Abandoned

Abandoned (Part Three - Chapter 36)

Chapter 36: The Saga Marches On ...... (Your Review Here)

Three days and two nights passed quickly as Maria and her father became reunited. All the mysteries surrounding what had happened over the years became abundantly clear. Of course, the news about Eleni passing away was an especially difficult thing to tell her father. That was the second time she saw tears fall from his eyes.

Slowly but surely, not only were all of Maria's questions answered, but equally profound, Major Sutton now understood all that had happened as well—Nick having buried the letter over 20 years ago and how Rama had followed Nick and was able to warn him about the Vietcong hot on his trail.

Other than that one attempt to escape, Nick never again tried to leave and besides, as he told everyone, Surya was already advanced in years when he first met him and then, over the following months as Surya's old age left him increasingly fragile, the thought of leaving him in some wild attempt to once again reach America became unthinkable.

Their relationship was like a loving son taking care of his aging father—but it was much more than that. In Nick's eyes, Surya was nothing less than a saint of the highest order. Rather than dwelling on another foolish attempt to escape, it became apparent to Nick that Providence had other plans for his life and to not accept that fate, felt like he was rejecting God's love and purpose.

When Nick explained all this to Maria she could easily sense the unmistakable sincerity in her father's character—something that warmed her heart. Whatever had happened to her father, one thing was certain in her mind: he had become profoundly close to God. Blake, Sutton and Judy were all aware of the same thing. Nick had become something far more than any of them could have guessed in a million years. They were now about to learn other things—impossible things—things that would touch each one of them to their very core.

As evening approached on the third day, out of respect for Rama, Nickolas wanted to hear more about his friend's trip to India. All the monks did. That conversation had been suddenly interrupted with the arrival of his daughter.