Chapter 1
The National Society of Mechanical Engineers was hosting a lavish event for the leading scientists and researchers of 2012 in downtown New York. The scintillating lights of the center, the aroma of the flowers in the table centerpieces, the gourmet food, and the sparkling champagne added to the vibrancy and energy that permeated the air as the event's presenter addressed the crowded hall. Behind the velvet curtains that lined the stage, a tall and slim Indian man in his early thirties paced the floor and raked his slender fingers through a mop of dark hair, a nervous gesture left over from earlier days. An attendant approached him and offered a small plastic cup of water. The man took the cup with a self-deprecating smile.
"Is it that obvious?" he inquired.
The attendant, a young woman in her twenties, shook her head. "It happens. I'm sure you'll be fine once you get out there." She took the empty cup he handed back to her, and left the man alone with his thoughts.
"After graduating from the New York Institute of Engineering and Management in 2007, Dr. Kumar, a research scientist at Brooklyn Fire Safety Laboratories, conducted several prominent studies that have changed the way firefighters attack fires in many parts of this nation and contributed to saving the lives of firefighters and civilians across the globe," the presenter continued. "In the last five years, Dr. Kumar has published more than twenty-five journal articles, fifty conference papers, and has received more than four million dollars in research grants."
The young Indian man took a step forward and pulled back the curtain slightly, his eyes scanning the elaborately adorned circular dining tables for familiar faces. But at the onset of the award ceremony, the lights in the main hall had been dimmed and a spotlight was now centered on the presenter as she continued her lead-up. The man couldn't discern any specific faces in the audience, so he shifted his gaze to the rows of stately men and women who were seated directly behind the host. The National Society of Mechanical Engineers' President, Board of Directors, and Trustees were all patiently listening to their newest inductee's long list of accomplishments, and nodding at each other in a self-congratulatory gesture.
"?And so, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you tonight our newest recipient of The Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering Award, Dr. Vijay Kumar!"
The audience respectfully stood and began to clap with earnest. "Well," the man said to himself as he stood taller and grasped the bottom of his tux, straightening his jacket. "And so it begins."
Dr. Vijay Kumar took a deep breath and strode to center stage with a confidence he had not felt only moments before. He approached the presenter and greeted her with a gentle hug, accepting the heavy, rectangular glass award embossed with a rising star. The woman handed him a check that was made out in his name in the amount of $100,000. The grant was to be used for furthering his research, and though neither the check itself nor the amount came as a surprise to Dr. Kumar, he still stared at it in wonder, subtly shaking his head, humbled by the moment.
"Dr. Kumar, would you like to share your thoughts?" the woman offered with a smile.
"I?this?it's amazing," he attempted, as he turned towards the front of the stage, his shyness flooding back suddenly as he faced the audience. "This is unbelievable, and I truly mean it. Exactly ten years ago, I was just a graduate student distributing flyers in front of the New York Stock Exchange, two or three block from here. I came to this country all the way from India to get an education, but being from a lower middle class family in Bombay, I didn't even have enough money to pay for my schoolbooks. And now here I am, standing in front of you all this evening, with?this" he said, holding up both hands, his voice choked with emotion.
"I don't want to take up too much of everyone's time, but I would like to thank the National Society of Mechanical Engineers for recognizing my research. And of course, I would like to thank my mother. She took on a heavy burden after my father passed away, and she has always been the biggest inspiration for my work. My mom is here," he noted, gesturing towards one of the tables in the center of the hall. "She's here for this award ceremony and she's also here because I'm getting married tomorrow." He paused, looking at the floor and shaking his head once more.
"I wake up every day, surprised that my fianc?e hasn't changed her mind about marrying me," he continued, and the audience erupted in laughter. "I'm not sure I would have been so driven if not for her, and winning this award just confirms my belief that she is, and always has been, my good luck charm," Vijay said, as his fingers rubbed the award like it was a talisman. An appreciative humming noise came from the audience as they turned their attention to the table nearest the stage.
A second spotlight turned its attention to the table where an older Indian woman in a red silk sari was sitting and dabbing at her eyes with a white, embroidered handkerchief. Her head was covered with the fall of the sari, and she was holding on to a young, blonde woman whose face was also glowing with pride.
