Savita’s Party

Savita had her pre-Christmas office party last week for her department. People could bring partners. Traditionally she has gone alone. This year, her boss said to her a week or so before the party “I’m thinking there is someone special in your life – are you thinking of asking your friend?”

“I’m surprised you have heard such a thing – who could have told you? I haven’t said anything – I would like to invite my partner but she …”.

Her boss, Tim, picked up immediately and did not seem particularly surprised. He said “I understand – no-one has told me you had a partner – I just saw you seem more full of life and happier and seemed finally to have a life outside of work. I was so pleased. You are welcome to invite her – genuinely welcome on my part. I think we are a good team and we will most happily make your partner feel very welcome. You are a very important member of this team and I want to stress that you should feel free to bring anyone you want along. But you decide – I am not telling you what to do –I just want you to do what you want.”

He then asked about me: where we met (a party), was I Indian (no), what job I did (Savita hesitated before saying student) and was very friendly and matter-of-fact about the whole thing as if Savita having a girlfriend was the most natural thing on earth.

Savita asked me that evening if I could please go. I hesitated since I was worried about how a girlfriend would be received and whether it could make trouble for Savita. However, she was insistent and I was actually delighted that she wanted to include me so much in her life and flattered that when she said that she wanted to show me off.

And, of course, it gave me a great excuse to go clothes shopping for a nice dress to wear. Savita and I went out one lunchtime and chose it. – a nice white dress – simple but elegant, I think. Savita said it suited me and made me look both “incredibly sexy and desirable while also respectable for a party”. The dress did feel just right. . And of course I had to buy matching shoes. I also had to have my hair styled. So I was really enjoying the preparations.

It took us both ages to get dressed for the party and we were the last to arrive. We were both nervous when we arrived - Savita was particularly tense – I could tell from the tightness in her hand as she held mine. When we walked in, suddenly the room fell quiet which was very disconcerting – there were about 30 people there. I think they were surprised to see Savita had a girlfriend – Tim had obviously been very discreet!

A man came up to us and said “So delighted you’ve come. I’m Tim. And this is my wife Amanda. I guess you are Grace”, he added smiling at me. “Savita didn’t warn me how good-looking you are.” Amanda was equally welcoming – it was clear that Tim had forewarned her and she chatted to us about casual things such as how warm it was and she complimented our dresses and we discussed good clothes shops.

The other conversations had restarted quite quickly and when Amanda excused herself to go to talk to someone else, we eased in to the room. Savita stated chatting with a quite short voluble woman. I stood back a little, uncertain as to whether to join in or not.

A man standing there, turned me and said “Always hard for partners at these things – we know no-one.”

I I nodded perhaps too emphatically and he said, “Maybe, even harder for you?” and then immediately apologised “Sorry, very tactless.”

I smiled and said “More perceptive than tactless.”

“I’m Jack by the way – Sara’s husband – she’s the one talking to Savita. I’ve got to congratulate you. I’ve met Savita a few times before and she’s never seemed so happy. Sara commented she thought Savita had found a girlfriend.”

“So, her colleagues know Savita likes girls?” I asked surprised and curious.
“Most don’t I think but Sara sits next to her and heard her talking earnestly to some woman – she couldn’t hear much but it sounded like a lover. Also Sara’s always trying to match make and she commented that Savita had no interest in guys and seemed more interested in a cute Chinese girl who worked there.”
“Which Chinese girl?” I asked suspiciously.

“Oh! She’s happily married and on maternity leave now –you don’t need to be jealous.” Jack laughed.

Savita grabbed my arm and said “I have to introduce you to Sara”.

After the introductions, Sara greeted me very warmly and said “Grace, you’ve really changed Savita – I even saw her smile the other day!” She then proceeded to tease Savita for being so serious.

She told me that she was so happy to meet me. I saw a guy glowering at me – he quickly looked away when I met his eyes. “Not everyone’s happy”, I remarked. Savita and Sarah looked in the direction I was looking and Sara said “Oh Jim – he will be unhappy –he’s a fanatic Christian – always wanting to hold prayer meetings and complaining about the corrupt modern world. He considers Harry Potter as evil! Don’t mind him.”

