The Series: The Chronicles of Life Season 1

By Ms. Phils

Meet Runa, a Bengali and director of programming at HBO who is in love with an African American.

Meet Alex, an African American and a former hustler who thought he made it out of the game.

Meet Robert, a Caucasian, part owner of RK Sports Management, and all around hottie.

Meet Natallia, an Afro-Caribbean naturalista who is educated and beautiful, but she is in love with the enemy.

Meet Keely, a Japanese who is street-smart and savvy, and she is planning her dream wedding.

Meet Sheldon, an African American and a Southern gentleman who is trying to pave the way for his family.

Not to mention Adelise, Jason, Lori, and Tisha.

We can all admit there is a law of attraction in the universe that draws you closer to particular individuals—others more than some. These young adults are trying to plan their lives, but their past is always one step ahead of them. Indulge in the journey as they tumble through life. Six degrees of separation is very real...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Nov 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781483453408

Book preview

Burrell

EPISODE

1

Present

September 2015

8:00 am

Anaheim California

Runa’s parent’s home

Sitting on the twin bed in the room she grew up in; Runa packs her bags once again, as she gets ready to leave her parents’ home in Anaheim, California.

Runa, hurry up. You’re going to miss your plane. You know the traffic from here to LAX will be horrific.

A deep authoritative voice yells from downstairs.

Runa grabs her makeup bag, stuffs it into her Fendi carry on, and runs down the stairs. She kisses her grandmother, who sat on the couch watching The Price is Right.

Nani, when are you going to find another show to watch? Runa asked.

Remembering living in Moreno Valley before the family moved to Anaheim and no matter where she was in the house, hearing her grandmother yelling Come on down in her Bengali accent.

NEVER! This is the best one.

Share this with mom and Reina for me.

Runa hands her grandmother a box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates and a thank you note and gently gives her a kiss on her cheek. Runa closes her eyes as she mentally prepares herself for the car ride with her father. An entire fifty-two minutes of questions that she wished she could avoid.

Runa climbs into the Lincoln Navigator that she drove to and from high school with her sister. The memories they had with this car came flooding over her. She smiled to herself, but before Runa could even snap on her seatbelt…

So, why are you in such a rush to go back, when you wanted to stay here to escape?!

Runa rolls her eyes as she adjusts her passenger side seat.

I don’t understand why you keep dating outside of your race!

It’s not for you to understand! Runa snaps back. Regardless, I still have a job and a life. I can’t run away forever.

Well, if you had a nice Bengali boy with good values, you wouldn’t have to deal with the constant disrespect.

Runa held her tongue as she recalled having this same conversation forty-eight hours ago, and went nowhere. Attempting to change the subject, she asks about plans for the next family vacation. Every year around the holidays, it was a Mujib family tradition to spend the money on airfare instead of buying meaningless gifts. Even though the family had been in the States since before Runa was born. Mr. Mujib was never keen on having his children participate in the American culture. Runa vividly remembers never getting dressed up in a costume to go trick o’ treating for Halloween.

I was thinking we should all go to Canada.

Canada?! For the holidays. Are you mad? It’s far too cold. NEXT.

Well, I feel we have covered everywhere in the US, and you and your sister have been to a lot of islands on your own.

I’ve got it. How about a cruise? We’ve never been on a cruise.

You know your grandmother is too old and fragile to be in the middle of the ocean with no direct medical attention. I won’t risk it.

Fine. Well, you have about a month to come up with a better idea, but Baba seriously, nowhere cold.

OK, OK. Hopefully, around the holidays, you will have someone to bring with you. Someone with good values.

Here we go… Why does it always go back to this?

Why? Because you are twenty-eight, with no husband,- and no children. Back home, they would think something was wrong with you. I married your mother when we were eighteen. Your sister got married at twenty-one.

Yeah, but her husband is an asshole.

Why? Because he is Bengali and believes in the same home values?

No, but I know my sister, and she had a lot of dreams and potential before he came around and knocked her up. I’m sorry, but no man - Bengali, Black, White, Hispanic, or Asian - is going to stop me from pursuing what I want to do. I mean, who wants to just be a housewife all their life!

