Lily's final rewrite

Vanity Fair

My name is Biju and I am from India. I am currently working in Mr. Sedley’s house as a servant. Three years ago, I was taken away from my home country by Mr. Sedley. In this place, everyone seems rich, as least rich than my family, a lot richer. They have the money for such a luxury house and inviting people to stay. This situation would never happen on my own family. We are poor, and we have to live in a place us call house, but will leak during the rainy days; can feel the outside temperature is burning in the house in summer.

When I met Mr. Sedley, one of my brothers was dying. I have two brothers and one sister. We were too poor to pay for a doctor. Mr. Sedley kindly paid a doctor to cure my brother. The course of treatment was not complicated, my brother’s illness was not hard, on the contrary, it was a common illness. But because we did not have the money to pay for a doctor in time, my brother’s illness got worse and difficult to cure. The doctor took almost three months, which was a long time to cure my brother. During this period, Mr. Sedley offered me a job in his house as a payback from my family during these months. He and I have not talked very much. I do not know why, but I prefer this way. He seems nice, he always smiles, but there’s always something in his smile when he meets people. At first, I did not think it had something to with me at all, but two weeks later, when he looks at me, I could sense there was a potential meaning behind his smile, which made me really uncomfortable. Ever since then, I started avoiding him.

One day, after my work had finished, at around seven p.m. Mr. Sedley stopped me. He went hunting with his friends and he saw me on my way home. He told his friends to leave first and then he got down from his horse, and then he came to me.

“ Hey, Biju! How are you today? Was the work too hard for you?”

“No sir. The work was perfectly fine.” I kept my answer as short as I could.

“Ok then. Great!”

I did not say anything back. We walked silently for a few minutes.

“How is your brother now? Is he recovered?”

“He is recovering, sir.”

“Oh good, good. Good to hear that my money has not been wasted. Ha!”

A few seconds later, he started talking again.

“You know Biju, I have an idea. You see, all the money I have put on your brother, I can’t really get anything back. I know that you have been helping me a lot on my business, but that is just not enough. I am a businessperson after all. “

“Yes sir, I understand.”

“Oh really?!! Great!! How wonderful!!” Then he began laughing. His laughs sounded fake.

I did not know why he would laugh if he did not want to or feel like it, but I did not say anything. I kept my silent.

“So, do you think there is a good way for your family to, you know, pay me back?”

I stopped.

I raised my head slowly and looked at him. Very weakly, I said:
“Sir, we do not have any money.”

“Oh Boy! I know! I know! Haha~ How could I ask money from someone I know they do not have any!! That would be ridiculous!!” He acted exaggeratedly by looking around and laughed aloud and dramatically.

I neither said anything now laughed. Then he stopped laughing. He turned around and looked at me.
“Listen, what I would like you to do is to come with me when I go back to England.”

Then I was frozen. I never thought about leaving home. I know we have always been difficult to live, but leaving India is an idea I never had in my mind. I know that Mr. Sedley would bring me to his house and make me a servant for him. But if that is my future, when will I come back, to my home?

“Sir, I think… maybe I could keep staying here. I can come to your house and work every day, and I do not mind if I have no salary because my salary could pay for the money you have paid for my brother’s doctor money. “

“Alright, alright… But see, I am going to leave to England in a few weeks. And you have been working hard and good on your job, so I do not think I will let you stay here. Instead, I’m going to take you with me. “

That was the moment that I believe I had panic in my eyes. His voice and his tones sounded very insist. He never accepted any suggestions that against his.

He noticed that I did not say anything, then he changed his tones.

“Come on, you can work for me and pay your debt, in the mean time, you can see our greatest country!! Besides, I am really tired of this place. So boring, no fun at all!! This is nothing comparing to our wonderful country.” He stresses the word “nothing” very strongly.

“Sir, I….” I was not finished when Mr. Sedley interrupted me.

“Think about it. You have two days and I am leaving in three days. ” Then he left, riding his horse.

I looked at him while he was gone, and then I turned around, back to my way to home.

On my way home, I could not stop thinking about his offer. I knew exactly why he offered me that, which is because he wanted me to work for him as long as my brother is still sick. He had to hire and pay for other people money, on the contrary, if I work for him, he did not need to pay me at all. After all, my family did owe him a large amount of money because of my brother’s illness.

When I got home, I did not mention this to my families. Thanks to Mr. Sedley, they now all have food to eat and clothes to keep they warm. On the second day in Mr. Seldey’s house, I hardly saw him. It was good because I did not hope to see him at all. But in that afternoon, when my mum and I on the way to a market, Mr. Sedley came to us.

