The Arranged Marriage
‘Hamdi, I need a favour from you.’
‘What is it, Bubba? What do you want me to do?’
‘Well, Hamdi, I have a big problem and you know how good I have been to you. Treated you like my son. I’ve given you a roof over your head and given you sound advice and you have benefited from my wisdom.’
‘Yes Bubba so tell me how I can help?’
‘It’s a delicate matter my son and has to be handled carefully. I must rely on your full support in this matter. You see, I have a granddaughter in Delhi, the same city you came from Hamdi. She trained as a nurse and wants to come over to England to get some experience. You yourself know how important it is for us countrymen to get experience in England. She can go back home and command a large salary.’
‘Where can I help in all this Bubba?’
‘Well, my son, you can also benefit from this. I have just bought a new apartment and you can move into it; far better than being crowded in the digs. More fitting for a dentist of your standing my son.’
‘That sounds nice Bubba but what do you need me for? How can I help in this?’
‘Well, Hamdi my son, my granddaughter cannot get a work visa to come over here. There are problems and quotas to overcome, and her family needs her to be earning well. They are not in good health and cannot work. The only way that my girl can come over is to wed someone. Now don’t be startled my son. This happens all the time. We bring her over to marry and after a year she will divorce and go her separate way. In the meantime, I provide you with a luxury apartment to live in.’
‘Do you really want me to marry a girl that I haven’t met Bubba?’
‘It will be a marriage of convenience. You help me out and this poor granddaughter of mine with a sick family and you get a lovely apartment to live in free of charge. Now you will have separate bedrooms and you don’t need to see the girl. You will carry on your life as before and do me and this girl a great favour. It will be only for a year my son and you will be free to do as you want after that. Think of the new apartment you will have.’
‘OK Bubba, as long as it’s only for a year and it’s not going to cost me. I also have a family back in Delhi I have to support.’
‘Then you know the responsibility you bear on your young shoulders my son. Our young people are so good to their families. Such a responsibility. My Granddaughter also wants to play her part fully in supporting her own sick family. I help as much as I can. I’m paying for her flight ticket and will fund the wedding ceremony. It won’t be much, just my family and a friend of yours at the reception. We’ll hold it at your new apartment to save money.’
Hamdi had come over to England from Delhi on a scholarship to study dentistry and was now fully qualified. He had a fulltime job at the main hospital in Stoke where he could work as many hours as he was prepared to do. When he was a student and living in the student’s hostel, Bubba had approached him and suggested he move into his lodgings house where it would be cheaper for him and he would be amongst his own kind. He shared a cramped room with two other countrymen and each room in the house was filled with other youths, twenty in all, sharing one bathroom and one kitchen. Hamdi only slept there and kept a few of his belongings. Most of his time was occupied in the hospital working and in his leisure time he played football, supported Stoke City with friends from the hospital, some squash, some pool and even helped a charity to house the homeless. He helped with decorating, cleaning, furnishing and gardening under supervision of a leader.
He avoided his countrymen as far as possible. He wanted to integrate, become an Englishman and made every effort to learn the language and lose the Indian intonations. For his sins he was taken for an Indian born in England, with a strong Stoke accent. It pleased him. His only problem was Bubba and his hold over him and others. Bubba always made him feel indebted to him and that was uncomfortable. He yearned to get away from his lodgings, but it was cheap, convenient and he had all the facilities including social ones at the hospital. Bubba’s offer of new accommodation in a brand-new apartment seemed to the answer to all the problems so he let his guard down and relented.
A month later a small ceremony was held and after a visit to the Registrar’s Office a small group converged on the new apartment and held a celebratory reception. Bubba had filled the small lounge with three scruffy cast-off sofas and his wife had brought a tray of food and drinks which she placed on a small carpet she had brought to cover the bare floorboards.
‘Now my son, this is your room,’ said Bubba in an expansive manner showing Hamdi into a small bedroom with a stained mattress on the bare floorboards. ‘Bandella will have the other room with the en suite bathroom and I have fixed locks on her door so don’t even think about it young man. I want her to be ‘intacto’ for her real husband whenever that comes about. Do you understand me?’
