Aditi is very happy to
go home. There are many people
who love her in Leicester and her family has a party because
Aditi is home from
University. Aditi’s sisters and their families
and lots of friends
come to see her.
In July, Aditi goes to
visit Molly. They have a lovely time
and they talk about
University. Molly and Silvio are engaged
and they have a big
party the night before Aditi goes home.
Lots of University
friends come to the party. Aditi is surprised
when after nine o’clock
Isha walks into the room. Her heart
jumps. She hopes he is
friendly.
Many young men ask
Aditi to dance but she says she
wants to watch. She
hopes Isha will come to talk to her.
Suddenly, the music
stops. Molly and Silvio tell everyone
they are going to marry
next year and they want all their
friends at the party to
come to the wedding. Everyone laughs
and claps.
‘Hallo Aditi,’ says
Isha’s quiet, deep voice. ‘You look lovely
tonight.’ Aditi feels
her face is hot. She smiles at Isha.
‘Thank-you Isha,’ she
says. She doesn’t know what to say
next. She wants to tell
Isha she likes him and she wants to
25
say she is sorry for
not going to the dance with him.
‘Shall we sit down
Aditi?’ Isha asks politely.
‘Yes’. Her voice is a
whisper. ‘What is the matter with me?’
she thinks.‘Why can’t I
talk to him. I feel like a silly schoolgirl.’
Isha talks to Aditi
about science. He asks if she wants to
help him with some
research work next year when she is in
the University. Aditi
and Isha talk a long time about the work.’
Aditi likes to talk
about science but she is sorry Isha only
wants to talk about
science.
‘Hallo you two. Do you
like my ring?’ Molly shows them
both her engagement
ring.
Aditi holds her
friend’s hand to look at the ring. ‘It’ beautiful
Molly,’ she says.
‘A lovely ring for a
lovely young woman,’ Isha tells her.
Molly smiles. ‘Thanks
Isha.’
‘I’m going to Leicester soon to see Aditi dance.’ Molly says
to Isha before she goes
to speak to other friends.
When Molly goes away he
says. ‘Why is Molly coming to
Leicester? Aditi tells him about
the celebration in her
Community Centre where
she is dancing in August.
‘When is it?’ Isha
asks. ‘My parents are going to Leicester
soon. If it is the same
time, I can come to see you dance.’
Aditi feels shy. ‘It’s
not very interesting for you,’ she says.
26
‘Why not? I love Indian
classical dancing. My mother was
a very good dancer. Now
it is the younger women who dance
but she likes to watch
and so do I.’
Aditi says. ‘The
celebration is on Saturday 20th August.’
Isha leans near her.
The music is loud. He says, ‘Aditi I
want to come and see
you dance, if you don’t mind?’
‘Of course you can
come. Anyone can come. I cannot stop
you.’ Aditi says and
she looks quickly away from him.
Isha touches Aditi’s
arm. ‘You can stop me,’ he says. ‘I will
not come if you want me
to stay away, Aditi.’ He looks straight
into Aditi’s eyes. He
waits for Aditi to answer.
‘I am happy if you want
to come to Leicester to see the
dancing,’ she says
quickly.
‘I’m glad because I
want to come, to see you,’ Isha says.
Now Aditi doesn’t know
what to say. Isha stands up. ‘I must
leave. I have to drive
back to London
tonight because I have
my parents’ car.
Good-bye Aditi.’
‘Drive carefully,’ she
says.
Aditi feels happy.
Perhaps, Isha really likes her. He wants
to come to Leicester to see her dance. She is glad they are
friends now.
Aditi goes home to Leicester the next day. She enjoys the
days of her holidays.
She practises dancing every day. She
27
wants to show Isha she
is a good dancer. One day Aunty
asks Aditi if she wants
a new dress. Usually Aditi does not
like buying dresses.
Now, Aunty is surprised. Aditi says, ‘I
want a new dress very
much Aunty. A dress I can wear for
the dancing at the
community centre in August.’
28