Excerpt from A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

Excerpt
A Great Country

Saturday

5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

While twelve-year-old Ajay sat trembling in a jail cell, his parents were enjoying themselves at a dinner party. The tony coastal enclave of Southern California was situated only hours, but worlds, away from the bustle of Los Angeles and the grit of Tijuana, and not far from the happiest place on earth. Rolling hills through the exclusive neighborhood showcased sprawling estates, bordered by expansive lawns and gated driveways. On one of these properties, perched high on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, cocktails were being served and all still seemed well.

"Congratulations, my friend. You have officially arrived," Vikram said, raising his tumbler of single malt toward Ashok. The thick crystal glasses made a satisfying baritone clink as they met. "Welcome to the jewel of Orange County."

Ashok couldn't keep the smile from edging onto his face, even as he shook his head modestly. "Ah, we still have a long way to go before reaching these heights," he said, gesturing around them at Vikram's lush backyard, the glimmer of the ocean in the distance illuminated by the setting sun. "But we have a start, thanks to you."

"Thanks, nothing." Vikram waved away Ashok's comment. "I have a vested interest in your moving into Pacific Hills. Now we just need to work on this guy." He nodded toward Ricky, whose scotch sat untouched on the thick teak armrest.

Ricky chuckled. "I don't think that's in the cards for us. Start-up life isn't really associated with excess cash flow. Besides, we're happy in Irvine. Our friends are all there."

Ashok feigned a mock expression of offense. "What?"

"Okay, not all," Ricky conceded. "But you know what I mean: Archie can get curry leaves from the neighbors next door, and Lalitaji down the street gives the kids dinner if we work late." He held his arms out wide to gesture to the expansiveness of Vikram's property, with its majestic palm trees soaring overhead. "I mean, this is beautiful, don't get me wrong. But we like our community."

"And how do you like your children going to that school?" Vikram asked, raising an eyebrow. "Packed forty to a classroom? One outdated computer for every three kids?"

Here, Ashok felt the need to speak up. "Oh, come on, Chavez isn't that bad."

"They're installing metal detectors at the entrance, Ashok." Vikram snickered. "That is not good. Just wait till your kids get used to Pacific Hills High. The place is like a country club—swimming pool, tennis courts ..."

"No, of course," Ashok agreed. "I mean, that's why we moved here, for the schools, absolutely. I'm just saying, Chavez is a decent school too. Ricky's kids are doing well there." Ashok felt his body temperature rise, his armpits suddenly moist. Was he trying to convince Vikram or himself? The sting of earlier conversations with his daughter made an unwelcome intrusion on the enchanted evening.

"Yeah, I think the security measures are actually a good thing," Ricky said. "Some parents were uncomfortable sending their kids to school after that ... incident."

"It's been happening all over." Ashok shook his head. "My friend in San Francisco saw some teenagers harassing an old Chinese man pushing his wife in a wheelchair on the Marina. Yelling and threatening, calling them names. The couple was over eighty. Can you imagine?"

"We could be next," Vikram said. "We're an easy target. Successful, educated ..."

"Model minority," Ricky muttered.

Vikram pointed at him with his long index finger. "Exactly. When a community starts becoming successful, that is when the backlash starts. Nobody cared about opium in San Francisco until the Chinese started doing well. No one willingly gives up their place of privilege for someone new. You've got to scramble to get to the top, then fight to stay there. That's why you need to get ahead of it, to protect yourself."

Excerpted from A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. Copyright © 2024 by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. Excerpted by permission of Mariner Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.