“Still moving around slowly, but going to be fine. So how do you feel? This is your last night here. It’s too bad that you’re going so soon.”
“Yes, well, it was time to go. I found a better job you know, and it is at least in the daytime and in my field.”
“Yeah, that’s good. I’ll bet Salma will be pleased about that.”
“Yes, it will be good for all of us.”
“Well, I’m glad for you. But it’s too bad that you won’t be here anymore. I’ve enjoyed,” she pauses, trying to find the right words, “meeting you.”
“Yes. Me too. Maybe we will meet somewhere again. Who knows? The world is not so big. Maybe you and your father will rebook your trip and you’ll take classes with Salma again?” She knows that he is saying this to be kind, to smooth away the layer of tension they both know lies beneath their words. She knows that Salma will likely never offer classes to her or Asha again. Maybe it’s better that way, she thinks.
“We did have cancellation insurance. My father must’ve had a premonition about that. Maybe we’ll go next year. I don’t know. I do still need to learn Gujarati,” she says, participating in his kindness.
Shaffiq bends down to reach for her garbage can. She gets to it first and hands it over to him. He tips it out into his bag. He notices that inside is an empty coffee cup and the crusts from what looks like a tuna sandwich.
“Thanks. Look, before you go. I have something to give you. Something I want you to have.”
She reaches across the desk and grabs the small gold box. She fingers the glossy surface a moment and then thrusts it at him, feeling shy now. “Here, please take this. I want you to have it. It’s a good-bye gift.” He hesitates a moment, wondering about her intention. Then, he regards how she holds the box out to him, sees her brown fingers clutching the sides tightly. He looks into her eyes and sees within them a secret shared between them. Her eyes are kind, friendly, understanding.
“I thought you might like it. I saw you looking it at a few weeks ago when you were in here cleaning. My parents bought it for me years ago when we last were in Bombay and I wondered it might remind you of India.” She smiles warmly at him.
“Thanks,” he says, “it is very nice.” He could say more, but decides against it.
There is a twinkle in her eye and so Shaffiq allows his own eyes to rest a moment on hers. He takes the box from her as though it is the most precious thing that he could ever own and sets it on top of his cleaning cart. Nasreen watches as he moves down the long hallway, rounds a corner, and then disappears out of sight.
Acknowledgements
No book is ever written alone. I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by a community of family and friends who have nurtured me and this novel over the last few years.
Thanks to my first readers who I (very tentatively) passed these pages to and who gave me critical feedback and encouragement: Maria Gould, Samantha Haywood, Amina Ally, Esther Vise and Silvana Bazet. I’m also very grateful to my editor, Luciana Ricciutelli, who offered significant insights and helped me with final revisions.
To all of my family and communities who root me in the world, and who inspire my characters—a big thanks. Special appreciation goes to my father, Shamoon, my sister Fariya and my Aunty Rashida (for honouring my creativity), and to my Aunty Roshan (who helped me choose names).
To the past and present members of my writing group—Teenah Edan, Saira Suberi, Nuzhat Abbas, Leah Piepzna-Samarasinha, Julia Gonsalvez—I owe you a debt of gratitude for helping me grow as a writer.
A huge thank-you to the “circle of agents” who support me in various ways: Nupur Gogia, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Shoshana Pollack, Anke Alspach, Anju Gogia, Michael Pastore, Jake Pyne, Ginny Santos, and Hershel Russell.
And finally, to my partner, Judith Nicholson, who has been a constant support since the beginning of this project—this is for you.
A glossary can be found at www.farzana.com.
Photo: Judith Nicholson
Farzana Doctor is a Toronto-based writer whose work has been published in Siren Magazine, Trikone, Sightlines 7 Anthology, and Aurat Durbar. She has also had chapters, reviews, and articles published in edited books and journals, has co-written a manual for therapists, co-written plays, and co-produced a documentary video. She is also a social worker, educator, and consultant.
Visit Farzana Doctor’s website at www.farzanadoctor.com and her blog at www.farzanadoctor.wordpress.com.
Stealing Nasreen Page 27