Desi Train

7:30am

La Jolla, San Diego

Vineesh Rao, stood with his back resting on the wall of the bistro, facing the ocean. The rain had forced the bistro owner to remove all his chairs and tables from the porch. Vineesh had a cup of coffee in his right hand as he glanced at his wrist watch.

He looked up. There was no sign of the rain stopping anytime soon. Everything around him looked a tinge blue. He had this soft melancholic feeling as he gazed at the ocean with blank eyes. It was Thursday. The whole of the American west coast was driving its way to work. But not Vineesh. He had taken a couple of days off from work.

He checked his watch again. Ten years in America had taught him to be patient. He decided to wait for some more time before making the call. Life is going to change… again Vineesh wished his parents were here, this morning.

The third son of a mechanical engineer from Bangalore, Vineesh, like both his elder brothers had followed them to America, in pursuit of his MS and then later on working as a Civil Engineer for one of the Consulting companies.

But he had always been lonely. An introvert, unlike his two elder brothers, who could not understand why Vineesh preferred to stay alone on the west coast when both of them could have done so much for him if he moved close to them in New Jersey. But Vineesh, needed his space, even if it meant the here-again, gone-again, feeling of loneliness.

“Are they here?” Maya the Italian bistro owner’s wife, who had known Vineesh for more than 5 years inquired.

“No not yet… perhaps they are stuck in traffic” Vineesh replied using his eyes to point at the rain.

“Ok. Let me know when they come in. I have some delicious breakfast cooked up for them… I’ll send you another cup of coffee”

“Thanks” Vineesh smiled. He turned back towards the ocean looking at it through the curtain of thick rain drops. A puddle of water was flowing close to where he stood, barely missing his feet. Vineesh looked down and noticed petals of a rose flower flowing in the puddle into the dust and sand at the edge of the cemented porch. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be this tragic

Rains. They always gave him a soft lazy feeling with a touch of melancholy.

Freeway 5 North, Orange County

Akhil Gupta sat in his car, feeling trapped. Traffic on the 5 was virtually at a standstill. The only noise in Akhil’s car was the sound of the wipers, and the sound of the rain outside. He simply sat in his seat, watching at nothingness in front of him.

Rains made him sad. They depressed him. At some sub conscious level, Akhil was resisting the feeling of sadness knocking on his doors, demanding to be let in. I don’t need this. Not now. Not now

The year so far had been tough. His girl friend broke up with him, even when he had been thinking of asking her to marry him. A month later, his sister called from Jaipur. Their mother had passed away. Heart attack. She was declared dead before arrival at the hospital.

After being encouraged by his father to pursue his dream in America, Akhil had returned back after a 3 week leave. But life was never the same again.

In an attempt to run away from pain and sadness, each evening brought him, Akhil took to drinking. It wasn’t helping either. Life for Akhil, like the traffic on Freeway 5, was at a standstill.

The car in front started to move. It took a honk from the car behind Akhil, to wake him up from his state of blankness. Akhil moved the gear in drive and tapped the accelerator.

Atlanta

Raju Gaur sat on his chair in the enclosed 10 feet by 10 feet booth at the gas station. He was whistling. The customer outside paid him a 20.

“20 on number 5”

Raju nodded and set pump number 5 on his computer to pump 20 dollars worth of gasoline. He went back to whistling. He looked out to check the rain from his glass window. No sign that it will stop soon

Rains always brought him luck. It was raining the day he landed in America 9 years ago, to work with his uncle. In spite of an engineering degree, his uncle convinced him to forget looking for an engineering job. “There’s more money at gas stations and convenient stores”

And Raju worked for the next 9 years with his uncle. They both managed the 3 gas stations for an aging Indian couple, who barely left the house except for a weekend’s drive to an Indian store or an Indian restaurant.

Two months ago, the couple had called in Raju and his uncle and expressed their wish to sell the gas stations off. They wanted to offer one or all to Raju and his uncle, if they could come up with the money.

It was time. Good times were about to begin. They started running to banks and loan companies. And last night, the last of the loan they needed to buy all three gas stations was approved. Raju and his uncle would soon become the owners of three gas stations.

