“You held me but you couldn’t see me changing
You held me and it eased your mind
Still I feel lost, I feel lost…”
~ Anna Leone.
April & May 2008.
Michael and Rupa live in Genava, a small college town in upstate New York. Michael is grading papers in his on-campus office as a faculty member of Hobart and William Smith Colleges when Rupa calls to say that her water broke and is rushing to the hospital for the birth of their first child. Michael sprints out the door.
Samina’s studio time is interrupted when her seven-year-old daughter, Aniqa, bursts in to show the new bangles she received for her birthday. Behind her, a wary Jiya, now eleven, hangs back and gauges her mom’s mood. Samina kisses her daughter when Ronit walks in and shares the news of an upcoming film that would be good for her comeback role, but she waves him off. After he shoos the girls outside, he tells her that his investors specifically asked for her to play the lead role. Despite Ronit’s pleading, Samina is adamant about not doing the movie.
While spending a nervous ninety minutes pacing in the hall, Rupa’s doctor finally tells Michael that Rupa passed away during the procedure, but that his baby girl is well and suffered no complications. Devastated, Michael sinks to the floor and weeps.
Later that night, Ronit warns everyone to pack up their most valuable possessions for safe keeping. Puzzled, Samina questions him but all he says is that there are consequences for the decisions they make. When the girls have packed up their favorite things, he takes them and Samina to the Taj Hotel for the night. Soon after checking in, Ronit receives a call that their home is on fire. He takes the news calmly while a frantic Samina peppers him with questions which he refuses to answer.
Michael’s friend Mark stays with him while family arrive in town for the funeral. Afterwards, his sister-in-law, Bipu, and mother-in-law, Minu, offer to take Gloria with them to Florida. Michael objects but realizes that it’s probably for the best given his grief. They stay with him until the semester ends, allowing Michael the opportunity to travel to St. Pete with them and Gloria.
With their home a smoking ruin, Samina agrees to do the movie. A relieved Ronit phones his investors with the news.
