Daedalus, A Modern Myth
by
D. V. Zomba
Copyright 1998
Contents
Prologue 3 I. 1975, Awakening 6 II. Building 22 III. Strengthening 42 IV. 1992, Flying 56 Prologue
Etymologists generally agree that the English language has the capacity to make the finest differentiation in meaning. This is due, in part, to the various languages from which English derives its vocabulary--e.g., love can be passion, commitment, affection, attachment, attraction, compassion, concern, devotion, fondness, heart and warmth, or it can mean to adore, to worship, to admire, to cherish, to dote on, to idolize, to respect, to revere, to venerate, to treasure, to covet, to esteem, to value or to revere. Each of the terms connotes something slightly different, all are inexorably related to love. Yet there are times, there are circumstances, there are things for which no language can adequately describe. Ajit Miller falls within that category.
To say that Ajit, the man, was handsome simply does not do him justice. To say that he was breathtakingly handsome also falls short of the mark. As close as one can get in describing him is to say that, "His looks are awesome." Using 'awesome' in the full meaning of the term.
His individual parts are relatively easy to describe: six feet-two inches, one-hundred-eighty-five pounds, black wavy hair, high forehead, full and slightly arched eyebrows, deep blue eyes, strong (almost Aquiline) nose, medium-wide mouth, the slightly full lips are narrowly ridged at the outer limits which some have been known to describe as "Sensual," a strong and angular chin possessing a slight indentation (one could not call it a dimple), well formed ears, a neck which is not muscular but strong and the physique which is a cross between a swimmer and a medium distance runner. The color of his skin resembles fall honey--golden and slightly dusky at the same time--or burnished teak. His smile reveals light ivory teeth which declare their authenticity as opposed to the brilliantly white, obviously capped teeth of so many movie stars. When he truly smiles, his whole face animates and his eyes become bright lasers transmitting his amusement and joy. Conversely, when angered, his mouth becomes rock-firm, his features cloud and his eyes darken forming pools of molten rage which seem to have the ability to incinerate that source of wrath.
It was not the individual parts which were noteworthy, rather it was their combination which produced greatness. Ajit was handsome, gorgeous, ravishing, totally bewitching in a most masculine way! Still--that isn't enough!
One might say that his astounding good looks are due to the fortuitous combination of genes. Certainly his name and his looks belied a superb mixture. His mother, Lalita, was a physician of some repute. A tall, willowy, graceful Sri Lankan of Sinhalese and Tamil parentage with skin the color of old gold who epitomized elegance. His father, William, a minor officer in the U.S. diplomatic service and later an executive for an international firm headquartered in Chicago with an office in New Delhi. William was tall, athletic and possessed a wonderful sense of humor. His mostly English and a 'smidgen' of German parentage accounted for his blue eyes, light brown hair and propensity to tan. Yes, indeed, the best of both parents were melded to produce Ajit.
Lalita and William possessed one of those story book marriages. Indeed, rare! They loved and respected each other. Oh, there were rocky times, but from those disputes, those dissensions grew understanding. Lalita could chide William about his English stubbornness and his, sometimes, monetary tightfistedness. He, on the other hand, would admonish Lalita for her flashing Tamil temper and the high cost of her clothing. All this was done with a glint in the eye--sometimes tempered with pique, sometimes with mischief, but usually always with an abiding love.
They were of the same age when they met at the University of London and they fell in love. They decided not to marry right away, but to wait until one or the other had a position with some stability. As it turned out William, who was something of a linguist, having received his Master's in South Asian Studies, was tapped by the Foreign Office and sent to New Delhi. It seemed a perfect solution. They were married a year later and Lalita found a position in a hospital which catered, generally, to the less fortunate. Two years later Ajit was born.
He was named Ajit Edward Harold James (after Lalita's grandfather, William's father, and William's brother who was Ajit's godfather, respectively). Three years after the birth of Ajit, William left the Foreign Service and took the position in the Chicago based company, one of those international firms that seem to gravitate to capitol cities.
Ajit was raised in New Delhi, schooled in local private schools, not the International School generally preferred by the parents of the different embassies and international companies. He became fluent in English and Hindi, and could understand and speak Tamil and Urdu. In and out of primary and middle school Ajit did well. He did not truly excel in school work, nor in the various extracurricular activities, but he did well. His parents allowed him to seek his own level, knowing that within his still growing mind and body a pearl of inestimable value was developing, layer upon layer. The lustre would ultimately dazzle.
He was not spoiled as one frequently finds with children who are raised midst some affluence in the East, but was taught respect and manners for all. He had been reared in the best sense of the word. Whenever possible, particularly at the dinner table, he was included in the conversation between his mother and father. 'Children are to be seen, not heard' was not practiced in the Miller household. No question went unanswered, although some answers were naturally put off until a later time. "That's an important question. However, I (we) think that it would be better answered a bit later," was the statement made for those questions that his mother and father thought he was not prepared to deal with at that time. Questions of ethics, right and wrong, social justice and sex were almost always answered immediately and forthrightly. If an answer was not totally comprehensive, it was usually due to Ajit's age. For example--once at dinner time when Ajit was
five, he asked, matter-of-factly, "Mummy, what does 'fuck' mean?"
It was one of those questions, one of those times for which a parent is often caught completely off guard. Lalita flushed slightly and her eyes darted to her husband, imploring assistance. Se wanted to be rescued! His eyes smiled at his wife and her temporary consternation and answered, "Ajit, it's a word we don't use. It's not a very nice word for a very beautiful thing."
"What thing?" Ajit innocently pressed, his brow slightly furrowed.
Lalita inhaled audibly and smiled at her husband, thankful that he'd taken the challenge. "Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much, they come together in a very special way. We say they make love. . . . That's what that word means."
"Oh," was Ajit's reply. He vaguely knew to what his father was referring. He remembered when he was three or four, waking from a bad dream and going to his parents room for solace. There he had seen them 'playing without any clothes on.' His father seemed somewhat embarrassed at the time, however, his mother laughed lightly, got off the bed and took Ajit into her arms and placed him back in his bed, smoothing away the fears of the dream. Nudity in the Miller family was accepted, but never exploited.
William was the stricter of the two parents, but was still understanding and showered Ajit with affection. Lalita frequently assumed the role as an arbitrator between her husband and son, particularly as Ajit became older and needed to assert himself. Both her husband and her son, Lalita knew, were strong willed, and Ajit needed to have this will channeled rather than destroyed or constantly defeated.
He traveled a bit--to his father's home in England where he had spent six delightful summers with his grand parents, aunts, uncles and various cousins, and to his mother's home seven times. In Sri Lanka he had become acquainted with his mother's side of the family. Both locales held a special place in Ajit's heart.