-“Ma'am, I don't know if my center is the right one for you, but I heard it was reopening. If you want to, I can bring you to the director. He's a friend of mine.”
-“Yes. Thank you Nilanthi! You're very nice.”
The next day, Mr. Thusara warmly welcomed his visitors and showed them how everyone contributed, in one way or another, to rehabilitating the structure that had been damaged by the tidal wave. George Wilson, Shaheen's husband, raised his sleeves and began to take part in the work. It was nice to see him work: in Massachusetts, he owned a small construction company and thus knew exactly what to do... not to mention that he was as strong as a bull with two shoulders like those! The only thing that affected the harmony of his appearance was his prominent belly.
-“My abdominals are way overdeveloped!”
-“It's all because of the beer you drink, honey!”
Nilanthi had already witnessed this playful bickering between husband and wife the first night she had met them.
Shaheen stayed with the director, who explained that, in a dramatic situation such as the one the country was experiencing, the authorities were very lenient towards those who wished to adopt a child, thus significantly simplifying a bureaucratic itinerary that would otherwise be rather complex.
Shaheen told him that George and her were unable to bare children no matter how much they wanted one and that they were thinking about adopting one.
-“Director, what can you tell me about Nilanthi?”
-“She's a sweet girl, if handled in the right manner, as opposed to her sister Amandeep, who's a real sweetheart. Unfortunately, they have already turned twelve and are no longer under our care. Moreover, the woman who had them in custody recently died in the tragedy! Poor girls...”
-“So, what will happen to the little one?”
-“I don't know ma'am. As far as I'm concerned, I can only send a report to the juvenile court.”
Over the following days, Nilanthi continued to go back and forth from the campsite to the orphanage, where her new friends were making important contributions to the reconstruction work.
-“So, Shaheen... Did you make your decision?”
-“It's not easy, Nilanthi. My husband is going crazy, he's already fond of all the children!”
-“George truly is a good man...”
-“Yes, I know and that's why I adore him!”
Nilanthi had familiarized with other aspiring parent couples, especially with a German one. She had spoken English with them and had accompanied them here and there.
The days went by quietly, until the director summoned her in his office one day. Mrs. Wilson was sitting at a distance and a woman in a uniform - she had never seen before - was standing before her. All three adults had serious and very harsh faces, so Nilanthi guessed they were about to give her some bad news about Amandeep. She remained cringed in the chair the director had given her until they began to speak. Her heart was beating wildly even though the bad news didn't concern her sister.
-“My dear, since your legal guardian has died in the recent disaster, we had to inform the juvenile court of your current conditions and it was decided that you must be entrusted to an institution near the capital of Colombo until you reach adulthood.”
Nilanthi thanked Buddha she was seated because she felt faint. A minute later, she was hoping to have misunderstood what had just been said.
-“What are you saying director?”
Thusara remained in silence for a few minutes and Nilanthi turned towards Shaheen, who was staring at the floor.
-“Listen little one,” said the director, “you will be safe there and you will receive the education you always wanted”...
-“Colombo is hundreds of kilometers away and I want to stay here to find my sister.”
Without realizing it, Nilanthi had run to seek refuge in Shaheen's arms.
-“The search continues. Highly qualified individuals are taking care of it,”
while pointing to the lady in the uniform, he continued, “Agent Kumara has been assigned to escort you to the institution.”
The woman quietly approached her, but Nilanthi continued to stare at Shaheen and at the Director in bewilderment.
-“Please,” she said with a broken and desperate voice.
-“Come on girl, be good,” said Thusara.
The agent put her hand on her shoulder, but Nilanthi pulled away. At this point, Mrs. Wilson stood up and asked, “What if my husband and I took her in?”
The director shrugged his shoulders and said, “You would have to be residents here”...
Shaheen didn't even need to think twice about it.
-“Then, we will adopt her!”
-“Well, then. This changes everything. Agent Kumara, if I take this matter under my full responsibility, do you think you can disregard your assignment?”
-“Of course,” said the woman, whom appeared relieved.
-“Mrs. Wilson, would you like to take some time to think about it and perhaps to speak of it with Mr. George?”
-“There is no need to do so Director!”
Nilanthi waited for a few seconds, she wanted to be sure she had understood what had just happened, but then saw her reflection in her future mother’s beautiful smiling eyes. She hugged her strongly and broke out in tears.
When she was able to speak again, she asked Shaheen, “But, George and you wanted a child... I mean a small child”.
-“We wanted a child to whom we could give all of our love!”
-“And... What if Amandeep comes back?”
-“Then, it would mean that the whole family would finally be reunited!”
Nilanthi gave her another hug, an even unbelievably stronger one than the first.
-“What will George say,” asked Nilanthi.
-“Do you really think we weren't already thinking about choosing you?”
Two days later, Geroge said goodbye to his wife and daughter and returned to the United States to resume his normal business activities. Shaheen and Nilanthi would join him later.
