Rima's Dreams: From Shallow to Deep

By Sameer Zahr

Rima, a young and very beautiful Russian girl brought up during the Soviet Regime, is a talented pianist. Her parents have groomed her for a musical career, but Rima had different dreams...

When a scout discovers her while on a visit to Stockholm, Rima signs on with a modeling agency in Moscow and quickly becomes a sensation. H

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sameer Zahr
• Release date: Oct 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781951933777

Sameer Zahr

Sameer Zahr is the imaginative mind behind the captivating novel "Midlife Moon: From Darkness to Bright Light." With a lifelong interest in writing, Sameer has penned ten novels, all of which are available on Amazon, weaving tales that carry poignant messages of love and transformation for humanity. A seasoned international businessman, Sameer embraced his passion for storytelling after retiring, bringing a wealth of worldly experiences to his literary endeavors. Each of his ten books reflects Sameer's commitment to infusing his narratives with humanitarian and spiritual themes, offering readers stories that uplift and inspire

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Rima’s Dreams

Copyright © 2020 by Sameer Zahr

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN

978-1-951933-80-7 (Hardcover)

978-1-951933-78-4 (Paperback)

978-1-951933-77-7 (eBook)

Table of Contents

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1

Rima woke up on the morning on her twelfth birthday in the cold month of February. She lived in the city of Kursk, Russia, where she had been born in 1965.

Without changing out of her nightgown, Rima raced down the stairs full of excitement. It was her birthday! When she reached the living room, she literally jumped with joy when she spied both her parents beside a baby grand piano. At the appearance of their precious daughter, Rima’s parents broke into big smiles, pointed at the piano and began to sing Happy Birthday.

This surprise gift of a piano was definitely beyond Rima’s expectations. It was an extremely generous gift in an area known in general for the deprived living conditions of most of the town’s inhabitants. Most of the residents of Kursk had to wait in line to go inside the shops, to try to buy the few provisions they could find and afford for their families.

Kursk, which had roughly 400,000 inhabitants at this time, had survived the largest tank battle in history between the German and Soviet armies in World War II. The war had devastated the town; the city was still being rebuilt, and the people of the region were still suffering.

Rima’s parents were of somewhat meager means, yet they tried as best they could to spoil their only daughter. They did not allow her to do shopping for their household, as they did not want her to have to stand in line for hours, as was the norm at the time. To afford a piano for his daughter, Rima’s father, Mikhail Maldov, had diligently saved his money from his army retirement allowance for more than a year.

Mikhail was a strong man of honor and integrity who had fought as a high-ranking officer in the Second World War. He had later been discharged with the medal of an honorable Kursker Knight.

Russia’s Kursker Knights had been around for centuries. Prince Igor had characterized them back in 1032 as …gray wolves, they lope in the field, seeking for themselves honor, and for their prince, glory. This description accurately captured the essence of Mikhail Maldov.

And on this day, Mikhail was elated to see happiness on the face of his own princess, Rima.

As for Rima’s mother, Tatiana, she was thrilled as well by this clear evidence of her daughter’s joy.

Tatiana, a gifted draftswoman, served as chief draftsman in the city planning division of the municipality. She and Mikhail had brought up their children as best they could.

Rima’s brother, Vladimir, was ten years her senior. Both he and Rima were the pride of their parents. Yet Vladimir had to leave the family when Rima was eight to serve his mandatory three-year term in the army. At the end of the term, Vladimir moved to Riga, Latvia, where he planned to live the rest of his life next to his aunt whom he loved, and to collect his army pension as a handicapped officer. He was not able to make it home for Rima’s twelfth birthday. He preferred to live in Riga, where his mother came from and where he had many relatives he wanted to be with. He was mainly supported by a small government allowance due to his exposure to radioactive material during his service in the army.

When Mikhail told the only child he had left in the house that he had arranged for a piano tutor to give her lessons at home, Rima gave an excited nod of her head at the news. She had a gift for music, and now she was motivated by the gift she had received. So she was determined to give piano playing her very best effort in the future.

As she entered her teenage years, Rima remained shy and conservative and was quite close to her parents. Her friends loved her graceful and quiet character. At school, Rima attracted young men her age or older, who always tried to get closer to her.

She was thought of as the prettiest girl in class. She had dark-blonde hair that hung down past her shoulders. Her neck was long, her complexion creamy. Her large beautiful blue eyes stood out and were full of depth. Her lips were full, and her nose small and quite perfect.

