Immature

Woodbridge College is one of the best places in Calcutta to get a
graduate degree. No matter what you study, you are likely to be a
confident, well-informed student at the end of the three years of the
degree course at Woodbridge. Among other things Woodbridge has a great
cafeteria. It is situated near the entrance of the college building.
Thus, if you sit at the proper place you can keep an eye on all the
people who are moving in and moving out. Second year students from the
Chemistry Department are seated near the door of the cafeteria. There
are five girls and a single boy. One of the girls who is well-dressed
and pretty begins to say, "You know, I can seduce any man within three
days. No matter who he is and how old, he will fall in love with me."
Another smart-looking girl protests, "Really, June you boast too much.
How can any stranger be interested in you. He has to first know you to
fall in love." "All right," says June. "Look at the college gate," she
says, "Whoever walks in through the gate after I have spoken will
become my lover in three days." The girls look at each other and smile.
"And if I am successful," June adds, "You will all pay me a thousand
pounds." The girls nod. They begin to stare at the gate. A half-naked
crazy man is about to enter but decides against it at the last moment.
You hear June saying "Thank God, that was really close." The girls
continue their watch. And even as they look a good-looking man of about
fifty years walks in through the college gate. June screams, "There he
is. That's the man I have to seduce." The girl who had initially
challenged June turns red with embarrassment. This girl's name is
Alice. Alice says in a worried voice "You can't fall in love with that
man. He is my father." Alice's parents were divorced and she lived with
her father. Her father, Mr. Garfield was a successful industrialist. He
was visiting the college to confer with the principal about a large
donation he was about to make. To come back to June. She seemed unfazed
by what Alice had told her. She began to say, "So what if he is your
father. He is so good-looking and so cute. It will take me just three
days to make him fall in love with me. As far as I am concerned the bet
starts tomorrow." Alice's patience was really running out. She said,
"There is no bet and you will not go near my Dad. You will attend my
birthday party today, June, but avoid my father by all means. If you
don't listen I will have to speak to your landlady." June seemed a
little nervous. Her parents lived in Darjeeling. She lived in Calcutta
as paying guest and her landlady was very strict. Alice's birthday
party started at six thirty in the evening. It was an enjoyable affair.
When all the guests save she had left June spoke to Alice. "Alice," she
said, "I think I have fever." Saying this she lay down on the sofa. A
doctor was called and he confirmed that June indeed had high fever. She
was advised three days' bed rest. Since June's landlady was unlikely to
take care of her, Alice requested June to spend the next three days in
their palace-like house. June readily agreed. She was shown to her room
and soon she was fast asleep. Next morning June's boyfriend John
arrived at Alice's house looking for his girl. The fever was gone and
she appeared to be energetic. Still, the doctor had advised June three
day's rest. June could not go out with John. On an impulse, Alice, who
was unattached, agreed to go to a movie with John. When she came back
in the evening she found June seated next to Mr Garfield who was
listening to the union budget on television. Trying to look bashful
June began to say, " Roger is explaining the budget. You know I
understand nothing of Economics." Alice was aghast. June was addressing
her father by his first name that only a few knew. She was about to ask
her father when he himself said, "June saw my passport." At dinner
there was no conversation. The next day was a Sunday. When Alice
entered the drawing room in the morning she heard music coming from her
father's room. As she entered her father's bedroom she saw June and
Roger Garfield dancing. Dancing the Tango as a matter of fact. June's
face looked flushed. She was very happy. She shouted out to Alice,
"Roger is teaching me the Tango. We are going to the opera tonight."
Alice's blood began to boil. As she looked into her father's eyes he
secretly winked. It was then she knew that he had a plan in place. That
evening Roger Garfield went to the opera with June. It took ten minutes
for Alice to get June to admit that despite help from Mr. Garfield she
had understood nothing of the opera. Next morning Mr. Garfield took
June shopping. He bought her clothes that a middle-aged woman might
wear-no jeans, no tshirts, no miniskirts and certainly no shorts. June
was asked to wear a beautiful black dress that evening. June was taken
to a fancy restaurant. In the light of the candles, a bottle of costly
champagne was uncorked. Roger Garfield asked matter-of-factly, "June,
will you be Alice's mother for the rest of your life?" June did not
know what to say. She excused herself stating some flimsy reason. She
was on the next plane to Darjeeling from which place she did not come
back for the next six months.