"So I want to thank all of you, most humbly, for this gift and this opportunity. Without the support I received from my parents, my teachers, my friends and my colleagues, and my future wife, tonight would not have been possible. I promise to make the most of this gift by honoring those who came before me and whose work paved the way for my own research, and by striving to light the path for others who will come after me. That's all I can really say, except thank you again."
Once again, the sound of applause filled the hall, and most of Vijay's colleagues stood up from their chairs in respect. The presenter had to move her microphone closer to her mouth so that she could be heard over the crowd's enthusiasm. "Thank you, Dr. Kumar, and congratulations on the award and your wedding! We all wish you much happiness as you begin this new journey together," the presenter concluded, and she placed her hand on his arm to escort him off the stage.
Vijay walked to the nearest table and embraced his mother as she laid her head against his chest. He handed her the award while keeping one arm protectively around her, and he could feel the pride radiating off her in waves as she wept. The woman looked at her son's name engraved in the golden star. "Your father would have been very proud of you today," whispered Shobha Kumar, almost to herself, as she reached up with her kerchief to blot her eyes again.
"I am sure he is watching us from heaven," Vijay replied as he drew her close for another warm embrace. "Hey Carrie," he said, turning to look at the girl beside his mother. "Can you please take mom home? I need to get to the airport."
Carrie Jacobs was trying not to become emotional, but failing miserably. "I am so proud of you, Vijay! You've worked so hard and you deserved this," she said as she produced a large bouquet of red roses from a bag beside her chair. Shobha had insisted that they pick up the flowers on the way to the event.
"Thank you," said Vijay, taking the flowers from her and giving her a quick hug and brushing his lips against her cheek. "I have to run. The flight must be landing now. Maa, can you cook mutter paneer and roti for dinner? He likes it," Vijay said while digging through his jacket pockets in search of his car keys.
"Of course, Vijay. Drive safely. We will see you for dinner," Shobha replied. Carrie put her hand on Shobha's shoulder as Vijay ran towards the exit sign, the outer doors closing behind him and muffling the sounds of the audience's clapping that was still echoing throughout the hall.
Vijay reached Church Street, and immediately noticed the paper under the windshield wiper of the car. He grabbed the parking ticket and opened the door of the black Lexus, throwing the flowers on the seat beside him. Even a ticket couldn't put a damper on his mood this evening. He started the car and gunned the engine, maneuvering out of the tight parking space, and after a few turns, he was heading in the direction of the Brooklyn Bridge. It was mid-August, but the last few days had been unseasonably mild, suggesting an early arrival of fall. Traffic was light, and when Vijay reached the bridge, he opened the sunroof and rolled down the windows, enjoying the cool evening breeze and
the familiar, briny smell of the East River wafting into the car.
It was quiet except for the rhythmic sound of his tires gliding over the asphalt, and the lights on the bridge cast a soft, undulating glow that lit the interior of the car. As Vijay began to relax, his mind gently drifted back to his childhood and to the memories he had of his father, his school friends, and his family still in India. He remembered the moment he decided to study in America, and how his mother had reacted, both excited and nervous for her only child. The applications, the waiting, the acceptance letters, and finally the trip that took him so far from home. Those had been difficult years, filled with self-doubt and sacrifice, but they had finally paid off. And now he was on his way to the airport to meet a man who had shared those years with him and knew him like few others did. Vijay had been looking forward to this moment for weeks, and couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself when he thought about the man with the ironically unfortunate name.
After crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, Vijay turned left onto Atlantic Avenue and the sound of a car horn immediately jolted him out of his reverie. The streets were more congested here as people milled about, enjoying the break in the summer heat and taking advantage of the opportunity to casually wander through downtown Brooklyn. Vijay's excitement about seeing his old friend was growing exponentially the closer he got to JFK. He mentally implored the traffic to move out of his way, convinced that they would cooperate if they knew how important it was for him to reach the airport on-time, unlike the first time he'd gone to meet this man. Ten years ago he had made this same trip, but it had involved a subway and a bus instead of a Lexus. The mode of transportation was not all that had changed over the years, though. A small pocket opened up in the traffic and the Lexus responded to the smooth pressure of Vijay's foot as he lowered it towards the floor, the car effortlessly propelling him forward into his destined future and simultaneously taking him backwards into his past.