“Hi Biju! “ he came to me first. I panicked because I did not know what to say. After my mum greeted to him, he started to ask.
“So Biju, what is your decision to my offer?”

My mum looked at me with questions in her eyes. I still did not know what to say.
“Oh come on, you know you will have a great time in Britain! Besides, with you working for me, you will never need to worry about your family again. They will be taken care of well.”

My mum looked at me, and she did not say anything. Mr. Sedley was away for a short while. During that short time, I tried to say something but when I look at my mum, I became silent.

And then Mr. Sedley came back. Again, he asked.

“So? Any word?”

I still could not make up my mind, I wanted to be with my family. I believe I could find a job to support my family, and I can take care of my families as well. But I would never be able to look after them if I went to Britain.

However, this time, my mum started talking.

“Umm, sir, if my son went to Britain with you, can we use his wages as the money of our debt to pay you back?”

“Yes! Yes! Exactly! Why not!” Mr. Sedley seemed very happy about my mum’s response.
I was shocked. I was hoping there would be some space for mum and I to negotiate, but now, I am hopeless. I know how much she worried about our debt to Mr. Sedley. She would not accept his help unless there was another choice, but that was the only one we had. We had to accept it in order to save my youngest brother.

I looked at my mum, and then I looked at Mr. Sedley. After that, I became silent. I knew this is the final decision. There was no space to talk any more.

Before I left India, I hardly spoke to anyone. My families all asked me why I want to go to there, my only response were silence. I went to visit my youngest brother who was still in recovery from his illness. He said he did not want me to go. We have been close since he was born and it was as hard to leave for me as it was to him. I spent my last night in India with him, then left in the dawn, without letting anyone knows.

Now, I have been living and working in Britain for a few months. Mr. Sedley has a really big house and the garden is pretty as well. Recently, Mr. Sedley’s sister has come and she brought a friend of hers, Miss Sharp. It seems that Mr. Sedley is very fond of Miss Sharp.

On yesterday’s dinner, Mr. Sedley asked Miss Sharp how she feels about going to India. She said she could not think of anywhere else better to go. I was not listening to their talking at all until she mentioned she would like to go to India. Going home became my first thought. If she would go to India with Mr. Sedley, I probably can go too. That way I can go home, at least I would have a chance.

When Mr. Sedley asked me to fetch a plate for Miss Sharp, another servant came and was getting ready for the plate. I pushed him away because I wanted to serve the lady myself, that way I could probably make an good and polite impression to her.

Another payday, like the old days, I do not have any wages. I have asked Mr. Sedley how much money left I owe him. He told me he would check and then tell me. But a months has passed, there is still no word from him. In fact, I can hardly speak to him anymore. He has been engaged to Miss Sharp most of the time every day. I miss my families, and I worry a lot about my young brother. How is he now? Have any of my families has a job so they can support the family now?

One morning, I overheard two other servants were talking about Mr. Sedley is leaving to London for a long time. After lunch, I decided to go ask him how much more my family owes to him.

Mr. Sedley was alone. He was reading a letter. I went into his study room and started talking.

“Excuse me sir. Do you have a minute?”

“Oh Biju, it’s you.” His voice sounded very plain.

“Sir, I was wondering, do you remember the question I asked you a month ago?”

“Question? What question?”

“How much more money does my family owe you?”

“Oh! That.”

He looked around the room and a few seconds later, he opened his mouth.

“Biju, how about this. You work for me for the rest of your life, and I’ll clean the debt with your family. How about that?”

“But sir, I was thinking if I could go home after my wages are enough to pay for our debt…”

“Home?!!! You have no home now!!!” suddenly his voice became very loud. “Haven’t you realized now! You can never going home now!! I have been kind enough to you! Do you know every time I speak nicely to you other people laugh at me!!! They always ask me why do I have to speak nicely to you!!!”

He stopped and looked at me angrily.

“Now, you can either leave here, going back to your silly country; or you can keep staying here and working for me. But just to let you know, if you dare leave here, your family will get into trouble. Your brother, I cannot guarantee you if his illness will recover. As to you, if you are lucky enough to go back to India, I will have someone to press charges. I can assure you that I am very capable of put you in prison!”

He looked furious while he was speaking that. Looking at his face, I thought I was hopeless. As a result, I only said “Yes sir” as my answer, and then I went out.

