No, this is not about declaring bankruptcy 🙂
This is the chapter that I am currently writing. I expect it to be the penultimate chapter and that means the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight!
This chapter follows two separate story-lines that are like train tracks built from two ends with the expectation that they will eventually meet, and hopefully line up.
At one end was Gopal (Mr. Anandi) who arrived in San Francisco and quickly made a name for himself as a “Baba” – quasi-holy “Hindoo” – with contrarian views. Well-known as the husband who had supported his wife’s quest of a medical education, he now spoke out against women’s empowerment and blamed American society for its lax attitude towards its women.
At the other end was Anandi, by now very well acclimated to life in Philadelphia, having made a place for herself in the close-knit social and academic community. She was living in the home of the Dean of the college, had forged many close friendships, had mastered the study regimen, become acclimated to the extreme cold and had devised practical vegetarian meal plans.
Gopal’s views were shocking to the audiences who gathered to hear him speak. When newspaper stories about him reached the East coast, people who had come to know Anandi felt confused even while they worried about the reports’ effect on her. However, for Anandi, dwelling on his changing views about culture, and women’s place in it, was a luxury best left for another time.
She became preoccupied with rather more mundane matters relating to their reunion. How should they greet each other? A kiss, a common courtesy and a mark of affection among Americans, went against the Hindu norm. Would Gopal, especially the one in the new contrarian avatar, be accommodating or rigid about adopting (or adapting to) everyday American etiquette?
Given that she was now more knowledgeable than him about living among Americans, would he follow her lead? Or would she have to become, once again, the neophyte needing both permission and guidance?
The train tracks originating at opposite ends would reach each other; but would they be at the same level? would they be aligned?