Unmarriageable(79)

‘I didn’t use those terms, you did.’ Darsee scowled. ‘But they certainly are champions of what is called ultee seeday harkatein, bizarre behaviour. You and I are both truth-tellers, and the truth is your family behaves disgracefully in public.’

‘You are uncouth,’ Alys said, ‘and unfeeling to expect me to not see my family. And if that’s not bad enough, my sister Jena is in deep depression because of your interference between her and Bungles. That’s why she left Dilipabad for Lahore. She was so upset she had to take time off from work to recover. She really liked Bungles and I know he really liked her, but you ruined it for them.’

Darsee reddened. ‘She certainly didn’t act as if she liked him.’

‘How stupid are you? My sister’s reputation has taken a beating because of Bungles. She was even a gossip item in that stupid Social Lights column “What Will People Say – Log Kya Kahenge”. Had Jena dared to openly encourage him, have you any idea what people would be saying about her then? Don’t you know how people in this country talk? Show interest in a man and be called a slut. Don’t show interest in a man and be called a tease or a prude or, as you’d say, disinterested. What’s a girl to do?’

‘It seemed to me that your mother was far more interested in Bungles than your sister was.’

‘Just come out and say it,’ Alys said. ‘You believe my mother is a gold-digger. If we women decide to marry according to standards, then we are gold-diggers, but when you weigh us in matters of looks and chasteness, then you’re just being smart. I can’t stand these double standards.’

‘Look,’ Darsee said, ‘it’s terrible your sister is depressed, but based on what I saw, I was protecting my friend. Wouldn’t you have protected your sister if it were the other way around? Have you any idea how many girls, how many women, throw themselves at Bungles all day long? At me?’

‘It’s not exactly you they’re throwing themselves at,’ Alys said, ‘so don’t unduly flatter yourself.’

‘Oh, I know,’ Darsee said grimly. ‘I was disillusioned ages ago. It’s not me. It’s my money, my family name, or both. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find someone who likes you for who you are? Marries you for yourself and not your assets?’

‘Poor little rich boy Valentine Darsee. Such a hard life. Valued for what he has to offer rather than who he is. Welcome to a woman’s world, where we are valued for tits, ass, womb, sometimes earning capacity, but above all else being servile brainless twits. Have you any idea what it feels like to want to be liked for your brains and instead be coveted for your body?’

‘I like you for your brains.’

‘I don’t like you for anything,’ Alys said. ‘I’ve refused your benevolent offer of marriage. Why are you still here?’

‘So you’ve made up your mind.’

‘My God! You have more hubris than a Disney prince. I don’t like you. At all. We have nothing in common. Nothing.’

Darsee looked Alys up and down. ‘Yes we do. We like reading and we have growing up abroad in common. We both grew up multicultural kids. We know no one person represents a group or a country in things good or bad. We know how to plant roots where there are none. We know that friends can be made anywhere and everywhere, regardless of race or religion. We know how to uproot. We know how to move on from memories, or at least not let memories bury us. Most of all, neither of us is a hypocrite, Alys. Neither of us would call an ugly baby cute.’

‘Even if we did have all this in common, I would never marry you,’ Alys said. ‘And you are a hypocrite. Or have you forgotten Jeorgeullah Wickaam?’

‘Wickaam again!’

‘Wickaam forever! You cheated your cousin out of an inheritance so that you could get it all for yourself. My father’s elder brother did the same, and it damaged my family. Don’t you think for a second that a betrayal of this type is something that I can ever forget or forgive. If you aren’t a decent person, then your money and lineage mean nothing to me. Loyalty means everything to me, and you, Valentine Darsee, are not loyal to family or friends. You may have fooled the whole world into thinking otherwise, but you’ll never fool me.’

‘I see.’ Darsee nodded. ‘You’ve spent time with me and with Wickaam, and your conclusion is that he is a saint and I am a materialistic disloyal villain. A good thing, then, that you have rejected me. Saves me from being with a person who has such a low opinion of me. I’m so sorry to have wasted your time, as well as my own. Goodbye, then, and best wishes.’

After Darsee left, Alys did not move for a long while. She stared at the TV screen without hearing a word. The film credits rolled and the film turned off and the DVD self-ejected and she sat there still. Valentine Darsee said he loved her. That he valued her opinions. Valentine Darsee proposed to her despite all his objections towards her family.

He proposed.

She refused.

Alys heard honking at the gate. The party was back from dinner. Sherry would take one look at her and know something had happened. Alys did not want to discuss anything with anyone, not yet. She rushed to her bedroom, got into bed, turned off the lights, pulled the covers over her head, and fell into a deep and restful sleep.





CHAPTER TWENTY