SLAM!- Runa’s father stepped on the brakes so hard that her head is forced to hit the dashboard.

WHAT THE… before Runa could finish her sentence.

I’m tired of you always thinking your way or the American way is better. Is that what you think of your mother?

"It’s not about the American way. It’s the present day way. Times have changed, and I will not marry a Bengali man. So get over it!

GET OUT!, Runas father screamed and then unlocked the car doors.

Shocked, Runa sat in the car still holding her head from the traumatic slam on the dashboard. Her father hopped out, pulled her suitcase out of the trunk, and left it in the middle of the highway.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

"YES, as you Americans would say, DEAD SERIOUS. Find your own damn way to the airport.

Maybe you can find a Black man to bring you because this Bengali one won’t"

This is exactly why I wouldn’t date one. Who leaves someone stranded in the middle of the freeway?

Well, at least I didn’t leave you stranded at the altar.

The words stung so hard that Runa had no comeback. She flipped her father the bird, and reached for the handle to climb out of the Navigator, but before she could close the door all the way, her father sped off.

Dragging her suitcase, Runa got to the shoulder of the freeway, and pulls out her iPhone to try and use her Uber app, but she has no luck, no service, and no specific location. Now she was really going to miss her flight. She was forced to walk. As the tears rolled down her cheeks, she headed for the next exit, so she could use a store as her pick up location. Thirty minutes later, she reached a 76 gas station where a cab driver was actually filling his tank.

Excuse me, are you available to take a fare? Can you please take me to LAX? Runa asked the man.

Unaware that her hair was extremely sweaty, with a knot on her head the size of a golf ball, and to top it off streaks of mascara running down her face.

The cab driver answered, Eighty dollars. Pay me now, before you get in the cab.

I have the money. I can show you, but I’m not paying you until I get there. Runa replied matter-of-factly.

The driver took a moment, a second look at her, and noticed that her luggage and handbags were all designer.

Runa opened the left rear passenger door and hopped in. Exhausted, she looked at her phone to see if her father had called… Nothing. No texts from anyone, just work emails. As she started to get teary eyed, the driver asked.

Are you a prostitute or stripper or something? Did you have a rough night at work? You have nice bags, but you look like shit.

Are you a private investigator or something? The last time I checked, you have one job. Shut the fuck up and get me from here to the airport.

Yikes! And a dirty mouth-You got it, Miss.

Feeling very out of sorts and disheveled, she grabbed her compact out of her bag and saw a complete mess reflected back at her.

She takes tissues from her bag to remove the makeup streaks from her face and reapplied her make-up. She grabbed a hair tie from her purse and puts her hair into a messy bun, but there was no covering the mass that protruded from her forehead.

Ugh!, I cannot stand him!. That’s why I left this damn town in the first place. I don’t know why I thought staying after the wedding would be a good idea. Runa mumbled to herself in the back seat.

Thirty minutes later, Runa arrives at LAX international airport. She looks at her watch; Ugh my flight will be boarding in 25 minutes and is departing in 45. With trying to get through security it will be a nightmare.

Runa then realizes with all the madness during her commute that she forgot to check in for her flight on her cell phone.

This has to be the worst day ever! As she stands in the ticket line, a tall man in a green sweatshirt and Yankee fitted, brushes past her Almost knocking her to the ground, running for his flight. He skips the whole ticket agent line, and then the TSA agent from security lets him through.

Well, who is he – Excuse me. I have a flight to catch too. This is ridiculous.

The lady in front of her turns and says They always do that for these damn celebrities like they better than us.

As she asks for forgiveness from some higher being; Runa turns her acting skills on in full force. Slouching over and dragging her leg when she approaches the ticketing agent. When the ticketing agent sees’ the bump on Runa’s head he automatically thinks she’s been robbed.

Miss, are you ok?

Yes I’ve been in an accident during my stay but I need to catch my flight so I can get to N.Y. to see my doctor.