‘Yes Bubba,’ answered Hamdi looking at his bare surroundings in despair.
‘Bandella has a job at your hospital, so you need to look after her there. She is your wife you know.’
‘But only on paper Bubba and only for a year.’
‘Yes, my son but you still need to look after her as family. You have to look as if you are married otherwise, they will deport her and you will go to jail for a long time Hamdi. Be aware of that. You have performed an illegal task here.’
‘But you made me do it to help you, Bubba.’
‘Yes Hamdi, that is why you have to be very careful and keep up the pretence. Now go and say hello to Bandella and have some food. Be social.’
A year later Hamdi was nicely ensconced in his new apartment or room. He had bought an off-cut carpet, underlay and an old bed frame with new mattress plus some second-hand furniture including a TV. His friends from the charity had helped him set up his room, even building in a wardrobe for his clothes. His bachelor pad was very comfortable and admired by Bubba’s family and friends, whenever they came on Sundays to gather and chat. They only came because the apartment had three settees and they were all able to sit in some comfort. Hamdi had covered the settees with cream bed covers that he had bought cheaply at the market, mainly for appearance’s sake than his own use. He never used the lounge; he had a bendy beach-wood armchair for his own comfort and most times he was away. He never made an appearance on Sundays. He would be playing soccer, squash, pool with his English colleagues or working at the hospital. He knew that the family would be going through his things and making comments. He kept all of his private and personnel things in his locker at the hospital.
Bandella worked a complex shift pattern, so he hardly saw her. When he did, she was usually asleep, curled up on a sofa in the lounge. She only had a bed in her room plus a built-in cupboard for her clothes and no other comforts. She also spent time with Bubba’s daughters and cousins. Frequently Hamdi would come home and find that she had laundered and pressed his clothes and laid them neatly on his bed. He ensured that there was a supply of coffee, milk and sugar, enough to last them until Saturday night. He wasn’t too keen to keep Bubba’s clan in coffee on Sundays. He kept a large jar of coffee in his locker and would use that to refill the week’s supply in a small jar. He needed to look after his pennies.
Bubba had suddenly made him pay for the electricity they were using. On checking the meter and tariffs Hamdi was paying more than double for his power. He would have to confront Bubba. Bubba had also made him pay the Local Council Tax which he hadn’t bargained for and again his suspicion made him check and find that the premises were registered as unoccupied and Bubba was pocketing the money.
One evening Hamdi popped into the flat to pick up his jeans and sweatshirt when he found Bandella crying, curled up on the settee.
‘Bandella, what is the matter? What are you crying for?’
‘It’s nothing Hamdi, it’s nothing. Just leave me alone please.’
‘You don’t cry for nothing Bandella. Are you home sick?’
‘Yes, I’m home sick but worse than that they have sacked me from the Hospital,’ and she broke out into a wail that frightened Hamdi.
‘Why have they done that? Calm down Bandella, calm down and tell me please. You haven’t done anything wrong have you?’
‘No, but they rechecked my qualifications and I can’t go on doing my job.’
‘But the Matron on your ward told me that you were doing fine when I asked.’
‘It’s not that, it’s that I have to retrain to be qualified and I can’t afford it.’
‘Oh, have you told Bubba this? Surely, he can help?’
‘He said he washed his hands of all this and I had a husband to help me.’
‘But he’s your Grandfather Bandella, he should help you. I’m not your real husband. I only did this because I was forced to do it and foolish to be taken in by Bubba.’
‘He’s not my Grandfather Hamdi. He persuaded my family, or at least his relatives persuaded my family to send me here so I would earn more money for them. I give all my money to Bubba and he keeps some and sends some to my family.’
‘Why does he keep some?’
‘It’s to pay for my plane ticket and upkeep here.’
‘Oh, I see, you are on his list of fools like me.’
‘What do you mean Hamdi. Bubba has been good to me.’
‘Only when you are working and bringing in the cash. I bet he’s only sending a small portion to your family in Delhi.’
‘I don’t know Hamdi. All my letters from home go to Bubba and he says his wife always opens them because she assumes I can’t read.’
‘Get your family to send important letters to the Hospital and not to Bubba.’
‘But they have just sacked me!’ and she started to wail.
