

Let Spring Soon Come

By Mahanthi Ramu

Copyright 2012 Mahanthi Ramu

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. Thank you for your support.

Dedicated to the better half of the being, the feminine, the mother principle, the daughter principle, the sister principle

Foreword

Those of us who practice the method of Raja Yoga meditation or pursue a similar spiritual path, gradually begin to notice and then become increasingly aware of the meaningful 'coincidences' that seem to occur in our everyday lives. We often become sensitive to our ability to 'manifest' that which we dwell on, and that which we intentionally put our energy and focus upon. Let Spring Soon Come and the story within are meant to nurture a great movement that is about to take place in North America through a paradigm shift from 'seeing is believing' to 'believing is seeing.' This change can and will be made possible through the use of intention and meditation.

After practicing the Sahaj Marg method of Raja Yoga for more than ten years, I had the honour of meeting Brother Mahanthi Ramu , who years before in Hyderabad, India had become a trainer in this style of meditation. Brother Ramu recently journeyed from his native India to the United States to stay with his son in Salt Lake City for five months. During this brief period, he became intuitively and then progressively more aware of the challenges faced by women in America and by single women in particular. He was startled by the increased evidence of abuse and domestic violence and by the fact that Government, community leaders, and media all continue to contribute to women's plight in this country.

Written as a story about three young women who come together through their acquaintance with the "nameless" man who they agree to call Fitzwater, this e-book is about the impact that reflection, introspection, meditation, and listening to our heart can have upon our ability to gain clarity and to use as tools to correct our faulty thinking. Samantha, Amanda, and Betty initially lived in an 'outside reality' that included busying themselves with novel reading, playing video games, and not allowing themselves time to spend in solitude for reflection or introspection. These tendencies prevented contact with their "inner reality" (sometimes called "spiritual reality"), and fueled their subsequent movement toward the "outer reality."

Unbeknownst to them, Fitzwater's presence in their lives would become the catalyst that spurs them into alertness, and into an awakening to greater 'mindfulness'. Fitzwater's influence through his actions and character influences the three girls to forego seeking live-in and often abusive relationships with men in the hopes of 'fixing' their problems or mending themselves emotionally as they had done in the past. The three, after introspection and reflection, decide to come together under one roof to support each other in all aspects of their lives. And so, the innate ability to look into one's own heart has been restored.

Let Spring Soon Come is more than just a story about the benefits of meditation and how it can affect or improve our lives. It is Brother Ramu's intention that through this e-book women will become aware of and will use their power of intention, in combination with meditation, to attract the favorable forces of nature necessary to peacefully nurture a change to restore the dignity of women.

In summary, as we are presented with the countless choices we encounter during our lifetimes, both women and men need to develop our own abilities and turn our attention to the innate wisdom or inner compass we all possess to choose the right one. As Ramu describes, heart is the only instrument that can help to steer us through life.

Molly V. Legge, CCRC, CPRP

Abyhasi of Sahaj Marg Meditation

Vancouver, Canada

April 4, 2012

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - The encounter

Chapter 2 - Dialogue

Chapter 3 - Coming together

Chapter 4 - Union

Chapter 5 - Threat of separation

Chapter 6 - Harmony

Chapter 1: The Encounter

1st January 2012 8:00 a.m.

New Year's Day brought winds at 10 miles per hour to this ski resort town of West Jordan. Twenty-six year old Samantha reached her hair salon at the intersection of 9000 South and 1510 West. She opens promptly at 8 a.m. and stays open until 8 p.m. As owner and manager of the shop, Samantha accepts the responsibility willingly. Still, it is uncommon for anyone to venture out this early in the morning during winter, especially in the midst of a storm. She is dubious that customers will appear.

Samantha has managed the salon by herself, since a break-up with her boyfriend. Sam's father, knowing the freedom-loving and independent nature of daughter, has invested in her by purchasing the shop and giving her full power to run it as her own. She now has only to pay rent and utilities for the premises every month.

Despite her good fortune, 2011 was not a profitable year for Samantha or for businesses in general, whether they be small, medium, or large. Very little snow has fallen in West Jordan and the ski resort business has not picked up. This means a shortage of customers; not one day have all 6 of her salon chairs been occupied. With the economy throughout discouraging, Samantha also feels the crunch; she experiences difficulty making or saving even a little extra money each month.

Samantha opens the salon early and begins to wait for customers to arrive. The other stylists don't arrive until around 10, so she has an opportunity to take in extra earnings from customers who drop in during these early hours. At other times, she waits until all the chairs are full of customers and all the stylists are engaged in work before starting herself. $10 is charged for each haircut. But Samantha only charges $2 towards rent for "overhead" from the other stylists. The remaining $8 is designated to the stylist who completes the work.

Five women work in her shop. Most experience similar or even worse difficulties in their financial and personal lives. Most are single mothers or have live-in relationships. Some are raising both biological as well and step-children. Some of these women are ongoing victims of domestic abuse and violence. This is an unfortunate social problem faced by women in North America. Susan, who had regularly worked for Samantha for two years has recently disappeared; neighbors speculate, perceiving the strained relationship between her and her husband after having heard loud arguments and seeing police come to their door repeatedly due to domestic violence reports.

Samantha is empathetic toward the other stylists and, in an attempt to minimize the difficulties these women share, she employs them as contractors, as sort of "equal partners" . None of them are treated as "employees". On an average, each woman makes anywhere from $24 to $40 a day, including Samantha. That's not a big amount, but the freedom and non-judgmental companionship the women enjoy at her shop attracts them to come to work there with her.

Samantha stops during her day to reflect for a moment. She is a woman who worries more about the self-respect and self-esteem of the other women who work for her than she does about her own. She observes that the media continues to blame mothers and that they raise the argument that women now suffer from an excess of "liberation". All the media hype and slanted stories have contributed to the guilt that single mothers already feel. Mothers are blamed for detached and poor parenting. But a single woman, whether she be the mother of biological or step-children, has to successfully multitask and manage the multiple demands of work, housekeeping tasks, feeding her children, and child care.

This is never highlighted by the media. The fact remains that neither the Government nor Corporations are interested in child care. Corporations have chosen automation, robotics and mechanization to such an extent that in manufacturing there are already too few jobs. Even for men, jobs in this sector are few. Despite an expansion in the service industry to an enormous degree, the wages are low and everyone wants cheap labor. Food handling, health care, construction, real estate, customer service are some areas where the businessmen looking for profits need cheap labor.

Samantha thinks about the breakdown of families, created behind the mask of 'conservatism , 'free enterprise', and 'less of government'. Leaders in society argue over the "restoration of family values". What they mean by "family values" is that woman might raise her children in a nuclear family arrangement; they stigmatize single motherhood and want to take away the woman's right to control her own body and her own environment. Some argue that women should and must be free to leave an unhappy marriage, that woman can combine work and family, and that woman's right to control her own body and vocation is fundamental to equality.

Samantha cannot come to any clarity. It's already 4 p.m. and her partners one by one leave the hair salon. Samantha understands that each has earned a good amount that day and they don't want to stay any longer. She tells them to "have a nice evening" and tries to continue her thoughts about womanhood, motherhood.... There are stay-at-home mothers, who are highly educated and who held professional careers before becoming mothers. With pregnancy, they sacrificed their careers and stayed at home to raise a family. Samantha feels that is a woman's choice, and that she herself would decide whether to work or stay at home. It is not for media, her husband or boyfriend, or anyone else to force her to remain at home.

A mobile ring puts a stop to her reflection. Wrong number....

Standing on the portico feeling optimistic and upbeat, she muses about the upcoming spring that will follow this hard winter and bring hope to all . The thought of spring brings images of blooming flowers in all hues and colors, green trees with leaves and green grass –perfect weather, indeed. Samantha feels hopeful and starts across the street to Starbucks. She recollects how she had worked as a Barista for some time and even as a Bartender, which only brought thoughts about her encounters of sexual aggression from male customers.... She is thankful for her salon and silently thanks her father for his contribution.

***

Samantha glances across the road and finds a man leaning against the wall of the local car wash. He appears to be in his forties and fair. "Good looking", she muses. She had observed the same man standing there the day before and the day previous to that. Now he looks towards her and waves to him. He begins walking toward her.

"Are you looking for a job?", she asks.

"Yes Ma'am."

"What can you do?"

"Ma'am, I can do any reasonable and legal job that you give me. I can think, I can fast, I can wait, I can work, I can serve. I can manage accounts, do bookkeeping, write correspondence, and also do other things like copying, data entry, cleaning your salon, hair cutting, driving a car, washing the premises, cooking for you and your family, managing the salon and anything else you might find for me!! "

"And where might you be from?" she asks.

"Ma'am, that isn't really relevant right now."

"How can you say that? If I give you job and then some law enforcement or immigration officer asks me who you are, what am I supposed to tell them?"

"I understand ma'am, but please forgive me for not answering you. I feel it only creates prejudice. I know I may have to face something like that one day. But when it comes, I'm ready for it. If you feel that you can't give me work without me answering your question, I'll go my own way.... Thank you, Ma'am. And he turns to walk away.

"Hey, wait... listen! If I give you work, how much would you expect me to pay you?"

"I don't barter for wages. Payment is your choice and your prerogative, Ma'am. Give me anything you feel is justified for my work. People may doubt what I say, but they will believe what I do. Please give me a chance to let me show you how I work."

Samantha intuitively feels in her heart that this man is not harmful or hurtful. She is amused and surprised at the way the conversation is proceeding. Although somewhat of a perfectionist, she is still understanding, giving and sharing. "OK. I'll give you $2 a day. You can start right now. Your job will be to somehow attract the people driving down the road by waving an attractive banner. Choose a strategic location. You'll be standing for the whole day. You can stop at 5p.m. when it becomes dark. Here, take this cardboard and colored pens to make a sign. Do you need anything else?"

"No, thank you Ma'am...this is good."

"Will you at least tell me your name ?"

"Do you really need it, Ma'am? I know that even my name sometimes creates prejudice. ..it is irrelevant now. "

"Then, what should I call you?"

"Alright, just call me Fitzwater."

Fitzwater writes "Hair Cut, Fair Price, Fair people on Job", the name of the Salon, and "Only $10 per cut for Adults or Children" in very big, bold and beautiful letters. At 905 a.m. Fitzwater begins his work in earnest. He stands close to the road near the car wash wall, visible to all passing by, all the while twisting, turning, and waving the billboard. It's a big intersection with a traffic light, so commuters waiting at the red light can easily read his slogan. All the passersby see him.

***

Samantha observes that there has been a strange change in her thinking. New thoughts suddenly cross her mind. Never before has she experienced such thoughts...thoughts about the breakdown of the 'institution of marriage' in the country now engage her attention. "Who or what possible circumstances lead to such a scenario?" she wonders.

The appearance of a male customer into the salon puts a break to the stream of thoughts rummaging through her mind. Generally, it takes 15 minutes for a hair-cut, be the customer male, female or even a child. A child usually takes another five to ten minutes, and a cut with shampoo an additional ten minutes. By 9.40 a.m. she finishes and a satisfied customer steps out just as a woman enters her shop. The woman is playing a game on her cellphone as she walks in, and does not even respond to Samantha's greeting! Once inside, without lifting her head and totally engrossed in her game, she removes her sun glasses and sits in a chair in the waiting area, even though Samantha has already pointed out a chair for her in the salon. But her focus is still on the game. Young, about 25 years old with auburn hair, her face looks familiar, but Samantha does not bother to dwell deep into her conscious mind.

"Hi! Do you need a haircut or nails?"

Again..."Hi! Do you need a haircut or nails?"

"Oh! I'm sorry." The woman closes her game and looks at Samantha's face.

For a moment Samantha turns her head to watch Fitzwater through the Salon window. She observes that the stranger possesses integrity, intelligence and energy. He is sincere and earnest with his assignment. She turns back toward the newcomer to her shop.

"I'm Amanda. I'm wondering if there might be some work for me here in your salon. I was told that you like to help woman like me who are struggling or are in distress. My boyfriend and I were living together for a year and a half, but he left. I have a little 8 month old boy Stephen, who I have to take care of by myself and I really need the work."

Samantha replies, "It's true that I might be able to help you. Let's see; it's 10 now. If one of the girls who normally works here doesn't show up, you can work today. There was one girl named Susan, who used to work here regularly, but we think she was a victim of domestic abuse...because she just up and disappeared. The police have not found any clues to her whereabouts. I hired someone to take her place, a single woman named Elizabeth, but am not sure she'll come in today. Do you have an esthetician or hair styling license?"

"Yes, I can cut hair ... I've been a stylist for some time."

"O.K. My terms of work are: I do not 'employ' any one. Those who work here are kind of like my 'partners'. Rules are fair. The salon charges $10 for any hair-cut; that $10 might include a shampoo at the customer's request. Whoever attends to the customer makes $8 and gives me $2 for the chair rental. We charge $20 for nails, but not very many people come in for manicures. There are six chairs, but generally only 4 "partners" come in each day, so two remain free. We all share the customers so that everyone earns something at the end of the day. I come in at 8 a.m. every day and close the salon at 8 p.m. The others come in around 10 a.m. Depending upon their need, sometimes they go home early; it's up to them. Sometimes they say the 'weather' doesn't permit them to come in. Sometimes when they have other work, they come around 12 noon or 2 p.m. and leave by 6 p.m. As the owner, I need to be here and can't leave just any odd time. I wish the others would act more like the "partners" that I treat them as, but I can't really help that they have to leave sometimes."

Amanda nods, "Fair enough. Do you think there will be at least 8 customers per chair each 6 hour day, so that each of us can earn $64 including you, assuming we all work only the 4 chairs ?"

"Wow! You're very smart with your quick calculations! Business is not that encouraging. It's a recession, you know!! For us here in Salt Lake, the weather hasn't been cooperating this year – there's no snow and the ski business hasn't picked up at all. Last year there was snow everywhere in these parts from December until May, so it was easy for each one of us to average not less than $24 per day and sometimes $32 or $40 dollars."

Four of the stylist, Sandra, Sally, Elizabeth, and Stephanie, enter the salon one by one. Amanda looks at her watch...exactly 10 a.m. She greets each one and introduces herself. Sally has bad news about Susan, the woman who formerly worked there but who had suddenly disappeared. "So far Police haven't been able to crack the case." Sally is also a single parent who plays mother to both biological and step children. She sees Amanda and shows her to a salon chair, assuming that she is a customer. Amanda repeats her plight about how desperately she needs a job, and how Samantha has generously offered to help her out.

Sandra seems puzzled...she reminds Samantha that only yesterday they all had decided that other than the current four 'associates', they would not contract any additional stylists, due to business being so slow. With more than 5 women working, their earnings could be greatly reduced. They had agreed that even if one or two stylists couldn't show up on a given day, the remaining girls could manage and request that any customers just wait just few minutes. At present, their scenario wasn't indicative of any situation where a customer would need to wait for more than 10 minutes.

