Namaste Montreal

By Susil C. Acharyya

This book tells a beautiful story reinforcing the power of love as it defies obstacles such as race, religion, culture and language as faced by an Indo-Canadian man, Dr. Sameer Sen
and a French Canadian woman, Ms. Lucy L Lafontain.

The story starts in a cold Canadian wintry storm when Sameer saves Lucy, a stranger at the time, from freezing in her stalled vehicle. Interest grows between the two, they work through their cultural differences and with the support of common friends their relationship results in a marriage in India and home in Mississauga. Challenges are faced as Lucy's father does not accept the inter-racial marriage, and plots to break up the marriage and ensure a permanent return of his daughter to Montreal.

The book takes the reader through an exciting journey through India, England, Canada, Lucy's father's plotting, Sameer's traumatic accident and many misunderstandings along
the way. The ultimate question becomes whether or not Sameer and Lucy can hold true to their love and overcome the many storms to a future of happiness together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469187631

Susil C. Acharyya

Dr. Susil C. Acharyya Born in Bengal, India, the author was schooled mostly in Calcutta. He graduated in electrical engineering from Jadavpur University in Calcutta. He won merit scholarships throughout his academic career. He went to Bombay Tata Hydro as a special trainee, selected by the government of India. After the training, he won the Parkinson Commonwealth Bursary, one such scholarship being awarded each year by an all-India competition to go to England for special technical training. After completing the terms of Bursary, he proceeded to do research, financed by the engineering department, to complete his PhD (doctorate) degree from Manchester University in electrical engineering. In England, he continued reading novels written by various writers. He developed a desire to write fiction. Shortly after, a company brought him from England to Montreal on contract. During this period, he published technical papers in journals and traveled coast to coast in Canada. After the contract period ended, he traveled through Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Calcutta, Europe, and back to Montreal. He settled down with his young family in Montreal and worked in large corporations like RCA, satellite division, moved to Mississauga, worked in AECL, Nortel, and won a number of awards while working in two private companies. He then worked on contracts in a consulting company. Once his two daughters finished university studies, this author retired from working. He started to write an international Indo-Canadian story. He’d always succeeded in any challenges he undertook. His mental disciplines developed by publishing technical articles, his knowledge of people, countries, styles, and how stories are told in novels provided him with the confidence to write this story. He struggled for months to start the story. Finally, he wrote the handwritten full story. He read the draft after a few weeks and found it exciting. While putting it on the computer, he expanded the story and finally produced this story, A Man of Two Countries, as told in this book.

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Copyright © 2012 by Susil C. Acharyya.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2012905252

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

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Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

About the Author

To Mrs. M Acheryya and Ms. S. Acheryya

CHAPTER 1

In the middle of January, workload was heavy. Sameer came out late, perhaps the last person to get out of the company building. It was pitch-dark, except for the few lights in the parking lot. The snowstorm brought with it strong winds and very cold temperatures—it was very cold. The parking lot was practically empty, except for his own car and the two cars of the two security guards of the company.

Sameer never could guess from inside the office that there was such a bad snowstorm going on outside. The parking lot had near-knee-deep snow already piled up. He pulled his cap tight against his face, pulled the hood of his snow coat over his head, tied the two strings against his chin, pulled his gloves as high as possible, and lowered his face as he walked toward the parking lot so that snow could not hit his eyes and face directly. He arrived at his car, hurriedly got inside, started it, and took out the brush on the passenger-side floor. He brushed the snow off the front and sides of the glass. He hurriedly got back inside his car, reversed, and went forward toward the drive path to get to the main road.

As he was passing the midway, he saw a lonely car in the middle of the parking lot, far away from the drive path in this awful weather. He saw a shadow outside the car trying to do something. The figure was alone. The figure soon would perhaps collapse in the cold if the car did not start.

Sameer turned toward the car and drove slowly in a lower gear, approaching the car. He went down from his car, walked to the figure, and asked, Any problem? Do you need any help?

A shivering female voice answered, It is not starting. It seems the battery is down.

Let us get into my car and then talk. My car is warm by now. You seem to have frozen in the cold wind.

Both of them walked shivering and got inside Sameer’s car. Sameer increased the heating to the maximum, which was not too much with such cold winds outside. Sameer took the hood off his face and helped take the female’s gloves off to rub her hands with his warm hands. Her cold hands started to show blood flowing into the palms.