Raju, still whistling, looked out of the window of his booth. Rains. They always brought him luck.

Seattle

Neha Mehta was getting frantic. Nervousness made her forget the red light and she almost was hit by the car which had surged forward on its green. “SHIT SHIT SHIT!!!”

She saw a Starbucks on her right and decided to stop for a hot mocha and soothe her nerves. Neha locked her car and trotted into Starbucks. Mercifully there wasn’t a line. She picked up her mocha and sat on the chair facing the street. The heavy rain drops would hit the glass pane with speed and then suddenly turn into tender drops fighting for life as they slipped down in slow motion.

Neha had been in the U.S. for over 7 years now. It had turned out to be a roller coaster ride. More lows less highs. Now as she glazed outside at the rain, she prayed, she would get the job. For over 6 months, after being laid off, Neha had attended one interview after another, but there was no job, just interviews. She thought her problems would be over after she received her degree in architecture, but it was not to be. Life had never been a smooth ride.

And she was getting desperate. Her father passed away a few years ago and she wanted to bring her mother over. She knew her elder brother didn’t treat her well. She wanted her mom. But her unemployed status prevented her from doing so.

Then a month ago, her aunt called her up from Bombay. Neha’s elder brother had thrown their mom out of the house. He planned to sell the house and make a neat amount for himself. Her mom ended up staying at her sister’s place, Neha’s aunt.

It was now a rush. A rush, to get her mom, over to America. First there was anger. Anger towards her brother, then hate, then contempt and in the end there was nothing but depression. Sadness, over her inability to be able to help her mom.

Please God, I need this job. For mom’s sake. Please give me this job

She checked her watch. The place of the interview was two blocks away. Neha got up and walked out and stood below the canopy of the coffee shop. She looked up in blue sky.

Dear God, please let this rain wipe all my problems away.

She put her purse over her head and starting sprinting towards her car.

9:30 am

Orange County

The office was silent. Akhil was busy punching in code on the program he was working on, when his colleague Tim walked into his cubicle.

“Did you hear the latest?” he asked Akhil in a hushed tone.

There was thunder and both of them looked up.

“Gosh, it is a storm or what?”

“Perhaps” Akhil let a faint smile. The sadness still enveloped him. He wished he could have taken the day off.

“Listen Aki, they are laying off more people today”

“Oh God”

“I think Ramesh and Al are next to go. They both have been called in… and they have called me too at 11”

“Shit…”

“Fuck man… I don’t know what to do.”

“It’s ok. I guess they wanna discuss the new project”

“I hope so”

Akhil’s phone rang.

“Akhil, Good morning” It was his boss.

“Good Morning Allen”

“Akhil could you come up to my office”

“Yes sure”

Akhil got up to leave. “Allen’s called me in”

His heart started to pick up speed. Please God. Not now. Not today. I’ll kill myself if they lay me off

As Akhil walked towards the elevator and pressed the “UP” button, his body had begun to mildly tremble. The year had been tough on Akhil. Please God… don’t let them fire me. Please.

Atlanta

Raju did his usual round of cleaning the mess around the pumps with the broom. The lightening and thunder would set his heart beating fast. Business was slow. The downpour had increased and the streets were almost empty except for an occasional passing vehicle.

Raju stepped into his booth and locked it from within. He opened the accounting book and started entering numbers, when his phone rang.

It was his uncle. He was at the bank signing the papers.

“JAI MATA DI!!!!” Raju pumped his fist in the air. He did not notice that he had stood up in his excitement.

“Raju, I should be done in an hour. Let’s have lunch together. I’ll be over at the gas station by 11am”

“Okay!!! I’ll put Jose on the counter during the lunch hour”

“Raju, I have tears in my eyes. Twenty years Raju. Twenty years. But God finally blessed us.”

“Unclejee, our bad times are over. This rain is the sign of that.”

“Yeah Raju. It’s time to smile and realize the dreams we came to America for… ok they are calling me back. I’ll see you at 11 Raju”

“Okay Unclejee. See you at 11”

Raju put the phone down and noticed the guy standing at the window. Raju pushed the cash and receipt tray forward and spoke into the mike “Yes Sir?”