But Sally 's eyes had not missed the man standing at the intersection waving the banner to attract people who alighted from the bus and crossed the pedestrian zone. She intervened to say that perhaps this is why Samantha has placed this man at the intersection to wave a billboard to attract customers, and it seems to be working. Sally, in her heart of hearts, feels Samantha's great generosity toward others, as well as her ingenuity. Any improvement in business would benefit them all. But no one except Samantha seems ready to take any risk or responsibility. Sally reminds the others how Samantha would telephone them some days when there were lots of customers but sadly, the girls had still neglected to come into the shop on the pretext of bad weather, when in reality it was just somewhat windy or just a little colder than usual. Samantha would ask them what they would have done if the hair salon was their own and remind them of the status as "partners" she had bestowed on them when they approached her for work in times of personal crisis. Sally openly shared this to the surprise of all those present, stating that Samantha is a woman who is confident, clear, and who says fearlessly what needs to be said. She makes it a point that she is heard, but also gives opportunities for others to be heard.

Samantha now intervenes to say that human nature is such that we tend to take things for granted if there is an effortless pattern of obtaining them. She points to air and water as examples. Both are consistently available to human beings, and yet we take them for granted. We keep squandering the natural resources as we like and then expect it as a right that the environment should be available to us in as pure a form as it was before we disturbed it. Samantha indicates that the opposite is also true: When there is a consistent or effort filled pattern to obtaining something, we tend to value it more and be grateful for what we have more than we normally would. She points out that she has treated all the women working with her as partners, without there being any effort on their part to invest and share the burdens of business, and so everything is taken for granted by them.

The girls remain silent. Samantha recollects her father's several warnings that people tend to take a privilege that is bestowed upon them generously to the level of entitlement.

Samantha opens her lunch box at 12.30, remembers Fitzwater and looks out the window. He is still on assignment, still waving the banner, twisting and contorting himself. Occasionally, he stands still, as if to breathe. She wonders what he will do for lunch. She's attracted to him, but does not know why... "there is something in this man", she decides.

In a reflective and introspective mood, Samantha again muses about the disappearance of the institution of marriage and the plight of single women in society now. Her present four partners are single. When Susan was there, she was not single, nor did she have children, but was an abused wife living with her husband. Two current "partners" have children. Samantha wonders to herself whether unintentionally she considers 'marriage' to be a solution to the current situation in her subconscious mind...she is not sure.

More customers continue to make their way into the shop and all four partners are there to attend to them. Stephanie wonders aloud if it is that man with his banner at the intersection who is making the difference in the number of clients coming into the shop.

Amanda looks Samantha's eyes... and lo and behold.... She suddenly recollects being in high school with Samantha as her senior. "You're Samantha and you were one year my senior in school. Weren't you a student at Roy High School when I was an 8th grader?" Samantha tries to recollect her life 12 years ago. It's true she was a student of Roy High School. Meanwhile, Amanda appears to have remembered something, gets up hurriedly and changes the subject. "Sorry, I have to go now. I'll be back tomorrow at 10 a.m. and will come in to say 'Hi ! "

Samantha's thoughts drift back to the typical plight of women and about 'motherhood' in general. With pregnancy, women sacrifice careers and stay at home to raise a family. Samantha feels that it is a woman's choice whether to work or stay at home... again, it is not for media or someone to force her to be at home.

Sam's cellphone rings again. "Hello! Who is calling? OH!... Betty ! How are you? What? You want to come in for a haircut right now? OK, then, come on over... I'll be waiting and will attend to you personally, just as always. Anyway, the others have all just gone home, so I 'm the only one here. But please come." She puts her cell- phone down and continues musing...Betty is a single mother with a story of her own. She has two boys. Michael is 4 years old; she is his non-biological mother. Williams is one and is her child. Betty had chosen a live-in relationship with William's father, Steven, whose previous wife had died after giving birth to Michael. Steven walked out of their own relationship soon after Betty gave birth to Williams. Betty works in an eatery, the Rendezvous" across the road. She is an old customer of Sam's.

***

At 4.30 p.m Betty arrives for her haircut and as always, is happy with Samantha's skills. Just before leaving, she enquires about the man with the banner in the intersection. Samantha says she recently observed him looking for work and narrates what he had said when she asked about where he came from and about his name. Betty asks Samantha whether she might take him to the Rendezvous, where there is a cleaning job available; the owner there would pay $20 per day to whoever gets the job. Sam suggests that Betty talk to Fitzwater directly.

After working from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Fitzwater returns to the salon, saying "ma'am, it's getting dark. I will keep this banner in your shop for tonight. If you would like for me to continue tomorrow, I can begin at 8 a.m. sharp, as soon as you open the salon."

"Thank you. Take this $2 bill. Tomorrow I will be paying you $5. You can bring your own lunch. "

Betty introduces herself and asks Fitzwater whether he would like to work on a long term basis in the eatery just across the road.

"Nice to meet you...I am Fitzwater. Right now, I'm on a contract with Samantha, so cannot take on another job just yet." Samantha intervenes to say that he needs to work for her for only 3 days, and he has just finished his first day. "It would be wise for you to accept the position at Rendezvous after that", she suggests.

Fitzwater looks at Betty. She is a beautiful brunette in her 30s. Betty confirms that she can arrange an interview with the owner of the eatery tomorrow at 6 p.m., soon after Fitzwater finishes his salon assignment. If the interview is successful, Fitzwater could then begin working on January 4th. Betty points out the location of the eatery across the road and tells him to be there well- dressed at 6 p.m. the following day.. .she will wait for him.

"Good night both of you." Betty walks out of the salon, smiling. As she crosses the road, she looks behind to see whether Fitzwater is following her. She wonders whether Samantha is planning to take him home with her. Betty knows that Samantha lives alone; Betty's house is just two blocks away from hers. She regrets not having invited this man herself. Her bus arrives and she is gone.

Samantha will close at 8 p.m. She plans to ask Fitzwater to clean the Salon that night so that she can pay him something more. Fitzwater agrees and completes the job in an hour's time. She pays him $5. Fitzwater asks her, "ma'am did you see how much you have paid to me? Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?...this is a lot. "

"Just never you mind... this morning you said working is your job and payment is my job.

As he walks out, she offers if she can drop him at his place. She looks at the time on her cell. It is nearing 7 p.m. "Where do you actually live?", she asks him. Fitzwater replies that he will look after himself. When she insists on dropping him off, he says he is not sure where he will stay. Samantha offers to take him with her to her house.

"Ma'am, thank you for the kind gesture, but I have certain principles. Don't you stay alone? I cannot come to your house if you're going to be there all alone."

"How do you know I am alone?"

"My heart prompted me. It always guides me. I can't really explain to you the 'how'."

"OK. Then please stay and watch my Salon tonight. I won't be paying you, but you'll have a place to stay. You can sleep in the salon. There's a shower and a closet. Keep this key with you. I'll be here sharp at 8.00 a.m. tomorrow. "

"Ma'am, do you really trust me? Think. You're giving me the keys to your salon?"

"I trust you."

"Ma'am I'm up by 4 a.m. in the morning. I'll be ready and waiting for you here."

Samantha queries, "What did you have for breakfast and lunch today, Fitzwater?"

"Ma'am, this morning I told you I can fast. I ate nothing today, but tomorrow I will eat."

"Do you now have any habits like smoking, drugs, alcohol, coffee, tea and other beverages, or drugs?"

" No, ma'am."

"You are sure you won't eat anything tonight.?"

"No, but thank you for your concern. Good night."

Samantha leaves the salon at 7.20 p.m., a little early. She tells Fitzwater that she regularly closes the saloon at 8 p.m., but "Now that you're here, you might want to keep it open till 8 p.m." She asks him what he would do if a customer walks in.

"I will attend to any customers and charge $10, then pay you the money tomorrow morning when you get here."

"Can you cut hair?"

"Yes Ma'am."

Samantha repeats the story about her style of managing the Salon. No one is treated as a "worker" or employee here. Everyone has the flexibility of coming in to work any time. She describes how earnings are shared among the girls and tells him that he need to pay her only $2 in the morning if he does a cut for her. Sam asks him why he can't work in her salon every day. Fitzwater refuses and says that more than him, the women who come to work with her need the support that only they as women are able to provide to each other.

Fitzwater asks her permission to say something. He shares with Samantha that women seem to be the same everywhere and that women need to talk to each other. A daily dose of chat time does a lot of good for them and they enjoy it. They do not mind chatting standing on the street for a long duration. They get inspiration from each other. Ideas, intuition and insights are shared towards self-improvement. They will really listen to another woman that they like. He suggests, however, taking precaution to ensure that " chat" does not get degraded to "gossip", and that what is discussed needs to be for the good of everyone. Gossip tends to degenerate into talking about another woman who is not present. This is undisciplined and unnecessary, and needs to be cut short. Samantha gives Fitz her full attention and then says "Good night".

As she is driving home, thoughts come flooding into her head. She is not in a position to dwell on those thoughts one by one. However, she notes one recollection about a Christian mystic who said that sometimes an "awakening" occurs all of a sudden in a person. She wonders whether the presence of Fitzwater did awaken in her something in answer to the strange feelings she had throughout the day today.

As she turns right to enter into the lane leading home, she finds Betty walking towards her home. She knows that Betty lives in the same neighborhood as herself. She must have gone by bus to pick her children from the private day care they attend; she was pushing the stroller with Michael and Williams in it. Samantha says "hello" and stops the car.

"Hi Samantha! It's almost 8:15.... I am just thinking about visiting you around 9 p.m. when I get finished feeding my children. It is coincidence that you're here now. .. Is 'he' there in the car? "

"Who else will be here in my car? I'm by myself."

"Really? I thought you are bringing Fitzwater home and we can spend some time together."

"Why would Fitzwater come to my house?" Samantha is surprised at Betty's questions. Is she interested in developing a relationship with him so soon after meeting him? She has seen him hardly for half an hour. But Sam does understand that Betty is a woman living alone with two kids and no male support.

"I don't know what is happening to me; I really like to talk to Fitzwater and spend time with him", says Betty. "I wanted to invite him to my house tonight. He has something magnetic about him. I am sorry Samantha, for loading you down with all my stuff.... I would not have bared my heart to someone else, but you're so understanding."

"I understand Betty. You need support. My prayers go out to you. Good night."

That night, thoughts of Fitzwater continue to haunt Samantha. She rolls over in bed. She thinks about the plight of women now in American society and feels that no one understands the trauma that the single woman endures... She is ignored. She is fed with stories to make her feel 'guilty', and is not recognized for the contribution she is making to society. She is never paid as much as a male is paid. She is never paid for her job as a stay-at –home mom. Yet at the same time, she volunteers at the local school, she has the heart to bring up some- one else's child as her own, she has a heart that bleeds for others' suffering. Samantha decides that something has gone wrong in our society. And that society, the media, the leaders, the politicians, the Congress, the Syndicate, the Law – none of them recognize or want to fight for the cause of the single woman. There is always a middle path, but everyone has taken a stand at one of two extremes, like binary logic – Yes or No –as is known in computer terminology. Much of the research, media reports and analyses that are put out are misleading and appear to be sidestepping the issues.

In a co-habitation relationship, generally a man and woman both would be earning. The male partner can easily walk away from the relationship, as there is no legal sanctity to the arrangement. A woman might be looking at the arrangement to first understand the man better and feels or hopes that this will be a prelude to marriage. Her partner, of course, doesn't look at it in this manner. In her own case, after she began insisting on a commitment, James had one day just "up and left" in the dead of night. He left a small note that he was going "far, far away and would never return back. Samantha thought the physical and psychological abuse she was subject to at the hands of James might be common in a relationship of a couple living together outside of marriage. But this need not be so, because outside the institution of marriage both the partners are earning, both are equal. Both need each other – at least there is biological need. "Jesus save me – I didn't have any children with him", she thought, lest every day her anger and thoughts of vengeance of James would have been haunting her whenever she looked at their child. Does the poor child bear the brunt? Amidst all the thoughts, Samantha drifted off to sleep – when? She does not remember.

***

2nd January 2012

The next morning Samantha woke up fresh and feeling light in body, mind, spirit. She got ready and would have no problem reaching her salon by 8 a.m. As she helped herself a cup of coffee, she received a message to pick Betty and her kids up on the way to work. She did so; on the way they, dropped the children off at a daycare center, along with bags containing their lunch and favorite toys to play with that morning. Betty could not wait until 6p.m. when Fitzwater would arrive at the Rendezvous for his interview with her boss. Just as she was thinking about him, Fitzwater appeared with a beaming smile and said aloud, "Good morning to both of you".

Betty comments, "his enthusiasm is contagious, where did you find him?" Samantha is silent.

Betty leaves for her work. Fitzwater collects his banner and heads toward the intersection to begin work. Before leaving, he says to Samantha, "Ma'am, last night no customers came in. I waited until 8 p.m. and then closed the Salon."

Noticing his honesty and integrity, Samantha comes to the conclusion that Fitzwater is not just an ordinary man. "He's a man weather beaten who has experienced lots of ups and downs in his life."

A female customer with her 8 year old boy walks in. For an hour Samantha is busy cutting the boy's hair first and then his mother's – it appears that they both have not had a haircut for the past 6 months. The boy is unruly and will no sit quietly; he moves his head this way and that way. During conversation, his mother reveals herself as a single mother who is caught in the no-man's land of making too much money to qualify for food stamps, but not enough to actually feed her family three times a day. However, she acknowledges that some charities, food banks and churches do come forward to ameliorate the effects of poverty. She hopes that all women one day will rise in social action to find solutions, and deplores the so-called GOP Presidential debates that are going on, that don't in the least focus on the problems faced by women in America in general and single women in particular. Lots of mudslinging, personal attacks are being demonstrated by and in the media. And people actually seem to relish all that.

Samantha, ever since she undertook the salon business, has learned to become a good listener. She recollects her father goading in her childhood to cultivate the "habit of listening". Samantha finds despair, as well as hope, in the voice of this woman.

Samantha this time has come to work without eating. It is now 9.15 a.m. She looks through the window and finds Fitzwater on assignment – still twisting, turning, and waving his colorful banner. She curses herself for not having found out whether he had eaten breakfast. She could have given her breakfast to him and then she could have had her favorite oatmeal at the Starbucks across the street. But instead, she thought, " He prided himself that he can fast; let him fast ", as she took out and finished her breakfast .

Amanda walks into the salon. She has brought along 8 month old Stephen. "Hi! Did you remember me as your junior in High School yet"? And then seeing Samantha lost in thought and her perplexed face, she adds, "I can wait to see if someone doesn't make it in to work today, if that's OK with you."

