Posted in Life and After, Love

Karwachauth

She sat waiting for him to return home. It was Karwachauth fast, so she was thirsty, hungry and crabby. She was also annoyed that seven years after their marriage, he would choose to ignore the day. He hadn’t called all day. Neither had he come home a little early like he did in the earlier days of their marriage.

It was almost time for the moon to rise, for her to break the fast, but she couldn’t eat or drink until he fed her with his own hands. She wondered if it was worth staying hungry for the long life of a man who didn’t give a damn anymore.

He was all work now, always at office, only returning to eat and sleep. Sometimes, he would play a little with the children but he didn’t have time for her anymore. Did it have something to do with that new pretty girl in his office, Priya? That day at the office party, she seemed too intent to please. Always hovering around him, “Sir this…”, “Sir that…”.

What would she do if he decided to ditch their marriage for this one? She worried with the lace of her red sari–one she had worn for too many years on too many Karwachauth fasts. It was the only decent red sari she had, the colour she had to wear as per the tradition. She hadn’t asked for another. It seemed weird asking for a red dress at her age. That too for just one occasion an year. Not that he noticed anymore anyway.

The bell rang, she almost ran to the door but collected herself together. She didn’t want to look desperate, so she called one of the kids to open the door.

Her husband walked in with a large package in his hand, which he handed to her with a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I’m late. You know how tailors can be. I had to sit there and wait until he finished. I could have called you but I wanted it to be a surprise. You already look lovely, but this shade suits you better.”

She opened the package. It was the perfect red sari ensemble.

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Posted in Life and After, Love

The Long Walk

It is a long walk down the aisle. My father holds my hand reassuringly while my mom sobs in the pew. He stands with the pastor looking perfect as ever but I can’t bring myself to smile.

Is it too late to cancel?

Is it wrong to wish for something other than perfection?

I pass by her and, for a second, her entire face lightens up but, then, the lights go out again. Her red-rimmed eyes mirror mine.

Is it too late to cancel?

Posted in Love, Nature

Honeymoon

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The long quiet walk through the sea of sand with you by my side…

The sight of warm air blowing through your long eyelashes…

The jingle in each step you take…

The walk to work now makes my heart skip many a beat, as I take each step with you, everyday, forever…


Photo by Fynn schmidt on Unsplash

Posted in Life and After

Bonded Labour

The wife enters the room at night, bone-tired after the cooking, cleaning, washing and nursing routine.

Husband: Did you iron the shirt I asked you to?

Wife: I did not get time today.

Husband: Really?! You were at home all day while I was slaving away my life at work…

Posted in Life and After

Family Honour

When parents arranged the marriage...

She: Please don’t make me marry him, I am in love with another.

Mother: Please understand my dear. It is a matter of our family’s honour.

When she returned after a few months of marriage…

She: Please don’t send me back. He drinks, beats and rapes me every night.

Mother: No! You must go back…for our family’s honour.

When she eloped with ‘another’

Mother: I wish she was born dead. She dishonoured our family.

Posted in Life and After

Arranged

It was difficult to start a conversation while our families milled around us. We had only ten minutes to decide.

She took out her phone ‘replying an urgent text’. I received a message from an unknown number, “Let’s run away from them all!”

She was smiling!

Posted in Life and After

Tiny Story: The Dream

His willowy wife slept in his arms but his sleep was gone after the nightmare: a girl in white–with a stocky frame, unimpressive black hair and eyes, and laughter lines–looked at him with a thousand accusations in her eyes as he stood at the back of the church. She, then, took vows with another man.

His heart felt hollow.

Posted in Life and After

Tiny Story: The Ring

She knew nothing about the man she had just married, as was usual in her community, and her stomach was in knots.

For the last ritual, the Pandit asked the couple to put their hands in the milkpot to find a gold ring. “Whoever finds it first rules forever”, he said smiling.

They both frantically searched for the ring until the groom’s fingers found hers inside the pot. Electric hummed between them and, quietly, he slipped the ring in her hand.

Posted in Life and After

Tiny Story: The Mother of the Bride

Year 1920

“Of course we don’t send our daughter to school. Who will marry her then?”

Year 2020

“We are sending her for a professional degree. Helps in finding good grooms.”

Year 3020

“Yes, she is in the team flying to Planet Isis. Heard there are many bachelors over there.”

Posted in Life and After

Tiny Story: The Silence

“Hey Girl!”

(Silence)

“What’s wrong?”

(Silence)

“I hope you did not give in to your mother’s threat. She thinks marrying a man will ‘cure’ you. But if you can’t bear the touch…”

(A gasp and silence)

“Look, I know! The entire group knows and we are okay!”

(A sigh and silence)

“I have a spare room if your mother doesn’t understand.”

(After a long silence) “Can you call an ambulance, fast?”

-Based on a true story