The man was in his late thirties. He had a week old beard and un kept hair. He wore a trench coat. His eyes… Raju noticed his eyes… Another druggie

The man placed a bunch of lottery tickets and pushed the tray back in. He leaned towards the mike for customers on the outside.

“Could you check these please”

Raju counted the tickets. They were twenty in all.

He put the first ticket under the scanner. A few seconds later “Expired” flashed on his screen. He looked back at the guy and leaned into his mike “This is expired”

“Could you check the others please. I’ve been sick and haven’t had the chance to check them for sometime”

This is going to take some shitty time. Raju looked at the pumps outside. No car except the druggie looking guy’s was parked outside. Well, what the hell. Let’s help him out. Raju picked up the next ticket and started to scan it.

The thin plastic tube, hidden inside the arm of his trench coat, was slowly moved out into the tray. He used his fingers to carefully slip the tube deeper into the tray. A slight push and the tube was now inside the locked booth. The guy then used his left arm to squeeze the bottle.

Gasoline started flowing through the bottle, into the pipe and landing on the floor of the locked booth. He looked at Raju, who was still busy scanning the expired lottery tickets. The man needed 10 seconds to empty the bottle. The gasoline was enough for the entire booth and all things in it.

There was another flash of lightening followed by thunder.

“Man, this is a crazy rainy day” He smiled.

“Yes Sir, it sure is” Raju smiled back without looking from the screen flashing “Expired” after “Expired” messages for each ticket Raju scanned.

It was around the 16th ticket, that the smell got his attention. Raju jerked his head all around to see where the smell was coming from, until his eyes caught the puddle of gasoline on the floor next to his chair. His eyes caught something shiny. The end of a yellow tube was resting on the floor and crawled back through the gap between the tray and the window… back into the long sleeve of the man’s right arm.

Raju immediately stood up “WHAT ARE YOU DOING MAN!!!”

The guy quickly took out a match. He smiled “All the cash or I turn you into a fucking Indian bonfire”

Raju slipped out of fear and crashed on the back wall of the booth. The sudden turn in the peaceful morning was slowly sinking in. He had never been robbed before. His breaths turned faster and his heart was beating hard now. There was shock on his face.

“Didn’t you hear me you fucking Indian? Your cash now or I throw this match in.”

There was no thinking required. Raju quickly opened the cash tray and started removing everything it contained.

La Jolla, San Diego

Vineesh saw traces of a ship deep in the ocean. The curtain of rain drops had turned thick. La Jolla looked beautiful in rain. But not as beautiful as his Jenna. He was in love with Jenna. Madly in love. But the fear of being rejected by the family prevented him from talking about it to his brothers.

Jenna could never understand, Vineesh’s fear. But she never questioned him about it. It was the first time in her life, any man had made her feel, completely happy, completely content… and complete. For the first time she wanted to do a lot for the man in her life. For he had made life beautiful for her. In spite of its ups and downs. Life had never looked so beautiful.

She secretly attended cooking Indian cooking classes and one day surprised Vineesh by cooking him his favorite dishes. And one day she entered his bedroom wearing just a sari, which had Vineesh rolling off the bed in shock.

She loved him. The sweet tender moments he gave her were precious than anything else. Yet she would be hurt whenever she found that Vineesh’s brothers had arranged another boy-girl-meeting for Vineesh with single Indian women, who were introduced to them through friends and family.

The girls would come in; meet Vineesh at a restaurant, and leave. Vineesh would keep making excuses to his brothers over the phone. He had not yet found the courage to tell them the truth.

Until… Jenna landed at a restaurant with her friends where Vineesh was having this traditional-boy-girl-meeting-for-marriage discussion. Vineesh had told her about it. He though did not mention the place they were meeting.

Something broke inside Jenna.

“Vineesh… I can’t keep going on like this. I… I can’t. It’s too painful” she mentioned to him three days ago. “… And neither do I want to be the cause of you breaking up with your family… Vineesh… I think its best I leave town… I’m moving to Salt Lake City… far away from you.”