Later at night, the guests of Mr. Sedley’s have all come out in the garden for entertainment. Mr. Sedley asked me to keep his bird well and stay with him. I did not understand the reason behind this at first, because he never took out his precious bird easily. After a while, when he commanded me to go to him, I see the reason. Miss Sharp was standing right next to him, he must want to give the bird to her.

I was told to leave after Mr. Sedley gave the bird to Miss Sharp. My plan after that was to go back to my room and write to my family. However, on my way back to my room, I was told to get Mr. Sedley to the dining room, because his mother wants him.

When I got very close to Mr. Sedley and Miss Sharp, I heard they were talking about something.

“……So I brought him here, and he has been working well. But this afternoon, he came to talk to me. You will never believe what he said!” Said Mr. Sedley.

“Oh, what did he say?”

“He was asking for his wages!! For god sake! The wages for his has earned is far away from his debt!! That amount of money could make him work for me ten years!!!”

“Oh for heaven’s sake!! How could you have someone like this working for you!!”

“Well, I have to, because I made a promise to his mother and the sick brother, even though it might cost me something.”

“But seriously, I doubt there is no education in their country at all!! I mean, if they come to our country and once they see how good we are, how well behaved and educated, they must feel jealous!!!”

“Yes, exactly. People like them should spend some time learning some English manners. This could make them behave better and make them feel better for themselves. After all our country is the strongest country in the world. “

“Precisely!”

I did not know whether I should call Mr. Sedley or not. At this time, I found that Captain Osborn who is a very nice person is standing next to me. I looked at him for a second or two, but he did not look me back. He had no response at all after hearing that conversation. Then I decided, I had better deliver the message by myself.

So I walked to Mr. Sedley and Miss Sharp.

“Sir, Mrs. Sedley is asking for you.”

“Oh,” said Mr. Sedley. He probably did not know I was standing right behind him and I heard all of their conversation. “Ok.” And then he turned around to Miss Sharp.

“Excuse me for a moment Miss Sharp.”

“Please, take your time John.” Said Miss Sharp. She shot a glance at me, walked away with an expression which has a little despise in it.

Over ten years later.

Now we are in Germany. Mr. Sedley had leard from someone that Miss Sharp, now as Mrs. Crawley is here. Her husband had left her and her son was sent away from them long time ago. Mr. Sedley said if Mrs. Crawley still wants to go to India with him, then they will go together.

A few days later, he found her. And she agreed to go to India. Finally, my chance to go home has arrived. I have not heard from my families for years, and I have been worrying about them.

One month later, I stepped on my hometown’s land again.

I have become a very important servant in his group now. after I have done everything, I asked Mr. Sedley if I could go home and see my families. I have not mentioned my families in front of him once since he showed his anger in front of me that time.

Mr. Sedley allowed me very soon because he was in such a good mood of Mrs. Crawley’s coming.

A few hours later, I saw my home.

It was as the same as it was in my memory, but older and broken. I stepped inside, called my mum and every family’s name, but no one answered.

So I went out of the door, wondering maybe they were all out. Ten minutes later, there was a man walking towards me, towards the house to be exact. As he got closer and closer, I found that his face looks a lot like my youngest brother!

So I walked to him, and slowly said his name…

The moment he saw me and heard his name, he looked at me with a very shocking face.

“Biju?!!!! Is this really you?!!! I haven’t seen you for over ten years!!!!” As he was speaking, he gave me a really big hug.

“Hi, how are you? I see you are all recovered now!!” I smiled and hugged him back.

“Yes I’m perfectly fine now! Fine and Healthy!!”

“Hey, how’s mum? How’s dad? Where is everyone?”

Then my little brother’s happy face suddenly turned down. I sensed something is not right, so I forced him to answer.

“After you left, Mr. Sedley stopped helping us with money, and the doctor started asking money from us. I almost recovered at that time, so I tried to convince mum and dad to let me go out and find a job. But they wouldn’t let me. Instead, they both got a job. Mum was washing other people’s clothes, and dad went to a miner of Mr. Sedley’s. Dad died in an accident. We didn’t get any compensate from the miner. Mum kept crying since then, and the money she earned was not enough for our family. She took her own life away on her own birthday. “

I was shocked.

“Our sister and brother were taken by the Sedleys. I have no idea where they are right now. They thought my health was too weak so they didn’t take me. We are the only two left in this family, Biju. Are you coming back and will never leave?” Asked my brother.

I looked at him, could not say one word.