He asked, "How long have you been in this cold? You did not see anybody to pick you up, I guess. Anyway, now what do you want to do? If you are a member of CAA [Canadian Automobile Association], you can call CAA from somewhere in the road, maybe some gas station. It will take you ages. Many cars will fail in this weather. CAA will be busy. You have to wait a long time. I can drop you anywhere you want. You can take a taxi. Or you can suggest where you want me to drop you off on my way home. If you want, I can drop you off at a motel on my way home. I have no desire to take you anywhere out of my way in this weather.

Last alternative is for you to come with me without any concerns for safety. I shall make dinner for myself. You can have dinner with me and sleep in my place, not with me of course. No worries of being manhandled by me. Tomorrow morning, I shall drop you wherever you want near my office, and I can go to work. You must be working somewhere near our office, as two or three companies have this common parking lot.

Sameer started to move, giving the woman time to think about what she wanted to do. She still covered her face with her cap and the hood of her parka but slowly took them off, shaking her head vehemently to get her blonde hair to spread out. She looked very healthy and had a good-looking face.

Near the main road, she asked, Who lives in your place? Your wife, perhaps?

No, I live alone. You will sleep in a separate room. I shall give the necessary male clothes and a bed. It is up to you to decide, and you have to decide quickly, as I am nearing the main road to go to my home.

By your question, you appear to be apprehensive. Whatever you decide, do not do any mischief to me by false allegations. I am trying to help, as you could freeze if you remain in the parking lot without any heat. There would not be many people coming to the parking lot in the night, except the night guards to change shifts, perhaps, after few hours.

Yes, I am coming with you, the young woman replied.

Sameer switched on the radio to listen to the news. The news was bad. Many roads were being closed because of the heavy snow and car accidents.

He was absorbed in the news and forgot about the girl as his passenger. He was planning when he would have to get up tomorrow morning to clean the driveway. He had to drive to work early, as he had called a meeting with some people coming from out of town and all over the state.

He arrived home, opened the garage door by remote control from the car, and, with difficulty because of snow blowing inside as the door started to open, drove the car inside. Snow was piling up at the door of the garage. He got out of the car and asked the woman to get out from the other side.

He opened his trunk, picked up his briefcase and a few papers, and walked to the door, pushing it open to enter the house. The woman followed him inside. Sameer stepped down a few steps to the basement and switched on the lights for the steps to the upper first floor. He closed the garage door by the switch on the partition wall of the basement. The woman followed him to the upper floor. As they went inside the house, he closed the door and put the chain on the door that led to the basement. It was a relief to get inside the house, as it was nice and warm by central heating.

Sameer looked at her and told her, Take off your parka, shoes, and office clothes. Put them by the side of the warm heating vent in the sitting room.

He did not wait after speaking but went away, leaving her alone, and came back shortly, with jogging pants and a warm sweatshirt. He gave the clothes to her and asked her to follow him to a bedroom. They walked toward the room, going up five steps toward the bedroom’s area. As they entered the room, he got out of the room so that she could change her clothes.

His bed was in the master bedroom; the next right-side bedroom had another bed, dresser, and all the convenient furniture for a guest staying for a few days. The third bedroom was on the other side of the master bedroom, at a right angle to it. All the bedroom doors were totally open—no hiding nor secrecy. The third room was small, full of computer and electronic gadgets, books, and tapes.

The woman changed into the jogging pants and sweatshirt and came out with nicely combed hair. The pair of jogging pants was too long for her, as Sameer was a tall man, and the sweatshirt was very loose. Sameer had a well-built, healthy body that was too large compared with hers. She was a tall and slim girl, well developed in the front.

She did not see Sameer. She went down the steps, going toward the sitting room, and saw a door to the left. She went inside the room. The entrance revealed a kitchen, with a TV set at the opposite end. Sameer was watching TV. As she went inside, Sameer stood up from the chair and asked, What drink would you like to warm up after the cold evening? I am going to have a strong dose of scotch on the rocks.

A glass of wine or sherry will be fine, she replied.

Sameer went to the cabinet against the wall and took out a bottle of scotch and one of red wine. He poured himself a strong dose of scotch with three ice cubes from the freezer in the lower part of the refrigerator.

By the way, my name is Lucy Lafontaine. You never asked about me at all. What is your name?

Sameer, he replied. Sameer went near Lucy, shook her soft hand, and said, Nice to meet you. He let her hand go without holding it too long.

Lucy said, I have many things to know about you. At present, a glass of red wine will be fine. I shall pour one for myself. You sit down and have your scotch.

Sameer got up after sitting down and went to the kitchen cabinet to get a small basket, into which he poured some chips, which he gave to Lucy.

