me it is a true copy.”
“Sounds like there’s a story here.” Julian looked at her with great expectation.
Max lifted her palms, “Well, there’s a journal. My grandfather’s.”
Julian’s eyebrows rose a little.
Max sighed. “I wanted to research the seal before I read it. I also thought it would be better to have an expert around to ask questions once I read it. Now that I’ve found the Swastika, I don’t feel like touching the journal. But the truth is, I have to read it.” She turned away. “It’s very involved…” She pulled on a lock of hair. “I’m sorry I’m taking so much of your time.”
Julian waved at a clock behind him. “It’s not a problem. I’m expecting a call in a bit, but right now it’s fine. Please go on.”
Max gave a little cough. “My grandfather was a chemist. He worked for a German pharmaceutical company in the twenties and thirties. He was even forced to do work for the Nazis while he was there. Then suddenly, he was sent away to a concentration camp. He was Jewish. That’s why I was so shocked by the Swastika. I only noticed it today.”
Julian gave her a wry look. “Your grandfather did work for the Nazis, but not willingly, right? Besides, the angle of this Swastika isn’t right for Nazi symbolism. Those dots in the gaps are very Hindu. I believe some Indus artifacts have been found with Swastikas on them. It wasn’t unreasonable for him to put it there, given where he got it.”
Max was not convinced. “But—”
Julian held up his hand. He pulled out a thick red book from an over-burdened bookshelf, checked the index, opened it, and handed it to her with a flourish.
Max began reading aloud. “ The Swastika is an ancient Indian symbol of prosperity. Su means “good” in Sanskrit. Asti means “to be.” It is widely misunderstood the world over due to the fact that it was adopted by the Nazis. The symbol has been in existence for over 3,000 years.” She looked up, gave Julian a relieved smile, and continued reading. “ Widely used to signify prosperity and goodness in China and Japan, even in Judaism! Indians use it in several places. ” Images of garments, paintings, and drawings followed. Max closed the book. “I feel like an idiot,” she said softly. “He had said it was his lucky seal. I should have trusted him.”
“He couldn’t have chosen a better symbol.” Julian leaned forward, touching her hand. “And I’m willing to bet that your grandfather added the Swastika for another reason. The Nazis polluted it with their ideologies. He added it for its purity. I would. And yes, of course—for plain old luck.”
Max leaned back in her chair, fighting the urge to reach out and smother this beautiful man with a hug. With a few casual sentences he had dragged her out of her misery. “You must think I’m a fool,” she said. “My mother was Indian and Hindu. I remember learning about Om from her. But she died when I was so young.” Maybe she taught me about the Swastika, too, I don’t remember. I sometimes read from the Gita, and yet I know little about the significance of what is obviously a ubiquitous Hindu symbol.”
Julian smiled. “You can always claim that you read the Gita purely as a philosophical text—thus keeping your mind untarnished by religious beliefs and imagery that might hinder your appreciation of its true meaning.” He twirled a hand in the air.
Max blushed once more. “I try to read a verse as often as I can.” She tried to sound nonchalant. As if remembering her grandfather’s words, she added, “It’s not a holy book but a spiri—”
“Spiritual dictionary,” Julian finished. “Gandhi called it that.”
Max looked at Julian as if seeing him for the first time, except with even more admiring eyes.
Julian nodded. “What’s the matter?” he said.
“Uh, nothing.” She looked at the floor to hide her embarrassment.
Max looked at the diary in front of her. She ought to read it now and see if there
“Sounds like there’s a story here.” Julian looked at her with great expectation.
Max lifted her palms, “Well, there’s a journal. My grandfather’s.”
Julian’s eyebrows rose a little.
Max sighed. “I wanted to research the seal before I read it. I also thought it would be better to have an expert around to ask questions once I read it. Now that I’ve found the Swastika, I don’t feel like touching the journal. But the truth is, I have to read it.” She turned away. “It’s very involved…” She pulled on a lock of hair. “I’m sorry I’m taking so much of your time.”
Julian waved at a clock behind him. “It’s not a problem. I’m expecting a call in a bit, but right now it’s fine. Please go on.”
Max gave a little cough. “My grandfather was a chemist. He worked for a German pharmaceutical company in the twenties and thirties. He was even forced to do work for the Nazis while he was there. Then suddenly, he was sent away to a concentration camp. He was Jewish. That’s why I was so shocked by the Swastika. I only noticed it today.”
Julian gave her a wry look. “Your grandfather did work for the Nazis, but not willingly, right? Besides, the angle of this Swastika isn’t right for Nazi symbolism. Those dots in the gaps are very Hindu. I believe some Indus artifacts have been found with Swastikas on them. It wasn’t unreasonable for him to put it there, given where he got it.”
Max was not convinced. “But—”
Julian held up his hand. He pulled out a thick red book from an over-burdened bookshelf, checked the index, opened it, and handed it to her with a flourish.
Max began reading aloud. “ The Swastika is an ancient Indian symbol of prosperity. Su means “good” in Sanskrit. Asti means “to be.” It is widely misunderstood the world over due to the fact that it was adopted by the Nazis. The symbol has been in existence for over 3,000 years.” She looked up, gave Julian a relieved smile, and continued reading. “ Widely used to signify prosperity and goodness in China and Japan, even in Judaism! Indians use it in several places. ” Images of garments, paintings, and drawings followed. Max closed the book. “I feel like an idiot,” she said softly. “He had said it was his lucky seal. I should have trusted him.”
“He couldn’t have chosen a better symbol.” Julian leaned forward, touching her hand. “And I’m willing to bet that your grandfather added the Swastika for another reason. The Nazis polluted it with their ideologies. He added it for its purity. I would. And yes, of course—for plain old luck.”
Max leaned back in her chair, fighting the urge to reach out and smother this beautiful man with a hug. With a few casual sentences he had dragged her out of her misery. “You must think I’m a fool,” she said. “My mother was Indian and Hindu. I remember learning about Om from her. But she died when I was so young.” Maybe she taught me about the Swastika, too, I don’t remember. I sometimes read from the Gita, and yet I know little about the significance of what is obviously a ubiquitous Hindu symbol.”
Julian smiled. “You can always claim that you read the Gita purely as a philosophical text—thus keeping your mind untarnished by religious beliefs and imagery that might hinder your appreciation of its true meaning.” He twirled a hand in the air.
Max blushed once more. “I try to read a verse as often as I can.” She tried to sound nonchalant. As if remembering her grandfather’s words, she added, “It’s not a holy book but a spiri—”
“Spiritual dictionary,” Julian finished. “Gandhi called it that.”
Max looked at Julian as if seeing him for the first time, except with even more admiring eyes.
Julian nodded. “What’s the matter?” he said.
“Uh, nothing.” She looked at the floor to hide her embarrassment.
Max looked at the diary in front of her. She ought to read it now and see if there
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