In the following weeks, there were still no traces of Amandeep. In order to spare some agony to her daughter, Shaheen went alone to the morgue of Colombo, the capital, where the bodies left by the sea had been transported. The authorities had reconstructed the victims’ facial features on a computer program since the water had devastated their faces. Shaheen knew she was there to identify a girl who was identical to "her" Nilanthi, but to her great relief, Amandeep hadn’t been amongst the victims. She returned to her old aunt's house, where Nilanthi and her were being hosted, to tell her the good news. Then, however, she had to insist...
-“Listen Nilanthi, we must give ourselves a deadline. Our new life together will be in the United States and we must leave in a couple of weeks, even if we do not receive any news about your sister. However, this doesn't mean I'll stop searching...”
-“Yes, mother. It's right this way...”
A warm tear scrolled down her cheek, but no other ones followed because Shaheen hurriedly kissed her on the eyes. The following days were slow and boring, but Nilanthi had to improve her English and therefore used the time to practice the language with her mother, to make sure the prepositions and verbal phrases were no longer an issue for her.
Second and last part - The United States
At the Boston aiport, George Wilson and his radiant smile approached Shaheen and Nilanthi, whom had already seen him from afar: a man of that size doesn't go unnoticed!
-“Nilanthi, there's no hurry, but I'd like to hear the progress you made in English,” said George to his daughter.
-“Alright, but don't expect too much!”
Nilanthi had no trouble calling her new adoptive mother "mom." Actually, she had immediately done so as soon as Shaheen had taken her in, but was still calling her father by his name. He was a classic sweet giant and she enjoyed calling him George. Deep down, she had hoped he didn't feel bad about it and knew it was just a question of time since her heart alre
ady perceived him as her "dad."
The new home was in Marblehead, near Boston, where she her first challenge awaited her: high school.
This obstacle was only in her head because there was nothing challenging about it. In fact, the community had welcomed her with kindness. Her classmates, who immediately nicknamed her Nilly, found her friendly and respected her. Her parents adored her, as she did them. Practically, Nilanthi could finally say she was a happy girl. As happy as she could be given the huge emptiness she still felt inside her.
As promised, Shaheen continued to search for Amandeep on Internet and by keeping in touch with the Sinhalese authorities and US embassy, but to no avail. She had also sent them updated pictures of Nilanthi/Amandeep since the girls were still growing.
The Wilsons were convinced they had done well to adopt Nilanthi and knew they were providing her with a perfect life. Sometimes, however, they heard her cry at night and would be willing to do anything to see her completely happy.
When Nilanthi reached her adolescent years, George and Shaheen had hoped that her beauty would facilitate her relationships with boys and that love would help her heal that bad sense of emptiness that continued to accompany her. But, in reality, the girl stayed away from all the pleasant and secure things life had to offer, such as a boyfriend or best friend.
It was as if she had blocked out her emotions, waiting for the only news that could make her totally happy.
Subconsciously, although not that much, Nilanthi felt guilty to have abandoned her sister to her fate: a feeling that made no sense when analyzed in a rational manner.
Nonetheless, one thing still managed to alleviate Nilanthi's pain, the memory of two little girls laid down on their rug: "Study for me too," Amandeep used to say, kissing the palm of her hand.
She fully focused and devoted herself to her studies, often losing track of time and even contact with her surrounding world at times. She’d sometimes even find it hard to return to reality, as if awakening from a dream.
-“Nilanthi is a special girl!”
Dilip, her first teacher, had been the first one to say so. Then, her teachers at the state school of Marblehead followed suit, such as professor Adams, her math teacher and counselor.
-“Good morning Miss Wilson, have a seat. It'll just take a minute, so you can soon return to your break.”
-“It doesn't matter Mr. Adams.”
-“As you well know, high school students will start filling out their university applications in a few weeks and... I was wondering if you’d considered MIT, here in Boston.”
-“I've dreamed about it more than anything else! It’s the best school for anyone who wants to pursue studies.”
-“I carefully examined your resume and had long discussions with your teachers. Well... We all seem to agree that you deserve to get admitted there more than anyone else.”
-“I don't know what to say sir, I'm flattered!”
The man took out an envelope from the drawer of his desk and pulled out a piece of paper, which he handed to Nilanthi.
-“I've expressed these words in a more detailed manner on this presentation letter, which you should attach to your application, if you deem it appropriate.”
-“Of course professor Adams!”
Nilanthi continued to attend school and to achieve the highest results without letting anyone or anything "distract" her from her University project, as she had always been accustomed to. Anyone else would have boasted about such a chat with professor Adams, but not her. She just took pleasure in defining herself as a "lean fighting machine," paraphrasing a famous movie.
Once, however, she let herself go and jumped off the ground: when she ran towards her parents all excited, while waiving the letter confirming her admission to MIT in the air.
The Wilson home was so proud.
-“I had always wondered why my family moved from Illinois to twenty kilometers from Boston: it was to make sure I could stay close to my daughter while she went to College... You see, it all makes sense now,” said her beaming father George.