That night both Vineesh and Jenna cried in their bedrooms.

Vineesh then called his eldest brother.

“American? How can you do this Vineesh”

Vineesh had no reply. He simply kept crying.

“Vineesh. Don’t cry. Listen. I’m coming by the next flight. Don’t cry Vineesh”

The flight was delayed and they decided to meet at the Bistro at La Jolla, his brother’s favorite breakfast place.

Jenna Vineesh sighed.

He stepped out from under the canopy. The rains hit his body. He looked up at the sky and then close his eyes. Come back Jenna… come back please But there was no one. Just the rain drops hitting his face, mercilessly.

Seattle

The three interviewers shook hands with Neha.

“Thanks for your time Neha… we’ll let you know about our decision in a day or two”

“Thank you”

Neha walked out of the office. Her heart was sinking. She had seen it all many times before. We’ll call you about our decision in a day or two No one called back. No one.

Her cell phone rang. It was her aunt from Bombay.

“Neha beta how are you?”

“I’m fine. What happened?”

“Your mom wants to talk to you beta”

Neha did not want to talk to her mom. She did not want to give her another unhappy news. Her interview had not gone well and she would not get the job.

“How was your interview Neha?”

“Ma… it was ok. I don’t know”

“Neha… it will be ok.”

“How are you?”

“I’m ok Neha. Your brother has sold the house and has moved to Bangalore with his wife and kids. He did not even bother to call me.” She started crying.

“Ma…”

“Neha, it was your father’s wish that you get half of his property… if only he had made a will… I don’t have anything to give to you Neha”

“I don’t want anything Ma. I just want you. I’m praying that I get a job soon, so I can bring you here with me”

“I want to be with you my dearest daughter… I want to… before I die”

“Ma!”

“Neha… please let me come to you. I’ll live on a loaf of bread… but I want to be with you…” She started crying again.

Tears started rolling down Neha’s eyes. Life and its ways The picture of her mothered decked in gold carrying a six year old Neha in her arms flashed in front her. Today, she was crying for just a loaf of bread. A sudden pain enveloped Neha’s chest. She felt a pricking feeling in her heart. God please… don’t be so harsh on us…

She couldn’t take it anymore and switched off the phone.

Neha slowly walked out of the office building, getting completely drenched in the rain. But she was drenched even before she stepped out of the building. The sadness and hopelessness of life had drowned Neha in them.

As Neha took her the keys to open her car, she broke down… she started crying in the parking lot. She eyes shut, while her mouth parted to let out a cry of pain… of grief. Her legs gave away and Neha fell on the ground, next to the door of her car, crying out loud. God… please have mercy on us… please come and help us. God never came.

10:05 am

Orange County

Akhil was driving slowly. He couldn’t see clearly. His wipers were doing a good job. They swept the rain water off his windscreen pretty quickly. It was his eyes. They were filled with water.

Akhil… we are sorry, but we have to let you go

A car behind Akhil honked in anger. “GET MOVING YOU ASSHOLE”. It veered to his left, showed him the finger and over took him.

It’s not your work Akhil… we are cutting costs… sorry

Everything was lost. His girl. His mother. His job. Everything was lost.

Jim, our security manager will escort you out of the office. Here’s your last pay check. Good Luck

Akhil couldn’t breathe. His depression was sucking the air out of him. He noticed a shopping plaza on his right and entered the parking lot. He rolled the windows down. Rain drops started to fly inside his car. Everything is lost… everything is lost

He stepped out of the car. His eyes were still moist from the crying. He was numb now. Numbed by his own pain. He looked up from the ground and saw a grocery store in front of him.

Everything is lost

“Where do you keep pesticides?”

“Aisle 16”

Akhil walked in and found what he was looking for. He needed another thing that was available in the pharmacy section.

Everything is lost

Akhil picked up the white bottle from the pharmacy section and moved to the checkout counter. The girl at checkout smiled and scanned his items.

“You are all drenched”

Akhil stood silent.

