Chapter Twenty-Eight: New Delhi:

Now from Vietnam to India. Let’s see how Ruby is doing. Yes, they celebrate Christmas there too. Just like in non-Christian countries, Christmas is more commercial. Oh and Christmas Eve is tomorrow too.

Ruby was going out for the evening. Not to a party. Just visiting some old friends for a drink or two. (No alcohol, of course.) She smiled at herself in the mirror. There was a knock on her door.

“Yeah?” she asked. She watched as her door opened a crack.

“Everything okay in here?” her mother asked.

“Yeah,” Ruby said. She narrowed her eyes.

“Did you want something?” she asked. Her mother didn’t say anything at first. Ruby raised her eyebrow.

“Mama?” she asked.

“It’s Christmas Eve tomorrow,” her mom said.

“Yes,” Ruby said. Her mother lifted her chin.

“Are you going to have dinner with the family tomorrow night?” she asked. Her daughter gave her a puzzled look.

“Of course I am,” she said. “Why wouldn’t I be?” Her mother breathed a sigh of relief. Confused, Ruby turned around.

“Mom is something wrong?” she asked. Her mother shook her head.

“No, no,” she said. “Everything is fine! Really!” Ruby didn’t look like she bought it.

“Did something happen?” she asked. Her mother quickly shook her head again.

“No, no! I mean it!” she said. “You just go out and enjoy yourself tonight!” Her daughter sighed.

“Look, I don’t have to go out if you don’t want me to,” she said. Her mother waved her off.

“No, it’s fine,” she said. “Go out and enjoy your night!” Ruby stared at her for a moment.

“Okay…” she said. “But what are you going to do?” Her mother cleared her throat and smiled.

“I’m just going to bed,” she said. The woman started backing out of her daughter’s room.

“You have a good night! See you in the morning,” she said. Ruby waved, looking more confused than ever.

“Night,” she mumbled as the door closed. Ruby lowered her hand and sighed. That sounded like a guilt trip to make her stay home. She tried to perk herself up with the thought of seeing her friends again. Her spirit was still dampened but the girl couldn’t back out now.

Ruby looked at herself in the mirror one more time before she got up. She pushed out any other thoughts from her mind as she walked out of her room.