‘Stop it Bandella, stop it. I will check at the hospital tomorrow and see what can be done about your case. Since I am technically married to you then I can go to the Personnel Department and ask. Don’t worry, there are plenty of jobs about if you are willing to work.’
‘Thank you Hamdi, thank you.’
‘Think of it as if I’m just helping a neighbour and don’t call me Hamdi, call me by my English name Henry please. I must go now. Don’t cry, we will find a solution.’
Next day Hamdi returned and found his laundry neatly set out on his bed and a wildflower on his white shirt. He put the clothes away and knocked on Bandella’s door.
‘Are you in Bandella? Come into the lounge and I have some news for you.’
‘Hello Henry. That’s right? I’m to call you Henry?’
‘Yes, in my presence you call me Henry. When you are with Bubba and his lot then use Hamdi. Now listen, I went to Personnel and also to your Manager to find out why my wife cannot work there anymore. Since I am known in the Hospital, they were very helpful. It seems that when you applied for the job you gave them certain qualifications but when they subsequently checked back with Delhi you hadn’t passed all the exams or finished the nursing course.’
‘But Bubba said it didn’t matter. They were short of nurses over here and they would take me on.’
‘They are short but you can’t do the job you’re doing now. You’re not qualified. That’s why they sent you home straight away. I have a letter here for you explaining everything. The thing is you cannot work there as a nurse. To do that it says you have to complete your training. Now listen, the courses only start in September and until then you could work as an Auxiliary or a helper but Matron says that they pay Auxiliaries a pittance and you would be better off working for one of the agencies as a cleaner until September.’
‘But who is going to pay for my course and my living expenses?’
‘We’ll have to worry about that when it comes. You have three months yet. Now I went to the Agency and enrolled you as a cleaner. You get forty hours at basic rate then an overtime rate if you work shifts or do more hours. Now listen, I have arranged that you get your basics paid weekly in a wage packet and anything else you earn they will give you a separate envelope.’
‘But that’s not right. Isn’t it illegal?’
‘Listen Bandella, you have to save up some money for your course and you’re not going to do that by giving it all to Bubba. You give him the wage packet and ask for some pocket money back. Say you now have to buy your meals and clothing. The second packet you save. Now listen and don’t butt in. You have a locker in the hospital. I have arranged for you to keep that locker so put the money in there.’
‘But they tell us not to keep cash in the lockers Henry.’
‘I know, I know but if you keep it here the Bubba clan will surely find it. They even turn my carpets back to see if I hide money there. Now you start tomorrow. Go to the back of the hospital and you will see the cleaning van there. The manager will be there and will explain your duties.’
‘What time do I have to be there Henry?’
‘I’m coming to that. Eight o’clock and don’t be late. Now go to Bubba and tell him of the new arrangement. Tell him that you will be bringing him the wage packet every week and demand some money back for expenses. Tell him that you are not earning as much as before.’
‘But won’t he suspect something. How have I arranged this job he will ask?’
‘Tell him that after crying a lot you decided to go back to the hospital and ask Matron for advice. She set you up with a temporary job to see you through. Don’t tell him I arranged all this. Now write to your parents and tell them to send special mail to the Hospital and not to Bubba. Tell them you suspect Bubba is screwing them out of lots of money. Get your family to confront his people in Delhi and ask for more money. Get them to say that nurses earn ten times what they say you do and they are only getting a small fraction. Get them to cause a stink over there.’
‘But what if Bubba then takes it out of me here?’
‘He can’t do much. If he starts a backlash, then we report him to the authorities and they will deal with him. Now don’t worry for the future. Something will turn up.’
A week later Bubba turned up at the apartment and confronted Hamdi.
‘Hamdi my son, I’m glad I’ve caught you in. We need to discuss an urgent matter. You know that Bandella has lost her job and has got a temporary cleaning job?’
‘Yes, I know. She was quite upset about it. I hope that being your granddaughter you will help her to retrain.’
‘Yes, yes, but since she is now earning much less it seems appropriate for you to be in the larger bedroom and she can use yours, after all you are a dentist and she is only a cleaner.’
‘But I’m quite happy to be in my room. I have all my things there as I want them.’