Shaheen hugged Nilanthi, utterly unable to say a word.
A month later, George and Shaheen drove their girl to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where the best brains of the entire planet worked and studied the most diverse subjects: from engineering to architecture, from natural science to biology. And much more...
Nilanthi didn't want them to accompany her to her room and stopped in the lobby of her dorm. It was time to say goodbye and she hugged George first.
-“You’re advantaged compared to these big brains from around the world, you only have to whistle and we'll be here in fifteen minutes... whether it's for a pepperoni pizza, a book or if you simply need someone to tell you a joke.”
Nilanthi laughed at her father's words.
-“Thanks dad, I'll try to make it on my own, like the rest of my classmates, but it's nice to know you could be here in just a few minutes if needed.”
At that point, George walked out of the glass door to give some time alone to Shaheen and their daughter.
-“I was afraid to lose you after high school, but you chose a university right around the corner.”
-“We'll see each other often mom!”
-“Alright, but let me know when it starts being too much!”
-“That would never happen!”
Professor Watson, the grandson of the two scientists who discovered the double DNA helix, directed the department of molecular biology, where Nilanthi immediately began to stand out; her recombinant DNA studies had been acclaimed by the scientific community of the institution (... study for me too).
She thought of her first teacher, Dilip: would he have been proud of her?
That thought turned on a light bulb. If one of her studies were to end up on an international science journal, then her teacher would be able to read it and if a small picture of herself would be attached to the article, it could travel around the world and help her find Amandeep.
And... If she were famous, her face would be everywhere and more people would be able to recognize the similarities between the famous scientist, perhaps even Nobel prize-winning scientist, and an anonymous Sinhalese girl.
Maybe... it would be best to focus on this thought and to channel it through her work and education.
Nilanthi spent much of her time with her head in the books or on MIT's microscopes: she had very few distractions. Once, however, her classmate, Kiko Tamada, approached her in the cafeteria.
-“You're living like a nun Nilly. Why don't you come with us to the inauguration of that place in Vassar Street! Sometimes, we nerds can have fun too, you know!”
Nilanthi, who always had an excuse ready, couldn't find one and decided to accept the invitation. It was clear, even if unconsciously, that she wanted to experience a frivolous evening away from usual nitrogen and polymerase.
-“I think you're righ Kiko. See you at eight? Under the arcs?”
-“Yes, Nilly, at the arcs, but let's make it nine since it's just around the corner.”
The noise was deafening at Vassar's, at least for those who weren't used to it. Nilanthi's classmates threw themselves in the crowd without hesitation, but she preferred to sit at the bar. After a while, Nadine, a girl from Namibia she had met in the library, joined her.
-“You're not dancing Nilly?”
-“Never when I'm sober! Perhaps after a few drinks... A long island ice tea, please!”
-“Two!”
Before they finished their drink, a rather tall guy with an awful breath materialized himself behind the girls.
-“Look at what beautiful sweet chocolates we have here, one dark and the other milky!”
As if undecided, perhaps too much for him to choose from, the man began to stretch out his hands in an attempt to grasp them, like the tentacles of an octopus would do.
-“Go away, you jerk,” yelled Nadine, while Nilanthi had turned around to look for help. However, the bartender who'd served her wa
s no longer behind the bar. When she turned back around, she saw he was already dragging the annoying man away by his collar. Then, he returned behind the counter and started making conversation with the girls.
-“It's a bit early to take out the trash, I hope I won't get a fine for it.”
Nadine burst out in laughter and Nilanthi smiled, saying
-“Thank you”.
-“Woody,” he said as he held out his hand.
-“I'm Nilanthi...”
-“Nadine!”
Woody shook their hands and apologized as he dismissed himself: a customer preferred him over the other two bartenders. Nilanthi understood why... Woody truly was a handsome guy: tall, strong and mulatto. Too bad he had so many tattoos, one even ran up the left side of his neck all the way up to the base of his ear. She could even distinguish a blend of races in him.
-“Hey! You're eating him out with your eyes,” said Nadine.
Nilanthi felt embarrassed and threw herself into the crowd, on the dance floor. She resisted as much as she could, until she was out of breath, and walked outside of the place to get some fresh air. Woody had also gone outside on a cigarette break.
-“Are you leaving Nilanthi?”
-“I don't know, I have to see what my classmates want to do. Thanks again for earlier...”
-“When a jerk turns into a sex offender under my eyes, I cannot stand on the sidelines, it becomes personal!”
The gangster version of a knight, thought Nilanthi.
-“I'm off in less than an hour. This isn't my job, you know. They only hired me for the inauguration, but they could hire me if the place blooms!”
-“I hope so for you!”
-“Thanks, but I don't really... Hey, listen. If you wait around until the end of my shift, I'd like to take you home.”
-“I live near here, on the MIT campus.”
Struck by the Sea Page 2