Rima also sported a slim figure and long, toned legs. She looked good wearing a simple outfit of faded jeans and woolen sweater.

Yet the more compliments Rima received from her classmates, the more withdrawn she became. She became more and more focused on her studies and her piano playing. Her parents tried to encourage her to go out with friends and develop her social skills, but she viewed such as a waste of time. Her response was always the same: These boys are shallow and lightheaded!

Rima simply preferred to stay home, studying, playing the piano, and reading, rather than attending meaningless parties. While in her home, Rima spent much of her free time reading about the Western countries, in the hope that one day she could visit them. Her father frequently talked about the United States and the good people he had met during the war.

Rima would have loved to travel to such a place, but there were serious restrictions about overseas travel: The country regime did not give Rima or the rest of its people the freedom to fulfill such dreams. Nonetheless, Rima imagined herself doing so one day, and so she posted maps of Europe and the United States on the walls of her room.

It wasn’t until her late teens that Rima finally had a close friend in class.

Luda was smart and funny to be with, although not as beautiful as Rima. Still, Rima enjoyed finally having a close friend to converse with in class, and to have someone her age in whom she could confide.

Luda, though, differed from Rima in that she was always eager to find boys her age to take her out and party. Luda tried to lure Rima into joining up with her on these escapades, but again and again, Rima turned her down. Other girls also tried to befriend Rima for the same reason, but they finally gave up asking, accusing her of being boring and aloof for refusing to join them on their nights out.

The only man who, therefore, was a constant in Rima’s life was her father, Mikhail. Rima did not mind this at all! She knew how much her father cared about her, and his stories, whether they were about his travels or something else, were entertaining and meaningful, unlike the shallow ones told by the boys at school.

When she turned eighteen, Rima entered the Sveridov music college in her town, Kursk. The new environment allowed her to meet students and professors who were more focused and industrious than those who attended or worked at the high school.

As a result of these interactions and exchanges, Rima started to be somewhat more open-minded about others, and willing to socialize with her peers. It did not take long for Rima to become admired and sought after by many of her fellow music students, as well as the music instructors. Rima was dazzling and radiant, boasting an almost permanent smile on her face that increased her attractiveness.

Since Rima continued to dream about living abroad one day, she worked part-time playing the piano as an accompanist to the students at the music college who were learning to sing. When she had enough saved, she used her earnings to book a spot on a Russian cruise ship during the month of August 1984, after her first year in college.

Luda would be joining her on the trip, with the friends sharing a stateroom. Both were enthusiastic about visiting the northern countries, and especially eager to learn about the different cultures and be exposed to the national languages.

The cruise started in Hamburg, Germany, and ended in Murmansk, the largest city north of the Arctic Circle, located in the extreme northwest part of Russia. The trip had daytime stopovers in key ports in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. As per Russia’s rules at that time, the cruise ship passengers were not able to roam freely when they were on land. Always they had to be accompanied and watched by secret service officers. If they talked to strangers, the officers interrogated them afterwards.

One of the officers was quite handsome and polite. He had his eye on Rima, and desired to get to know her better. But knowing who he was, a secret agent, Rima gave him the cold shoulder, and ignored his presence as much as possible. She had no interest in going out with men regardless how handsome they were. There was no way she would interact with any man on the ship, as she had a completely different reason for her travel. She noticed from his look that he may not give up trying to get her attention to him.

Throughout the long cruise, Rima immersed herself in the new places she visited. She read all she could about the countries on the ship’s docking schedule, and took many photos with her father’s old camera when she was on land.

The main entertainment on board the ship was dancing. It took place after dinner in the ship’s theater small stage area, and Rima and Luda tried to dance together almost every night. The handsome officer was always present, and he winked at Rima and smiled at her flirtatiously. The attention made her very uncomfortable; she did not know quite how to react.

One night, when Rima walked out of the theatre to use the restroom, the officer followed.

Excuse me, miss, might I talk to you for a minute? the thirty-year-old asked. He was tall with blond hair and a harmonious face. He was well built and walked gracefully with his athletic shape.

Rima stopped in her tracks but remained silent.

I’m sorry to bother you, but you should know by now that I am quite taken by you. If you care to know me better, here is the number of my stateroom.

