“Aarti! Why did you walk outside?” Jas asked in a whisper.
Aarti had walked out through the double doors out on to the terrace. She had seen him. She saw him see her. But she had still walked away!
The outside space had been decorated with white twinkling lights. There was a pleasant breeze amid the distant hum of Mumbai traffic. People were standing in groups or sitting on the sofa’s; chatting, eating and drinking. The crowd outside was younger, which was reflected by the music playing on the speakers, and the inclusion of a dance floor under a white canopy in the centre of the space.
“I don’t know what to say to him!” confessed Aarti, she pushed her hair back nervously with her hands.
“Um, hi!” prompted Jas.
“No, I don’t want to be normal with him. I’m angry and hurt. He should have contacted me.” Aarti explained.
“Didn’t we just have this conversation upstairs? You need to put your big girl pants on, and go back inside and have a conversation with him.” Jas said firmly.
“I can’t go in now, it’s embarrassing.”
“So what now?” Jas asked, a note of irritation creeping into her voice.
“He can come out here and greet me. I’m going to go and speak to some of my friends and I’m sure he will come out eventually.”
“That’s too rude. He’s your guest. It’s your job to introduce him to people. He knows no one here!” Jas chastised gently.
“I’m not going to introduce him to everyone I know, and then have to answer questions about him forever more. He’s not interested in me. I’ve moved on.” Aarti said as she grabbed a drink for herself from a passing waiter.
Mrs Chaudhury, walked out on to the terrace and towards the girls, she stopped in front of Aarti and smiled. “Your father won’t be happy with you, but I’m glad you did what you did!” she said, patting her on the back enthusiastically.
Aarti stepped away from her mother, her drink swishing in the glass from the motherly attentions. Befuddled, she asked “What did I do?”
“You snubbed him and his parents. I’m so happy.” Mrs Chaudhury crowed. “His mother annoys me. She’s a social climber! No way was I going to let you marry him. Even if your father does think he is great.”
“Dad likes him?” Aarti asked, shocked her parents had even discussed it, she took a large sip of her drink and exhaled loudly.
“Of course, it was all your father’s idea. He and Dr Gupta had planned for the two of you to meet and get married.”
“Well you don’t need to worry about that. He doesn’t like me like that!” Aarti explained dejectedly.
“Of course he does, didn’t you see his face when you walked out without saying anything?” Jas interrupted. Jas rarely spoke to Mrs Chaudhury, she had always found her manner immature and petty. But in this instance she felt that she had to say something. “Aunty he is a nice guy and he seems to really like Aarti. Apart from his mother, is there any other reason you dislike him?”
“He lives too far, he’s not a doctor, he’s got nothing to offer my daughter.” Mrs Chaudhury said belligerently. “And after the way Aarti just ignored them, I doubt his mother will let anything happen.” Mrs Chaudhury turned on her heel and marched back inside, oblivious to the storm she left in her wake.
“She’s not wrong. He does live too far, he isn’t a doctor and he really does have nothing to offer me!” Aarti said spitefully.
“You’re just hurt.” Jas said. Her phone beeped with a message.
“No, I just don’t give a damn!” Aarti said as she began making her way to her other friends.
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