Complicated Relations
- Writers Pouch
- Dec 1, 2014
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 4
I: Her Marriage
It has just been a month since Preeti graduated. Rather than applying for an engineering job, she preferred to take the bank exams, as she had not been placed in a multinational company. One morning, her father said, “I haven’t told you, but I have been wanting to get you married, and finally, I found a boy who is completely suitable for you.”
Looking at her shocked face, he continued saying, “The boy is attractive and earns around ninety thousand a month in InfoTech, a software enterprise.”
Preeti was terrified as she listened to her father. She had many fears ever since her adolescence, but the marriage wasn’t just fear. It was terror. Her father paused for a response as she digested what she had just heard. He understood that she was unprepared for his proposal.
However, since he considered it to be his responsibility to get her married, he continued, “I know it is hard for you to accept getting married. However, considering the circumstances, you must get married someday. So I have taken utmost care in selecting this boy, and so I assure you that every aspect of him is perfect!”
Preeti could do nothing but nod her head. She firmly believed that she couldn’t share her problem. Even if she tried, she knew her parents would not be supportive, as it is taboo in India. She also knew that even if they agreed to her request, people in their neighbourhood would look down on their family for the rest of their lives.
Unable to express her problem, Preeti replied, “Father, I have never thought of marriage. I would need some time.”
That afternoon, after lunch, Preeti and her mother were chit-chatting about various family issues when her mother randomly brought up marriage. She wanted Preeti to accept it and assured her that the boy was well disciplined and fairly religious. She thought that he was the perfect groom for her.
Preeti was a bit taken aback after the chat and wanted to confess, unable to hold it in any longer. However, just before she started, her mother continued, “Your father’s health is deteriorating, and in the recent medical tests, it has been confirmed that he has both diabetes and high blood pressure. Moreover, your marriage issue is making him tense.”
Listening to her mother, Preeti didn’t utter a word. Realising that her father hoped to get her married at any cost, Preeti decided to share her problem with the boy herself at their first meeting. After planning her course of action, she agreed to get married, and her father’s happiness knew no bounds.
Within two weeks, both families met. After an hour of formal talks, Preeti and Rahul were given some privacy. Both of them went to the lawn, and Rahul honestly admitted, “You look beautiful, more than you did in the photos.”
This made Preeti slow down in her confession. However, since it was her only chance, she ignored all the consequences before spitting out, “Rahul, you are handsome, but I have always been only interested in girls!”
II: Deal!
Preeti felt Rahul was subdued and stood still, silently, for a few minutes. Immediately afterwards, he said, “That should not be a problem. Even after marriage, your freedom will not be curtailed. Your girlfriend can keep visiting you, and I will not touch you until you give me your consent.”
Preeti could not believe what she just heard. She expected he would make a scene of the issue and would reject the marriage at any cost.
Soon enough, Rahul walked back to the drawing room before interrupting all of the family members by declaring, “We want to get married as soon as possible!”
While being congratulated, Preeti could not quite understand where Rahul was headed. Without a clue or a proper justification for his actions, Rahul married Preeti. However, Preeti tried many times to convince Rahul not to marry her, but he assured her that everything would be fine.