He sat quietly and watched the news on TV. It was mostly snow everywhere. Lots of accidents happened on the highways. After watching the news, he got up, went to the kitchen, opened the freezer part of the fridge, and took out a few lamb chops. He put spaghetti in a pan from the top kitchen cabinet. He took out lettuce, carrots, and cucumber.

Lucy got up, went to the kitchen counter with her glass of wine, and said, Sameer, please let me help you in preparing the meal.

She started to prepare the salad with the lettuce, carrots, and cucumber. While Sameer was preparing the lamb chops with Indian spices, Lucy took the spaghetti out of the pan, went to the kitchen sink, and filled the pan with water from the tap, keeping the pan on a ring on the stove. She switched on the heating ring on which she put the pan. Sameer moved away from the stove and looked outside at the back lawn of the house through the glass sliding door of the kitchen.

As the water was heating up to a boil, Lucy looked back to see what Sameer was doing. He gave no attention to her. He had the scotch glass in his hand, sipping slowly as he watched the snow-filled back of the house.

As the water started to boil, she broke the long spaghetti sticks into halves and put them into the pan. She looked back and said, Sameer, it will take a few minutes, in case you want to use the stove. She moved back toward the counter that divided the cooking area and the dining-cum-TV area.

It is okay, he responded in a low voice as if he knew. Then he added, You finish the cooking. I shall fry the chops. It will not take long. You can set the dishes on the dining table. It is small for a single man. It is good enough for two for the time.

Lucy opened the cabinets one by one and found one with the dishes. She picked up the large plates, two bowls for the salad, and two glasses for water. She set up the dishes on the table. However, she did not know where the knives and forks were kept. After she finished setting up the plates, she saw the spaghetti boiling. She took out a sample spaghetti strand, allowed it to cool, and tested it with her teeth, finding it soft enough. She then switched off the stove, took the pan of spaghetti to the sink, and poured out the water from the pan. She tried to stop the spaghetti from falling out of the pan. Since it had no cover, a few spaghetti strands slid out of the pan. She then went back to the stove and kept the pan on the top of the ring that was on. After switching off the ring, she moved away from the stove.

Sameer walked to the front of the stove, got a large thick black pan on the largest ring, and switched it on. He pulled out a large flat plastic ladle and poured a little vegetable oil into the pan. When the oil was hot enough, he put half of the lamb chops one by one into the pan. They started to sizzle. He waited a few minutes to check the meat with a fork. When ready, he took them one by one onto a plate. He put the rest of the chops into the pan and repeated the process until all the chops were done. He put all the chops on a dish and brought them to the table.

Both sat down on the two chairs facing each other from across the small dining table. This was the only table on the whole floor of the house. He got up and brought the bottle of red wine, which was already opened, and two wineglasses.

Sameer said Cheers! to Lucy and had a sip from his own glass. He then asked Lucy to go first. But there was no spoon. He got up and took two tablespoons from a drawer by the side of the stove in the kitchen. He also picked up two forks and knives.

As he put the spoons, knives, and forks on the table, he looked at Lucy and muttered, I guess we need these.

Lucy looked at him, grinned, took a spoon, and took some spaghetti. With a fork, she picked up a few lamb chops and some salad. She waited for Sameer to also take his chops, spaghetti, and salad.

Bon appétit, said Lucy, who then sipped some the wine and started to eat the meal. As they were eating, Sameer was absorbed in his thoughts. So was Lucy, who was thinking, He is a strange man. He never asked any question about her.

She was bursting with inquisitiveness to ask questions about him. The only thing she dared to ask was, Do you feel lonely living alone in this bungalow house?

No. Not really. I cannot rent anybody to stay with me for the evening only. Can I?

Lucy kept quiet. After a short pause, she again asked, I guess you are from India. I met a number of Indian students at McGill University when I was studying economics.

Sameer listened carefully and said, Maybe.

He lowered his face and concentrated on his dinner without looking at Lucy.

Lucy thought, It is better not to ask him any questions. He is not very communicative.

After eating for some time, she raised her head, had a sip at her wineglass, looked at him, and thought he was quite handsome and had a very peaceful expression. Unlike other Indians, he never showed any personal interest in her. While she was in the university, many Indians tried to date her. She declined most, except one. When she went to a movie with him, she did not like him because of his behavior.

What she had done here was unthinkable. If she had any alternative, she would never do what she agreed to do: to go with Sameer, who was living alone in his house. When both finished dinner, Sameer collected the things from the table and took them to the sink.