“Maybe, I shouldn’t have come”, I said but Sarah and Jack both insisted that it was wonderful to see me.

At the same time, I noticed the grimfaced woman who had been talking to Jim and whom I had guessed to be his wife had started to walk deliberately up to me. Jim appeared to be trying to stop her but she ignored him. She strode purposefully to me and said loudly “You are an immoral woman. People like you are disgusting. You should not be allowed into polite God-loving company. You offend decent people, you brazen Jezebel. Go back to the hole from where you crawled.”

Again the conversation had stopped around the room and I felt exceedingly uncomfortable. I did not want to disgrace Savita and so I was as polite as possible, replying “I’m sorry to hear that you disapprove of me and I will leave you alone but I am proud to be here as Savita’s partner.”

Some man – I’m not sure who - said loudly “Thank you, Grace – it’s nice to see there are still some people who can behave properly!” There was an affirming murmur and I felt that the majority were positive towards Savita and me, especially after Jim’s wife’s foray. The woman made a contemptuous sound and strode away as Amanda rushed up, and said very clearly “Grace, I am so ashamed – no-one should be spoken to like that. The rest of us are so glad to meet you - you probably want to walk out after being addressed like that but please stay.” I hadn’t even thought of walking out – how embarrassing that would have been for Savita!

I noticed that Tim was talking anxiously and trying to comfort Savita who was more upset than me and was almost in tears. I moved up to her and she smiled, saying “Thank you, darling – you were marvellous” and kissing me on the cheek. (I wasn’t but I’m glad Savita thinks so.) Tim tactfully withdrew and I squeezed her hand and whispered to her “Don’t let the bastards get to you!” Savita nodded and put on her face of self control.

After we calmed down, the rest of the evening went very smoothly. Most of the people at the party were very friendly to us and seemed to focus on treating us as just another couple. Jim and his wife stayed to the side and we did not have any more contact.

The only point that I thought things might get tricky was when an Indian guy, mid-twenties, came up to me while Savita was getting drinks and said “I’ve got a bone to pick with you.”

“Yes?” I said cautiously.

“Here I was fascinated with this beautiful co-worker and you stole her from under my eyes”, he said smiling at the same time. “Mind you, I can see what she sees in you – such a beautiful couple”, he continued. “My name’s Raj by the way.” We shook hands and he moved on. Sara who was standing next to me said “that’s sweet. He really was keen on Savita – I had to hose him down a few times when he got too eager.”

By the end of the evening, Savita and I were almost at ease. When I stood there with Savita holding me close, showing me off to her colleagues, I felt really proud that this beautiful woman would give me such a special position.

Later, Savita thanked me saying it must have been hard to face all these strangers. I commented that it was a lot easier for me than for her – after all I didn’t have to face them the following day and to work with them. I could be just proud to be Savita’s girl and enjoy the evening with my darling. The only hard part was that I was nervous about embarrassing Savita. She assured me that I didn’t.

I couldn’t let Savita off Scot free and I grilled Savita on the Chinese girl that Jack mentioned. Savita said that this was when we were not together and she was missing me so much. The girl looked something like me and Savita did feel attracted – but the girl was a devout Christian and used to have – prayer meetings with Jim at lunchtime. Savita said she didn’t think that she would have received a good response if she suggested a lesbian affair!

Jim wrote me a formal apology for the way his wife had spoken. He also apologised publicly to Savita, saying that even if he did not condone same sex relationships, the wording and manner of what was said was totally inappropriate. We had every right to be offended and he was embarrassed that our enjoyment of the evening may have been affected.

Savita said that she accepted the apology but was glad that Jim sits at a distance from her and they worked on different projects.

I’m really delighted I could go to the party with Savita and Savita says she is happy that she can be open about us at work but just hope that she does not have any negative consequences for her work. I do worry that petty people may give her a hard time.