“You look a lot like my ex boyfriend…. His name was Atul”

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Everything is lost

“… that will be 16 dollars… I’m sorry… but can I ask you if you have a girlfriend?”

Akhil merely closed his eyes No

“… Debit or Credit…”

“Debit?”

“Do you live close by?”

Everything is lost

“Would you mind if I gave you my number?”

She scribbled her number on the receipt and gave it to Akhil. There was something in his eyes that made him so attractive. She looked in them for the last time. They look so sad. She wished to hold him and kiss him.

Akhil walked out back into the rain.

Everything is lost

He stepped into his car and locked the doors.

He opened the three bottles and emptied them in the empty water bottle he had bought. Next, he opened the whisky and poured it in the water bottle. After shaking the bottle to mix the ingredients, Akhil took a sip.

Everything is lost

Akhil started crying again.

Sorry Dad… but it’s time to go

He took a large gulp from the bottle. It would take about 20 minutes for the poison to kick in. He took another gulp.

God… give me something better in my next life

It was 5 minutes past his first sip of the poison.

Akhil took another large sip. The drowsiness should step in any time now He dropped his head back on the headrest. He was tired. His eyes were feeling heavy.

He took the blade out. It was time. He passed the blade over his left wrist. Blood oozed out quickly. The intended vein had been deeply cut. He couldn’t keep his eyes open anymore. Bye Dad

The heavy brick landed on his chest and splinters of glass flew in all directions inside the car. Akhil opened his eyes with a jerk. “Wha…”

It was her.

“GET OUT YOU BASTARD…” She unlocked the door and pulled Akhil out of the car. As she held Akhil while sitting on the road next to his car she called the number “… yeah… and I think he’s got some poison inside him… I’m holding him here in front of the grocery store”

No No No… I want to die I want to die

“I… want to die..” Akhil murmured in his semi conscious state

“WHY? DO YOU THINK I WAS AN IDIOT TO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU WERE UPTO WHEN YOU BOUGHT ALL THAT SHIT?”

“Everything is lost”

“No it isn’t”

“Let me go”

“NO I WON’T I WON’T I WON’T”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve found my Atul back and I won’t let him die again”

She bent down and kissed him on his lips. “I won’t let you die again. I won’t let you die again”. She started crying.

Akhil let out a faint smile. He was fast slipping into unconsciousness. He still didn’t completely understand her actions… but after a long time, he felt peace… the faint sound of the ambulance rushing towards them reached their ears. She planted another kiss on his eyes… and whispered in his ears “I’m Mary”

For the first time in many days, Akhil smiled from his heart… as he half opened his eyes. Both Mary and he were drenched in the rain pouring over them as Mary sat on the ground holding him in her lap.

The rains… they aren’t that bad… not bad at all…

Seattle

Neha couldn’t stop her crying. Everything stored and locked inside her broke lose. The rains started pouring harder. Why Why Why us??? Krishna why us Krishna Krishna Krishna

Her cell phone started ringing. She was not listening. All this pain for what? Tell me Krishna? Why us why us why us? There was no reply from Krishna. The ringing on her phone stopped. She paid no attention.

With great effort Neha pulled herself up. She wiped her tears off. The rain drops wet her face again. Neha leaned on her car and stood there. She kept staring at the drops falling on the ground. Her cell phone rang again.

“Neha Mehta?”

“…Y…yes”

“Neha, this Jim Colbert. We just interviewed you half an hour ago”

Huh!!!

“Neha… we decided to stop wasting our time interviewing anyone else”

Huh!!! Huh!!! HUH!!!

“Neha… we would like to offer you the job… if you are still close by… could you drive back to us. We’ll get you the appointment letter right away.”

And for the first time in her life Neha cursed… WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!

“Are you there Neha? Hello…”

“Yes yes Jim… I’m here…”

“When can you join us?”

“Right away!!!”

“Fantastic!!! How far are you?”

“Oh… I’m… about 10 minutes away”

“Great then we’ll see you in say about 10 – 20 minutes?”

“Yes sure. Thanks Jim”

Neha switched off the phone.

WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!!!!

