The Henna Wars(83)

She lays it on the table in front of us and looks at me with her dimpled smile. “Okay. I’m ready for a Nishat original.”

“Flávia.”

“Please?” She looks at me with big, round puppy-dog eyes, and it’s not like I can say no to those.

I grab hold of the henna tube and begin to squeeze a pattern into Flávia’s palm while she beams at me as if this is the best day of her life. It feels kind of surreal: The warmth of her hand. The tenderness of her gaze. The way the setting sun illuminates her face.

The fact that I’m weaving my very culture into her skin.

This is one of those moments that I want to bottle up and keep with me forever. Not because it’s extraordinary, or because it’s the kind of thing you would find in a Bollywood movie.

But because it’s the kind of moment I could never have dreamed of having in a million years.





acknowledgments

A BOOK IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO come together to make it into a reality, and I feel lucky to have many incredible people in my corner.

Thank you to my amazing agent, Uwe Stender, for believing in me and this story, and for your endless enthusiasm and support.

Thank you to my brilliant editor, Lauren Knowles, for all of your hard work in making The Henna Wars into what it is today. A huge thank you to the incredible team at Page Street: William Kiester, Ashley Tenn, Molly Gillespie, Tamara Grasty, Lauren Davis, Lauren Cepero, and Lizzy Mason.

I definitely would not be here without my very own team Avatar: Alyssa, Shaun, April, Kristine, and Timmy. Thank you for all of the years believing me in me and my writing, and for shaping me into the person that I am today.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh to Amanda and Shona, for putting up with reading my writing since I was a teen, and for the tea, cake, and tapas. And to Gavin for letting me vent to you endlessly, for being a supportive friend, and an amazing person.

This book would not exist without my incredible and talented friend Gabhi, who was the first person I turned to with the idea. Thank you for shouting at me to go and write the book, for always believing in me, and for everything you have done to shape this book into what it is.

To my Bengali Squad, Tammi and Priyanka: I don’t know what I would do without the two of you. I can’t thank you enough for all of your help throughout this entire process. For holding my hand from first draft all the way until now, and for always knowing the perfect Bengali word when I’m stuck.

To my brilliant and talented friend, Faridah: Thank you for putting up with all of my venting and anxiety, and always believing in me and this book. Thank you also for putting up with the creepy Jack Nicholson gif (it’s not going away anytime soon, sorry).

Thank you to all of the fantastic people who have beta read this book, given me invaluable feedback, and have continued to support it with so much enthusiasm and love that I can hardly believe it: Terry, Tas, Maria, Cass, Francesca, and Fadwa. You are some of the most amazing people ever, and I am so grateful that I get to call you friends.

Muito obrigada to Lia for all of your enthusiasm, your support, the Flávia doll, and your friendship.

Thank you to my amazing friend Alechia: You talked me through so much while I was taking my first steps in this industry, even though you barely knew me at the time. I’ll never forget your selfless generosity and everything you have done for me since. I’m so glad to call you a friend.

English teachers can play such a huge role in the life of a writer, and I have been extremely lucky in having some of the best ones, but none as amazing as Mr. Fallon. Your encouragement and enthusiasm have meant the world to me since I was a kid.

Thank you to my family, who still don’t understand publishing but are trying their best: to Mamoni, Abbu, Bhaiya, Biyut Apu, and Labiba.

To every single person who has supported me and this book in any shape and form: I don’t even have the words to thank you. Just know that every time I see a message of excitement or support, my heart fills up and I cry ugly tears.

Lastly, thank you to you, the reader, for picking up this book and giving it a chance.





about the author

ADIBA JAIGIRDAR WAS BORN IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH, and has been living in Dublin, Ireland, since the age of ten. She has a BA in English and History, and an MA in Postcolonial Studies. She is a contributor for Bookriot. All of her writing is aided by tea, and a healthy dose of Janelle Monáe and Hayley Kiyoko. When not writing, she can be found ranting about the ills of colonialism, playing video games, and expanding her overflowing lipstick collection. She can be found at adibajaigirdar.com or @adiba_j on Twitter and @dibs_j on Instagram.