Bodies In Motion is a collection of linked stories that traces the emotional, sexual, and geographic history of two generations of two Sri Lankan families through the last half century. In these stories we see just how emigrant/immigrant ebb and flow shapes lives, loves and the bonds of family. Like Michael Ondaatje's Anil's Ghost, Bodies In Motion transports us to Sri Lanka, a country steeped in centuries of tradition but faced with the modernization of social mores and customs. In a land of arranged marriages and entrenched roles, particularly for women, these stories limn the tugofwar between generations and gender as family members make their own choices about their futures, sometimes bringing them to America, and sometimes taking them back to their island home. In a distillation of intimate moments, the stories chronicle the loves, ambitions, spiritual and sexual quests of the members of each family as they search for meaning to their lives and a place to call home.

Mary Anne Mohanraj teaches fiction at Vermont College and Roosevelt University

Beginnings
Oceans Bright and Wide (Colombo, 1939: Chelliah)	p. 3
Seven Cups of Water (Jaffna, 1948: Vallipuram)	p. 24
Sister Mary (Colombo, 1949: Vallipuram)	p. 39
The Kandiahs
The Princess in the Forest (Chicago, 1955: Kandiah)	p. 49
Other Cities (Chicago, 1962: Kandiah)	p. 59
Acts of Faith (Chicago, 1963: Kandiah)	p. 67
Marry in Haste (Chicago, 1964: Kandiah)	p. 82
Pieces of the Heart (Chicago, 1966: Kandiah)	p. 91
Lakshmi's Diary (Chicago, 1969: Kandiah/Vallipuram)	p. 105
Interlude
Sins of the Father (Jaffna, 1977: Chelliah)	p. 123
The Vallipurams
A Gentle Man (Massachusetts, 1979: Vallipuram)	p. 135
The Emigrant (Colombo, 1979: Vallipuram)	p. 154
Mangoes with Chili (San Francisco, 1983: Vallipuram)	p. 171
Tightness in the Chest (Vermont, 1986: Vallipuram)	p. 180
The Children
Mint in Your Throat (San Francisco, 1990: Kandiah)	p. 193
Challah (Philadelphia, 1998: Kandiah/Vallipuram)	p. 200
Bodies in Motion (Chicago, 1999: Kandiah)	p. 210
Minal in Winter (Chicago, 1999: Vallipuram)	p. 228
Wood and Flesh (Berkeley, 1999: Kandiah)	p. 246
Epilogue
Monsoon Day (Colombo, 2002: Vallipuram)	p. 267
Acknowledgments	p. 277
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Bodies in Motion
Stories

Chapter One

Oceans Bright and Wide

Colombo, 1939

Thani stood just outside the convent school gates, waiting for sister catherine to come and meet him. bougainvillea spilled over the walls, lush and crimson; he was briefly tempted to break off a small sprig to present to her. It was her favorite plant, the brilliantly hued paper-thin leaves hiding their tiny white flowers. But any flowers he broke off would only wither and die; better to leave them growing on the vine, surrounded by their own kind, beautiful intheir profusion. Thani watched the young girls instead, demure pairswalking in their crisp white school uniforms across the wide lawns; heheard the nuns giving strict instructions to their charges.

An accustomed pleasant thrill of anticipation energized him; afterall these years of friendship, he still looked forward to his walks withSister Catherine. Their conversations had started when his daughterswere girls, fatherly duty bringing him to the convent school grounds,to that large white building, its tall pillars and broad marble floors soreminiscent of his own Cinnamon Gardens home. When the conventhad put in tennis courts for the girls, and his wife, Bala, had worriedabout the propriety of allowing their daughters to play, it was Thani who had come to talk to the nuns, who had then come home and reassuredhis wife. Had he been convinced by reason? Or by the brightyoung face of Sister Catherine, with her sharp green eyes and her redhair forever escaping the confines of her demure garb? Her face hadbeen so fair, like a water lily, too delicate for the touch of the sun. Andher mind -- quick, rich with the accumulated knowledge of Europeancivilization, the literature and philosophy she taught. When he talkedwith her, Thani felt like a young coconut tree, growing tall in thebright light of her regard, enriched and enlightened.

There she was, at the top of the white steps, hurrying down, heedlessas a girl despite the constrictions of her nun's habit. His heart beata little faster, and he entered the gates, crossing the broad expanse ofgrass to meet her. Thani walked slowly; his heavy middle-aged builddidn't allow him to move as quickly as she did. He was slow but steady,unreasonably happy. Thani never inquired too closely into his feelingsfor Sister Catherine. It was enough that for twenty-five years, since theday his first daughter started school, until today, when his last daughterwas finally finishing, it had brought him pleasure to come here, tospend an hour or so walking the grounds in Sister Catherine's company,listening to her talk of Chaucer and Milton, Plato and Aristotle.

"Mr. Chelliah! I am so sorry that I've kept you waiting!" She landedbeside him, slightly out of breath, hands reaching up to tuck straywisps of hair back under her wimple. There were a few strands of greyamong the red now, but it was still beautiful -- so fine and delicate. Afterall these years, Thani still felt the urge to reach out and touch thestrands.

He smiled down at her. "It is never any trouble, Sister. When I receivedyour message that you wanted to see me, I was delighted tocome. I hope nothing is wrong."

"No, no." She started to walk, and he fell into step beside her. "It'sabout Shanthi, but certainly nothing is wrong. Everything is perfectlyright, in fact."

"Oh?"

"I wanted to know -- what are your plans for her?"

Thani felt mixed apprehension and pride. This had lately been asource of mild contention between him and his wife; Bala was determinedto get the girl safely married, as Shanthi's eleven elder sistersand her one brother had been. But Thani wasn't ready to let hisyoungest daughter go; she was his favorite, the one he could talk to.She was bright, a good companion for his thoughts; he had wonderedwhether Shanthi might perhaps study for a teacher's certificate. Thenshe could stay with them a little longer.

"That is not yet decided; my wife and I are not entirely in agreementon this." He flushed, slightly embarrassed, wondering if the nunwould think less of him. A man should be able to rule his own house -- that was what his friends at the club would say, if they heard him.But whatever men boasted to one another, it was different within amarriage.

Sister Catherine glanced shrewdly at him. "Yes, I thought thatmight be the case. But if my own words might carry some weight . . ."

"My wife and I have always thought very highly of you, Sister."That was true; the nun had been a frequent visitor to their home, hadshared innumerable cups of tea with Bala. They had become friends intheir own way, the way of women together, talking of the children. Ifhis wife had been a different woman, Thani might have wonderedwhether she had carefully chosen to cultivate Sister Catherine,whether she suspected the attraction Thani felt for the pretty nun. ButBala wasn't smart or shrewd enough for such a strategy. That was partof why their marriage was happy and successful; Thani could relaxaround his wife.

Sister Catherine took a deep breath before saying quickly, "Shanthimust go to Pembroke for a crash course; there are a few girls studyingsciences now among the boys at Pembroke. We've taught her what wecan in private tutorial, but we have no science courses here. Then shemust go on to university; she must continue her physics studies properly.After a year or two there, she can apply to Oxford."

Thani stopped short, shocked, turning to face Sister Catherine."You're joking, surely, Sister. Pembroke perhaps, although Bala will beworried about her, with all those boys; her reputation might be compromised.And university ... she's clever, but no girl has ever -- "Bodies in Motion
Stories. Copyright © by Mary Anne Mohanraj. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

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