She looked up in the sky. The rain drops were tenderly kissing her face.

Krishna… thank you thank you

As Neha slowly turned towards the office building, she leaped in the air… THANK YOU KRISHNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

It was time to call her Mom. She would now be able to get her Mom to America. It was time for change. It was time for good times.

Neha, for the first time, felt the rain, all over her body.

Wash my pains away… wash them all away

Atlanta

“Here’s the cash… please don’t hurt me…” Raju was pleading. He was close to a nervous breakdown.

The man stuffed his coat pockets with the cash from the tray. He then took the rest of the pipe from inside his coat sleeve and dropped it in the tray.

And then he gave Raju the look. His eyes contained no emotions, no feelings. It had simply death written in them. The man lighted the match and smiled at Raju.

“Please don’t please don’t”

“Die you fucking Indian”

He dropped the lighted match inside the tray. The gasoline immediately caught fire. The man ran towards his vehicle. It was time for him to take off.

“Please Sir Please Sir…” Raju screamed “PLEASE SIR HELP HELP HELP BACHAO BACHAO BACHAO”

He tried to open door, but it had been shut from the outside.

Raju tried slipping back into a corner to get far away from the fire. But there was no room to escape. As the fire started touching other inflammable material in his booth, its hunger grew, eating more, growing bigger and bigger…

“SOMEONE HELP SOMEONE HELP SOMEONE HELP BHAGWAN BACHAO BHAGWAN”

The fire was a foot away from Raju. He started kicking the door. The heat and the smoke were quickly getting to him. “GOD PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME PLEASE HELP ME”

The door refused to budge open. His feet were the first that lighted up. Raju desperately tried using his hands to put the fire out on his feet.

There was no escape. The fire engulfed his legs. Raju started kicking his legs in the inconsequential space. The fire had now reached his chest.

The rains got heavy. The roads were empty except for a few passing cars. A taxi driver noticed the fire in the booth and dialed 911.

Raju’s whole body was engulfed in fire. He made one last desperate attempt to kick the door open. The fire had weakened parts of the wooden door. A part of the door tore open with Raju’s kick.

“AAAAAAAAAAAA HELP AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”

Raju tried squeezing himself out of the opening. The sharp burning edges of wood ripped open his soft burning flesh. Raju managed to squeeze out. It was darkness. The fire had eaten his eyes out. Now, out of the cabin, Raju ran. In his blinded ness, he bumped himself into the pillar of the gas station, knocking himself down.

Life was leaving Raju’s body. He struggled, to get up but fell down. He tried crawling out in a random direction.

The rain… THE RAIN THE RAIN… RUN OUT IN THE RAIN…

Raju tried crawling out from under the large roof of the gas station. He could hear the rain. He was close. He was damn close.

No no no… I can’t die… I just bought the gas station… life is getting better…

Raju was a foot closer from the rain hitting the earth, where the over head roof of the gas station ended. The drops of rain were falling barely twelve inches away from him.

Raju gave himself another push to move forward. The fire had eaten away his outer skin. His inner organs were now melting away.

I can’t die… I… just… station… mine

Raju tried pushing himself one last time… he didn’t move.

Ram Ram Ramjee… help me… can’t… die… station mine

With the last ounce of energy, Raju stretched his hand far out, in an attempt to reach the rain.

It was pouring heavily now. And as Raju took his last breath, a drop of rain reached the tip on his outstretched hand, landing on his index finger. The direction of the wind changed. Many rain drops followed the first one. And a few simply settled down in Raju’s burnt palm that was facing the sky.

As the last breath left Raju’s body, he had his last thought, before darkness enveloped him forever…

Rains… were supposed to be… lucky…

La Jolla, San Diego

Vineesh had his eyes closed, fighting the tears from spilling over. His wet drenched clothes were sticking to his body. Jenna… I can’t… I can’t marry anyone else… Perhaps it’s time to break away from my family… Jenna would never agree to this

Vineesh opened his eyes. Rain drops mixed with his tears as they rolled down his cheeks. Maya came to the porch to see Vineesh getting wet in the rain.