He looked at his watch and said, It is ten o’clock now. Lucy, you can do anything you want to do—feel free. If you are tired, tell me. I shall give you a set of my nightdress. You may be tired after what you have suffered in the cold. Do whatever you want to do. I shall give you ice cream and coffee after a few minutes, if you like.

Sameer got up from his chair, vanished toward the bedroom area, and took out one of his sleeping sets and placed it on Lucy’s bed. He went back to the dining area, sat on the settee, and switched on the TV.

Lucy also went and sat by Sameer’s side, watching TV. After a few minutes, he got up, went to the kitchen, and put the electric kettle on.

Shortly after, he said, I have no tea. Coffee only. You better make your own coffee. He made his own black coffee and prepared a helping of two spoonfuls of ice cream for Lucy and himself.

Lucy went to the counter, made her own coffee with sugar and milk, picked up her ice cream, and went back to the settee, putting the cup of coffee and ice cream bowl on the front table.

As Sameer was having coffee and ice cream, he said, Do not feel shy to go to bed. I go to bed late. You sleep without the slightest fear. I sleep with my bedroom door open. It is a very peaceful neighborhood.

After finishing her coffee and ice cream, she excused herself and went to her bedroom. She found the nightdress Sameer had provided on top of the bed. She put it on even though it was too large for her, went to the bathroom, and returned after cleaning herself. She put on some Nivea cream kept in one of the bathroom shelves. She went to bed nice and comfortable, with soft blankets and bedsheets.

She fell asleep. At midnight, she woke up and opened her bedroom door to go to bathroom. She saw Sameer in the sitting room, absorbed in reading a thick book.

Lucy went to the bathroom, and on her way back, she walked down the steps and went to him, saying, Sameer, it is past midnight. When will you go to bed?

Why are you feeling uncomfortable until I go to bed? Do not worry. Just go to bed and rest well. Tomorrow you will have hassle with your car.

She slowly turned and went back to her room to sleep.

Sameer read for half an hour more, closed the book, kept it on the bookshelf, and retired to his room to go to bed to sleep.

He woke up by the alarm, idled half an hour in bed, forced himself to get out of bed, washed his face, and dressed in warm jogging pants, a jogging sweatshirt, a ski jacket, and a pair of boots. He then quietly unlatched the chain of the door to the basement. Sameer got his small gas snowblower from the garage, opened the garage, and blew the snow off his driveway. The snowing stopped in the night, and the front road had been plowed. He took out a shovel and used it to break the dirty pile of snow pushed out to the mouth of the driveway by the snow mower. It came in the night when the snowing stopped. The snow pile was like stone as the soft snow on the road mixed with salt, sand, and dirt was pushed into the mouth of the driveway and froze with the low temperature in the night. It froze into a very hard pile. Sameer started to break the icy pile as the blower did not have enough power to blow it.

After he broke the pile into small-enough pieces, he used the blower to blow it off to the side so that it fell on his front lawn. It was now knee-deep with frozen snow.

The noise of the gas blower woke up Lucy. She went to the sitting room and stood in front of the large glass window, watching the whole operation Sameer was carrying out so early in the morning. After finishing his work, Sameer kept the blower into the garage and started to go inside the house.

Lucy could hear his heavy footsteps on the stairs from the basement. She rushed to the kitchen and started to boil water to make coffee for Sameer and herself.

As Sameer came to the top of the stairs, he took off his heavy boots, picked them up by his hands, and put them in the small space for boots and shoes by the side of the front door. He then entered the house.

I am making coffee for you and me, Lucy said, looking at Sameer.

Merci, he said as he walked to the sitting room and looked at his watch and said, I am going to take a shower, have cereal breakfast, and get dressed to go to work. Are you still sleepy? I have to go early today, as I have called a meeting in the morning. I have to receive people who will be coming from Toronto, USA. If you don’t mind, you also have to get ready to come with me so that I can drop you at your workplace before I go to the office. I shall make your breakfast when I come back from showering. What do you have for breakfast? I have eggs and cold cuts.

Lucy looked at his tired face with long unruly hairs all over his face, and she felt he was handsome. After keeping silent for a minute, she said, I shall make breakfast, and I shall be ready by the time you are ready to go.

Sameer left without saying anything, went a few steps up toward the bedroom, picked up a few clothes, came out, and then turned left to go to the bathroom. It was adjacent to where Lucy’s room was located. Sameer shaved, took a shower, put on fresh jogging pants and a sweatshirt, combed his hair, and put on a bit of Nivea cream and Old Spice aftershave lotion on the face.

He kept his dirty clothes in a corner of the bathroom, walked out, turned left, went down five steps, and went to the kitchen. Lucy already had their breakfast of cereal, a box of cornflakes, and a jar of cold milk set on the table, waiting for him.