Amanda feeds Stephen from a bottle. There are toys in the buggy. "This cute little guy can play all by himself", Amanda brags." But the 'mother' in Samantha emerges, and she takes the child out of the buggy to play with him. At 10 a.m. Sandra and Stephanie come in to work; they are the only two partners to show. Customers are also walking in – men, women, and a mother and child. This is lucky for Amanda , as she will be able to work today. The three women start in with their clients. Samantha, enjoying the company of the child, opens the big bag and finds what his mother has stuffed into it: a water bottle, milk bottle, some napkins, disposable diapers, and an extra pair of clothes for Stephen are there, neatly packed. Amanda has also packed a lunch box. Samantha thinks to herself, "that Amanda has certainly come prepared today".

All of a sudden, it is 1.30 p.m. and the women are able to break for lunch. Everyone opens her lunch box. Amanda is busy feeding her boy. Samantha gets up to freshen up and then sits down for lunch.

***

It's time for Betty across the street to have an hour break for lunch. She remembers Fitzwater, and thinks of inviting him to lunch at Rendezvous. Lunch and hot and cold beverages for staff are free. Betty remembers Fitzwater saying yesterday that he needs permission from Samantha to leave his post. She grabs her cell and calls Samantha to ask her if she can invite Fitzwater to the Rendezvous for half an hour to eat some lunch. Samantha agrees and thanks Betty for her timely and thoughtful intervention.

Betty walks down the road and meets Fitzwater and invites him personally to come to Rendezvous so that both can eat together. Fitzwater feels embarrassed and says he normally does not like to break in the middle of an assignment. Betty does her best to convince him that she already asked Samantha's permission in advance, but Fitzwater politely asks her to go away. Betty won't budge...she stands her ground.

Fitzwater walks down to the Salon and communicates to Samantha Betty's invitation. Samantha reminds him that yesterday he did not have food and promised her that he will eat today. She too requests that Fitzwater go with Betty to have lunch at Rendezvous...that way, he will also have an opportunity to see the ambience and environment at the eatery, where from January 4th onward he will probably be working. Fitzwater has no choice now. He thanks all the women and follows Betty to the restaurant.

Amanda likes the way Fitzwater has presented himself to her friend and continues to watch him as he was walks gracefully, holding the neatly folded banner under his arm. Stephen's cries interrupt her gaze.

Samantha has been observing silently and wonders in her heart of hearts whether Amanda too has begun to take a liking to this man. "What is happening?" she wonders. She has no feelings of jealousy... She can fully understand that a woman alone yearns for the company of a man – not every man, but the one with whom her heart vibrates and resonates.

***

Betty leads Fitzwater to RENDEZVOUS, a very popular eatery in the City. She asks him what he would prefer to have from a long list on the menu card. Fitzwater looks for vegetarian preparations and finds none there. He requests Betty to get him a sandwich and veggie salad, instead. Betty looks astonished.

"Where do you come from?, she asks.

"Ma'am, pardon me if I say it is irrelevant. My name, my race, my nationality and all these things serve only one purpose of creating prejudice in another."

"Is Fitzwater an illegal immigrant?" Betty wonders. "But you will need to disclose all that information, because it is required to establish your identity before immigration officials if you don't belong to any of the 50 states. If you are a resident here, you need to have your 'green card', drivers' license, social security number and residential address, school credentials and so on."

"Ma'am, just for your own information, I do not belong to this country. I thank you for the concern you show for me. I know I will have to face the immigration issue one day. I will face it when it comes."

"Fitzwater, can I ask you about your education, what sort of work you can do, your faith – I mean your religion?"

"Ma'am, Fitzwater is the name I had given to the ma'am at the hair salon to facilitate her calling me something. From then on I have been Fitzwater to everyone. I do not want to talk about my education. It has no relevance in the present circumstances. About what I can do – I can fast, I can wait, I can think, I can serve, I can do any work which is lawful and reasonable. I am sure the work you were about to show me at this eating place is reasonable and lawful for any normal human being to be able to accomplish it."

"I like your honesty. I've been observing how sincerely you have worked yesterday and today. Your enthusiasm and integrity attracted me. You have something magnetic in your personality; I don't know what it is. Yesterday I wanted to take you to home with me, but couldn't. All night I was thinking of you, whether you had food or not, how you were managing in this cold winter weather, if you had any shelter here. When I met Samantha last night, I understood that you were offered a place to sleep in the salon itself. I really hope you were comfortable there. Do you have clothes, or shall we go to a store and buy something for you to wear for your interview? I can't afford to buy more than one suit for you right now, but today is your interview in the evening. We need to shop. I just love you, Fitzwater. You can stay with us tonight at our place."

"Thank you very much ma'am for the affection you have for me. I do have certain principles and I live to those principles. I was comfortable yesterday. You are right, I do not have any place to live; I slept in the saloon and was comfortable there. All the feelings you have about me and my welfare indicate the nature of your heart. But I want to tell you one thing: I am really a stranger to you. You have hardly seen me over two days and only for brief periods. It seems you wish to be intimate with me. I cannot come to your house; that is one of my principles - you are a single woman."

Fitzwater continues, "I have two pairs of clothes and both are on my body. Today's inner clothes I put on top tomorrow, then they go back inside as I change the clothes around again.. Once every three days I need to wash one pair. Please do not take the trouble of buying clothes for me. Let us enjoy our lunch. Let me pray for my interview."

"Fitzwater, please don't refuse me.. . I am not alone. I live with my two children, Michael and Williams. I believe you could give them the male guidance that they need."

"No, I am sorry. But please think about what I told you. You will get an answer."

"Fitzwater, to whom do you pray? If you really need the job, I can help you with that. I will talk to my boss."

"Please do not talk to anyone for my job. I want the Owner of the Rendezvous to feel that I am the right one for the job he had in mind for me and that I will fit into that position. Of course I need a job, if at least to keep myself engaged. They say an idle man's brain is devil's workshop. Who I pray to is Nameless."

"No dear...first, you were reluctant to give your name. And now you are saying you will pray to the Nameless. How can this be?

"Yes ma'am. It has to be like that. I have faith. Faith in myself, first. I know from my life that big things happen when you do the little things right. Prayer should always be to the Nameless, who can receive prayers from all those having a Name, Form and...... maybe a Nationality, Religion, Sex, and what not. Another thing I want you to know is that between human beings I have only affection, not "love". I have no love for you or for any other human being for that matter. I have affection for you and the salon owner. And this affection I have for every human being with whom I interact. Love is only for God, the creator of human beings. "

Fitzwater, as though to avoid further talk, arises and walks to the Intersection on the Road, resuming his job with the poster he has created.

Something is happening to Betty... her mind has gone numb. She is unable to think. She sits for a moment in disbelief, then helps herself to salmon and sauce.

***

It is around 2.30 p.m. Amanda looks out of the window and finds Fitzwater still on assignment, waving the banner, turning and twisting to attract people to his sign and to the salon.

Meanwhile, inside, two partners are working. Samantha and Amanda sit after lunch. Amanda's son Stephen has gone down for a nap. Amanda tells Samantha that he naps several times a day, but at night he doesn't disturb her. Rarely does he cry for food.

Amanda tells Samantha that Fitzwater is back at work and shares that she believes there is something about him that attracts people. She cannot define what it is.

"Can you guess where he comes from?" Samantha baits them .

"Belgium or Peru, I imagine."

"My guess is no better than yours. I don't know. When I asked him yesterday, he didn't tell me. 'It is irrelevant, it creates prejudice,' he told me" .

"Amanda, when you came into the shop the first time, you were totally absorbed in playing games on your cellphone. I think I'm like you, in that I've also been engrossed, but with me, it's reading novels. Sometimes when there is time, I drive to the Bingham Creek Library and get piles of novels. When Fitzwater came in on January 1st, I gave him the job of standing in the intersection to attract people to our Salon, because since October we haven't had much business. That day there wasn't time to go check novels out of the library, and I actually decided that from now on I won't read novels. A strange thing has happened since Fitzwater has been with me; something has made my thinking very introspective and reflective. Yesterday, all day I was thinking about the plight of single women in general and single mothers in particular here in the States, and the way we're pushed into situations where our companions have deserted us; then our young children still need to be brought up properly. Parenting is a tough job for a single mother and to be economically independent she needs to work; yet that work is not enough to pay the bills. I guess I'm suggesting that you not pay so much attention to your video games, because it seems to me that they take all your attention away from your child. I kind of wanted to ask you yesterday when you came into the shop to help, where Stephen was, and with whom you had left him....you didn't bring him to the Salon."

"I made an arrangement."

"What sort of an arrangement? Did you leave him in a private day care?"

"I can't afford to put him in day care, so left him with a neighbor who is the mother of two other kids. She understands my problem, and she's a stay-at-home mother."

"Don't you think that's like putting an extra burden on her ? Are you really prepared to take on a similar burden for another mother like you who might ask you the same favor in the future? My feeling is that what we cannot give to others, we cannot expect for ourselves."

"Yeah, I agree. That's the reason I left work early yesterday. Hey (changing subject), do you now recollect me as your junior when we were in School? Do you recognize me even a little bit?"

"Amanda, I am sorry. I only remember a few of my classmates. Now and then I run into someone I knew, either in the mall, a parking lot, or on the sidelines of a soccer field, where I rarely have an opportunity to go now because of my salon, or in the library. Then we sometimes exchange a few words, but that's all."

Samantha's cellphone rings. It's Betty... She reports that Fitzwater refused an invitation to her house last night, and he also refused to go with her so she could buy a pair of clothes for him before the interview; he had also shared something he said about love, affection, prayer, being nameless, and God. Samantha thanks Betty for the update, and assures her that she would allow Fitzwater to sleep in the salon tonight, and as many other nights as he requires, even though he is now employed at Rendezvous. Betty heaves a sigh of relief that this man won't be left outside in the shivering cold.

Amanda is curious to know everything, but Stephen wakes up and she needs to feed him. He plays with his toys and keeps looking at his mother and Samantha. He responds to the smile of this new lady.

Samantha goes over everything that Betty had shared with her. Then she continues the thread from where they had left off talking before, asking Amanda to stop playing so many video games, just as how she had stopped reading novels.

"Reflecting on what happens when I'm reading a novel, I found that my mind is preoccupied with the story. What is that story? It is some romance, something imagined or some crime with thrilling details. Playing video games seems almost like this; it keeps your mind preoccupied with some fantasy, make-believe world or a role-play. We're not allowed to have time for ourselves...it's not that somebody is conspiring and doing this to us intentionally. But it has the same effect. Somebody writing in the name of 'creativity' develops a theme, which in essence takes us away from any present problem while we visit this fantasy land. For example, someone lacking in strength might create a character who does have this strength and a story is built around that theme. Someone who feels his or her dreams remain unfulfilled might create a fantasy or story where everything there is wonderful. Some men indulge in drugs and alcohol, which is just another way to live in a fantasy world... those are just a few of the thoughts that came to me. Many of those novels I was reading were in the field of paranormal behavior, romance, crime..."

Amanda intervenes abruptly and stops Samantha in her tracks and asks, "what are you doing now? Is this not 'imagining' and 'fantasizing'?"

Samantha replies, "No. Right now, we're taking an issue and reflecting on it.... Asking ourselves 'why is it so'? In a novel too, there can be a theme and an issue; but I think in that case, it's not intended to resolve a societal problem."

"Think again! Have you read any novel these days?"

"No. I know you are into video games and other electronic devices. Have you ever reflected on the thoughts of the inventor who invented these games or Nintendo or X-boxes?

Amanda quickly replies "Entertainment."

"Yes, you're right. We buy those things thinking that this or that game has come onto the market to entertain us. With your boyfriend deserting you, it left only you to bring up the child he fathered; do you have time really to 'entertain' yourself? If you think that in this situation you need to look for lots of recreation or entertainment, then God save us! That's the same case as with me and my novels. The intention before writing the novel itself is to make the reader kill time. Who kills time? Reflect on this. That is why I feel leadership is lacking."

"Do you mean women leaders?" Amanda interjects.

"Yes. I mean women leaders who focus on women and their issues and problems, specifically political leadership, but also in other fields in general ".

"Did Hilary Clinton not try to lead the country?"

"Yes. But did 'you' and did 'they' really allow her to end up leading?"

"She fought till the end and lost... what could be done about it?"

"No , I believe that the general thinking of most Americans then was to not allow a woman to lead."

"You mean that there is a conspiracy in the whole of society to prevent women from leading...and women are lulled into games, fantasy, movies, shows, and a false sense of freedom in order to distract them from even wanting to lead? Are those your thoughts?"

"I want you to think about this...once Betty comes, we need to share these thoughts with her too, don't you think?"

While both of them were in this serious discussion, the two other partners left one by one, saying "Good night" to Samantha and Amanda, who just nodded, as they were so immersed in their conversation.

At 5 p.m.; Fitzwater enters the salon.

"Please keep the keys to the salon tonight, Fitzwater. You can sleep here again tonight and begin your work tomorrow just as you've done for the past two days. Please take this $5 for today's work. And thank you. .. Oh! I'm sorry; I forgot! You have your interview at 6 p.m., don't you? I wish you all the best. Please come back afterward.... I'll be here till 8, anyway. My friend Amanda and I will have dinner together here, then I'll drop Amanda at her house. Betty might also want to join us. Tell her when you get there that we're here, OK?"

Fitzwater leaves, and Amanda observes the silence. She silently plays with her child, then gets up and walks around in the salon as if to stretch her limbs. Both had been sitting for a long time on the couch. As she walks, a rush of thought flood her mind. She recollects events that lead to Stephen's father leaving. This man was a drug addict, who continued to use marijuana. They had both dated for some time. He was working as a security man in one of those malls and earned reasonably good money. His shifts were different than hers, though. Amanda had worked as a receptionist in a law firm. Weekends were the only times that they could spend together, so she hadn't had the opportunity to learn about his drug habit. But one day, he forgot to put his trousers in the washer. Amanda started to do this for him, but when she checked one of the pockets, she found another zipped pocket inside that contained a packet of marijuana. When she confronted him the next weekend, he said in general he used it 'occasionally' as a medicine, whenever he had a problem going to sleep. Amanda left it at that. Subsequently, she alerted him when she became pregnant and hinted about marriage, but he appeared to be comfortable in carrying on with their 'living-together' arrangement like so many other couples do who cohabitate. Slowly, she realized that this man was growing his marijuana clandestinely in the yard among other plants like tomatoes. This being a serious matter from a law enforcement angle, she wondered whether he would be jailed if anyone found out. One day, she finally confronted him with the facts, and at that point he expressed his desire to call an end to their relationship. That was when she was in her 4th month of pregnant, and she did not like the idea of having an abortion. The traumatic thoughts of how she would bring up the child, whether she would be able to welcome him into the world now that her relationship with his father was over, whether she would have love for the child, how her employment would support her were... all these thoughts came reeling into her mind as flashbacks. Amanda wondered what in the world had attracted her when she had entered into the relationship with him and what had then distanced him from her. If he had continued to live with her by rationalizing his position, would she have then let him leave? Did he choose to end the relationship after finding out that she was pregnant and he would have to share the burden of parenting the child, as well as sharing expenses? If he left the relationship at that time, other than possibly trying for child support there was really no legal remedy available to her just as far as meeting the new expense of having a child, because they had only been 'living together' and were not married. Now, because of Amanda's employment, she can neither seek social assistance nor any other form of assistance such as food stamps. Now Amanda realizes what Samantha had been talking about... The media and various sociological studies appear to have missed the real problem of women in a cohabitation arrangement.