‘Hamdi my son, you earn lots of money now, you can leave that tat for Bandella and refurnish your new room in splendour. Now on another matter, I see you have forgotten to give me the money you send to your poor parents back home. Is there a problem?’
‘No problem, Bubba. I thought that since you do so much for me and others that it would help if I sorted out my own money transfers.’
‘You’re not using the banks are you Hamdi?’
‘That’s right Bubba, I get my bank to transfer the money to another bank in Delhi and it saves you all the bother and my mother tells me that she is quite a nuisance to your family when she comes to collect. This way my father collects the money direct from the bank on his way home from work.’
‘But the expenses Hamdi? Banks charge a fortune for such transfers.’
‘Not really Bubba. I can pick up a leaflet for you. It’s ever so easy.’
‘But they sting you on the exchange rates something rotten.’
‘Well so far, my parents have been getting far more than through your system. You should change Bubba. Look into it.’
‘But every now and again there will be a spat and the money will go missing. Mark my word it will.’
‘Well, it can’t be worse than your system Bubba. The money went missing quite frequently. My bank guarantees that the money will be transferred safely. I don’t know what system you use but you should change and be more up to date. Things change all the time.’
‘Well don’t come snivelling back to me if things go wrong. Now get your personnel things and move into the next bedroom. You, young people always fail to take good advice.’
Hamdi took his stuff into Bandella’s room and placed it on her bed. It was the only piece of furniture in the room. He looked around and decided he would move out and find himself somewhere else to live and away from Bubba’s thieving hands. He wouldn’t bother furnishing this, maybe a small rug by the bed and a chair as a bedside table. He had an en suite bathroom which suited him fine. He wondered what Bubba would do about the locks but decided it was of no concern to him. Bandella came in after work looking very tired. Hamdi made her a coffee and told her to rest on a sofa. She told him that Bubba had told her that they had to switch rooms and that he was hoping that Hamdi would carpet and furnish it like he had done his. Bubba also told her to persuade Hamdi to carpet and furnish the lounge because a dentist and his wife couldn’t live on bare floorboards.
‘Bandella, that Bubba is a scheming bastard and a thief. He wants me to do up this flat for him so that he can kick us out and sell it or rent it fully furnished. If he asks about it again fob him off by telling him that I’ve got a special carpet on order but it will take a while to come and I’ve ordered some Italian designer furniture, specially made for me. That will keep him quiet for a while. Now how was your first day?’
‘Hard work but at least they agreed to pay me.’
‘Two envelopes?’
‘Yes, two envelopes. One I’ll give unopened to Bubba and the second I’ll hide in my locker.’
‘Good, now I’ve bought you a strong box with a slot in it so you can push the second envelope in without being noticed too much. I’ll super glue that in for you so that no one can move it. There is a key for you only.’
‘I don’t know how I can thank you Henry. You have been my saviour.’
‘I’m just being neighbourly and I can’t stand Bubba any more. I’m going to raise the matter of our divorce with him. It’s been well over a year now so it’s time we gave up this pretence and went our separate ways. I don’t want any more dealings with him and you should plan to do the same.’
‘It’s easy for you Henry, you have a good job and know the English ways.’
‘Bandella, let me give you some advice. If you want to get on in England, you have to adapt to their way of life and it will be easier. When I talked to Personnel about you they said your English was poor and that the patients didn’t understand you and that the doctors weren’t sure you understood their instructions. You must work hard at integrating and get out of the Indian community. Stop going to Bubba and his family and spend more time watching English TV and films. Try and loose the accent. Try and develop a Stoke accent. And stop nodding your head in the Indian way. It looks silly to the Brits.’
‘But how do I do all that?’
‘Look Bandella, change your name to Belinda for a start like I’ve done with Henry. Stop wearing the saris. Mix with you fellow cleaners, especially if they are English. If they ask you out to the pub then go. Mix with them and go out of your way to be friendly. Get them to help you with your English and accent. They will laugh at first but if you don’t mind that then they will help. That’s what I did and I have many English friends that even ask me to their homes. They don’t mind or seem to that I’m a WOG.’
‘It’s easy for you to talk that way, Henry.’