The man handed her a small sheet of paper with a number on it, then quickly spun on his heel to return to the theater area. As an officer, he was not supposed to mingle with passengers. Her fingers clenching onto the piece of paper, Rima stood for a moment outside the restroom, frozen in place. Then she realized that she needed to go in or else her bladder might burst! She quickly shoved the paper in her handbag and went into the bathroom.

After Rima returned to the dance floor, she watched her friend Luda, who was dancing with an older gentleman. At an opportune time, she told Luda about what happened. The two girls left the theater early that night, heading to their room to discuss the matter in private.

Luda, I don’t know what to do. The officer scares me because he’s been watching me ever since we started this cruise! I don’t know how, but he might even harass me if I report him to the captain for discussing things of a personal nature with me, Rima agonized. You saw how I only danced with you, and I gave no sign of interest on my part in starting a romantic relationship with any man on board. Here Rima paused for a moment and looked down before continuing to confide in her closest friend. I want you to know that I am still a virgin, and there is no way I am going to allow that to change right now.

Luda’s eyes widened with surprise.

Wow, a pretty nineteen-year-old girl like you is still a virgin? No wonder you never wanted to go out at school and preferred to stay in your room at home! Why do you want to hide your beautiful body from men?

What do you mean? Rima replied with a firm tone. I am simply waiting for the right man, and I am not in a hurry. As I told you before, I find most men in our country shallow! They are interested purely in the activity that can go on in a bedroom. You must have heard the stories in which young men trick women into sleeping with them in the name of love, and then dump them, leaving them with a broken heart and feelings of shame! Luda, I have already turned down five date requests from young men for a one night stand, plus another request from a professor who asked me out.

Rima, I don’t know if I should laugh or cry, Luda said, shaking her head in disbelief. I have been sleeping with men since I was fourteen, and I am not as beautiful as you are. Although I ended up having short relationships with most of them, I don’t regret what I did. I enjoy the pleasure having sex brings, and the attention I get makes me feel very desirable. I admit I am trying to be very careful not to get pregnant, but having sex is so much fun, Rima! Why are you depriving yourself of this kind of pleasure?

Call me stupid if you want to, Luda, but this is the way I was brought up, Rima said in a gentle tone. I am quite conservative. I don’t judge you, Luda—you are free to live the life you choose—but that is not me. Besides, what do I know? Maybe I am saving my virginity for someone from another country! What about those two guys who flirted with us in Hamburg and Copenhagen? she said with a broad smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Luda laughed and said, "You know what I am certain about? As we discussed many times before, you are planning to use love to fulfill your dreams! I think you want to fall in love with a foreign man so you can use this as an excuse and way to leave our country! I know you must be so sick and tired living in its restrictive environment!

In Russia, there are very limited goods and services around that can satisfy your longings for the latest fashions and the trappings of a glamorous life. I know you well by now—and your family, by extension—and I know your father gives you a limited allowance, all of which you spend on travel and fashion magazines. He buys these magazines for you in the black market at exorbitant prices. You are here in body only but not in soul. Tell me I am wrong! she huffed, full of confidence.

You may be right, Rima admitted. "I do confess my dream is to leave my country, which I love on one level, but which has been spiraling down socially, culturally, and economically in the last several decades. Food supplies were scarce, not to mention latest fashions for clothes that could only be seen in foreign magazines.

I value the Russian culture, and from the books I’ve read, I truly appreciate what it used to be like in our country. My parents told me that there was more abundance of everything before the current regime took over. But now, I can dream only of having new experiences abroad. That is how I will fulfill my dreams for a life full of wealth and freedom. I will not give up. I know one day it will happen! I imagine myself wearing beautiful jewelry and fur coats and living in a beautiful home with a nice car in the garage. Mainly however, I want to be rich to help those who are in need.

I hope your dream does come true, Rima, Luda said, locking her eyes onto her friend’s. And I think I understand you a bit better now. So tell me, do you want to confront this man from the secret service and tell him not to bother you anymore?

Rima answered, Yes, and would you please come with me? I think the best solution is to lie. We need to tell him that you and I are together; that we are partners and actually have no interest in men. I am sure then he will leave me alone!

Luda laughed and punched her softly on her arm when she heard the plan. I love to play games like that. Let’s do it. It’s a pity he didn’t ask me out, I would not have minded.

Locking arms, Rima and Luda walked around on the boat to seek out the room they were looking for. When they knocked on the door to room 315, the officer opened it. When he saw Rima, a smile grew on his face.