The cry of her child brought Amanda back to physical reality from her mental tour. She thinks that things cannot remain the same as they are now; spring has to come soon, bringing green grass, flowers and hope. Philosophically thinking, Amanda recognizes that what cannot continue, will not continue and so one way or another, things will change.

***

Chapter 2: DIALOGUE

Fitzwater sits facing the Owner of the famous eatery, the RENDEZVOUS. "Mr. Fitzwater, I am not going to ask for your passport, visa or immigration status. Ms. Betty has told me everything. I've selected you as the new Manager of this eatery. You'll be employed here full time. You can actually live here in the restaurant itself if you like...there's a small room next to this room and adjacent to the restroom where you can sleep if you like. There's a door leading outside from that room. It remains automatically locked from the inside unless you open it and go out. If you go outside after 10 p.m. , you should take care to check whether the inside automatic door remains closed. It automatically closes at 10.30 p.m. Check to ensure it is closed, that's all. Once you come back in, the outside door again automatically closes. You won't be able to re-enter the restaurant after that. You have the room and the rest of the suite available to you during the night."

He continues... "The restaurant opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. Our staff start showing up about 8 a.m. to plan and then begin their respective duties in order for the restaurant to open by 10 a.m. All the cleaning and prep work take place in the morning hours. No alcoholic beverages are served here. You will not need to do any work yourself besides manage, but if required, you should know how and be able to do everything and anything. Hope you understand."

Fitzwater : " yes."

"Ms. Betty told me that you can start working from January 4th. Your salary will be $20 initially. It's paid to you once a week every Saturday in cash, OK? Do you have any questions for me?"

"No, sir."

"Thank you then. Good night. See you the day after tomorrow at 10 a.m."

"Good Night Sir..."

When Fitzwater comes out of the restaurant, Betty is waiting for him. She tells him that her job is from 10 to 6 p.m. Today, she had come early and would be going home little late, the same as Samantha. The time is now 6.40 p.m. Both of them walk to the salon and join Samantha and Amanda. Fitzwater relates the details of his successful interview. He lets them know about his new position, his compensation, and the fact that from January 4th onward, he is provided with accommodation in the restaurant itself. Fitzwater thanks Ms. Betty for the kind words she must have put in for him to her boss.

They all leave early, as Samantha has to drop Amanda and her child on the way and then pick up Betty's kids. Betty will be dropped off at her place after the dinner they have planned for on the way home. "Take care, Fitzwater, and help yourself to anything".

"Ma'am, I will close the salon at 8 p.m., same as always. If a customer comes in, I will cut their hair, pay you $2 and retain the $8 myself."

"Thank You. Good night."

"Good night to all three of you."

The women drive away. Around 7.20, a woman and her 14 year old daughter walk into the shop. Fitzwater puts on an apron and shows the youngster to a chair. She sits comfortably until Fitzwater is finished. The girl likes her hair style and pays Fitzwater $12. Fitzwater reminds her that they charge only $10; she says she knows. She recollects having seen him waving the banner at the intersection. The extra $2 are for him for the good job he had done. Fitzwater thanks her and shows her mother to a chair. She also pays $12 to Fitzwater and, after thanking him again, both are out the door.

At 8 p.m., Fitzwater closes the salon, lies down, and is off to sleep.

***

The three girls finish their dinner. All three share the experiences of that day. Amanda relates what had gone on inside her mind, and the thoughts exchanged between herself and Samantha earlier are now shared with Betty. It was a sort of 'sharing of the minds' among the three single women. On their way home, the three trace the transformation that has taken place with respect to the place of women in the society in this country as they know it. They recollect a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us." They recognize that it is essential to express what is within, to express the presupposed reflection and introspection. Betty proposes that "none of us are really able to introspect and reflect."

Samantha shares that she had heard those words when she was a Student of Utah University, where occasionally some Devotional Meetings were held where senior elders from the Mormon faith came to deliver lectures. That is where she had heard words like "faith, remembering who you are, obedience, reflection, introspection, discipline, hope, repentance, prayer and self-control". Amanda asks whether any one of the three belong to Mormon faith and expresses that she is a Protestant. Samantha says she is a Catholic and her boyfriend was a Presbyterian. However, on Sundays both had traveled together to a Presbyterian service. Betty said that she was a Protestant and her boyfriend had been a Lutheran. They don't attend church every Sunday, but whenever they did, they went to a Protestant church.

Continuing with their reflective thoughts, they admit that the opening up of this new faculty in them is due to the presence of Fitzwater among them. They recognize that it is his presence and his peaceful demeanor and graceful countenance that triggered this awakening in them. People who exhibit humility, a desire to learn and are able to be taught tend to be more successful in growing and developing, they feel. There will always be some arrogant, self-centered men or women who do not take counsel from others; neither do they attend to the sound advice or good judgment of others. Such people make one bad decision after another. In each case, they seem to point the finger of blame at everyone but themselves.

Likening women to a stream, Betty draws a comparison that in confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins – not by strength but by perseverance. She hopes that all single mothers and women join together to bring about a change that will be good for everyone in society. The three agree that it seems right now that everyone focuses selfishly on himself or herself, ignoring others. Consideration for others – though preached from every pulpit – does not find expression in practice. How else can we explain the crime and abuse in this society? They traced that traditionally, the American male is dominant, with his responsibility being as "head of house", providing for his wife and children, and engaging in some vocational or economic activity. His wife traditionally had stayed at home and reared the children. Sometime around the 1970's, with the women's liberation movement, women were able to start freely leaving unhappy marriages, and husbands began providing child support. Women could now combine work and family and their right to control their own bodies. From there, the 1980's saw divorce rates increasing; mechanization saw a depletion in the amount of jobs, even for men. The number of single mothers with children from different and multiple relationships increased, and consequentially, childhood poverty began to be recorded. Opening of the service sector and availability of part time jobs lead to further economic independence for women.

Here Samantha recollects how she worked as a Barista in Coffee house and as a Bartender, which brought with it abuse from irresponsible youth. The girls also view the physical, mental and emotional abuse that women endure in their relationships. Is this what has gone wrong for and with the woman? Has she fought for easy divorce? Did woman fight for protection of her own body? If this was the case, men then, in the name of economic freedom, sharing of expenses, knowing each other before marriage, created a substitute to dating and introduced this new ball game called 'live-in relationship' 'living together' , 'cohabitation'. Did women buy this argument? It appears so from different studies, where this issue is not touched at all. Who studied these issues – men or women? Why didn't some woman sociologist take up this type of study? Who is running the media? Is it only the gray haired traditional thinker or inexperienced, immature youngster? Do they not adopt, as a rule of thumb, some policy that what they demonstrate, what they argue, and what they write should provide the maximum benefit to society?

There is need for an awakening of women to the reality that is facing them. Why is there an increase in Gay cohabitation, an increase in numbers for Lesbian cohabitation? Is it because all we human beings prefer to live in isolation, each one for ourselves? Is same sex attraction due to the fact that it is easier to befriend someone from the same sex? While Gays often fight for legalizing their marriages, why do women not seriously fight for their cause? However, even in Gay relationships, the cohabitation arrangements, just as it is with heterosexual couples, usually fall apart in two years. Are we as a human race not tolerant of each other? We provide ourselves no time to share and reflect on such serious issues.

Continuing...do we women primarily understand what our real problem is? Or are we dependent upon accepting what the media or political leadership wants us to believe? Sometime ago Newsweek or Times ran a story on its cover page saying that highly educated women prefer to stay at home...does this statement reflect the truth? Women, being somewhat isolated, read the report and did not react in the way we could have.....what was the sample size for the journalist, who was woman to arrive at such a conclusion? Are we seeing what is happening in the world elsewhere? Or are we satisfied at our condition after reading one or two reports that arrive from countries where women are suppressed?

As Amanda's house comes into view, there is a break in the thought process of the three women. They collect Betty's kids and drop them all off. Samantha goes home and heads to bed, falling deep into sleep.

***

January 3

Samantha reaches her shop at 8 a.m. Fitzwater has opened the salon and is ready waiting. The moment she steps in, after their "Good Mornings" , Fitzwater relates that the night before, two female customers had come and that each had paid $12 because they were satisfied with his work. "Should I take $16 or $20 and give her $4?" he wonders. Fitzwater also offers $10 for the two nights he has slept in the salon.

Samantha looks at him respectfully and takes only $4, clarifying that he need not pay anything for the accommodation. It is normal for one human being to be considerate of another during times of need.

Fitzwater goes back to his work at the intersection, holding the banner and attracting even more attention to the Salon. Samantha observes that Fitzwater is focused, non-judgmental, honest, sincere and integrated in thought, word and deed.

Amanda telephones that she would not be able to come today. She expresses a sincere desire to assimilate all that went on in her mind yesterday. She still admits to a longing to be with the two girls – Betty and Samantha - soon.

An uneventful day, two of the partners, Sally and Susan, show up and business runs as usual. Samantha has some books from the library to be returned. She returns them with a determination to depend more on her own reflective and introspective mind instead of books? to gain understanding and also a better perspective.

She and her partners earn $40 by 3 p.m. She received her $20. Satisfied, both women leave early at 3 p.m. Samantha calculates that if only 2 stations are operated per day, catering to 10 customers, that would earn them $100. As outside work is not easily available, due to the need, 4 of the women partners usually work each day, with their earnings being divided. More business is obviously required to support all of them. She observes that women are not greedy, at least in this country. Once they earn $40, usually leave work to be with their families earlier. Today, there were 4 customers who were attended to by Samantha alone. Another $40 added to her earnings of $20 that day come to a total of $60. Samantha wonders whether business too responds to willingness to work and availability of work. What she means, in other words, is the ability to wait for work with faith. Generally, what happens is that we try, and then give up too soon. "Had Amanda come in, she too could have earned something today," Samantha feels.

At 5 p.m. Fitzwater completes his assignment. Samantha tells him that today he can again sleep in the salon. She asks Fitzwater about his family, children, and where they are. "Is he in contact with them?, she wonders.

"Ma'am, I am a stranger to you. The familiarity we have is of 3 days. I am happy for the concern you have towards another human being such as me. But I cannot answer this question, as I feel it does not in any way help you or me."

"You seem to not believe in relationships... you don't want to cultivate a relationship with any another human being?"

"Yes. Certainly I believe in relationships between human beings, but as brothers and sisters having come from the same creator."

"Don't you have any name for that creator, like some people call it their 'Personal God'?"

"Present problems in the world are with prejudices caused by Your God and My God. I am talking about the God of all these Gods, who does not possess name, form or attributes. I call it the creator or Centre or even the 'God particle', like the scientists are currently researching."

"You have come here to preach?"

"Ma'am, nobody can preach anything to anybody. People's minds are changed through observation and not through argument. At least, that is the experience I have had in life. Life teaches all of us. We are part of nature. Never does nature say one thing and wisdom another. If we learn, we evolve into something higher. When we are not teachable, we become preachers. The only way is by you yourself living by 'example'. We evolve in our qualities, in our love for the creator, in our affection for humanity, in our ability to endure suffering for humanity, like nature does. We see this in nature every day. Patiently, it puts up with all our irresponsible behavior towards itself. Frankly, all of us are ignorant, just on different subjects. We need to have the faith that wisdom comes from within. By within, I mean, from each one's heart. All along, we have been dependent upon the mind for an intellectual understanding like, as they say, "seeing is believing". But it is the other way round; "believing is seeing". Believing is in the heart. The heart does not depend upon the senses. The mind depends upon sensory output and then arrives at only a limited perspective, whereas the heart holistically feels, as it is being one with nature and guides from within. One needs only to believe what his or her heart is feeling." "Fitzwater, you are talking something beyond absorption now", Samantha states.

Neither one had observed Betty's arrival at 6.05 p.m. Betty sits coolly and observes the conversation. She has planned on going home early with Samantha, as she knows that Fitzwater can take care of the salon.

Samantha gets up. "We're calling it a day. Please take care of the salon, Fitzwater. I hope the three of us – Amanda, Betty and myself - will be able to have several meetings with you like this in the coming days. Today is your last night to sleep here, I know. However, whenever you feel that there is need for you to use this Salon, please feel free to call me. Good night."

Samantha and Betty leave. It is now 6.45 p.m. No late customers arrive today. At 8 p.m. Fitzwater closes the salon and goes out to buy a pair of clothes. He now has enough money for that. There is a thrift store right across the road; he buys jeans and a tee shirt and turns in for the night.

***

January 4

By the time Samantha reaches the salon at 8 a.m., Fitzwater is up and ready in his new clothes. She wishes him good morning and all the best at his new job.

And so Fitzwater's new job begins. Betty thinks she will have lots of time now throughout the day to be with him.

Fitzwater moves throughout the restaurant, familiarizing himself with the work stations, the kitchen, cleaning area, dining tables and he also helps out wherever he's needed. And he cleans the tables soon after the customers leave. He exchanges only an occasional smile with Betty. Betty had expected and hoped that he would talk to her.

Two days pass. Betty and the other staff observe Fitzwater and soon he becomes good friends with everyone. Everyone would like to talk to him and hear what he has to say. Generally, Fitzwater listens to everyone before speaking. When he speaks, everyone around him listens.

It is 7th January, Michael's birthday: At lunch, Betty approaches Fitzwater and invites him to her house that evening. Although She tells Fitzwater that she has obtained the boss' permission for him to leave early, Fitzwater still relates to the owner of the Rendezvous about his plans to go to Betty's house and obtains permission himself to leave at 6 p.m. with Betty .

The Owner remotely controls his restaurant through surveillance. Fitzwater and other members of the staff generally do not know this fact. The first three nights, the owner is astonished to observe Fitzwater's behavior in the Restaurant when alone. Man's character is known only when no one is observing. ..everyone behaves correctly at the traffic lights or when the Police are behind or around them. During the night, Fitzwater has access to only one room and the rest room. He never attempts to see whether the door to the restaurant can be opened. In his room, Fitzwater spends much time in what could be called 'meditating'... sitting cross-legged on the floor, with his eyes closed. Soon after this session he goes to bed and gets up early in the morning at 4 a.m. to again sit in meditation. Pleased with Fitzwater's behavior, the owner decides in his heart of hearts that he will try to help this man with his immigration, if at all possible. Knowing that Fitzwater has decided to go to Betty's home, the owner assumes that he may sleep there, as well. He decides to stay and manage the restaurant himself until 10 p.m.

