“A BIT TOO CONSERVATIVE” I said to her. I had seen her one
too many times at these Post IPO- Wallstreet Success Parties. She was pushing
the strand of hair that was falling out of her tight French Roll. Fernanda was
taken aback. I was one for making small talks with complete strangers… “A BIT
TOO SLUTTY !” was a quack reply eyeing my RED Jimmy Choo $ 575 shoes. We booth
smirked and that was the beginning of a friendship .. ! Within months we became
each others “GO TO PERSON”
Fernanda , 28 was born near the borders of the United States of America. Just about the same time I, Disha
Doshi – now 25 got through Kellogg Business School. One would think that the
two of us would have hardly anything in common coming from 2 different parts of
the world – But I was surprised at how much I felt she was like my sister ! We
had long chats about my life, my work, my past, my present – the Jabber Master I
can be. It was not until I found a box full of unopened letters all from the
Dominican Republic that I first realized how little I know of her and her past.
Ofcourse I always found it fishy that she went missing come every Sunday
morning – she told me she went to church.. but not until I followed her. I knew
there was more to those letters. Between 223rd and Madison Ave was
this descript building in shambles. The plaster was peeling and it looked like
the roof was going to crank any minute. The Signage outside read “El Embajador –
D.R.” It was a breathing space and a small library where Dominicans’ living in
New York found Solace.
I waited a whole 2 hours before I saw her coming out and confronted
her ! You have to tell me… What on earth are you doing here. You have been so
distant lately, what’s wrong !!! Can you please tell me. I beg of you…” She
darted towards the bus stop..She was angry at the fact that she was being
followed. We boarded the next bus towards her home – her eyes told me She was
disappointed in me for not having trusted her and let her be. Throughtout the
walk back to her apartment I could feel that She was upset that I had blown the
cover off the wound she had been nursing. But more than anything when we sat down
in the warmth of her living room, I felt she was relieved that she could finally
confide in someone ! Like she was waiting for someone to come rescue her of her
agony.
Maria Fernanda Granda Goncalves was born a US Citizen but
often visited her grandmother in her native Dominican Republic. Her earliest
memories are that of walking on the Malecon, eating small dollops of ice-cream in the
restaurant facing the sea on Bella Vista, of enjoying swimming with her grand
mother in the country club, and enjoying the sun rise above the National Palace
in this capital city. When she closed her eyes she said she could imagine the
Palms and Almond trees along the Malecon. She still remembers the sight of the
city’s forest of roofs, towers, domes, belfries and tree tops.
She had heard stories from her Grand Mother.. and those
stories about the city her mother was
born in Cuidad Domingo were harsh ! It was not until her last visit in the
summer that her grandmother told her of
her mother. The Dominican Republic was then ruled by Chief, The Generalissimo,
His Excellency Dr Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina – the unelected Military
strongman. Under his regime Government employees were required to
"donate" 10 percent of their salary to the national treasury,and
there was strong pressure on adult citizens to join the party. Those who did
not contribute, or join the party, did so at their own risk. Opponents of the
regime were mysteriously killed. Bridges and public buildings were named in his
honor. The nation's newspapers had praise for Trujillo as part of the front
page. Eventually, even churches were required to post the slogan "Dios en
cielo, Trujillo en tierra" (God in Heaven, Trujillo on Earth). Trujillo
and his family amassed enormous wealth. He acquired cattle lands on a grand
scale, and went into meat and milk production, operations that soon evolved
into monopolies. Salt, sugar, tobacco, lumber, and the lottery were other
industries dominated by him or members of his family.
Apart for political and economic oppression, Trujillo
demanded of his aides and cabinet that they provide him with sexual access to their
wives and daughters. Maria Maximo Gomez was one such feast for Trujillo and
also Fernanada’s Grandother. Maria was the wife of Trujillo’s minister who he
laid eyes on, on one of his house visits. He went to bed with his ministers'
wives, not only because he liked these ladies but because it was a way to test
his ministers. He wanted to know if they were ready to accept this extreme
humiliation.
Mainly the ministers, and her grandfather were prepared to
play this grotesque role—and they remained loyal to Trujillo. Trujillo's sexual
conquests and public humiliations of his enemies also served to affirm his
political power and machismo. Fernanda’s mother Maria Flavia Goncalves was the
child of the Generalissmo. She remained incognito to the Generalissmo. Maria
Maximo Gomez Protected her daughter Maria Flavia.. She never let her daughter
out of her sight. She even sent her to an all girls school where the church
guarded these little girls – until the oppression became even more intense –
and the Generalissmo now preferred his women younger.
Years passed , Maria Flavia was to fall in hands of her
benefactor soon – it was her destiny. It was through the church the little
girls were taken out to sing at the Fair of the Nations – at the 25th
Anniversary Celebrations of the regime. The little girl, did not know she came
face to face with her daddy ! She was in awe of this man who presided over
thousands of people gathered together to celebrate their Nation and Its
Generlissmo. Maria Flavia was even more estatic when her daddy pulled her out
of the choir and raised his hand .. everybody fell silent. He asked her to
sing.. and right out of her memory, Maria Flavia sang “The Sparrow Party” a
Calypso Song all with the tambou twavay
drum.
Her eyes twinkled as she saw him walk towards the nuns – she
knew her prize was coming. He spoke a few words pointing towards her. Maria
Flavia thought her life was about to change. Indeed it did. The nun’s were
horrified. Her daddy had just asked her to be brought to the National Palace.
It was not until later that evening she was dressed and taken upto his chamber.
Her daddy entered the room and pushed her face down and devoured her body. That
was the last day Maria Flavia lived in hell. She escaped and found herself on
board a ship.
Maria Fernanda Granda Goncalves was born just inside the
seas of the United States of America and it was the last time she ever met her
mother Maria Flavia. She died of an infection. Upon arrival this little one was
given the citizenship of this free country ! When asked Father’s name the ship
boy came forward and gave his name to her and a life and an education. When she
turned 16 he even connected Fernanda to her Grand mother in The Dominican
Republic. After a few visits, she passed away and that was the last time she
ever went there. In her last few hours Fernanda was told who she really was…
But each Sunday Maria
Fernanda Granda Goncalves took a trip down to “El Embajador – D.R.” only to
read about the Dominican History and the Animal that her FATHER was… to know MORE
about where she was from !!
I put my arm around her .. and calmed her tears down… “No
more visits to “El Embajador – D.R.” … #SoakNoMore !!!
Disclaimer: This is a true story with fictional characters, an entry written by me — Disha Doshi for Indiblogger’s #SoakNoMore contest.
