Hello everyone! Thank you so much for your patience. My laptop was in repair which literally took ages and that is why this chapter is so delayed. However, I do hope you'll enjoy it. Thank you all again. - Bathsheba Blythe

Chapter XIV

Una was putting on her navy blue heels and smiled. She was thinking of Di's letter that came earlier that day. Una herself felt that this Italian letter brought the Mediterranean weather to Kingsport. The sun shone through the window, leaving dancing rays all over Una's desk, mirror and her legs as she was leaning down to put on her lovely new pair of shoes.

In her letter, Di spoke of Italian food with greater passion than she had ever spoken about anything else and that was something that Di was herself aware of. Una was glad that Di settled down at last in her Italia and Una was sure that it was mostly because of her roommate who from Di's writing was clearly a kindred spirit. "Una, I'm telling you: Allegra is her very name. She is always heard, always vibrant and happy. She gesticulates as if her hands were dancing by themselves. She speaks half English and half Italian and this makes me learn this beautiful language so much more. I'm definitely making progress which is wonderful because now I can talk to our neighbours and understand almost everything both they and Allegra say!" she wrote to Una in a rushed handwriting.

"I cannot wait to see you all again. And of course, I will be there for Nan's delivery of her baby. I wouldn't miss it for the world! I still can't believe that I'll be an auntie and Una, so will you! Isn't that so amazing?" and here Una laughed merrily to herself, saying in her mind "Yes, it is indeed.".

It was the day of graduation ball and so Una's purchase of new shoes was deliberate or otherwise she'd never think of it. Di's letter brought sunshine into that day and Una was lost in Di's world for that whole morning, even when she finished reading her letter a good hour before she started to dress up. The entire morning went fast as Una helped all three Pamela, Joan and Cara with their dresses, hair and general mirth of the day. Before Una could blink, the boys were waiting for them outside the Collwell Cottage, laughing and telling jokes in their best suits.

"Jem is missing out." Joan whispered into Una's ear as she was giving a finishing touch to Una's hair.

"Possibly, but then he did decide for himself to go there and stay with Faith." Una defended her brother-in-law.

"Faith told me on the 'phone that she can't move anymore so maybe it's all for the best after all." she chuckled and Una did too.

It was Carl who waited for Joan and whose face lit up when she greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and a reassuring look as he put her arm in his. Una thought, whenever she looked at him, that Carl did a wonderful job at pretending he was completely happy and fine. It made her heart almost drop from sadness and especially so when Pamela would chirrup and almost hop around Felix whilst Carl was secretly glancing her way with a tired, broken look in his eyes. Una knew, however, that in this case, she has to let time and circumstances solve the issue by themselves.

In Joan's case, she too was pretending and Una could see that very easily as well. It was a different kind of sadness, it seemed, not the one Carl had about himself. On the surface, Joan smiled, laughed, smoked cigarettes and looked almost excessively beautiful in her Jean Patou dress. However, in her eyes as well as a kind of aura all around her was the feeling of fading away, trying to break away from something Una wasn't aware of just yet. In a way, Una concluded wistfully, Carl and Joan made a well-matched pair for that evening.

Contrastingly, Shirley and Cara had sheep's eyes whenever their glances locked. They were both blushing, laughing and smiling as if their lives depended on it. There was not a single person who when noticed them didn't smile themselves and for that one blissful moment felt a part of their happiness.

Una was the last one to leave the Collwell Cottage. She put on her shawl and felt like she's never been this glamorous-looking. Her dress was never this short, her bodice was never this freeing and smooth. On that day, in that dark blue dress and a green shawl, she never felt less like herself and yet more at the same time. The first person she saw as she turned around from locking the door was Dalvir and his radiant smile. Una's reaction was to smile also and to forget about everything else. Her eyes quickly drifted to his outfit, a traditional Punjabi outfit. He looked very elegant and very much like himself, with his messy black curls and shining eyes.

"Una! Look, we're matching." he said to her with enthusiasm and pointed to her green shawl and his dark green costume.

She laughed merrily "Yes, we do, Dalvir!" she joined his joyful voice.

He then sighed contentedly and took her in "You look positively wonderful." he told her in a soft voice.

Una blushed a little and smiled at him "Thank you. And the same goes for you."

He chuckled and offered his arm "Shall we go and have a good time?" he whispered incredulously, making her laugh again.

"I can't wait." she whispered back and everything seemed perfect.

23rd April 1921

Dear Diary,

It's the night after the graduation dance and here I will try to describe it because it was truly quite a troubling night for me. Or the end of it anyway.

