The Dancing Girl

By Nillu Nasser

Ruhi is eighteen years old and determined to pave her own path through life, not such an easy thing in 1970s India. Her choices are not always her own, especially with a mother who rules the roost with cutting remarks and a whack from her rolling pin.

Yet when an unwelcome houseguest reveals a family secret, Ruhi may have found the key to her freedom.

Travel back to the world of the award-winning novel All the Tomorrows, in this short story about Jaya and Ruhi Kapadia before they became married women.

Evolved Publishing presents a prelude to the critically-acclaimed All the Tomorrows. At a little over 9,700 words, it's the perfect distraction from your hectic, stressful day. [DRM-Free]

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
• Release date: Nov 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781622530793

Nillu Nasser

Nillu Nasser is a writer of literary fiction novels. She also blogs, writes short fiction and poetry. Nillu’s short story “Painted Truths and Prayer Beads” was published in May 2016 in Mosaics 2: A Collection of Independent Women. Another short story, “The Tombstone Man and the Coming of the Tigress,” was published in June 2016 in UnCommon Origins, an anthology of short fiction. In 2017, “Tombstone Man” is scheduled to reappear in UnCommonly Good. Nillu has a BA in English and German Literature and an MA in European Politics. After graduating, she worked in national and regional politics, but eventually reverted to her first love. She lives in London with her husband, three children, one angelic cat and one demonic cat, though she secretly yearns for a dog. If you fly into Gatwick and look hard enough, you will see her furiously scribbling in her garden office, where she is working on her next story.

Book preview

Copyright

www.EvolvedPub.com

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THE DANCING GIRL

A Short Story

Copyright © 2018 Nillu Nasser

Cover Art Copyright © 2018 Dale Robert Pease

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ISBN (EPUB Version): 1622530799

ISBN-13 (EPUB Version): 978-1-62253-079-3

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Editor: Jessica West

Interior Designer: Lane Diamond

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

At the end of this short story of slightly more than 9,700 words, you will find a 2-chapter Special Sneak Preview of the author’s first novel, All the Tomorrows, which has shared characters with this story. We provide this as a free extra service, and you should in no way consider it a part of the price you paid, if any, for this short story. We hope you will both appreciate and enjoy the opportunity. Thank you.

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eBook License Notes:

You may not use, reproduce or transmit in any manner, any part of this book without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews, or in accordance with federal Fair Use laws. All rights are reserved.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only; it may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to your eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or the author has used them fictitiously.

Books by Nillu Nasser

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All the Tomorrows

The Dancing Girl – An All the Tomorrows Short Story

Hidden Colours

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www.EvolvedPub.com/NNasserBooks

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www.NilluNasser.com

What Others Are Saying about Nillu Nasser’s Books

ALL THE TOMORROWS:

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Nillu Nasser is a gifted and a great entertainer. This novel is balanced and utterly engrossing. ~ Romuald Dzemo, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews

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An involving story of the tides and trajectories of love. ~ Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review

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Rich in engaging, realistic characters who grab readers’ hearts and minds and don’t let them go till all the story is told. And what a story it is! ~ Viga Boland, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews

HIDDEN COLOURS:

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A provocative, heartfelt journey from the first page to the striking conclusion. ~ Alyssa Elmore, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews

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"Nasser eloquently explores racism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia through a narrative that’s tender, haunting, and fearless...Hidden Colours is an unforgettable tale of personal trauma and social justice." ~ Caitlin Lyle Farley, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews

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"Hidden Colours is a must-read for those who enjoy interpersonal drama and are also concerned with the cold, discriminatory hatred that’s seeping into our world." ~ K.C. Finn, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews

BONUS CONTENT

In a special sneak preview after the story, you’ll enjoy the First 2 Chapters of Nillu Nasser’s award-winning literary saga ALL THE TOMORROWS.

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OR GRAB THE FULL EBOOK TODAY!

YOU’LL FIND LINKS TO YOUR FAVORITE RETAILER HERE:

Nillu Nasser’s Books at Evolved Publishing

Table of Contents

Copyright

Books by Nillu Nasser

What Others Are Saying

BONUS CONTENT

Table of Contents

Dedication

THE DANCING GIRLS - A SHORT STORY

Special Sneak Preview: ALL THE TOMORROWS by Nillu Nasser

About the Author

What’s Next?

More from Nillu Nasser

More from Evolved Publishing

Dedication

For H.

When you came, my life was never the same again.

Dream big.

The stars are yours if you want them.

Ruhi sweltered in the oppressive heat of the classroom as the clock hands inched forward. A fan oscillated on the ceiling, recycling the warm, musty air. Tendrils of damp hair had escaped her ponytail, and sweat trickled down the valley between her breasts. She had big plans for that afternoon once she escaped college and the tyranny of Miss Khan’s history test.

The paper on her desk lay unmarked by her pen, with the exception of an ornate mandala she’d sketched in the corner next to her name. The room echoed with exertion—the scratch of pencils and the shifting of bottoms in chairs—but for Ruhi, college wasted the energy she longed to invest in her real passion.

Education until eighteen, her mother said on repeat, her full features warped into bloody-mindedness, as if she’d tasted a bitter papaya, and then marriage as soon as we find you a boy. That’s your path.

Regardless of her mother’s iron-clad steers, Ruhi determined to carve out her own path.

Miss Khan stalked the aisle between the creaking desks in her plain shalwar kameez, keeping a stern watch over her students, her bushy eyebrows knitted into one long caterpillar.

Ruhi cupped her arm around her work to hide her lack of effort from the teacher. Miss Khan would be furious tomorrow when she’d