6:30: Betty and Fitzwater leave to catch the bus to her house. They board the bus, which takes them to the day care center where they collect the kids and reach Betty's home by 8 p.m.

Michael and Williams look at this new man. Tiny tots, what they understand we do not know. At home, Betty toasts bread, prepares salad and offers it to Fitzwater. She introduces Fitzwater to Michael and Williams. They look at him. Fitzwater tries to hold them one by one, but they refuse to come to him. They look toward "Mommy" and hug her instead.

Betty feeds them and then helps herself to dinner. As both of them eat, she narrates the circumstances around when she had met Steven. He already had Michael, who was 3 years old then and his wife was not with him. He never explained how she died. Steven was working as a Security Guard and was given mostly night shifts. Betty took upon herself to take in Michael as her own child. Meantime, she became pregnant and gave birth to William. Steven deserted her, just leaving one day. Steven had not liked her proposal of marriage. Initially, she had thought that by living together, at least she would get to know him and that this might eventually lead to marriage or... otherwise. But as always in such matters, the inevitable had happened – pregnancy. She thought of abortion around the 10th week of her pregnancy when Steven did not consent to their marriage. Although abortion is permitted, bringing up Michael had given her the confidence that she can easily handle another child. Her womanly heart did not agree to opt for abortion. At some earlier point of time, she had already entertained the idea that Steven might someday desert her, in which case she thought she would consider adoption, which is legally permissible if not in this State, in another State in the U.S.

Now she feels that her children need male company in the form of guidance, caring, paternal love, so she suggests that Fitzwater consider 'living-in' with her and the children. She requests Fitzwater to call her by her own name rather than 'ma'am'.

"Betty, you are going through a terrible time in your life now. Changes are being forced upon you that are not of your calling or choosing. But there is a past to all of us. That past triggers pretty horrible things for each one of us. I am sharing from my own life experience. I can only pray for better things to happen in your life and that new light will shine upon you, bringing great things and healing the scars and wounds of the past."

"Do you think just your prayer can bring changes for my life? I am thinking that your living here together with me might heal the emotional scars."

"It is not wrong for you to think so under the present circumstances. I understand that. I believe prayer can definitely bring change. You yourself will experience it soon."

"Yesterday I overheard you talking to Samantha about 'seeing is believing' and 'believing is seeing'. What is that? Can you explain?"

"It is sort of like reorienting ourselves. All along, we were moving in one direction, not knowing it as the wrong one. Now, through reorientation, we change direction. We sometimes miss reorienting ourselves and get stuck in our little den where things might be comfortable because it is what we are used to, but that might not necessarily be all that good. Changing habits or shifting perspective can be tough when the comfort zone feels like your favorite fleece jacket that keeps you warm. This experience can be changed. It is never too late to change our outlook. If mending or ending are two choices, some prefer ending a relationship and some prefer mending a damaged relationship. Yet some people learn something new. "

"Fitzwater, can you please elaborate on that?"

"Seeing is believing. This is what you have learnt in your childhood. Your mom said this, your teachers repeated it. You started absorbing it. It all happened with the mind. Unless you see something, you don't believe. This has become your comfort zone, the fleece jacket which keeps you warm. You wear it every day. It becomes a habit. You really are not at all interested in poking your head out of the den called 'comfort zone' to see what might be going on in the world beyond this personal comfort space. Maybe out of willpower or by virtue of the encouragement of someone near and dear, you may gather enough courage to just take a little peek at what life might be like above ground. Recollect the Groundhog; I understand here you have a holiday called 'Groundhog Day' in February. Like the groundhog, we get a little glimpse of a shadow of something we do not understand and we duck back inside. We are unaware of our own foolishness in the fact that the shadow was created by our own presence in the sunlight. If we had shifted our direction the moment we came out of the hole and moved the other way, then the shadow would have been behind us, out of sight. We would see the Sun shining on us. Just a tiny shift in our lives, a little bit of effort, a small mid-course correction, can go a long way toward making big changes. For that mid-course correction, we need to be alert and mindful always. For this to happen, we need to unlearn all that what we have learnt. Now, we begin to believe before seeing. Believing is always with the heart. We needn't go into all of the details. Recollect your first meeting with Steven. Your heart pushed you into the relation. Did you know at that time that the Heart has two functions, feeling and emotion? Ideally, feeling and thinking should be integrated. Emotion does not allow one to think. We need to observe ourselves every day, every moment, to live life precisely. Life cannot be lived in a slipshod way, in a casual manner."

"Fitzwater I understand now. What happened with Steven at that time was that I was driven by emotion. Emotion clouded my thinking. This is what you meant."

"It is not for me to judge or interpret...you keep reflecting about it."

"Fitzwater I will continue to observe myself. They say meditation helps in observing oneself as a witness. I will do that."

Fitzwater looks into the kitchen where the microwave clock reads '9.40 p.m.' The children it appears, have gone to bed. Fitzwater gets up to go. Betty too gets up to plead with him to spend the night. Fitzwater reminds her about his earlier submission that he cannot sleep there. He says "good night" and heads back to the restaurant.... Betty watches him as he slowly fades away into the darkness of night.

***

By the time Fitzwater reaches the restaurant, it is 11 p.m. Fitzwater slowly tries to open the room door with the key that was given him. The door does not open but rather trips an alarm. Fitzwater is shocked and sits there in one corner without attempting anything else.

After about 40 minutes, the owner comes on the scene. He is surprised to see Fitzwater there.

"Fitzwater didn't you go with Betty?"

"Yeah. I went, we finished dinner and now I'm back."

"I thought maybe you'd sleep there tonight. I'm sorry, I forgot to keep the inside latch open so that you could use your key to get in. Neither of you told me that you will be back."

"I have certain principles, Sir. I cannot sleep in the residence of a single woman. When she called, I thought she was inviting me for dinner, so I agreed. She also thought that I might stay there tonight."

The owner opened the main door. "Well, go inside to your room and have a nice sleep. Goodnight."

The Owner of Rendezvous trusts Fitzwater even more. He thinks of providing him with the keys to the whole Restaurant. In any case, he can always monitor Fitzwater's movements. The camera recordings would be there. He will wait for at least a week to pass before he makes that offer.

***

Chapter 3: Coming together

Samantha telephones next day to Betty, asks about Fitzwater and tells Betty to reserve one table for her and Amanda; she requests Betty and Fitzwater to join them for lunch. Betty agrees.

At Lunchtime, Amanda and Samantha arrive to a table reserved for them. Betty and Fitzwater join them. Fitzwater says, "Lunch is on the house; you need not pay". They enjoy a good lunch. During conversation, they enquire how he is finding his accommodation at the restaurant. Betty intervenes and tells them that Fitzwater refused to live with her in her house and provide male guidance to her two children.

"Are you three all friends now?" asks Fitzwater.

In chorus all three say "yes" in unison."

"Might I suggest that the three of you see the wisdom of living together in one house? You can decide which house. "

Betty and Amanda look at Samantha as if they want to say they prefer her house; she nods – so the three are now in agreement to relocate there.

"What will others think? Will they think that we three are having some sort of same sex relationship?," Amanda questions.

Fitzwater: "That's a good question. It is about what others might think. But they have not yet thought; you are thinking about what others may think. You are imagining what others may think right now. They may or they may not think that way. Why should we even bother about it? Does it mean we are seeking other's approval for our actions? We need to be true to ourselves. What you are thinking about the three of you living together is what is important."

Samantha: "We have to arrive at clarity in our thinking".

Betty pipes up, "As far as I am concerned, I thought about it yesterday. Actually I like the idea. So long as I'm living all alone, I think about loneliness, I sometimes feel self-pity, and lose confidence. But now that we are becoming friends, thanks to Fitzwater's arrival - and I hope my two friends would agree - all of us could live together. My children would have two 'aunties'. Amanda's child would have two aunties. Samantha too can feel the joy of children moving around in the house. The greatest lessons of love and sacrifice can only be learned in a family-type environment".

She continues... "There is no purpose served if the friendship only allows each one to go about her own business, do whatever each likes, without input from the people around them who care and who may better observe what is happening with them".

Amanda offers that "We are living in a society or community. It has become an established order that each one lives his or her own life. Everyone has likes and dislikes, each one thinks differently, each works at a different place, each has his or her own expenditures and style of living. When such is the norm of the community, if we live together, we have to be ready to face criticism. Others may not talk about it to our face, but may gossip around among themselves and spread rumors.

Fitzwater: "It is true we are in a community and need to conform to the norms of living of the community. Here in this case there is no violation at all. The important thing is that you three need to learn to tolerate each other, need to accept each other as that person is. No expectations and no judgment about each other. There may be need for adjustment to each one's preferences. I would not call them 'likes' and 'dislikes'. There may be a need to understand each other, show affection to each other. Share your expenses, share the burden of cooking, washing, cleaning and maintaining the house."

"Try to eat together at least one meal in the house if you can. All this requires some effort, some commitment. Begin with this. From my experience, both opposition and criticism, make me strong. They give me an opportunity for introspection about myself and bring clarity to what I am doing. So long as I am convinced of what I am doing, I can explain to others about my perspective, which I think is right. There need not be any argument, debate or discussion. I may not be obliged to explain myself to others, but I do explain my understanding and my perspective. When we have never thought about an issue fully, someone else's criticism throws confusion at our door. Therefore, anything we do, we need to think through clearly and come to an understanding. Once we have arrived at an understanding, nothing can shake us."

All three girls say, "We will take some time to think about it."

Fitz reminds them to "include your heart also in the process, in your decisions. If the mind thinks, the heart feels. Every day, try to spend at least 10 minutes to listen to your heart. Do it as a ritual every day. It will yield results."

It is already 2 p.m. Amanda and Samantha thank Fitzwater. It is true that only after meeting him did the three of them begin coming together. Is it coincidence or synchronicity?

Fitz: "It has nothing to do with me. It is nature's plan. Before going, please answer one question – all the three of you. Why did you choose to talk to me now and why did you yourselves not think about these issues? These are issues that each one of you were facing in isolation?"

Samantha: To be frank, it appears these days that women and men get together, maybe more for so-called "recreational sex" and without any thought about the serious purpose of raising family. It's a fact that a mother needs to continuously switch her hats from that of 'wife' to 'mom', to 'employee', 'homemaker,' 'cook', 'teacher', and sometimes 'entertainer' if she is good in the arts such as singing or dancing. I have to agree that my chance meeting with you and then my giving you the assignment of attracting people to my salon, and then your conversation style, honesty, and integrity have attracted me to you. First of all, because of the economic downturn in this country, there are few customers. Seeing you unemployed brought out the businesswoman in me and I thought that I could hire you at a cheaper cost than someone else... immigrants play a big role here in many different capacities. But maybe, I don't know, there might have also been some intention subconsciously on my part to get closer to you. Having put you on the job and observing you, something else happened to me– reflection and introspection. For a few days, I was continually thinking about the plight of single women, the institution of marriage, the role of the media and the community leaders; I mean the political leadership and absence of woman leadership in areas of interest to women. Betty is an old customer. Betty found you at the intersection that day on her way into the salon and talked to me about you; she was pretty bold in expressing her intention of taking you to her home and she admitted that you have something in you that also attracted her. Now what is this? Is this the same natural attraction between opposite sexes that makes us women seek the company of a man, only to get ourselves into trouble with domestic violence or get cheated on? If that's the case, why are we women not realizing this and why we are putting ourselves into the same trap over and over again? I know some people who have divorced a man and then gotten together with him again after some time, then lived with him yet again, only to leave that relationship in the end. "

"...and what is the attraction between the same sex? According to science, 'like' poles repel each other. But there are debates, court cases to allow marriage between those of the same sex. It rests on a single premise of 'right of conscience', a fundamental American principle. It is argued that the conscience of two people attracted into the same sex relationship needs to be respected. I need to stop here Fitzwater. I can't think any more."

Amanda and Betty nod at Samantha's comments. Amanda adds that after meeting Fitzwater, she too observed that a strange faculty in her has been awakened, and she had come to the conclusion that tragic events in life shake us out of our habitual patterns, out of our comfort zone and force us to look for deeper meanings to life so that a purposeful life can be lead. Amanda and Samantha get up to go.

***

Betty comes in later on to say good night to Fitzwater and shares that what is happening now is intellectually invigorating and appealing emotionally to all three of the women. Fitzwater tells her that they will be critical friends, in the sense that each one respectfully pointing out flaws to the other where necessary can lead toward correct direction in their thinking and correct action. Initially, the conversations may appear only intellectual, but they then move to the emotional consciousness, then to feeling in the heart.

Suddenly, Betty references the American Declaration of Independence, which states that "we have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and says that "everyone here thinks that each one of us has a right to happiness. Any infringement is fought". Fitzwater points out that the right to life and right to liberty are but two rights; the third one is 'pursuit of happiness', meaning everyone in the country should be free to pursue a vocation, an employment, an education or an enterprise of his or her choice so as to be HAPPY. ".

***

The next week, as planned, the three gather in the Rendezvous restaurant at lunch time. Fitzwater joins them and listens. The women share that they have decided to start living all together at Samantha's house as of January 20th. . They have also decided not to take their kids to the day care. All of them would reach the hair salon by 8 a.m. with kids in tow. They're in the process of creating a small play area in the salon itself, and Amanda and Samantha will take turns caring for them there. During lunch time, Betty will come to the Salon and feed all the kids. In the evening, Betty will go to the salon after work and spend time with the kids until 8 p.m. and feed them dinner. All of the women could then go home together. Amanda indicates that this is something like the old traditional "extended family" way of doing things.

Fitzwater stops her at this point to tell her that they are trying to understand the present in terms of the past. "Generally many people make this mistake; it is like a 'putting the same old wine in a new bottle' sort of an argument. But it is not correct. It may look like something out of the past, yet it is borne out of fresh thinking and a new solution found in the present to resolve present circumstances. In our consciousness, we need to move forward, not drag the present into the past. Fitzwater congratulates all the women for the giant steps they have taken in moving forward. He tells them that everything starts small in the beginning and then grows organically. In nature, a small seed carries within it the tall and grandiose pine tree. They can now find solutions to all the problems facing women. He points out the oft repeated quotation of Einstein that 'the problems of today cannot be solved at the level of the thinking that created them'. Einstein said, 'learn from yesterday, live for today and hope for tomorrow'. Therefore, we should always challenge the circumstances and emerge victorious over them. Guidance from the heart needs to be sought".

Fitz asks them whether they are able to listen to their hearts. They confirm that they have been making attempts and are continuing to listen and hope to meet success soon.

