CHAPTER 3
“Slow down, Chitra!”
Chitra was at the soup kitchen after having finished her early morning shift. She hurriedly removed her apron and put on her jacket.
“Sorry, Mrs. Daisy,” Chitra told the matronly woman who was her supervisor. “I am meeting someone at nine.”
The older woman’s eyes peaked with interest. “Your boyfriend?”
Chitra laughed. “No. He’s a new student at the university. He has recently come from India, and I’m taking him to San Francisco city to convince him that it’s a great place to live.”
The older woman shook her head. “You are going to tire yourself out, girl! You are only eighteen years old. You should be partying like girls your age. But you work in three jobs and volunteer at the temple. And now, you have taken up another job as a tour guide on Sundays?”
Chitra laughed. She didn’t want to tell Mrs. Daisy it wasn’t a new job. “I’m fine, Mrs. Daisy. And I enjoy spending the day in the city.”
The older woman sighed. “All right. Have fun, I guess.”
“I will. Have a great Sunday, Mrs. Daisy!”
Waving goodbye to everyone, Chitra hurried out of the old building where she worked in the mornings from Monday to Saturday. Sunday was usually her day off, but she had taken up someone else’s shift on request due to a family emergency.
Pulling her slightly worn jacket closer, she broke into a run to reach the university bus stop.
She only hoped the new student would show up.