I can now also imagine the people of other religions who overdo their religions and so are inflexible. I have no opinion of them too.”

In the mood of examination that she was in, it also occurred to her, “Why can’t the people simply concentrate on the good aspects of their religion and shun the retrograde aspects of their own religion? Why can’t they stop doing or overdoing the ritualistic and non-value adding chores after examining their utility as well as futility? Why can’t they appreciate the good aspects of other races, religions and communities and stop hating or looking down on them?”

She wanted to find solution to her problems with Samskara.

Then a little bit of wisdom started dawning on Medhavi under the tyrannical situations created by her husband. She decided to move away from him.

She thought, “A few months separation from Samskara might facilitate getting over their strained relationship.”

She decided to approach her boss in the office to request him to recruit her for the new project that was about to start in Japan. Early next morning before anyone else could step in, she entered the boss’s cabin. 

She put up her case to her boss, “The other day you had announced that you needed a few persons from our US office to join the team in Japan for the project there. I wish to volunteer my candidature. I fill the bill pretty well from all the angles. I have the requisite qualifications and skill sets to handle that kind of job. I am sure that I can contribute a lot.”

The boss said, “Let me go through your resume one more time. Prima facie you seem to be the right person. Give me a couple of days to finalize your name. Is that OK?”

“Thanks boss. I will wait to hear from you.”

(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/
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Monday, October 21, 2013

Good People: Chapter 8: A Global Perspective




All the Chapters
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/
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