* * *
Jade was quiet on her way home. She sat on the seat beside the Commodore, looking out the window, a faraway look on her face.
The Commodore watched her out of the corner of his eye, as he drove down the narrow lanes near home. ‘You’re awfully quiet, dear.’
She turned to him. ‘I was just planning my future. Up until now, I had no idea what I would do, but, with the money, I’ve decided to start my own business.’
‘What sort of business?’
‘Well, I like art. So I might open a gallery. What do you think?’
‘You can’t just rush into these things, Jade. If you do it will surely fail.’
She turned to the Commodore, and patted his hand. ‘Oh I don’t mean tomorrow. I think I’ll need to do an accountancy course at university first, with further studies in art, and art history.’
The Commodore smiled back at her, realising that she was being serious. ‘You seem to be on the right track, Jade.’
‘And when I come of age, I’ll look after the money myself.’ She smiled.
Jade returned to the college, once again, life returned to its normal, school tempo.
All financial matters were handled by Groom and Son, with the Commodore, as Jade’s guardian, giving his final assent. Jade simply received a small allowance each month, sufficient for her few small needs. The fact that she was now a very wealthy young lady did not intrude upon her daily life— it was the same now as it had been prior to the death of her parents.
Jade, and especially Rani, now concentrated all their attention on their final exams, which were due to start within the next month. All their spare time was spent reviewing their texts, and preparing.
One evening, a week prior to the exams, Jade was concentrating on her mathematics when Rani entered their room, a letter clutched in her hand and a look of ashen dread on her face.
‘What’s the matter, Rani?’
Rani didn’t reply, instead, she walked to her bed and sat on the edge, staring into space.
Worried, Jade went to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. ‘What is it? What’s the matter?’
Rani exhaled a long breath. It seemed as though she had been holding her breath for some time. ‘It’s my parents. I’ve received a letter from them.’
‘Are they alright?’
Rani turned toward her friend, and fixed her gaze upon Jade’s face. Jade could see the deep anguish within Rani’s brown eyes. ‘They want me to return home immediately. It seems they can’t wait to see me again.’
‘And you’re worried about that?’
‘They’re excited about me returning home, and want me there quickly. Father writes that they have a gentleman that they want me to meet.’
‘Is that all?’
‘Don’t you see?’ Rani exclaimed as she began to pace the floor. ‘They’ve already selected a husband for me. I’m to be married. There will be no university for me. No medical school. No medical practice. I’m expected to be a wife and mother for the rest of my life. All my study has been for nothing.’
Jade was aghast. ‘They can’t do that to you. It’s positively medieval!’
‘They can, and they will. You just don’t understand.’
‘What if you refuse to marry the man?’
‘How can I? To have made a promise, and then to go back on it, would bring discredit on them. It would reflect badly on their business, and their personal standing in the community.’
Jade regarded her friend, thinking deeply. ‘What if you didn’t go home? What if you refused to go?’
Rani nodded her head. ‘How, Jade? I’m completely dependent upon them. What would I do for financial support? I could find work, but I would still be unable to attend university. You know as well as I do how expensive it is.’ She sighed. ‘It looks as though my fate has been decided, and medicine is not to be a part of it.’
Jade sat beside her friend, holding her hand, as they both silently contemplated their lives before them. Tears began to streak Rani’s cheeks, as Jade took her in her arms, and comforted the distraught girl.
They held each other tight, wondering what would become of their friendship in the coming years — Rani in India and Jade here, separated by half a planet.
Neither Jade, nor Rani slept much that night.
Jade could hear Rani, tossing and turning, on the other side of the room, and an idea began to take shape in Jade’s mind, but she had no idea if it could be brought to fruition.
The following morning, as they were preparing for classes, Jade decided to begin her plan. Watching as Rani half-heartedly selected her books, Jade said, ‘I think you should take one step at a time.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked a disconsolate Rani.
‘I think you should simply concentrate on what’s happening first; your exams. Get the best results you can. You never know what will happen after that. Take one step at a time, Rani.’
‘I don’t really see what will change.’
‘I know, neither do I, but it will make you feel better when the results come out. You will know that you haven’t been wasting your time here. Perhaps when your parents see your results, they can be persuaded to change their minds.’
‘I doubt it very much, but I see your point. I owe it to myself, especially after all the study I’ve done.’
‘That’s right. I was thinking that we could get Mrs McLean and some of the other teachers to write to your parents, recommending that you would be far more valuable with a university education.’
‘Worth more on the slave market, you mean,’ she said with a wry smile. ‘Alright, let’s try.’
Following classes later that day, Jade made her way to the village post office, where the local telephone stood in its glassed kiosk. Phoning the Commodore, she explained the situation that Rani found herself in. They then discussed possible solutions and Jade put forward her plan. The Commodore conceded that there was some merit in her idea, and agreed to do what he could to assist.
‘It will all come down to what sort of results Rani achieves in her exams. We won’t be able to do much if she just simply scrapes through.’
‘Don’t worry; Rani has studied far too hard to miss out.’
‘Then I’ll set things in motion.’
‘Thank you, Grandfather. Rani deserves this.’
Exam time, when it finally arrived, came as a relief to the girls.
With all the study behind them, they moved into the exam hall for the first exam, expecting the worst, and then pleasantly surprised, when they found questions that they could cope with.
They began writing confidently, and did not let up until the final bell rang.
Over the next few days they devoured the exams, until, finally, a week later, they were finished.
Closing the last book, and handing in the last paper, they emerged from the hall, and let out a loud cheer, while hugging each other in relief.
‘I’m so glad its all over,’ bubbled Jade.
‘I’d love to do it all over again. I’m sure I could do better a second time.’