Samantha indicates that she too has read that as the human being develops his knowledge into something higher and still higher, the secrets of nature are opened slowly. The paradigm shift, Fitzwater, that you were talking about, from 'seeing is believing' to 'believing is seeing' can be equaled to the progress of science from Ptolemaic earth at the center of the universe to Copernican sun-centered theory to Newtonian model to Einstein's quantum physics. Dr. Candace Pert, in a TV Talk show long back, said that Newton, Descartes, Darwin had plucked God and life from the world of matter, and us and our consciousness from the center of our world. They ripped the heart and soul out of the universe, leaving in its wake a lifeless collection of interlocking parts. These paradigms – the world as machine, man as survival machine – have led to a technological mastery of the universe, but little real knowledge of any central importance to us. They also have gotten us no closer to understanding the most fundamental mysteries of our own being: how we think, how life begins, why we get ill, how a single cell turns into a fully formed person, and even what happens to human consciousness when we die. I think at that time she was talking about her ground breaking research, 'Molecules of Emotion', which has changed how disease and health are looked upon. But much of that is now changing. A growing number of scientists recognize that we are in the midst of a scientific revolution, a major paradigm shift with tremendous implications is taking place in human consciousness."

Fitz: "Lunchtime is almost here. I thought I would just share a story and close for today. Stories are powerful. They are universal and cross the boundaries of language, culture, and age. I think we learn best and make decisions that result in change from hearing stories:

...A family had twin boys, whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot outside, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one boy was an eternal optimist, the other a doom and gloom pessimist. I am told that past American President Ronald Reagan used the expression, there must be a Pony in here somewhere'. .. When we do not understand something, we look for an expert or search for a 'pony' to help us out. I want to use this story to let you know you are always right 'whether you think you can or you think you cannot'. To continue about the boys, just to see what would happen, on the twins' birthdays their father loaded the pessimist's room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist's room he filled with horse manure. That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.

"Why are you crying?" the father asked.

"Because my friends will be jealous, I'll have to read all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I'll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken," answered the pessimist twin.

Passing the optimist twin's room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. "What are you so happy about?" he asked.

To which his optimist twin replied, "There's got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

By just by thinking there has to be a pony here, we are only wondering, not doubting. When we wonder, there is space for some idea, some strength to get in. Optimists are always open-ended, they wonder and leave it at that. A pessimist is closed and adamant that there is no way for something to enter and help him or her out...and closes the door on that possibility. When we open a window, a fresh breeze can come in and of course it can also bring allergic pollen. We have to develop the wisdom to avoid the pollen and enjoy the oxygen- carrying breeze. One also has the choice of shutting windows."

Fitz suddenly changes the subject... "Hereafter, please call me 'brother'; forget my name. All of us have come from the same source. He or she, I prefer to call the source 'IT' – it has no name, no form, or attribute. So we are brothers and sisters. We will meet again...keep wondering about life. Life itself will teach you. The quality of 'wonder' is – remaining open minded. One remains coachable and teachable, always in a learning mode. I am only a catalyst, helping the process of change that is knocking at the door of all three of you, I suppose. I wonder sometimes that at any time I may be caught as an illegal immigrant... anything can happen."

"Brother, we would like to spend more time with you", says Samantha. Amanda nods her head. Betty keeps silent. Fitzwater leaves to attend to a call from his boss.

***

Once in a while, Betty takes Fitzwater the message that Amanda and Samantha would like to come and spend time with him over lunch. But Fitzwater neither encourages nor discourages such get-togethers. He feels that the three women should have some time to think for themselves, so that they can let off steam and learn to immerse themselves in reflection and introspection. The three children, he expects, will act as huge mood booster to them. He anticipates finding them better rounded in their thinking and feelings. In the two weeks he has been in America, he has observed and understands that everyone here has transferred their abilities, faith and life too, in a large extent to technology and devices like GPS, Internet, , video games, and social network sites like Face book. While driving people have the roads marked east, north, west, south, distances indicated, roads numbered.

Their dependence on Government is high as well. The problem with such a sophistication or precision is that people now expect everything to be spoon-fed to them. There is no necessity for alertness. People remain off-guard. They engage themselves in activities like texting or video games while driving, shifting their focus of attention from the main activity of reaching their goal or destination. They are caught in the advertising slogans with multiple stimuli happening all at once, or like the Microsoft application of being able to open four windows at the same time, multi-tasking. But is their mind capable of multitasking and handling all this stimuli at once?" Her note that "here, everyone thinks that he or she can get what they want by just sitting at their own place and order do-it-yourself kits, DVDs, self-help books etc. or whatever they wish to learn or practice through the click of a mouse"

***

Chapter 4: Union

The 20th of January has at last arrived and the three women invite Fitzwater to come for breakfast at 8.10 a.m. at the salon. Fitzwater could not refuse the invitation. He waited for one honest, loyal staff member to come and, handing over the care of the Restaurant to him, reached the salon at 8.25 a.m.

Fitz was glad to find Amanda, Betty, Samantha, Michael, Williams and Stephen. A cabin-type playhouse had been made in the entrance for the children to spend time. Toys and cushions were arranged neatly. Provision of a small make-shift pantry was also there. They had provided for a small corner in seclusion for each one of them to sit in solitude and reflect. So small a place it is that only one person can sit there at a time in order to spend time with herself, to go within herself. Fitzwater is really amazed at the practical action they have jointly taken.

All of them sat down for breakfast - Fitzwater asks them if they didn't find it strange at first to be talking to him, a stranger, an illegal immigrant and not an American? He asks all three – Amanda, Betty and Samantha- to close their eyes and sit for a while to think about it. He requests that they sit and focus on their heart.

After 7 minutes exactly, all of them opened their eyes at the same time. Fitzwater tells them, "now, finish your breakfasts". During this time, he requests that everyone not talk, but only focus on relishing what they are eating.

Soon after everyone is finished eating, Fitzwater asks each one to relate what they had felt, one by one. Samantha began by saying that it felt the same as the positive resonance she had felt when she saw him waiting at the car wash across the road that first day. She had seen and felt the same thing from him the previous day and the day previous to that. She has no answer to explain this positive resonance, but it was an intuitive feeling – maybe now she could say it is a response from the heart. Her conversations with him in the beginning were from a business angle, but subsequently and by observing his behavior, she arrived at the conclusion that he is not one to cause any harm to her. How did she know it?...she just "did".

Now it is Amanda who started speaking. She had first seen Fitzwater in the salon talking to Samantha on the second day of his assignment. She liked his honesty and actually the woman in her resonated with him as a man. She liked him from the first instant. His demeanor and sincerity towards his work also attracted her. Suddenly, a comparison between him and her ex-boyfriend had run through her mind; she had wondered whether this man too could be a drug addict. Backing this thought was her misconception that generally all the immigrants here would be smuggling in drugs clandestinely. These are the realizations about her thinking that surfaced in her when she closed her eyes and focused on the heart.

Now it was Betty's turn. She said "I am a single woman and a single mother having to manage a child not born to me, neither did I adopt Michael. The adoption laws here are too different from State to State. Media paints a picture that women hide their pregnancy from the biological father, that they sneak away to a different state for delivery to place the child for adoption or foster care, and they do not notify him to assert his parental rights and so on. Husbands and boyfriends deserting women are not discussed in media, but are hidden in some obscure reports in small print. When I met Steven, he was from a different State and came to the place where I was living in search of employment. He had Michael with him and said that his wife died out of illness. I trusted him, and we slowly started living together. Whenever I suggested that we marry, he would say the present arrangement was alright and give statistics that in America, more and more women and men are in live-in relationships than in marriage, and that this number is growing. When I told him I was pregnant, he suggested I get an abortion. This wasn't an option for me. But when his father will not support Williams, what would I do? I decided to bring up both children myself. Then my need to have a partner so that my both children would have male guidance surfaced. As soon I closed my eyes earlier, those were the thoughts that rushed in. At the point in time that I saw you at the intersection with the banner promoting Samantha's hair salon where I generally go for my haircuts, I was experiencing that dilemma. When I first saw you, I was about to go into the salon. Intuitively I felt I should get to know more about you. I spoke to Samantha about you and expressed my wish to invite you to my house. So when the question is, "is my talking to a stranger not 'anti-my-culture' or 'anti-American?', my answer is 'no'; that when I started speaking to you, it was based on the natural attraction towards the opposite sex and my perceived need for male companionship. But soon after talking to you and you voiced your refusal to come home with me on certain principles, it slowly matured into my listening to you. You have not been preaching or teaching, you are making us think for ourselves. If I have to learn something like yoga exercises or belly dancing or say skiing for that matter, I need to go to a teacher and learn. Any amount of books, DVDs, Videos may be available to a student, but going to a teacher helps in learning the nuances of that particular discipline. During my close-eyed session, I had a beautiful image where just my tone alone was enough to tell 4 year old Michael that Mom is angry or Mom is not agreeable to what he is doing. The next moment, he is again happy with me. He does not remember my displeasure over any certain action of his. I was thinking that such a behavior with Michael's father Steven would have put him off for at least 2 days. It gave me an understanding that a child's innocence does not present with ego; it forgets. An adult ego remembers and maybe even would like to take revenge. When I am on my own, I feel I am in control. But when I start commuting to the teacher or guide or professional, I am making a commitment to my own self and in that process my ego is surrendered to the level of innocence of a child, because the learning mode is always possible only at child's level."

Fitzwater takes leave of all the three, as it is getting on toward 9 a.m. and he needs to be there in the Restaurant. He assures them that he would like to spend time with his sisters that evening at Samantha's place to continue the discussion. All three are glad to hear it.

Fitzwater leaves. Samantha, Amanda and Betty continue their discussion and sum up the learning points. The three are amazed at the power of introspection and reflection.

Initially, their thoughts had been superficial and focused on their own desires, inclinations, and intentions. Then they decided that the amount of time they had given to introspection was inadequate to dwell deep into themselves.

Betty leaves for work at the Restaurant. Samantha requests Amanda to be ready after lunch so that she could drop her and the three kids at home, in order to have adequate time to get the house ready and prepare some dinner for their brother. Samantha telephones Betty and informs her of the arrangement. Betty feels reassured that Amanda will take care of her children too, along with her own.

***

Fitzwater talks to his boss to inform him that he will be going out between 8 and 11 p.m. and will not be available to work at the Restaurant.

Betty and Samantha are waiting at the salon when Fitzwater reaches the place. They all reach Samantha's house by 8.30 p.m.

Resuming their discussion, Fitzwater asks his sisters to sum up what they learned from the morning session. Samantha shares that they had all done the same thing after he left; she takes the lead and explains that the time they had spent was inadequate to go deep enough inside of themselves to contact the heart, and that their initial thoughts were superficial and centered around their own desires, wants, inclinations, expectations and intentions.

Amanda asks whether there is any impact of the media on the community. Fitzwater asks them to again adhere to silence to do some introspection to see if they could get an answer from inside themselves. If required, they could take additional time.

Meantime, Fitzwater introduces himself as Uncle to the three children and again attempts to lift Stephen, the youngest of the three, and Amanda's son, into his hands. The boy will not allow him. Then he tries with Williams; he too does not let Fitz pick him up, so he stoops and allows them to play among themselves. They look at their mothers and happy they are there and sitting with closed eyes. They actually are, after initially closing their eyes, opening them again to look at the kids and Fitzwater and closing them again!

Half an hour has passed. The women slowly open their eyes one by one. Samantha begins by saying that she felt like adopting Michael as her own child. It was a great surprise for all. It is something that has come from her heart, she says. Now all the three women would have three children. Fitzwater tells them that this is the power of heart. The heart is always the seat of love, compas-sion, kindness, tolerance and patience. Samantha agrees to look into the legal aspects of adopting Michael. She also reports that a name Robert had come into her mind and she would like to name Michael as Robert. She hugs Michael and tells him that she will call him Robert hereafter. Michael laughed and he too hugs Samantha, as though accepting her as mother.

Samantha continues on the topic that electronic media have a great influence on the community as a whole, including children. First of all, intimacy between a woman and a man is cheapened in the films that include the objectification of women. These have a great impact on the present day young girls. Now that romance is forgotten, sex only remains. Media is no longer conscious of human values. The so-called media moguls or those leading the media are inexperienced, immature and irresponsible people who just inherited these vast empires. They have no concern for society, community and the younger generation. Their concern is profitability and so-called "creativity". The less we talk about the trends and the direction we are moving in, the better it will be.

Amanda interjects, "my sister missed the point that certain practices like having the 'morning after pill' are now made available in vending machines on some college campuses. Sex education is taught to children with the theme of pregnancy prevention rather than abstinence, because children are bombarded through media – electronic as well as print, by discussions with peers about human sexuality; therefore children need to be given the required information to protect themselves. Also, the rage children exhibit and the revenge they talk openly about are all reflections of how the media has impacted them. The bullying of a child in the school is reflective of the bullying of his or her mother by a boyfriend or husband...or even by her own father! Teachers are underpaid, based on some reports which are biased because the intellectuals studying the issue are paid by some corporate executive who has paid for a hidden political agenda and the report is slanted to suit those Masters.

Betty says that she believes that media, governmental agencies and political leadership many times miss the truth. Reports – investigative or sociological study group – carry biases of their own. Generally, independent reports of consequence get buried in bureaucratic files and do not see light of the day. With the sensationalization of many issues and open trials by the so-called media, distortions take place. And these have created an erosion of family values. When one sees on the big screen a woman jumping into bed with a man on the first date, what message is portrayed to the children watching them along with their parents? The education system argues that life skills, parenting skills, personal life and work and family balance, character formation, respect of woman and elderly, purposeful living are to be taught in the family setting. At the same time, the family structure is eroded, values are eroded. When we look at actors – the media, the political leadership, the teacher, the father, the mother – from whom a child can be guided, all have abandoned their responsibility and the poor mother is the only one left to do something about it. She too is helpless, because the child sees the mother being abused mentally, physically, and emotionally by the father, who suddenly disappears. For a child, a peer relationship becomes more important than the parent-child relationship. Children view how power and authority are used over them, how they are dominated by these adults. Teens don't look at teachers and parents as trusted leaders to whom they should turn, as they used to. The trust that existed between adults and youth is now lost somewhere. How will we restore it back? In such a situation, how can a mother or father instill confidence in a child so that he or she will have the courage to make the right choices in life?

All the above scenarios have led to a misunderstanding of the term 'freedom of conscience'. Every actor in the drama is acting on 'freedom of his or her conscience,' independent of the whole. It's like my liver saying that its conscience tells it to not secrete bile to dissolve fats in the system. What then happens to me, 'the whole'?

If everyone is going in the wrong direction thinking that the technology on which they depended would certainly lead them to the right goal, how can this technology be trusted, when technology can be hijacked to introduce malfunction? Maybe this is OK in the physical world, some corrective action can be taken. But when we are dealing with conscience and consciousness, the world of the unseen, who will help us make an about turn and then how soon will we happen back onto the right track?

