Chapter Two: Anonymous Letter

She was shocked, What kind of joke it is. how did the sender of this envelope knew I am going to Stanford University? The date written on the envelope is of yesterday while I received the confirmation email from the university 15 minutes ago, How did the sender know about it?

If she had not told Grace about the scholarship she would have thought Grace have sent these flowers and envelopes.

I don't think so this is from the university because it came through a local courier. Then who sent it. She placed the glass on the shelf and left the kitchen with thousand questions in her mind.

while she was opening the door Grace voice came from outside the door " Sarah I haven't received any email from the university"

Grace entered Sarah's house, her face looked so so down in sadness.

"It's Ok, you will receive it in one, two working days, Don't worry. We have applied together I got the email, you'll receive it too.

"But my name was neither in the list that co-ordinator has placed outside his office. I think I got rejected"

ooh!

She felt sorry for her.

"Anyways! were you going somewhere?"

"Yup, I was going to the market with Emily, tomorrow night we have a party and I have lost my favorite High heels, I can't find them anywhere I searched my whole room. I think the maid took it. I am going to buy a new one.  You should also come, You have a great taste in high heels".

She was in a light blue shirt and tight jeans with a matching scarf and hair tied in a ponytail.

"Come, we have to leave now"

Grace sat on the front seat of the car, "we also have to pick Emily" said Sarah

"How come your strict dad let to hang out with Emily"?

Emily was their junior she was from a different department that's why Grace and Emily were not close.

"My dad is not that strict, he is the man of principles that is why people think he is strict".

She stopped the car in front of Emily's house. They were neighbors. Emily lived right next door to Sarah. They had a common wall with a gate connecting two houses. But it remained close, Never felt the need to open it.

Whenever she has to pick Emily she gives car horns, like she was giving right now, after few minutes Emily came outside. She was wearing a red top with black jeans, she rushed into the car. She was out of breath, it seemed they came running. "Hello Sarah, Hello Grace!

She was in good mood, she closed the door of the car. She was always this happy when she hangs out with Sarah.

"How are you Emily, It's been a while haven't heard from you"

Grace looked at her in the back seat of the car.

"Your department is quite away from mine, I never had a chance to go there otherwise I would have met you, and yes Sarah told me you both got selected for Fullbright Scholarship Programme"

"Sarah is selected, I was not lucky enough, anyways I must be good for me, had you not applied for it"? My parents were not willing, I tried a lot to get their permission but..." Sadness filled the air.

"Parents should be understanding," Grace said.

Sarah looked at Grace and tried to change the topic as it was making Emily sadder". My dad, I don't know why he keeps on check on everything, why I am not allowed to make decisions for myself, I am not a kid anymore is it too much to understand? like what's wrong with a short top and deep necks? He didn't allow me to wear it for the party, Even Sarah wear such clothes. I wish I had a dad like her's.

"Emily! what do you have to buy today? I am here for high heels"

She made an effort to change the topic. Emily always complains about her dad.

"I want a braclet! I'll wear it to tomorrow's party"

Sarah played cassette player. Taylor Swift's song "The way I loved you"  resonated, which made Emily stop talking.

On reaching Market Emily went down the street to look for the braclet 

"That, on the left, the golden one ...yes this kindly show it to me"

It took a half-day for Sarah to select a high heel" here is it ma'am" Salesman placed the shoe in front of her and indued the shoe on her feet." Look how beautiful it is". We will take these, how much do they cost?

$45 ma'am. She gave him $50 and asked him to keep the change. Thanks! Shopkeeper replied.

Sarah saw Emily coming out of the shop at the end of the corridor. It seemed like she have not bought anything and was here for window shopping. 

They went for Ice cream though they were hungry. They did not eat because they had dinner at Julie, their class fellows house. They ordered the ice cream in the car

" Order pineapple flavor for me. I have to go to the bakery to bring dr nut cake for Julie's family.  It's the first time we are going to their house.  It was getting dark so they rushed towards Julie's house.

The waiter came to take the order. Sarah opened the window placed the order and closed the window again. Sarah do you remember last year University brought a hope scholarship for Turkey, How excited we were and in the end, it got canceled.

Grace and Sarah were doing LLB and it was their fifth year. It was mid of their seventh semester when Univesity announced the scholarship. It was basically a student exchange program. On filling the application form she found Stanford's University form less complex than others so she went for it. After completing her seventh semester he had to go to the US for a period of 5 months. She was given open choice to choose subjects of her interest. Which she will complete in 5 months and after returning she had to start the eighth semester.

"It will be fun Sarah if you find a romantic and handsome guy on your journey.  It will make your duration a lot amazing".

"oh please! nothing like this is going to happen, from here only we two girls are going and we will stay in University's girl's hostel".

"and Anne Richard, she is going with you. are you in touch with her? Have you talked to her?" waiter knocked on the window. Sarah lowered it to hold ice creams.

"No, I don't know Anne" She gave one ice cream to Grace and placed Emily's on the dashboard. She forgot to close the window. Suddenly Grace's cell phone rang. While licking the ice cream he picked the call " Hello! yes, mom, What happened? wait there is distortion in the call, I'll call you back. Grace was facing weak signals. She came out of the car to call her mother.

Sarah was looking at the window screen, enjoying her ice cream. Grace was standing quite a distance under a tree.

"Hello my beauty" someone said at the window so closely that her breath was making steam at the window. Sarah jumped in peril. she dropped some ice cream on her dress.

At the window, there was a beautiful woman, face full of makeup, bright glittery eyes. dark red lipstick, blond hair tightened to form a messy bun and a fancy dress. she was not a woman neither a man, On having a close look Sarah realized it was transgender.

"Don't be afraid my sweetheart. I am your friend, people call me Dolly".

"Step back, go.... go away!".she got brood.

"Ok fine, Listen to me"

before he came closer she threw ice cream on his face. in reflex, it step back and Sarah got a chance to close the window.

"Listen to me, dear"

He smiled while cleaning his face and start tapping on the window giving it a musical rhythm. Due to the closed window voice came slow but it was obvious he was singing a song.

With shivering hands, she started the car and escaped the area. She stopped at the front of the bakery, She looked back to see whether transgender was gone or not. Dolly named transgender was still here. He did not follow but kept on watching her with a strange look in his eyes. His look made a Shiver rushed down Sarah's spine.

"Where are these two?"

She pressed the horn, then again looked back. he was still there staring.

This situation made her feel sick, She convinced Grace and Emily to postpone the dinner by Excuseing Julie. Emily and Grace agreed to her without questioning as she was not looking well.

After dropping Emily and Grace she went to her bedroom. It was almost time for dinner. She changed her dress, which was a complete mess due to the ice cream she dropped on it.

Dolly was still on her mind. People like her often beg but no one has behaved this strangely. She could not forget the look in his eyes. On changing, when she stepped out of her room, her foot hit something. She got scared. on the door, there was a bouquet of roses along with an envelope. She bend to pick these, She opened the envelope with the name " Sarah John" on it. In it, there was a letter which said: " I hope your dinner went well".