There are plenty of doctors in LA. I feel like I should call a medic

NO! I mean honestly, if you really want to help, you can make sure I catch that flight leaving in 40 minutes.

The ticket agent signals for his staff to bring a wheelchair and just like that she fly’s passed the security line as well.

As the flight attendant escorts Runa to her seat she can finally drop that act. Her preferred window Seat 11E, surprised she even made the flight; she puts her carry-on in the overhead bin and takes a deep breath. As she sits in her seat Runa pulls out her kindle Fire, headphones, and neck pillow, ready for the 5 hours 5-minute flight to JFK.

Excuse me, is someone sitting here?

This must be his first time on a plane – Annoyed; Runa looks up "Does your ticket say11F?"

Like what kind of dumb ass question is that. It’s clearly a packed flight, read your ticket she mumbles under her breath.

You’re right, but I was just checking. No need to be rude.

Runa rolls her eyes as he takes a seat.

At this time, we request that all mobile phones and devices be turned off or on airplane mode for the full duration of the flight, as these items might interfere with the navigational and communication equipment on this aircraft. We request that all other electronic devices be turned off until we fly above 10,000 feet. We will notify you when it is safe to use such devices.

As the crew begins the in-flight passenger announcements, still angry, Runa sends one more text. I caught my flight and don’t worry about finding a place for the family trip this year because I won’t be there. As she turns off her phone, she feels satisfied with getting the last word in. Whether or not her father has a comeback, she won’t be able to read it for the next 5 hours.

So where are you from?

I’m sorry but I’m not in the mood, just please. I would like a peaceful plane ride.

Everyone has bad days, come on…

Yeah, so you should understand why I don’t want to talk.

You know what I’m going to leave you alone

THANK YOU!

About an hour into the flight her chatty neighbor looks knocked out and Runa’s head begins to pound. She almost forgot that her father tried to kill her earlier.

Runa reaches up to press the call button for the flight attendant. Fifteen minutes pass and no one comes to her aid and now she has to use the restroom. Frustrated Runa stands to find some aspirin herself.

Excuse me

Oh so now you want to talk

No, I want you to MOVE

He stands slightly as Runa passes and cannot help but to stare at Runa’s figure as she squeezes past him. Petite yet curvy, jet black hair and almond shaped brown eyes. He is slightly frozen by her beauty.

Oblivious Runa finds her way to the restroom. As Runa walks back she realizes that the flight attendants are giving refreshments and of course they have already passed row 11.

Just great now I have to push this non-working button AGAIN

However, when she gets to her seat she finds her tray table down with a coke, water, tea, aspirin and an ice pack.

What is all of this?, You don’t know how to back off do you?

Seriously most people would just say Thank you! I saw that you have a big ass knot on your head and I was just trying to help. Listen I didn’t give it to you and now I don’t blame the person who did. With that attitude you probably deserved that shit!

For the first time in the whole flight while he goes on this tangent Runa finally looks at him. His chiseled jawline and beard, green eyes, auburn hair perfect teeth. This might be the most attractive man she’s seen in a long time but he’s definitely not my type. Then she notices the Yankee fitted on his knee and a very familiar green sweatshirt.

I don’t know why you’re getting all worked up I didn’t ask for your help Runa finally interjects.

Cutting her off he continues- Runa likes the way he speaks with his hands and he’s so serious right now he’s actually turning slightly red in the face….Only dating black men Runa isn’t used to this.

I didn’t know what you would like to drink so I told the stewardess to leave options. Like why are you being such a BITCH."

Immediately Runa snaps out of her trance.

Excuse me what did you just say

I’m sorry no disrespect but you’re too beautiful to be acting so cold and angry Talk to me, just let it out. How the heck did you get this bump on your head?

He takes the ice pack and places it gently on her forehead. Frozen Runa lets him; I still can’t believe you just called me a bitch!

Listen I didn’t mean it like that- Think of it as an acronym like Babe In Total Control of Herself.

Runa immediately bursts out laughing.

That was so damn corny

She looks and catches his dimples at the corner of her eye as he licks