Bound by History

Sample

RADHIKA

"Radhika" Looking up I found my best friend, Sameera Sharma. Sameera has been my best friend since elementary school.

"Sam. I have been looking for you."

"Liar", accused Sameera. Chuckling, she sat down in front of me.

"Why do I always find you in libraries?", questioned Sameera. I gave Sam my puppy look.

"No, you don't get to give that puppy look to me this time.", Sam said pointing her finger to my face. It was true. Libraries have always been my place. My haven.

"I got a new idea for my book.", I explained.

"Wow! That is great Radhika.", congratulated Sam.

No one wanted to believe me when I told them I was having a writer's block after three successful books. But Sameera has been supportive.

"Would you tell me already?", she asked me with curiosity.

"I thought about writing a historical fiction", I mumbled to Sam.

"What? Why are you mumbling?" Shaking my head I repeated, "I thought about writing a historical fiction", this time a little clearer.

"Historical Fiction. You mean like wars and revolutions", prompted Sam.

"No. No. Historical fiction doesn't mean wars and revolutions.", I told her. I went on to add, "It means I would be writing my own story which could revolve around that historical period."

She looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

"You sure want to do that. Won't it be a little difficult.", she asked me.

Shrugging I replied, "I don't know. I would have to try at least."

I knew writing historical fiction could be challenging. Yet I have to try. I had a feeling that this would break my writer's block.

"Come on. Let's go.", I said to her gathering my books.

I had come to the library hoping that I would find something in history books to write about.

*

Three days later, when I was up in the attic my best friend called out, "Radhika"

"In here" "What are you doing up here in the attic?", she questioned me.

"I am looking for my grandfather's journal", I replied opening yet another cupboard.

Coming near me Sam asked, "And why are you looking for your grandfather's journal".

I looked at my best friend. I wanted to tell her but how could I, she would freak out. No, I won't tell her. "Help me!", I said changing the topic.

Together we turned the attic upside down yet we didn't find the journal. With a defeated look I made my way down to my room. Sam had followed suit.

"Radhika, what is it?", Sam asked sitting beside me on my bed. She glanced around my mess of a room.

I pulled out my laptop from the mess and showed it to Sam. "Holy Shit!", exclaimed Sam.

"Is this...are you... I don't understand.", a confused Sam looked at me.

I knew my friend would freak out. But I never expected someone as garrulous as Sam to be at a loss of words. "Yes, Sam. That is me yet not me.", I told her.

"What do you mean?", she squeaked the words out.