Again, Nil, mystically in tune with Tasha, calls that night, and asks me if he should send her money. I just had this feeling Tasha needs it. But for now, I'm a man in love. I surrender the phone and discreetly leave the kitchen when Tasha, whispering soft nothings into the receiver begins to turn pink. I feel a real spiritual connection with Nil.
Problem is nobody wants to sign it.
Tasha spends over a month going to every militia office in the city trying to find a militia officer who will sign it without requiring her to use threats or bribery. Better still, Tasha was born in Alma-Ata in Kazakstan, and lived there till she went to college. This means she needs one of these forms signed there too. Problem is, Alma-Ata is about 3,000 miles away in what is now a foreign country. The police tell her Mom that they will send the paper to Tasha via the Militia in St.