Aditi (Short Story Part 3 & 4)

                                                                     Chapter 3
                                                    Isha does not want to meet Aditi
                                                                                                                                                            When Pradeep and his parents go home, Aditi talks to Aunty. ‘I do not want to marry Pradeep,’ she says. ‘Are you sure Aditi?’ Aunty says. ‘They are a good family and his father has a lot of money.’ ‘Aunty! I cannot marry him because he is rich.’ Aditi is shocked. ‘You can still love your husband if he is rich Aditi.’ ‘No, Aunty. I’m not going to marry someone for money. I want to love my husband. I don’t care if he is rich or poor.’ Aunty sighs, ‘I understand.You are very young.’ Every week-end of the summer holiday Aunty asks different young men and their parents to come to the house to meet Aditi. Every time Aditi says she does not want to see them again. Soon it is time to go to University. Next week Aditi is going to London to stay with her father’s brother and his wife. Aditi is going to live with them when she studies at London University. One evening Aunty says, ‘I want you to help me clean the house Aditi. On Saturday Isha and his parents are coming to meet you.’ Aditi is cross. ‘Oh no! Aunty. I want to go out on Saturday to buy things for University and I have dance practice.’ ‘Isha is very nice. You can go to town on Friday to shop,’ Aunty Yasmin says firmly. ‘You can miss dance practice’. ‘No Aunty. I do not want to meet Isha. I’m going to shop on Saturday.’ ‘Ravi!’ Aunty Yasmin says. ‘Tell Aditi she must meet Isha on Saturday.’ ‘No, father. It’s too late. I’m going to University on Monday.’ Ravi looks unhappy. He hates Aunty and Aditi to quarrel. ‘Aunty, you must tell Isha’s parents that Aditi is going out on Saturday. Perhaps they can come next summer?’ He turns to Aditi and he tells her, ‘I know Isha’s parents. They are from Uganda.Your mother and I were in school with his parents. They are very nice. Aunty is not happy but she phones Isha’s parents. When she comes back she feels better. ‘It’s alright. Isha’s parents are very friendly. Isha does not want to come.’ ‘Perhaps they can come next summer,’ Ravi says. ‘No! Isha’s mother says they may come to see you Ravi but Isha wants to choose his own wife. He does not want to meet Aditi. He does not want his parents to arrange a marriage. Isha thinks girls in our community only care about money and good looks.’ Aditi is annoyed. Isha does not know her. She does not want to marry someone for money. She wants to choose but she is polite to men who come to the house. Aunty sees on her face that Aditi was cross. ‘Don’t worry about him Aditi,’ Aunty says.‘My friends at the Temple can tell me about other men who want to meet you. You can meet them when you come home next summer. I am sure they are nicer than Isha.’ Aunty sniffs. Aditi sighs. She wants Aunty to stop looking for young men to meet her. Her father winks at her. ‘It’s a long time to next summer,’ he whispers to Aditi. ‘Don’t think about it. You are going to London University on Monday.’                                                                                             Chapter 4
                                                              Aditi goes to University
                                                                                                                                                                   Aunty Sara and Uncle Narvin are very kind to Aditi. They lie in South London. Aditi has a big bedroom. It is comfortable. Aditi is a student at Imperial College, London University. She is studying science. There are a lot of men in her class and only a few women. Everyone is very friendly. On the first morning a girl from Birmingham talks to Aditi and they have lunch together. Aditi likes Molly a lot and soon the girls are good friends. Aditi is happy in College. She works very hard. She is clever. The teachers think she is a very good scientist. She does not go out with boys like other girls in her class. She is good friends with Tony and she talks about science with him. When the Easter holiday comes he visits Leicester and he goes to Aditi’s home. Her father likes Tony but Aunty does not. She is afraid Aditi likes Tony too much. The year passes quickly. Now it is the summer term. In ten weeks Aditi and Molly finish their first year in University. Today the girls are queuing for lunch. Tony comes in with his friend. His friend is an older student and he has a degree already. He is studying for a PhD now. Tony likes Aditi very much. He stands next to her and he starts talking. Aditi does not know the name of Tony’s friend. She can see he is from her community because he is wearing the beads round his wrist. Aditi thinks Tony’s friend has a very nice smile. He is good looking too. Tony says. ‘Is your father going to find you a husband Aditi?’ She laughs. ‘Everyone wants to know about my father choosing my husband,’ she says. ‘At the moment my father wants me to study and pass my exams. I want to choose my own husband but I might marry someone my father wants me to meet. ‘Tony’s friend speaks. He smiles at Aditi. ‘Yes, British people always ask me about ‘arranged marriages’. I told Tony we do not all have arranged marriages some of the modern men and women choose partners themselves.’ Aditi agrees with Tony’s friend. He is very good-looking. Tony says, ‘Sometimes when I want a girlfriend I think you are lucky if your parents find you a girl. But I’m not sure. Sometimes, I think it is better if I choose my own girlfriend. Tony’s friend likes Aditi. She looks very pretty today. She is wearing beads around her neck and he knows she is from his community. He says, ‘I think it is awful for young men to go with parents to see if a woman wants to marry him. The young women in our community only want someone handsome or rich,’ he says. ‘Who are you?’ Aditi asks. She does not like this handsome man now. She remembers those words. Aditi has a shock when Molly says. ‘This is Isha, Aditi. He is studying for a PhD. His parents live in London but they came from Uganda many years ago, like your people.’ Molly turns to Isha. She says, ‘You don’t have to worry Isha.You don’t need your parents to find a wife because lots of women like you.You are very handsome.’ Isha laughs. ‘Thank-you Molly.’ Aditi feels awful. The handsome stranger is Isha. She remembers Isha. He is the young man who did not want to meet her. Her father says his parents are nice but Aditi does not like Isha. He is rude about women from her community. Aditi buys lunch. She carries it to the table in the cafeteria and Molly follows her. ‘Isn’t Isha gorgeous?’ Molly asks. ‘He’s ok!’ ‘He’s really handsome - look at his thick black hair and he has beautiful eyes.’ Aditi looks back. Isha is staring at her. ‘I don’t think he’s handsome,’ she says to Molly. ‘Well, he’s very clever,’ Molly says. The young men come to the table. ‘Can we join you?’Tony asks. ‘Sure,’ Molly pats the chair. ‘Come and sit next to me Isha.’ Isha looks a lot at Aditi. While Tony talks to Molly, Isha speaks to Aditi. ‘Do you live in Leicester, Aditi?’ he asks. Aditi thinks, ‘He knows who I am.’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Is your father Ravi? Did he come from Uganda?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘My mother asked me to go to your house I think?’ ‘Yes and I don’t want to marry a man because he is handsome. And I don’t want to marry a man for money. I want my husband to be interesting and kind.’ She stands up. ‘I must go now,’ she says. ‘Tony and Isha want us to go for a walk,’ Molly says to Aditi before she leaves the table. ‘Let’s go for a walk.’ ‘I’m sorry. I have work to do Molly, I must go,’ Aditi says. She smiles at Molly but she does not look at Isha and she hurries away.

Aditi (Short Story, Part- 1 & 2)

                                                                         Chapter 1
                                                                Aditi meets Pradeep

‘Aditi. Go upstairs and change your clothes.’ ‘I don’t want to change. I like my jeans and tee shirt Aunty Yasmin.’ Aditi is sitting on the sofa reading a book. ‘Aditi! You cannot wear jeans and t-shirt for visitors! Put your new sari on. Pradeep and his parents are coming soon.’ ‘Mmm…’ ‘Aditi, you are not listening!’ Aunty is angry now. She turns to Aditi’s father. Ravi is watching the Saturday sport on the television. ‘Ravi, tell Aditi to wear her sari. I want her to look pretty.’ Aditi’s father winks at his daughter. ‘Aditi looks very pretty to me,’ he smiles. Aunty is upset. ‘I try to help Aditi to meet nice young men but she’s not the same as her sisters,’ she sighs. ‘You help us all,’ Ravi told her firmly. ‘You are the mother to my four girls Yasmin.’ Ravi looks sad. He remembers the death of his dear wife Aruna. ‘We are grateful to you Aunty Yasmin.’ He pats her on the arm. Aditi puts her book on the sofa. She jumps up. She puts her arms round Aunty Yasmin and she hugs her. I’m sorry Aunty. I want to finish my book before the visitors come. I like wearing jeans but I can change my clothes for you. What do you want me to wear?’ Aunty gives a little smile. She loves Aditi and her sisters very much. You wear those jeans and a t-shirt all the time. They are not very pretty. ‘I like the pink sari. Men like pink’. Aditi sighs. ‘All my friends wear jeans and I like to wear casuaI clothes. I don’t want Pradeep to like me very much. It’s not a good idea. I’m going to University soon. I don’t want to marry for a long time.’