Fitzwater thanks the women for demonstrating the power of introspection as a tool to correct oneself. As it is time to go back to his Restaurant, he takes leave with a promise that he will meet them at 8 a.m. in the hair salon tomorrow. He asks them to plant a thought in their mind about "how to bring correction at a massive level" so that they can share tomorrow morning the ideas that each one receives from her heart.

***

At 8 a.m. on January21st, Fitzwater reaches Samantha's salon after making arrangements at the Restaurant for coverage of his shift. He is surprised to see them already gathered at the salon and waiting for him. The moment he reaches the salon, they serve him breakfast and serve him first.

Soon after breakfast, all the three sisters in one voice say, "Thank you dear brother. Like a seed grows in its own time if watered and taken care of, a thought, when planted, has to sprout. We three women have been thinking that there is no women leadership to fight the right causes of women. Now we have planted the seed that the right leadership shall emerge and wisdom shall prevail over all to set things right in the community, society and the country. We have a vision that the media will now fight this cause too. We will keep watering it. We will patiently wait for the result to come soon, and that the glory and place of respect that a woman deserves be restored.

Chapter 5: Threat of Separation

January 25th

Although Betty arrives regularly at work and always greets Fitzwater, it appears she feels uncomfortable in his presence. "Maybe she wants to communicate something and is not able to do so?" Fitzwater thinks, " why not find out from her and know what is happening?". So at lunch, he joins her. "Hi Betty ! It's been four days since we've spoken to each other. How are you three girls doing living together? And how is Michael responding to having Samantha as his new 'mother'?"

Betty opens up that the three women are finding it difficult to live together. Fitzwater asks what has actually happened that Betty would feel that she cannot be together with the two other women.

Betty shares that Amanda has a habit of leaving things in the kitchen sink to wash "later on". When that "later on" will finally surface, no one knows. Samantha prefers washing the dishes "then and there". Apparently Samantha believes that "everything should have a place and should be in that right place". She does not like things to be thrown around the house. Amanda likes to fiddle around with video games for hours at a time. Betty offers, "I'm used to feeding Michael, but now with Amanda having taken over as his mother figure, whenever I find a little free time to share with him or maybe feed him, Samantha doesn't like it. Amanda and I feel that we had lost our freedom", and "we miss our privacy" she shares, matter-of-factly.

Fitzwater is surprised to hear this. Betty relates her feeling that any day now, any of them may decide to go their own way. Fitzwater does not like the idea of their coming together just to end it so soon. He tells Betty that he would like to meet all of them at breakfast the next day at the salon. That night, Betty communicates this to the other girls. They learn from Betty what has transpired between herself and Fitz. That evening, all three of them try to spend some time in solitude, in introspection, to go inside and look for answers to whatever questions they think Fitzwater might ask them.

When all the three and their children are gathered together and about to enjoy their breakfast the next morning, Fitz joins them and asks, "Do you girls have any idea why a couple would decide to separate?"

Amanda reacts: "Are you suggesting that similar to each of our experiences in living with a man and having that relationship end sooner or later, that we three aren't able to tolerate each other's presence in the same manner we did with them?"

Samantha asks, "Do you think we are just having difficulty making adjustments to the new living arrangement, and that we should maybe try harder?"

Betty agrees, "Yes we are trying to adjust to each other's different personalities and preferences. There's a process of unlearning and relearning that is going on as far as living together and where individual habits are concerned."

Fitzwater reminds the girls, "All of you have a powerful instrument in your hands called 'introspection and reflection'. Use it. Spend some time in solitude to reflect on the issues and communicate amongst yourselves, in order to nip those issues in the bud. While you are using the beautiful 'chamber' you have created for yourselves at the salon, try to think about the reasons that you all came together in the first place... and then why the three of you are entertaining the thought of separating within not even a week's time. Do you think this is a larger, worldly problem, caused by the fact that there is no leadership among women to rightly understand the plight of women?"

"Not even a week ago", continues Fitzwater, "you three have observed that (a) initially your mind is generating superficial ideas aligning with your desires and inclinations and you were not able to objectively arrive at any conclusion (b) you got an insight like a flash that as a seed grows into a plant by watering you would allow the idea of a need for leadership to get fulfilled and (c) you three again instead allowed the idea of separation to sprout in the mind. Do you now understand that introspection as a process need to be continued till the heart feels intuitively we got an answer. Heart alone can signal you this, not mind. Mind can give any number of logical arguments. We keep questioning each idea, thought and answer so as to see through the thoughts that emerge till we reach the heart at feeling level."

"Does the idea of leadership", continuing on.. Fitzwater questions the three girls, "mean pushing the responsibility or the tax on to the so-called leader and blame if he or she fails? From my experience I observed that in democracy every one wants his or her rights and no one wants to be responsible? We elect a Leader and question him "you did not govern properly? You failed here? You failed there?" A question could arise "Does the mind want to escape taking charge of the situation and wants to keep blaming which is easier?" "If leadership is the issue, can I not take lead at least in my own case, after all it is a problem being faced by me?" Have you explored all the angles to the situation? Is it really an insight or a trick of the mind to wash off its hands so that it can maintain a status quo where things can remain as they are till some leader emerges? The enthusiasm generated when such an idea flashes needs to be probed further deep? Do you all not agree? Let us meet again this evening at Samantha's place"...and Fitzwater walks off toward the restaurant.

But next day, the owner wants to leave early and asks Fitzwater to be available that evening to manage the Restaurant. When Fitzwater shares that he had planned on going to Samantha and Betty's place that evening for a couple of hours, the Owner suggests that Fitzwater invite them all to the Negotiation Room at the Restaurant and spend time entertaining his guests. It is a cozy room in the back that normally is authorized to only be used to conduct negotiations with various vendors and suppliers and to entertain his guests over drinks and dinner.

Fitzwater phones Samantha to communicate his problem and inability to visit at their home that night, but proposes that all of them come to the Restaurant instead. Samantha objects that it is too late to change their plans, and requests that Fitzwater come to the salon the next morning at breakfast time.

At breakfast the next day morning, Fitzwater finds smiling faces. Even the children seem welcoming. Betty asks Fitzwater why he thinks the children are becoming so much more receptive to him. Fitzwater explains that these children are comfortable in the lap of their mother. It is the mother who introduces a father to the children. When children see mother and father together always, they are happy, their development and learning ability begin to increase. They become comfortable in the presence of their parents and those coming to visit them. In his case, they were not welcoming initially because he was new and it's the first time they had seen him. Also, much as children become comfortable in the presence of their parents and are more open to accepting strangers, they may feel that same comfort with you girls' in your new 'family environment', making it easier to accept me. There are certain traditions which say that children learn from the conversations of their parents and even from the feelings the mother is undergoing while they are still in the womb. Now science, too, is accepting and corroborating with these views. Now that they have seen me several times they are gradually and intuitively accepting me as someone who will not cause harm or hurt them and to their mothers, as they have experienced in the past watching you with other men?.

Betty suddenly stops Fitzwater and interjects "Do you mean to say that my children experienced the same trauma as I went through with my husband and also felt the lack of trust, misunderstandings, disloyalty, absence of caring and sharing that I was feeling? Does Williams understand that he was an unwelcome child because at one point, in the absence of trust developing for Steven, I had entertained the thought of abortion ?

"Yes. Children know all these things intuitively and their little minds are bombarded with so much of the trauma that they do not deal well later on in life....many times these experiences and the child's perception of how to deal with another human being based on what they observe and experience later contributes to problems like bullying by boys as well as girls in the school, shooting other children, committing suicide and of course it leads to the development of various kinds of mental or emotional problems", shares Fitzwater.

Samantha comments that it is probably better that Fitzwater had not been able to visit them the night before: "We three had some time to do some thinking and problem solving out loud. We found that some 'bonding' was missing amongst us. In your presence that 'bonding' is felt. When you were not there, we three were feeling kind of 'dismembered'. "

Fitzwater: "Are you speaking of bonding in the sense of 'religion' – re-ligare ' – meaning to fasten or to bind together, or are you meaning 'emotional bonding'? If you are speaking of the first, it can't solve your problems...as all three of you had shared that each one of you comes from a different faith. There were great original thinkers among men and women who moved forward to say that religion divides people. So as a Unity principle, they pointed out that 'spirituality,' not 'religion', serves more to bring everything together in integration, where race, color, sex, personal God, impersonal God, God with form, God with attributes and all such ideas are transcended. We spoke earlier about Einstein saying that to find solutions to problems that were created by current thinking, we need to apply higher thinking or intelligence. Among men, there are always some who advance far, far ahead in thinking and conceptualizing the problems faced by humanity in general".

Betty suggests, "do you mean thinkers like Ken Wilbur?

Amanda intervenes to suggest "...or Dr. Candace Pert of 'Molecules of Emotion' fame?"

Fitzwater: I am sorry. Let us not go on with just names. For our understanding, we do not require at present any names. What someone has already thought is already available to us within our hearts. What is required is to be able to pause, step back, reflect on the issue at hand and wait with patience for answer to come from within. Our present life styles are so fast that each one of us is preoccupied in our mind with events happening outside, ignoring what is within?

Fitzwater: If you mean 'emotional bonding', that is already there between the three of you. You are three women, educated, having a heart which can respond and resonate with another heart. Now, with all three of you playing the role of mother, all have all the required components for creating a stable emotional environment?. A man need not be present in this relationship at all. You three mothers and three children are one family unit. If you permit me to share, what you are missing seems to be that you are not yet treating yourselves plus the three children as one family unit – a 'whole'. Each one of you is preoccupied with yourself – a part in the whole. Please recollect the lever example we shared previously... instead of thinking about 'individual freedom' please alter your thinking to 'family freedom' or 'freedom of the whole' instead of 'freedom of parts'. Please try to remember the initial condition that brought the three of you together to avoid 'dismembering'. "

"Now it is time for me to go to the Restaurant. Please permit me to go. I would like to invite you all to the Restaurant this evening to have dinner on me; we'll also feed the kids. You won't need to plan any cooking or eating at home. My boss had permitted us to use of his 'entertainment room' for this purpose." Fitzwater goes, leaving the women to communicate between themselves.

***

January 26th

However, before they disperse, the three girls decide that it might be better to have a round table amongst themselves in the evening instead of going to Rendezvous restaurant. They telephone Brother Fitzwater to inform him of their decision. Instead, they propose to come to the Rendezvous the next evening, if that is possible. Fitzwater wonders "what happened so soon to change their minds?"

Betty follows Fitzwater to her job at the Restaurant. Amanda and Samantha, feeling light in their hearts, are ready and awaiting any customers that will happen into the salon.

None of the other partners turn up to work that day, but 12 customers come into the salon and Amanda and Samantha have no problems attending to them. They are busy with customers and three kids to manage for the whole day. During lunchtime, however, both go out with kids to buy some safe and fun toys for them. This time, they take care to not buy guns and pistols. Michael had, in fact, asked for a gun. Instead, they bought educational toys like building blocks, word puzzles, 'break-and-make' animals. The joy of kids is 'to be seen to be believed'. Michael likes to play with breaking the tiger toy and putting it together again. He does the same with the toy elephant and zebra. He builds towers with blocks and then rearranges them. The little ones, Williams and Stephen, enjoy watching their brother at play. They have soft toys, like teddy bear and dolls.

At 6.15 sharp, Betty comes back from work. She shares with her friends that Fitzwater asked why they had changed their mind and that she replied that they needed some time to sit down together amongst themselves. They have decided that if a customer walks into the salon before 8 p.m., Amanda will help them and if two customers come, both Amanda and Samantha will attend to them, while Betty cares for the three children. Unless that happens, all three sill sit together; they decide that Betty, being the eldest, will start her reflection process first.

Betty shares with the other two, "I am not comfortable calling Fitzwater 'brother' as he asks us to do because we don't share a biological mother or father with him. Nor is he related in any way by blood. He comes from a totally different faith and nationality. As a part of my reflection, to me it appears to be true what Fitzwater said. I now feel that may be we women really do get it all wrong in our relationships with men. Maybe it's a good idea for us girls to use our living arrangement as a training ground to learn how to be patient and tolerant of each other. If we three aren't able to live in harmony, how could we even think of being able to live with a man and making the whole or the family unit priority, instead of thinking about this relationship as consisting of two parts – 'you and me'? "

Amanda agrees. "I think we need to learn to define ourselves in a better way. Until now, we've been looking at man and woman separately as two individuals coming together for the specific purpose of fulfilling each one's biological urges and then separating again. If I look back on my relationships, that seems to be the case. There were probably mistakes on my part and mistakes on Robert's part because we both were raised by different mothers, in different families. Our upbringing, environment, faith, education – everything was different in each one of our cases. We must allow a relationship some time to mature. As it matures, we need to develop patience and tolerance towards the behavioral patterns of each other. We need to raise the relationship, just as we would bring up a child. Only a woman can do that. But... if we look at this in a different manner... as man and woman coming together not to remain as two individuals, but to become one family, then things will be different. This is what I felt I should share with you. In any case, for at least one year, let 's all of us not plan to enter into another relationship with a man – that just seems kind of like what 's called 'instant gratification'. Perhaps we need to just hold out, stay in and continue to go about living together.

Samantha asks, "What do you both think about dating? Don't we usually try to understand the man we are dating? In my case, James and I 'dated" for two years. Then we moved in together. Do you think it means that in our heart of hearts, both of us knew we were not ready for marriage? Now, in hindsight, I feel that for all those years, we never really entered deeply into the relationship. I remember once when we all sat in introspection, we found that we could not go beyond skimming on the surface where only our inclinations, desires and their gratification prevailed. To me, Introspection and reflection appear to be a process requiring continuous effort from our side and more importantly, we need to try to take a 'pause' and wait for insights to come to us? We're all so rushed all the time, but it no longer seems to serve me to be continuously 'on the run'. From tomorrow on, let's open the salon at 9 a.m. and close it at 7 p.m. I thought long and hard about that, and it seems like that would be one way to 'slow down' and give us more time to reflect? By closing the salon at 7 p.m. at night and opening it at 9 a.m., it will help all of us, and give us some time to prepare for the day and attend to the children. And as you said, it would give us each some time to spend with ourselves as well as –more importantly - communicating and sharing any grievances we have with each other and working to resolve any problems. However, it might reduce the earning. We have to think about money also. We give a try and see.

She continues, "Amanda proposed that we live together for one year and not think about entering into any relationships with guys. I like that...let's all work on learning how to deepen our own relationship first. Either we sink or sail together. Amanda agrees. "Samantha: Once we change the time that we're open, I think the customers will adjust and only come in between those hours. I don't think it will in any way adversely affect our earnings. In any case, we're now not looking at it as 'your money' or, 'my money', but pooling it together in order to meet our joint expenditures. I propose that from today onwards each keep 30% of our individual earnings in our individual bank account, to be used as each one's own personal money for future, and then pool the other 70% of what we make to dover things like gas, household maintenance, groceries, clothes, eating out, internet, cell phones and such. We can maintain a record of expenses so that we know where we need to be frugal and when we can splurge more."

