Hasty Decision

Jaspreet felt like she was dressed as a Christmas tree, with tinsel and baubles and

lights flashing, one of those retro ones she remembered seeing in the living room

every December growing up.

She didn’t know why she had to dress up with a salwar kameez on, as she never

wore one unless it was a wedding or she was nagged about having to put it on.

Today was the day she was nagged about putting one on The green one, the one

you wore at Preti’s engagement party, put that one on. Her mum said. The green

one? She thought which green one? She really didn’t take notice of clothes, she

preferred her jeans and she was missing them so much right now. Her mum

grumbled at her and at having to fetch it herself and ironed it as though Jaspreet had

never ironed her own clothes.

The heels that she was wearing were also killing her, she could never get her

head round wearing them or how other women wore them so comfortably.

Her makeup was commented on so pretty you look Jaspreet why don’t you wear it

more often, instead of dressing up like a boy? Her mum didn’t seem to grasp that all

girls wore jeans and that they felt so comfortable.

She had to wait in the kitchen, waiting for this man to turn up. She had no idea about

who he was only that he was a Pharmacist. That was so important to her dad yes a

Pharmacist that will be good for you Jaspreet, a good job he will have stability to

provide you. What about his interests she thought? Or what he looked like? Then

she would get the lecture from her mum I never knew what your dad looked like

when I met him, I was only 19 years old and I was alone all the way from India. She

would nod to look as though she was in agreement, but those were their beliefs.

She had been brought up in British culture mixing with men in school and at

university.

Jaspreet remembered when she was younger at college or school how her dad

would pick her up, and how she would feel so embarrassed with her dad turning up

in his blue ford fiesta. He was always early waiting at the gate for her to come and

she had to explain to her friends that she couldn’t walk home with them. If she

happened to be speaking to the opposite sex then she would get questioned by her

dad who was that? Why were you talking to that man, what will people say?  She

was only talking about homework or trivia on television but it didn’t matter to him. It

would affect her marriage prospects as a woman if she was seen by the community

talking to a man who wasn’t her husband.

She felt frustrated by this, her brother was always talking to girls, whether it was on

the mobile or having them as friends. It didn’t seem fair to her, as he was four years

younger than her.  But she was told he is a boy and that is different, that was the

only explanation she was given. She was a girl and this seemed to be a curse.

As she grew older she saw her brother going places where he wanted to and

stay up late at night. But she had to come home by 9 o’clock, if she was even lucky

enough to be allowed to go out at all. Her dad would always say when you get

married you can go out as much as you want with your husband, no one will be able

to tell you what to do. Her freedom very much depending on a man and marriage,

rather than what she wanted.

Remember to bring the tea in Jaspreet when I tell you too and I am praying that he

will like you. Stop fidgeting and stand up straight. Her mum said.

It felt so clichéd for her to bring in a tea tray, she felt concerned about dropping it

or falling over. She looked at the clock and the hands seemed to go around so slowly

and she was hungry. Her mum had been making samosa and that was her favourite

but she wasn’t allowed to eat until they had left.

The doorbell rang and her mum looked so excited she was behaving as though a

movie star was coming over rather than a man. She began to feel nervous who was

this man, what did he look like and what if he did like her? She hadn’t even thought

about getting married, the decision had been made by her parents.

She wasn’t allowed to even peek to see what he looked like all she could hear was

exchanging of greetings. Her mum came back and seemed even more happier than

before. The parents are really nice people and I feel the man will be a good match

for you. I have heard he is a handsome Jaspreet they are just ringing him to come

over to our house, as he has been working late said her mum. She couldn’t believe it

that he hadn’t even turned up and she felt as though that was inconsiderate, here

she was ready to meet this man and being kept waiting by him.

Bring the tea tray in and remember to greet everyone in the room. Her mum said.

So she picked up the tray slowly and carefully as she was worried about dropping it

and went into the living room. She greeted a lady who was the same age as her

mum and she wore a bright pink salwar kameez so she assumed it was his mother.