‘I don’t want you to marry now Aditi but if you go away to London University, it’s better if you are engaged first.’ Aditi’s father interrupts, ‘Aditi, put the sari on my dear.You are a modern girl. I don’t want you to marry if you don’t want to marry. Aunty doesn’t like jeans for visitors. She wants you to meet nice young men before you go to University. I like to see you in a sari too.When you wear a sari you look like your mother.’ ‘Alright father I’m going to put the pink sari on,’ Aditi says but she whispers in his ear. ‘I don’t want to get engaged.’ Her father nods. He pats the arm of his youngest daughter. ‘Aunty is quite happy if you are friendly and you look pretty.’ Aditi goes upstairs to change her clothes. Yasmin speaks to Ravi. ‘You spoil that girl. She can find a good husband now but after University I’m not sure. The young girls get the best men.’ Ravi laughs. ‘She’s only eighteen. She’s going to University for three years. I don’t think twenty-one is too old to marry a nice man.’ Half an hour later Pradeep and his parents arrive. Pradeep is short and very fat. His mother tells him what to say.‘Say, hallo to Yasmin, Pradeep,’ she says to her son. ‘Hallo, Yasmin’, Pradeep says, in a dull, slow voice. His mother says, ‘Say good afternoon to Ravi my son.’ ‘Good afternoon Ravi,’ Pradeep says in his slow voice. ‘Good afternoon,’ Ravi says, ‘Do you remember me?’ ‘Yes, of course he remembers you.’ The young man’s mother says. ‘Pradeep! Tell Ravi you remember him.’ ‘I remember you Ravi,’ Pradeep says. Pradeep’s mother smiles at Aditi. ‘You are a beautiful young woman my dear.’ Aditi is wearing the sari. She tries to smile. Pradeep’s mother pushes him. ‘Tell Aditi she…’ Aunty Yasmin says quickly, ‘Aditi, why don’t you take Pradeep into the garden? It’s sunny and you can show him the fish.’ Aditi smiles but she doesn’t want to smile. She is polite because she does not want to upset her father and Aunty. She walks into the garden. Pradeep’s mother gives him a little push and he follows Aditi.
                                                                         Chapter 2
                                                    Aditi and Pradeep do not want to marry
‘Do you like fish?’ Aditi asks Pradeep. ‘I don’t eat meat or fish.’ Pradeep says with a slow, voice. Aditi laughs. ‘The fish are not to eat but they are lovely to watch.’ She goes to the pond and points to the fish. ‘See how pretty they are when they swim through the water. Look how they open and shut their mouths.We keep food for them. Do you want to throw food in the pond? Our visitors usually like to feed the fish.’ ‘No thanks. You feed the fish.’ Pradeep sits down on the bench near the pond. Aditi drops tiny bits of food slowly into the water and she laughs when the fish jump to catch the food. She sits down on a stone near the pond. ‘Are you going to college, Pradeep?’ Aditi asks. ‘No, Aditi. I am going to work in my father’s business. My mother says I must marry before I start work.’  ‘Do you want to marry?’ Aditi asks him. He looks nervous. ‘I think I do but…’ ‘What’s the matter? I’m not going to tell your mother.’ ‘I’m sorry Aditi but I don’t want to marry you… ’ ‘Don’t worry Pradeep. I don’t want to marry you.’ Aditi says.Pradeep smiles. ‘I’m glad you don’t want to marry me. I like a girl from school but my mother doesn’t like her.’ ‘She’s not our religion?’ Aditi asks. She feels friendly now because Pradeep doesn’t want to marry her. She feels sorry for Pradeep. ‘She is not Hindu?’ Aditi asks again. ‘Oh yes. Damini is from our community but she is very modern. She says I mustn’t listen to my mother so much and if she marries me, she wants to live in our own house and not with mother and father.’ Aditi thinks Damini is sensible. She says. ‘Perhaps, your father can help. Can you talk to him?’ Pradeep’s father is a gentle, quiet man and he seems very kind. Pradeep smiles. ‘Yes, father says I must meet all the girls mother wants me to marry. He says I must tell mother I do not want to marry them. After I say ‘no’ to all the girls he thinks I can marry Damini. Pradeep laughs. ‘Do you understand? My mother wants me to marry. She might think it is better for me to marry Damini if I do not like the other girls. She wants grandchildren very much.’ Aditi laughs. ‘I think your father is right. You must tell your mother you do not like me and I will tell Aunty that I don’t want to marry you.’ Pradeep smiles. ‘Thank you. That’s a good idea.’ Aditi stands up. ‘Aunty is calling us Pradeep. We can eat now and we can enjoy lots of the lovely food she is cooking. You can watch football with my father.’ Pradeep smiles, ‘Are you sure I can watch the sport? I love football.’ ‘You can watch the football Pradeep. My father likes football too. I can say I want to read a book.’ Aditi giggled. ‘When you go home, tell your mother Aditi is boring.’