After a quick greeting, Rima said, Sir, I am flattered that you have expressed an interest in me. But I regret to tell you that the feeling is not mutual. My friend here and I are partners in life, and we have no interest in having relationships with men. So I would appreciate it if you would leave me alone in the future, and I sincerely thank you for your understanding.

The man looked amused and nodded in quiet acceptance.

The two young ladies walked away from his door with Rima feeling much better about things.

As they departed, Luda thought about how she found the man to be quite handsome; was it possible she could have him for herself? She dared not ask Rima about this though, as it surely would blow holes in the story of their fictional relationship. Instead, she laughed lightly, turned her head, and asked Rima, Do you think you and I should try it out and become a couple?

Both girls cracked up with laughter at her remark as they kept walking back to their room.

The next day, the ship stopped for a few hours in Malmo, Sweden. Then it continued steaming overnight towards Sweden’s capital city.

The boat arrived in Stockholm the next day at eight in the morning. The cruise ship schedule allowed the passengers to spend the whole day in the city. The instructions were that the passengers should always be in a group of at least five people. Rima had read that Sweden was cozy yet cosmopolitan, and quite picturesque with its trendy design shops and bohemian bars. They started at nine in the morning, accompanied by two older ladies and the husband of one of them. The group tried to stay together at all times. Fortunately, when they were part of a group of 4 or more, there was no need for them to be followed by a secret agent.

They wandered, window-shopping, through the city streets with maps in their hands. They separated only for those minutes when one or two individuals in the group wanted to venture into a shop or a place that the others did not care to visit.

The group had walked together for about an hour when the older people mentioned they wanted to visit the Museum of Modern Arts right in front of them in the city center. They asked the two young ladies if they wanted to join them.

The two girls looked at each other and shook their heads before Luda said, You go ahead, and we will wait for you here in this square, on that bench over there, for an hour. It will be all right, I am sure. Rima would rather stay in the square and watch the people walking around than delve into the works of art she can see in magazines.

The elders nodded and headed in the direction of the museum as Luda and Rima turned and started toward the wooden bench. That’s when a man in his late twenties, who had been walking behind the girls, approached. He stepped up and introduced himself to the young ladies, speaking in English, which Rima spoke pretty well.

Forgive me for interrupting your walk. I realize you ladies are Russian, and we always await the arrival of boats with Russian passengers. We often discover young and beautiful girls like you, and we ask them if they care to become fashion models, he said, handing Rima a business card.

My name is Sven Anderson, and I scout for a big international modeling agency based here in Stockholm. If you are interested, contact me anytime, and I will arrange an audition for you with our agents in Moscow. I am sure they will accept you right away, as you have what it takes to qualify.

Rima remained silent, but Luda spoke up.

Hey, how about me? she said with a big grin, striking a pose and tossing back her long, light brown hair.

The man gave her a slightly regretful grin: Sorry, but we only take one at a time.

Luda understood he was joking, and even though she was somewhat jealous that Rima had the talent agent’s eyes, all three shared a laugh.

Sven offered them a cup of coffee to explain his work in more detail. They agreed as long as it was near their bench, which they pointed out to him.

As the man headed into a nearby café, Rima’s mind raced, full of new thoughts.

Would such an opportunity open the door for her to travel abroad? She had thought her future was in music, and that one day she might become a concert pianist; could modeling be a career for her instead?

It had never crossed her mind to be a model, even though Rima knew she was beautiful, tall, and slim—all the necessary physical attributes for a model.

When Sven returned with three steaming cups of coffee, Luda kept talking to the young man; she very much enjoyed his company. Still, his main interest was to get to know Rima better, and before the hour had passed, Sven had managed to take some test photos of her. Luckily, there was no secret service agent around to see that.

When the rest of their walking excursion group came out of the museum’s exit, Rima and Luda thanked the man for his attention and the delicious coffee. Then they excused themselves to return to their group.

When the girls joined the other three passengers, they proceeded to a designated spot to take a previously arranged twohour bus tour of the city. As it was around noon, they picked up some Swedish cheese sandwiches and small bottles of water to enjoy on the tour.

Rima and Luda sat together at the back of the bus. They discussed the unexpected visit they had with Sven, the modeling scout. Luda said,

So, Rima, what do you make of the unexpected meeting with Sven?

Who knows, it could be a shot in the dark or an open door to a new opportunity. We’ll see.

Would you like to see yourself as a model?

"I have not thought about it, Luda. I