The three women agree to the proposal. The children have obviously enjoyed where the conversation had lead, and had not even disturbed them to ask for snacks. Fortunately, there were no interruptions by customers either, so at 8.20 p.m. , all three were able to leave for home.

***

Chapter 6: Harmony

Soon after reaching home, the three share about issues they had been dwelling on that had to this point been dividing them, as a measure of understanding and to help them develop tolerance. They discuss making a place for everything, using closets more effectively, not throwing things around, cleaning up as soon as tasks are completed, keeping clothes always folded and stacked properly, throwing disposable diapers away in the bin, and not allowing the junk bin below the kitchen sink to overflow. These might seem like trivial issues, but the three identify them to bring to the surface the differences that remind them that they are "separate entities" instead of parts of a "whole". The women also realize that it's better to focus on commonalities rather than their differences, in order to support further bonding. The moment this theme arose, they found many attributes in each other that they are able to share, that are common to all... this is reassuring.

The girls have now started making changes in Samantha's house, too. Her home has two bedrooms one bathroom, one walk-in closet, another closet as one enters the home to keep coats, hats, shoes, sneakers etc. It has a large multipurpose living room with a hall for uses like writing, reading and dining. The girls have now added a nice music system. There is also a secluded corner with beautiful couches arranged to enable one to view the home-theatre and or watch television. In another corner a modern kitchen of modest size is located. One change the girls have made is the purchase of a three tiered bunk bed for the kids; they've placed it in the bedroom that was previously occupied by Samantha and James. After James left, Samantha had used the bedroom by herself. Now she has released the bedroom to the three kids, and it has helped her become free of her memories of James. Betty and Amanda hug Samantha for that gesture and compliment her that she is already presenting as a new and transformed individual. By allowing the three children sleep at one place, they believe it will teach the three children to feel brotherliness and to develop a sharing and caring attitude toward each other. Amanda and Betty now sleep together in the hall. Where would you like Samantha to now sleep?

One night well past midnight, Amanda suddenly awakens and sees that Betty has awoken at the same time and is rubbing her eyes as if she is scared.

"Were you scared, too?" Amanda asks.

"Yeah". It is now Betty's turn to ask Amanda what caused her to wake up. "Is it because of there's no male company by your side?", she jokes.

"A week ago, with Samantha and Betty by my side, thoughts of a male never encroached my mind" remarks Amanda. Both look at the watch: 1.30 a.m.

Both get up, sit down at the dining table and help themselves to cups of hot chocolate. Amanda again asks Betty what scared her.

Betty starts narrating that the previous day a woman customer came to the restaurant and began sharing something that was troubling her. "It appeared to me that she either has some mental disorder or she is totally disturbed by something. I'm not sure, but thought I should lend her an ear". Fitzwater has been talking about the "art of listening" and "by lending our shoulder and ear, the individual undergoing mental trauma's mood will be lifted, he says". The lady was talking about her neighbor with whom she had lost touch about a year ago. She was a single, stocky woman in her early 50's, living with her 18 year old daughter. A couple days before, the neighbor had pulled up in front of her house and began honking her car horn around 10:50 a.m. She was covered in blood and said she had shot herself and her daughter." She asked me to call 911 and then drove back to her home." Police had then come and shipped her off to the hospital in critical condition. Her 18 year old daughter was found dead in a pool of blood. "This morning she has just been reported 'deceased'. I am just coming from the mortuary. I don't know where any of her relatives or friends live." Both mother and daughter had lived alone together and were very rarely seen outside of their West Jordan home. They were rarely seen apart; would never be without the other. They had come to the neighborhood four years ago, but had kept to themselves. It seems her health issues kept her away and she was a very private person. What issues she had were not known. The impression of everyone in the neighborhood was that they were lonely and kind of ''shut-ins'. It appears that the 18 old left high school due to stress. Although the customer had lost touch with the neighbor, she still considered her a good friend. She knew that the neighbor was about to lose her home and was struggling to live on Social Security. "I think she had her way too much on her plate. The motive for shooting wasn't clear. While they were not outgoing or sociable, they were not unfriendly, either. The news of the shooting was a surprise and it is just totally unexpected. Now she is no more", said the customer.

"I patiently listened to her and comforted her about what she might do. She should be able to arrange funeral for the mother and daughter." Betty continued that she had dreamt a dream during the night and the whole story, like a film, reeled on, showing the dead body of a female and another youngster in a pool of dead, which scared her. "We're also single women struggling to live and we've been thinking the last few days about the plight of woman. I am little scared about what might happen to us." Amanda was spell bound and said, "there are so many women like her. Recent findings from statistics are that as many as 50% of the homes are single".

Amanda sips her hot chocolate and begins to share the cause of her anguish which made her wake up at such an ungodly hour. It related to a camera focusing on gore, referring to what is happening in visual media such as Television and on the movie screens. In her dream, she found a lot of violence, death and killing, with the camera lingering on scenes of death, blood, arrows pierced into bodies everywhere: in their chests, abdomens, and one body pierced in the groin.... Amanda could not continue further. "Yesterday I had a 16 year old come in for a haircut just after lunch. It looked like she and her mother had read a book written by a popular author about a year ago. The teenager loved the book, but did not love the violence. Her mother felt the dark theme objectionable. In the story, teenage children are forced to fight to the death. It's a dystopian fiction characterizing an inappropriate content and has a dark theme. Now it's coming out as a movie as well, with a rating appropriate for viewing by children aged of 13 and older. Some critics warn parents to consider the effect the content will have on their children as individuals. It makes me wonder what is happening in our society today. We hear news bulletins saying that shootings and violence in general are due to the direct influence of movies and electronic media. It's amazing the way those types of visual stimuli de-sensitize us to violence, dark forces and gore" Amanda commented.

***

January 27th 2012

As agreed by the three women, the salon would open at 9 instead of 8 , as it had before. Each woman gets up and ready, preparing the children for the day. Earlier they had taken their breakfasts to the salon to eat. Today all of them sit together for breakfast. They decide they will do that from now on. The three kids keenly observe their mothers sitting, talking to each other, and laughing joyfully. Betty's cell phone rings in the middle and when she lifts it she hears the voice of Fitzwater on the other end, saying that he went to salon in the morning at breakfast time but didn't find any of them there. Then, it appears his eyes had been attracted to the newly painted sign depicting the change in salon hours. Before Betty could say anything, Fitzwater tells her that it was a good decision they had made and expresses his hopes to meet them all at the Rendezvous Restaurant that evening. Amanda and Samantha also listen to the conversation, as the phone had been put on 'speaker'.

An insightful thought crosses Samantha's mind that men and women are complimentary to each other in a family or relationship?. There is no place for competition among them. They are two halves of a family and both are needed. The role of a woman or man cannot be replaced with another as is happening in a same-sex relationship. The fact that these new types of relationships are surfacing proves the need that two halves are necessary to become a whole. Substituting the complimentary half of either man or woman with another half of same-sex individual will not and cannot work, she had felt intuitively. That is the way things are. She wonders whether there is a fault in the thinking and attitudes of the present generation that is about to age! What kind of human values will this generation pass on to the next generation? She fails to understand how and why there is increase in pornography, voyeurism, sexual abuse of minors. Is this all because men and woman want to exercise the choice to lead a life the way they want? At what cost? Is it possible that one can always make wrong choices? Otherwise, how can the phenomenon of perpetuation of the same mistake again and again be explained?

Betty and Amanda ask Samantha what had happened that she seems lost in her thoughts. Samantha explains what has been going on in her mind. They too express helplessness, and both begin to share the dream experiences they had the night before. Samantha tells them that she has heard about teens who are too old to live in a foster home, having turned 18 years. These are children unwanted and unloved, who have never known their father, and who pass their teen years being shuffled from one foster home to the next, always feeling that they are a burden and that they do not fit in. "Their mother too, like us a single woman, could not manage the situation." She too would have given up the child to the foster care system... or shot her own daughter like in the case of Betty's client at the restaurant. She even tried to shoot her own self to commit suicide! "How grave is the situation? Are we becoming sensitive to the negative side of human nature blow out of proportion in the media? What would be the effect of such repetitive exposure on children, adolescents and adults? Did anyone thought about these issues?" wonders Samantha.

"When one becomes insensitive to human values", continues Samantha, "the larger good of humanity may be lost from the vision" "What happens when researchers come up with intelligent computers like smart phones?" wonders Samantha. For a generation of men and women who are now interested only in a companion but not the living and breathing sensitivities that such a relationship brings, researchers are ready to provide interactive toys with synthetic personalities that really do not have feelings. We may soon hear the news of people abusing a device that mimics a living creature. The more we treat machines as our friends, the easier it will be for them to enslave us. Without realizing, we have already become slaves of gadgets such as smart phones and video games. Scientists envision a day when computing devices and their software will not only be as smart as the humans who designed them but also be able to upgrade themselves. Can we not foresee a battle between robots and their creators? Betty continues that "if that happens, it would be very dangerous for a society claiming 'freedom of conscience' to become entrapped by the technology monsters!"

They look at the watch to find it striking 8.30 a.m. They all rush lock, stock and barrel to the Salon. At 9 a.m. on the dot, they reach and open the Salon, just in time for their first customer, who has just appeared.

***

Just before lunch, a woman of about 35 walks in for a haircut. Amanda is with the children, so Samantha gets up to work on her. The woman is very talkative and drags Samantha into a conversation, expressing amusement at the children's corner in the entrance near the cash counter. Samantha invites her to keep coming to this salon and to bring her friends and relatives, in order to help some women in need of employment. She narrates how the four or five single mothers come there to work in order to bring up their children. Samantha tells her that these women like the freedom they enjoy at her place. When the woman questions her about how much they make, she says, "around $40 a day". The woman, who is a journalist, then tells Samantha that in a society where individuals are transferring or showering their love on pets like dogs, cats, pythons, birds and even crocodiles, she too wonders why women and men are not able to lead a harmonious life in a family environment. She remarks that just as women are struggling, men too are struggling. She suggests that Samantha write a book and that her story, being very appealing, might be taken up by some film producer to place the social issue before a larger community and prompting social transformation. She assures Samantha that she will return again and exchange views with them, and walks out of the salon soon after her hair is finished.

Around 6 p.m. Amanda telephones Betty that they are going to the restaurant at 7 p.m. just after they close the salon. As Betty's work finished by 6 p.m. she goes to the salon across the road and hugs Williams and then Michael and then Steven, showering kisses on them. She carries chocolates for the kids, which they devour happily. The girls share their journalist encounter with Betty.

The three women reach the restaurant, where Fitzwater is waiting for them. They share everything that happened from their last meeting. He expresses satisfaction that they have made the decision to (a) live together for at least one year and not to entertain dating anyone during this period (b) have breakfast together every morning (c) communicate with each other any minor irritants that are encountered during the course of the day that same night and sort it out without allowing it to bottle up and (d) reduce the operation of the salon by 2 hours every day in order to provide themselves with more time together and for introspection/reflection.

"I would ask you one question" remarked Fitzwater. "Would you say our meeting was by chance or by choice"? Samantha answers that is was both choice and chance. His appearance on the New Year day was a chance; there was no choice involved on either side, and Fitzwater also didn't have any idea that they would be meeting. "But my meeting you was a choice, in the sense that I called you and gave you work that day". Amanda said for her it was "chance" that she happened to be in search of work and came into the salon, and then met Fitzwater. Betty answered that they thought it was by both chance and by choice, as well. Seeing him at the intersection was a chance. Subsequently, it was choice that she wanted to meet him, and she wanted to help him get the job at the Restaurant; she also wanted his company. "In the ebb and flow of life," she said, "many such things happen, though some say that there are no coincidences in life".

"Another question please; either one of you can answer and then can the others please say whether they agree with it or not, and those who disagree need to give their reason?" asked Fitzwater. He proceeded with the question "If in the future the three of you encounter an incident which propels you to leave your arrangement of living together, what will you do?"

Amanda answers, "I will definitely want to 'stay in'. Faced with the 'get-out' or 'stay-in' choice, I would exercise the choice to 'stay-in'. That is my choice. My focus now is not on 'my freedom' but rather 'holding our relationship together; in order to stay in and hold on, I may need to make small sacrifices for the larger good if required. That is how I articulate it now". Samantha and Betty nod their heads in agreement.

Samantha and Amanda state that when they began reflection initially, they had thought their point of view and ways of thinking appeared correct, but as they have been able to go deeper and deeper into their hearts, they find that their thinking was faulty in the past; as their introspection delves deeper, they are able to see the larger picture of issues.

Betty remarked that in one of their reflections they encountered a sense of danger, in that since human beings are finding it comfortable to just a companion – be it an animal or a robotic toy or a technological gadget to direct their love or affection - researches may provide them toys with artificial intelligence to run errands, offer services and be companion. To this Fitzwater reacted, saying "the future cannot be predicted. I too do not understand how things take shape. We are operating in a world of possibilities. If men and women want dumb companions without feelings, entrepreneurs may provide them with dolls and toys which can behave like humans, but without feelings. While human researchers continue to think that they are in control, entrepreneurs may gradually bring more and more of the population into slavery and entrapment without their having any knowledge of it. These entrepreneurs and advertising agencies use the power of thought in a different way. Actually I was happy to hear Amanda say that she would hereafter express or define herself in some fashion. Now humans may explain that technology is helping us save time; that technology is helping social networking, technology reduces distance, robots can successfully conduct surgery and so on. But everything can collapse in a moment because there are too many variables beyond our control and coordination. Viral attacks, hacking are some examples we are already facing. The darker side of human nature can trespass into those programs. In such a scenario of possibilities, you three have embarked on a grand vision which can now produce peace, harmony and well- being. The power behind these is your thought, intention and introspection and reflection. No dangers are involved here. In the earlier example, individuals are being isolated and divided. Here in your scenario you are bringing together everyone into a familial relationship, restoring human values and bringing glory to the human being. Now, the possibility which will take the upper hand is in our hands. "

Fitzwater points out the power of the thought; he appreciates their resolve to stand united and tackle these issues through introspection, understanding and patience. Everything begins with a thought. So it begins with the thought of these three single mothers. Then as an e-book, it reaches as many others as possible. As similar thoughts arise, how soon there is manifestation depends upon the will and intention of all the single mothers involved in the process.

Betty, Samantha and Amanda say good-bye to Fitzwater and take their leave.

***

About the author:

The author recently visited USA and resides in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Connect with me online:

Email : hyd_m_ramu@rediffmail.com

