“We need to talk, I have no interest in this wedding, it was all my mom’s idea … I don’t have any interest in an arranged marriage. I always wanted a love marriage and I am really sorry, if I hurt your feelings… very sorry”
These were the lines Arun was thinking again and again. The reason was simple, his mom had seen a girl for him, they were about to go to her home for the customary practice in India, for seeing the bride. Arun had just returned home a week back from his work in Boston, to visit his family, and now he’s getting married.
Arun was quite terrified with the concept of an Arranged marriage, living the rest of your life with someone whom u hardly even know, which seemed pretty odd for him. Since for past 6 years he’s been in the USA. And hardly, ever thought he’d do an old fashioned arranged marriage. So he decided, he’d confront the girl whom he’s going to get married to, into dissolving the engagement by which his mother probably won’t plan something like this again. So he was actually rehearsing on what to say in his mind the whole morning.
Later that evening, Arun and his parents reached the bride’s house. They were greeted by the bride’s parents, and welcomed in a very special way that Arun felt royal. Both the parents, started talking about things – past, present and future. While Arun was being bored with this conversation had his eyes surveying the entire house, even though he was in the living room and hardly could see anything. He was by now, very curious to see the girl whom he’s supposedly to get married to, but also whom he would be dumping before he’d even get to know her.
Probably, the parents of the bride got some cue and asked their youngest son ,to take Arun to his sister, who happens to be the bride, for some moments of private talk. Arun got really nervous, his excitement was building up to see who this girl was… he had dreamed a lot about his future wife, so the walk to her room was a slow movie magic. He went to the door and knocked it, there opened a beautiful, saree clad angel.. His brain also put wings on her back to give her angel look..! He became speechless, like all men do when they see a girl as good as they imagined her to be, the girl introduced herself first before Arun could.. “ Hi, Am Padmini, you must be Arun”.
So, he started his moves of talking.. He started an unusual talk asking her about the saree first… he sounded like some lady asking the other woman’s possessions. Then, she felt weird and changed the topic, the best thing women do.! So, they started talking about their respective careers. Arun was a production manager in a big pharmaceutical company in Boston and padmini was a Research scientist at Cancer institute, Chennai. Since both their field of works was quite similar, their conversation drifted towards technology and their respective work. Arun had always thought that science didn’t have much value in India and people who do their research here don’t achieve a lot. But he was proven totally wrong after talking to padmini.
Arun for a moment had forgotten what he had come for.. He was reluctant to start off the talk about dissolving the engagement, he started to feel, may be his mom was right.. May be she’d make a better life partner for him than his choice. But then without thinking twice. He started to talk about his plans. What he wants to do, why he doesn’t want this arranged marriage.
Padmini interrupted him asking why he hated the concept of arranged marriage. So Arun started to let out his thoughts.. He said “ you know, I’ve never been in love. I’ve still haven’t found anyone who would make me fall blindly into love. Run behind them, woo them till they accept. Sing ‘truly,madly,deeply’ to her, go on a blind trip with her.. Basically lose my body, mind and soul to her. You being a girl won’t understand it.. You won’t..”
Padmini then replied “ hey, I’ve had my share of male stalkers, who say they fell in love with me at first sight, with not even a stupid reason. There was this guy in college who was behind me for 3 whole years even though I never even was a friend with him, he was such a stalker, all you guys are..”
“Ok, this is becoming a little sexist talk.. Let’s stop it.” It was Arun’s counter. He didn’t want to start a fight with her. So then he tried changing the topic.. He asked “ so have you loved anyone or been in a relationship before?” even before he could possibly imagine the reply he would get, she snubbed him saying “ just because you are a loud mouth telling me everything, doesn’t mean I have to do the same”.
This was getting a little bit embarrassing for him and uncomfortable for both. So padmini suggested moving out to the terrace. So Arun followed her. He was still having double thoughts. “ Trust his mother or make his own fate” his answer came quite soon, padmini said “ see I too don’t have any interest in this marriage, I just thought it would be unfair to hurt my parent’s wishes and I also thought I should see their selection before I get on with my life ahead.”
She told the same reason why, Arun had come to see her. Now, since both were out with their thoughts about the whole issue, the field of uncomfortably had broken, they felt quite free to talk to each other about a lot of different things from friends to foes, movies to fantasies, food and sports etc…
Arun started to like her a lot, her character and nature was pulling him towards her. He was actually falling in love with her without himself knowing about it. Padmini stood near the terrace wall overlooking the road below, her hair was loose and she had brushed it all to one side of her neck and it was flowing sensually across her left shoulder down to her breast, where his eyes wouldn’t dare to wander much. There was a bright moon light on a full moon’s day, and Arun felt that she was glowing under the moon light. The sight of her against the moon light felt so magnetic, that without realizing it, he said.. “Marry me… Be my wife.. forget what we talked about before. I think I am in love with you, and please don’t say no”
Padmini smiled and asked “ what about the whole dream thing, you falling crazy in love, singing truly,madly,deeply to her??”
Arun was very excited, he went on his knees and said “ well, haven’t I fallen crazy in love with you… love happens .. It just happens, and I am ready to sing ‘truly, madly, deeply’ to you anytime you want..” and he also started singing it to her.
Padmini couldn’t control her smile, it turned into a blushing laughter. Even though she didn’t tell him directly, she too had fallen in love with him in their half hour talk. She said ‘yes’ to him. Their arranged engagement had blossomed into a beautiful love.
Arun and padmini got married a month later in a grand wedding followed by a even more grand wedding reception. Finally, his mother was right.. It couldn’t have been better than this for Arun!
after all, the Indian Arranged marriages still work !