‘Listen Belinda, I was in the same boat when I came over and made an effort. My worst thing was to get involved with Bubba. He is just living off us poor immigrants and always talking of going back home to India. The only way he will go back is if he’s deported.’
A month later Hamdi confronted Bubba on one of the Sunday gatherings in their apartment. He made a point of entering the lounge and asking Bubba specifically about the divorce when an audience was present.
‘Bubba, when are you arranging my divorce?’
‘Why Hamdi, you are very comfortable in this situation, why spoil it?’
‘You specifically said that this arrangement would last only one year. It’s over fourteen months and there’s been no mention. Do I have to start the proceedings myself?’
‘You can’t do that Hamdi. We’ll have the law onto us. Things on the immigration front are brewing up and we have to keep our heads down.’
‘I’m not aware of anything unusual like that in the English press. Shall I get my lawyer to start the proceedings?’
‘Now don’t get me angry Hamdi. I don’t want to lose my temper. This is a delicate matter and I will see to it in good time.’
‘Well, I want the proceedings to start straight away Bubba. This marriage is a sham and if you don’t do something straight away then I have no option. I know the system.’
‘Just look at this ungrateful fellow. I’ve looked after him for how many years and all he can do is set ultimatums. Hamdi, I set ultimatums here and you do as I say and on that subject, I shall now start charging you rent for this place. I’m not keeping an ungrateful man here for free. And if you start your proceedings, I will denounce you to the authorities and you will be in jail faster than you can blink my boy.’
‘Don’t threaten me Bubba. I know all about your thieving. Tell me why is the Council Tax unpaid for this apartment? I’ve given you money to pay that. What’s happened to it?’
‘This place is unfurnished no thanks to you and we don’t need to pay?’
‘Now who has been bypassing the electricity meter at the lodgings?’
‘None of your business my lad. Keep your nose out!’
‘I was told that as a good citizen in this country you had to declare all your income to Inland Revenue? Are you aware of that Bubba?’
‘And what are you referring to by that?’
‘I heard you bragging that all the rents that you collect go straight into your pocket.’
‘Not your concern and stay out of my business. And understand what your position is in our society.’
‘The caste system has no meaning in England. We are all equal here. Tell me Bubba, how is it that you pride yourself on your personnel health and you collect disability allowance each week? So don’t threaten me, Bubba. I’ve put up with a lot of your tricks and I reckon that I owe you nothing. All I ask is that you leave me alone and if you try your tricks then I shall ruin you here in England and ruin your family’s reputation in Delhi which I know you hold very dear.’ Hamdi left them speechless as he left the lounge and made way for the front door and out.
That night as Hamdi returned, he expected the locks to have been changed and he was not disappointed. He knocked on the door and pressed the buzzer. Belinda answered the door and opened it.
‘You should have seen the fury and rage that Bubba exploded into when you left. He called you all kinds of things. Unfortunately, in the audience were some strangers that he was trying to impress. You know, to do business with. They left in a hurry straight after you. I don’t think they believed what Bubba said.’
‘I hope they didn’t give you a hard time?’
‘They tried but Bubba was digging himself deeper each time his mouth opened. His wife had to shut him up and drag him away. One of his minions came to fix the door. I told him why and I bet its all-around town. I didn’t think I would see you again Henry. I’m glad you came back. What will you do now?’
‘I only came back to see you, Belinda. I thought Bubba would take it out of you. I’m glad you’re OK. Look Belinda, you can’t stay here under that thieving bastard. I’m going away from Stoke. I have a new position and it was confirmed on Email today. You can come with me if you like?’
‘Where to Henry? And what about my job?’
‘Bugger that job. People leave all the time. You can get another one like that at a drop of a hat.’
‘And where is that?’
‘Birmingham in the Midlands, I have a position there to study surgery in the Dental Department. You can get a cleaning job at my hospital if you want or some office. Plenty of agencies looking for staff and if you stay longer than a couple of months, they will probably make you a supervisor with more pay.’
‘OK, when do we go and where do we stay? And what about my passport, Bubba has it?’
‘Report it to the police in a month’s time that it was stolen with your handbag. Now I suggest we leave immediately. Take only what you can pack and we’ll catch a night train to Birmingham. If not, we’ll get a taxi to a hotel somewhere.’