She felt like a trinket on display being viewed and judged. She felt uncomfortable

and put the tray down and sat down.

She sat opposite and felt so angry, as she had to wait until this man had to arrive. It

didn’t seem to matter he was late or she was waiting for him. The doorbell rang and

there were glances being made towards her parents and his parents she was

ushered into the kitchen to sit down. Then he finally came in and sat opposite her.

The door was kept open and she could see everyone observing them as though they

were animals in the zoo but they couldn’t hear what they were saying.

Hi I am Ranjit and I live in Manchester, nice to meet you. Jaspreet wasn’t impressed

he didn’t even apologise for being late. This is weird isn’t it, this whole introduction

and having to meet like this. He said. She just sat there and looked at him and didn’t

know what to say. She started to feel surprised though how sincere he started to

come across. Yes, it is she finally said something. She could hear laughter in the

front room and chatting going on and she wasn’t sure what she could say but before

she did. He said I can see you are nice girl and I think your family are nice people.

Her heart fluttered and she felt her face blush, she felt that he liked her and she felt

more relaxed inside. It felt so natural and she began to chat about her likes and

dislikes and they talked for the whole time.

Her dad came back in and then she was ushered away into the living room and

everyone was nudging each other. They didn’t sit down and explained that they had

to leave so they left.

She was asked so many questions What did you talk about? What is he like? Did

you like him? She couldn’t answer all of them but she could still feel her belly

fluttering and her face blush. She wasn’t sure what happened next but her dad said

now we wait for their telephone call as to whether they like you. Jaspreet felt no

control her destiny was in his hands and all she could do was to wait.

The telephone rang, that was quick she thought that a decision was made that fast

about her and whether he wanted to meet her again her or not. She stood in the

kitchen trying to listen to what her dad was saying but couldn’t hear.

Her dad put the telephone down but didn’t say anything. Her mum came over to him

and said What did they say? Did they like Jaspreet? Did he want her mobile number

to meet up? Her dad stood still, she had never seen him like that it was as though

time had frozen for him. They said no and didn’t want to meet Jaspreet. He said.

Jaspreet couldn’t believe what she was hearing, that he said no to meet her again.

She felt as though everything had been going well between them, even though he

had not been there initially on time. He didn’t say no rather his mother didn’t feel you

was right for her son. Her dad said. Jaspreet didn’t see why his mother’s opinion

mattered, what had he thought about her that didn’t seem to come into it and was

she there to be simply shown to his parents.

The doorbell rang, there was smells of cooking in the house, somasoe, pakora and

the whiff of oil and her mum’s friends were all laughing in the kitchen. There was

Bollywood music playing in the background from the 1980’s. Jaspreet had been busy

ringing up the photographer and the cater, and her dad opened the door.

Jaspreet was at the top of the stairs and could see a lady wearing a bright pink

salwar kameez and she recognised her. What was she doing at her home? It

had been over a year since she had seen them at her house and that she had said

no to her. We are sorry we have disturbed you, but we wanted to see whether

your daughter was still single. Ranjit does want to marry her and we are here to

discuss the issue. Jaspreet couldn’t believe it, that they would assume she was

interested after all this time and after his mother had rejected her. All she could hear

was her dad saying I am sorry but Jaspreet is engaged and is getting married in

September. She could see that the woman looked disappointed but said I am happy

for your family.

Her dad closed the door and turned around to see Jaspreet and said she was

the one who had stood in the way for her son to marry you, now that chance has

gone, she told me that he had been interested in you and did want to see you again.

But she had said no. Her dad said.

But now you have met a lovely man who likes you he said. She felt her mobile

vibrate and her heart fluttered as it was Arjun texting her. She was lucky and she felt

sorry for Ranjit as he had been unable to express his feelings and it had taken this

long and it had been an opportunity lost. But for her life had moved on to new

beginnings.