“Vineeesh what are you doing???”

It broke Vineesh’s train of sadness for a moment.

“I… thought…”

“What? Get in you fool. I’ll fetch you a towel”

She rushed in to get a towel for Vineesh.

He stared back at the ocean. His brother would be here anytime now. He knew how it would go. The family couldn’t accept anyone outside his community, so Jenna was out of question. His brother would come down on him, strong and heavy.

Jenna would then become a dream… a dream that I could never bring to life.

A car in the parking lot on his right, honked once. Vineesh kept staring at the ocean I have to meet Jenna… once… God… please let me meet her once

The car in the parking lot honked twice now. Vineesh looked in the direction of the sound. His jaw dropped.

His two brothers and their wives were standing in the rain in the parking lot looking at him.

Jenna was standing between them, smiling.

Vineesh still had his drop jaw expression when Jenna rushed towards him and embraced him.

“Whaaat what what’s going on?”

Jenna kissed him.

“Your brothers would like you to marry no one else but Me.” there was a twinkle in her eyes.

“What? How did that happen?”

“They somehow found my number and called me up two nights ago. They all came last evening and we all met for dinner where we talked and talked.”

“What?”

His eldest brother walked in.

“You idiot!!! Why didn’t you tell us about her before? I’m not sure we would have been able to find anyone better than her in the whole world for you”

“But…”

“No buts. Come on. Let’s go in. I’m hungry and we have to find a pundit for a good day for both of you to get married.”

As the family moved inside the bistro, Vineesh held Jenna tightly in her arms.

“How did this happen?”

Jenna moved her mouth close to his ear and whispered

“Magic”

And as the rains poured, the couple embraced each other tighter than they ever had.

10:30am

Seattle

Neha was jumping over the poodles of water as she jogged her way back to the office building. There was glow on her face. She was smiling as she dialed the number on her cell phone.

“Mom… pack you bags!!! You are coming to America!!!”

Atlanta

The gas station was swamped with fire men, medics and police cars. The body of Raju was being zipped into a bag before being pushed into the ambulance.

In between this crowd, Raju’s uncle was sitting down on his knees, crying inconsolably. The files containing the bank’s approved documents had slipped out of his hands, as the papers flew around getting wet in the rain. Why him? God why him? He was one hour away from becoming the owner of this gas station. Why him? Why my kid? There was no reply.

Orange County

The medic looked at Mary. “He’ll survive”

Mary smiled and looked at Akhil. He was semi conscious and had his eyes half open.

“Thank you”

“No Sir. Thank you.” She took his hands in hers and kissed them. Akhil looked out of the ambulance’s window.

It was still raining.

But he didn’t feel sad anymore.

La Jolla, San Diego

Vineesh moved down on his knees as he held Jenna’s hand. The rain made it difficult to keep his eyes open while looking up. Jenna gasped.

“Jenna, my angel… will you marry me?”

Jenna kneeled down and held him close to her.

“Yes. Yes. Yes.”

Vineesh tenderly held Jenna’s face in his palms and leaned forward to kiss her lips. He opened his eyes and realized that they both had tears in their eyes.

10:35am

Seattle . Atlanta . Orange County . San Diego

And as each of them flowed and sank further into the wave of emotions, they all looked up at the sky… at the same time.

The rain… It had stopped.

[End]

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3. Desi Souls: Lost in America He had always been troubled by the thought of the...
4. Chase: An American, A Terrorist and The Guru Chapter Two : The Hunter is focused, the Hunted…...
5. Chase : An American, A Terrorist and The Guru Chapter Three : Escape to India Sanket Shukla was...
6. The Chase : An American, A Terrorist and The Guru Chapter One : The Chase Begins The train took a...
7. The MBA GANG : Chapter Two This fiction has been removed except for a brief...
8. The MBA GANG : Chapter Six This fiction has been removed except for a brief...
9. Help a desi but don’t get screwed… After weeks, was I able to smile even in a...
10. The MBA GANG : Chapter Seven This fiction has been removed except for a brief...

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 14th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Filed under Desi Soul Series, Fiction
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