‘Now where do we stay in Birmingham?’
‘I have temporary accommodation in the student’s hostel and since its men only I’ll try and wangle some accommodation for you as my wife in the hostel for ladies only. Now don’t pack your saris. Leave them to rot.’
‘What about my money in the locker?’
‘We’ll collect that on the way. No worries, hospitals are open all the time. I need to empty my locker too. Now hurry up girl!’
After a few nights in hostels in Birmingham, Henry rented a small apartment near the city centre and found nice lodgings for Belinda in a strictly English area of Walsall. An agency soon had Belinda started as a cleaner at a nearby hospital and she started her application to complete her nursing course commencing September. She was hoping to pay her way by working as a cleaner on evening shifts and weekends. Everything went smoothly for the first month and then Belinda rang Henry asking him to meet at a pub in the city centre.
‘I’ve had a letter from Bubba demanding six months’ rent for the apartment in Stoke. What am I to do?’
‘He must be joking and how the hell did he get your address?’
‘I don’t know. He must have got it from my parents in Delhi.’
‘You stupid cow, I told you not to write to them, not to disclose your address and not to send any letter with a Birmingham postmark.’
‘I know, I know but I had to get in contact with them somehow.’
‘Yes, but we arranged an Email address for you and your parents and all you had to do is arrange to send a letter with all that from London, not Birmingham. Now we are going to have Bubba on our tail with all kinds of stories. Once the Indian community here pick up on it, they will be onto us.’
‘Sorry Henry. Don’t be cross with me. I wasn’t thinking clearly. What can we do?’
‘I will go and see my lawyer for advice. He happens to be Indian and strong in the community here. When he hears my tale, I hope he spreads it around a bit and that will diffuse any influence Bubba has in Birmingham. I think we need to change your lodgings and ask the Agency to move you to another location. And don’t send any letters home. Do you hear?’
‘Yes Henry, I’m very sorry.’
‘We have enough on our plates without Bubba interfering. Now are you working on your English?’
‘Yes Sir, I’m going to a night class which is specifically for Eastern Europeans as you told me, so I don’t mix with our people and fall into bad ways. I’ve also asked the agency to be put in teams of English women rather than Asians, and I working on my Brummie. I’m also talking to the patients in the hospital I work when I have the opportunity. They seem keen to talk. How am I doing?’
‘When was the last time you wore a sari?’
‘Stoke. Jeans and high heels, coloured hair and pale make up and English hair style and I don’t eat curries any more or use Indian spices. Life is boring. I didn’t mean that Henry. I’m sending my family lots of money and they are getting it all. Not like before and I’m invited out for drinks with the girls after work. One of the supervisors at the agency has taken a fancy to me.’
‘He’s not married, is he?’
‘No, I checked that. He seems nice and I reckon I’ll ask him for a date. That’s English way, isn’t it?’
‘I suppose so but be careful.’
‘Hey, you’re sounding like my father. I can look after myself now. Well, I think I can and if I have a problem then I’ll call on you Henry to sort it out. Now tell me about your love life in Birmingham?’
‘Not a lot to tell. I’ve joined a local hockey club. It’s mainly girls that play hockey in England so I’m playing in a mixed team and all the girls are mad about me.’
‘Pull the other one but I’m glad you have some female company other than me. I try to think of you as my big brother who comes along in his big tank and kills all my enemies.’
‘I like that. I shall start calling you Sis. Now my Lawyer thinks we can clear this mess of divorce quite quickly and quietly as long as you haven’t been playing around if you know what I mean?’
‘You’re asking me if I am a virgin is that it Hamdi?’
‘Don’t call me Hamdi and it would be a lot simpler if you were. I haven’t touched you but it would be difficult to prove otherwise, particularly when it comes out we lived in the same apartment for over a year.’
‘You will be happy to know that all is safe. I will get a medical examination to prove the point straight away and that doesn’t mean I’ll be out in Birmingham bonking all the Brummies’ afterwards.’
‘I’m glad to hear that, Sis. Hopefully we can resort to our normal lives after this, if we know what those are at this moment in time.’
