Chapters (40)
- Cover
- Also by Saumya Dave
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Acknowledgments
- Readers Guide
- Discussion Questions
- About the Author
- What’s next onyour reading list?
What should she have done differently back then? Could one conversation or compassionate statement have made the difference? If Bina was more patient, happier with the life she got, and not constantly wondering about the one she could have had, would Natasha not be on a psychiatric ward right now? Would Suhani be more at peace? And would she know Anuj better?
“Sheesh.” Mona shakes her head as she picks up the latest issue of Samachar in America. “You’re certainly making waves in Atlanta, aren’t you, Bina?”
The rest of the women laugh, some with nervousness, others with amusement. It only now occurs to Bina that that may be why some of them are here: to see the scandalous woman with their own eyes.
“She did always want to make an impact on a big scale,” Devi says. “Remember our Bina here walked away from a career in Bollywood.”
Mira stares at Devi on the screen as if she’s some exotic installation at the High Museum. Bina almost wants to shake her and say, Yes, she’s divorced AND teaches screenwriting AND goes on dates with men she sometimes invites back home! Would you like to interview her about any of those things?
“Cultlike!” Mona shakes her head in disbelief as she reads the article on her phone. “I still can’t believe this is how they’re describing you!”
The word echoes in Bina’s mind. Cult. Cult. Cult.
But as she watches the women read the story, she knows they’re right to be upset. Is this what she gets for trying to organize something that makes a small difference? Is this how she’s going to get treated after years—years!—of putting on community events, bringing people together, finding ways to give back?
Bina received a slew of Facebook messages after the first Samachar in America piece.
They fell into one of two categories:
- Those who agreed with Bipin and thought Bina was a culture killer and a danger to South Asian women everywhere
- Those who thought Bina was doing exactly what she needed to “teach these chauvinistic jerks a lesson” or “show the men who’s boss” or, her personal favorite, “tell them to stick it where the sun don’t shine”
(Who even thought of that phrase? It’s quite clever. At first, with the sun reference and all, it seems innocent, but then when you put it together it actually—)
“Bina!” Mona’s voice snaps her back to reality. “You were saying that we need to focus on why we are meeting here today.”