Lesson 10
Leaving by MG Vassanji
Summary
The story "Leaving" by M.G. Vassanji explores several themes, including motherly love and sacrifice, ambition, loneliness, sadness, and hope for the future. The story begins in Upanga, a small town in Tanzania, where the narrator, a university student, lives with her family. Her mother, a widow, has sold their store and moved to Upanga so that the narrator and her younger brother, Aloo, can focus on their studies.
Aloo is in his final year of school when Mr. Datoo, an ex-teacher from America, visits and encourages him to apply to study at an American university. Aloo is eager to study medicine and begins writing to American universities to obtain the necessary information. However, his mother is unhappy about the prospect of him going so far away and the expenses involved.
To seek advice, Aloo's mother meets with Mr. Velji, a school officer who is impressed with Aloo's results and recommends that he accept the offer. He warns the mother that she will lose her son, but Aloo protests that many parents send their children overseas without losing them. After much consideration, Aloo's mother relents and allows him to go abroad for his education.
Aloo promises to remain true to his values and beliefs and writes excitedly from London, where he stops over before continuing to America. He is thrilled with the new opportunities presented to him, while his mother wonders if she will ever see him again. The narrator observes her mother's sadness and reflects on the sacrifices that she has made to provide her children with a better future.
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