Olivia held her breath as one class shuffled out and she waited for the next class to come in. She opened a drawer in her desk and withdrew The Chamber of Secrets. Her thumb drifted to her ring finger, running over the opal ring where once she wore a wedding band. The familiar presence comforted her and reminded her not only of loss and pain but also hope and potential. And when she went home, it would be a constant reminder of everyone she met in India—Ms. Vanya, Navya, little Jaanvi, Meena, her co-teachers, plus all the women who used the pads her machine made. Not her machine anymore—their machine.
More women had taken jobs for her little company. Fully staffed, the machine now operated all day, every day, making pads for area women. Sales of the affordable product had increased to the point they could barely keep up with demand. As long as electricity stayed on, the machine ran. And once they had enough profit, Meena and Navya would consider a generator for days when power went out. Meena would also soon begin making trips to neighboring small communities, sharing their product and, hopefully, expanding sales even further.
Aditi came through the classroom door, and Olivia struggled not to rush to hug her. She couldn’t show favoritism, but each time one of her little girls returned to class, she fought the urge to turn cartwheels. And now here was Aditi. Her classes had slowly returned to normal, plus a few new girls had been enrolled in the past few weeks as well.
Some of the other students squealed with delight when they spotted Aditi. Once hugs and welcomes subsided, she described the class project for the day. Everyone would decorate a T-shirt with a superhero symbol, because they were all super and all heroes. Even the girls. She distributed supplies and oversaw the busy hum of happy painting.
She squatted in front of Aditi’s desk and handed her the book. “Your father said it is okay.”
“Thank you, Auntie.” The beaming girl lit a warmth in her chest.
She stood and oversaw her studious class. Part of her didn’t want to leave. She would carry all of them home with her in her heart. Maybe she would apply for an extension and stay. Then again, her mom sounded so lonely in the last email exchange. Whenever she returned, whether soon or after another six months teaching, she would encourage Mom to get involved with social groups. Maybe the two of them could continue to help with Mukesh’s pad machine project from a distance. But Mom needed her own pursuits and interests too.
A loud booming crack shook the building and startled her from her thoughts. A shadow crept across the room as an odd reddish hue permeated the atmosphere. Loud droplets spattered the window, beating faster and faster until a downpour soaked the school. She ran to the window.
The red rain had returned.
The children, moments ago engrossed in their projects, jumped from their seats and dashed into the hallway. She followed after them, caught up in the excited crush. Children spilled from the doorway into the courtyard, bodies pouring out the door in two rivulets.
Her students clustered at the door, peering out, pressed close against her side. They looked to her, gauging her response.
Aditi grabbed her hand and squeezed. “It is my time, Ms. Montag.”
Olivia looked into her wide worried eyes, smiled, and squeezed the girl’s hand in return. “It is my time, too.”
She looked down at Aishwarya, Lakshmi, Surithra, and all the other upturned faces, looking to her for guidance. She grabbed another hand and led the children out the doors, into the courtyard. Rain pelted down, drenching them in moments. The children all raised their hands in the air and laughed, and she followed along, twirling with them as her sandals squished in the mud and her shalwar soaked rust red. Chris caught her eye and gave her a thumbs up.
She didn’t know what her future held. She didn’t know how long she would be in India or what would happen when she returned home. She had no idea if she would marry again or if she would ever have children of her own or what job she would eventually settle into. All she knew was this moment, right now, surrounded by her students and the other teachers, with Chris’s smile sending butterflies through her stomach, she was happy.
She grabbed her students’ hands and danced in the red rain.