It started off splendidly. The room which normally serves as a sports centre was turned into a dancing spot filled with graduates in their most elegant and extravagant clothing. The music surrounded us from all sides and right here and then we could forget about the world or ourselves even.

Being a minister's daughter, I'm a stranger to dancing and attending parties, or rather actually participating in them. However, our wonderful Father told Carl and I before we went to Redmond that if such a party will come about he wants us to enjoy it and dance. At the time I felt it was very strange of him to let us do that, even encouraging us to do it but when I entered this sports centre, heard the music, felt the atmosphere of entertainment, I knew that Father wanted us to experience exactly this.

Therefore, it came as no surprise that we all started to dance almost as soon as our feet touched the dance floor. Shirley and Cara were inseparable and danced only with each other all evening. Pamela and Felix danced most of the time, however, if she didn't dance with Felix, Carl was her next choice which not only made Carl happy but also made me smile with hope. Joan danced with everyone, myself included, and didn't waste a single second of the entire ball, making almost every boy line up in the queue to dance with her for only a minute. I, however, didn't dance all the time, I enjoyed my bit of people watching. That being said, when I did dance, I danced either with Carl or Dalvir (and of course Joan).

Dalvir made quite a spectacle by appearing in his traditional Punjabi clothing. People looked, stared it seemed, but because they already got used to Dalvir being around the school (the dancing and music definitely all contributed too) to no more attention being paid to his original appearance. It was when the two of us started dancing that I realised I have never danced with anyone but my Father and my brothers and even so I danced maybe a couple of times in my entire life. Therefore, when I put my hand into Dalvir's and we both smiled at each other, I felt my stomach turning from bewilderment and excitement. What was strange, however, was that right after this feeling I started to feel very calm and content as Dalvir and I danced, or at least attempted to keep up with the music, laughing together.

Dalvir and I talked and could not stop. It is strange how even though we talk all the time, every day, we still keep on having long and entertaining conversations. Joan even told me a few days ago how she sometimes wonders how Dalvir and I haven't run out of things to discuss and I do wonder about that too.

Yesterday, during one of the slower dances (when we could catch our breath), he revealed something to me. He got a letter from his parents the day before and in that letter his parents told him that whenever he will come back to India next, whether it will be for a summer break or anything else, his parents want him to marry a girl from his village whom they found "very suitable" for him.

He was very distraught at the thought and so was I. "Una, I want to honour my parents' wishes but this is the one wish which I just can't fulfil, whatever the cost." he told me very seriously and I agreed with him. Something in his voice made me feel like I just want to embrace him and tell him that all will be fine. However, I was too shy to do that.

"You have to marry someone you love, not someone who your parents think you'll love one day." I said to him instead as this is exactly what I thought he needed to hear. He smiled at this and out of the blue, he grabbed my hand and we started to run past the other dancing partners on the dance floor. I started to laugh and simply followed him until we got outside. There was no one but the two of us there and the faded music coming from the inside to the outside was the only other 'living' spirit around us. The fresh air was evidently something I needed because I immediately caught myself thinking more clearly.

Dalvir then sat down on the grass and I joined him. We looked at the stars and the moon and we talked about the world and how sometimes it's complicated and simple at the same time. I can't even remember the details of what we said to each other, or how long did this conversation take, all I remember is that I've never felt safer or happier. It was the most blissful feeling in the whole world.

The next thing I remember is what made that night troubling for me.

Out of nowhere (and yet maybe I knew it was coming, I'm not sure right now), Dalvir leaned in towards my face with the known to anyone intention. For a split of a second, I didn't move and thought that was the most natural thing in the world. But then something in my brain set off, like an alarm, and my thoughts sprang through my brain: his parents want him to marry someone "suitable" for him, he's not Walter, he's Dalvir, he's of a different religion… And just like that, I found myself mumbling "I'm so sorry." and I ran back inside, into the music, dancing, warmth almost unbearable on my skin.

Dalvir found me minutes later, sitting on the bench, and he smiled at me apologetically. "It's alright, Una." he said softly "I know."

I took his hands in mine and returned the smile, with tears in my eyes "Give me time. Please, Dalvir." I managed to say and he squeezed my hand back.

"Take all the time you need." he replied and we sat like this, in an alien silence between us, with our hands holding one another, the two of us watching how people danced and laughed together.

I am still just as confused as I was yesterday. I do need time. I will know but I do need time.

I must go and cook dinner now, it's my turn today.

Until the next time.

Yours,

Una