He looked at her large, oversized sleeping dress he gave her last night, and her unruly hair, saying, Merci, Lucy. One day, you will make somebody a happy husband. I made you look awful with that oversized sleeping dress. Anyway, shortly, you will be in your own world. You may curse me as much as you’d like out of my sight. Please don’t say anything now, even if you dislike me. I have tried my best to make you comfortable. I am not very sociable, I guess. After all, you are saved from freezing. Let us start our breakfast.

Without saying any more, he sat on his chair at the table, poured cold milk and cornflakes into the bowl, took one small spoon of sugar, and started to eat his breakfast. Lucy watched him and started to do the same, except that she took two spoons of sugar. They quietly had their breakfast. Sameer got up, saying nothing to her, and went to his bedroom.

Lucy finished her breakfast, went to the bathroom, then to her room, and closed the door. Sameer came out first and went looking for something in the bookshelf in the sitting room. He turned around with a book in hand and saw Lucy come out with her dark pants, white blouse, and made face with lipstick. As she went near Sameer to pick up her coat from the settee, Sameer could smell a very nice-smelling perfume on her. She then picked up her cardigan.

Both were dry and warm from the heating of the room. When she started to put on her cardigan, Sameer walked to her and helped her put on her coat after she finished putting on the cardigan. Sameer looked at her and saw how beautiful and very well figured she was. After helping her put on her coat, he went to his wardrobe, picked up his deep blue blazer, and long dark woolen coat. He put on his blazer and coat and put on his black shoes, sitting on a small stool by the side of the front door. He picked up his book and briefcase and said, Lucy, you put on your shoes. I shall get the car out to the driveway. I shall come to the front door to take you to the car and lock the door.

He went out by the door to go to the garage. He opened the garage and took the car out to the driveway and allowed it to run to heat up. He got out of his car and walked to the front door to ask Lucy to come with him to the car. He opened the door for Lucy so she could quickly get into the car, as it was very cold. He went back to the house and locked the front door.

Sameer went inside the car and put the heavy briefcase on the backseat. In the meantime, she put on her seat belt. Sameer put on his seat belt, reversed the car toward the road, and started to drive away toward his office in Ville St. Laurent. The road was heavy in traffic. He switched on to CBC News and watched the traffic in the front. He said nothing to Lucy. She glanced at him a few times and was thinking, Such a hospitable man—never asked anything personal about me. Has he any girlfriend or any friend at all? He seems dedicated to work and reading.

She did not put on her cap. Even though she knew he would never be interested in her, he could at least admire her looks, specially her silky blonde hair. She kept quiet and watched the road and how he manipulated his car through the traffic. He is a quick driver.

Soon, he drove past Goin Boulevard and started to drive along Sources Road. Within another half hour, they reached their workplace. He asked, Where should I drop you?

Lucy guided him to the building next to Sameer’s office building. Without saying a single word, he drove to the front of her building, opened her side of the door, and said, I hope you sort out problem with your car without too much suffering. Good-bye.

Lucy looked at his eyes, waited a few seconds, and said, Thank you very much for everything you did for me. I wish I could get a chance to return the favor in some way. I do not know your telephone number even.

Lucy, if you do not mind, I have to go to my office. You needed help. No obligation, he said.

Lucy slowly got out of the car. Sameer closed the door, reversed, and waved his hand to her as he went out to the road, turning his car around toward his office building’s parking area.

She stood there until the car vanished from her eyesight. She turned around and slowly walked toward her office.

CHAPTER 2

Sameer was busy with his work. He forgot about his help to Lucy. Even though he was dedicated to his work, he loved outdoor sports. Even though he did not know much about skiing, he picked up skiing with the help of his colleagues and friends. This was his third year in Quebec. He went fishing in the summer and played tennis during the nights after work. When the weather was bad, he used to read technical books and novels at home. His attention to women was practically nonexistent.

Sameer made a deep impression on Lucy. Three weeks passed by since the night she met him and stayed in his home. It was February. Irene called Lucy to invite her to dinner somewhere in downtown Montreal. Her fiancé, Kent, was going out with three or four friends to a nightclub tonight. So Irene was free, Paul, a casual friend of Lucy, was also going out with the group. So Lucy had nothing to do during the night. Lucy agreed to go to dinner with Irene. They fixed the time and the place where they would meet on Saturday night.

Lucy and Irene met at the entrance of the Bay Departmental store, facing St. Catherine Street. The temperature was not bad. Irene lived and worked at