Arrange Marriage - A Short Story

"Hey Ishita. Congratulations. Wow! You are getting engaged. I'm so happy. And you're looking so pretty." Nehal spoke incessantly, as she entered my house to attend my engagement function. Clearly, she was so excited.

"Thank you." I said as she hugged me.

"And where's Kartik. I want to meet him."

"You have to wait. He's getting ready. And you also should get ready. The ceremony is about to start"

"I will. There's plenty of time. First tell me your story."

"What Story?"

"Your Story. Story of you and Kartik."

"Ours is arrange marriage. You know that."

"So? Every arrange marriage have a story."

"Ok." I started, as it was the only option to control Nehal's overflowing exhilaration. "Kartik's family come to our home to-"

"No." She interrupted me. "I want to know from the beginning."

"But, this is the beginning. My first meeting with Kartik."

"No. Not from the first meeting. From the first time you've heard about Kartik."

"Ok." I took a long pause, thought about a while and then, started to narrate. "It was a Sunday morning and..."

"Wake up Ishita. Or turn the alarm off. It's Sunday." Viharika, my roommate, spoke in irritated voice.

I extended my hand to reach the phone which was breaking the silence of peaceful Sunday morning. It wasn't the alarm, someone was calling me. I took the phone in my hand and looked at the screen by opening just one eye. It was my mother.

"Hey mom." I said in sleepy voice.

"Still sleeping? It's already 10." Mom said.

"Mom it's Sunday. Let us sleep na."

"Ok ok. No problem. I just wanted to talk."

"Talk? Now?"

"Yes."

"Is it important?"

"Umm. kind of."

For a moment, I wondered what's so important on Sunday morning. Was everything alright? What she needed to talk? Then suddenly, one thought stroked in my mind. At this stage, there's only one thing important to her.

"Is it about my marriage?" I asked.

"Yes."

"What's so hurry mom?"

Viharika, who was listening the conversation of one side got up in a flex. Obviously, she got the idea what was going on.

"You first get up and freshen up. We will talk later. Soon." Mom said, purposely pressurizing the word 'Soon'.

Mom hung up the phone. I sighed.

"Wow! Someone is getting married soon." Viharika started to tease me.

"No. They just wanted to talk." I told, without looking at her.

"Talk what?"

"I don't know." I paused. "May be they just wanted to know whether I'm ready or not."

"Ready? You're dying to get married. It's on your face." She laughed. She never misses a chance to mock me.

"Shut up." I told her and got out of bed.

I got freshen up and had breakfast. Two hours later, mom called again. Viharika sat up in front of me. So she can collect more materials to tease me later.

"Ya. Tell me. What you wanted to talk?" I asked mom.

"Well listen, I know you don't want to spoil your Sunday. But today morning, we got a very good marriage proposal for you. His name is Kartik." Mom said. Without wasting a bit. "The family is very good."

"And what's Kartik do?" I counter questioned her.

" Wow!  You really are dying to get married." Viharika raised her eyebrows naughtily and whispered. I signalled her to keep quiet.

Mom spent next ten minutes describing Kartik and his family. I only said 'Hmmm', 'Ok', 'Ya' in between. Everything was sounded good. Then she went straight to the question I was afraid of.

"So what do you think? Should we go ahead?"

I looked up straight in Viharika's eye. She had no idea what I was asked for. I took a little longer to reply back.

"Ishita?" Mom broke my thought process.

"Ya."

"Tell me. Should we go ahead or not?"

"I don't know mom."

"There's no hurry. Take your time. And think calmly."

"Ok." I don't know what else to say. My thinking ability stopped that time.

Mom hung up the phone. Viharika asked me what happened. I told her everything. She advised there's no harm meeting up the person. After a long thought I called my mom back and told her that its ok to setup a meeting. She felt happy and blessed me.

After almost two months, we scheduled a meeting. Kartik's family is coming at our home. Everybody was happy as well as tensed regarding what will happen. I wore Light Coral saree with very limited accessories. When Kartik's family arrived, I was in my room. And I was told to remain there until further instruction.

Seated in drawing room, my family and Kartik's family started talking to each other. They discussed family background and occupations of each other. Then my family started talking with Kartik. They asked about his jobs and hobbies along with future plans and all. Then my mom came in my room to call me. I followed her. But instead of taking me to drawing room, she took me to the kitchen. And handed over the tray which contained snacks for the guests. Then she signalled me to go out.

My heartbeats increased as I stepped in drawing room. Everyone was looking at me. I don't know whether it was shyness or nervousness, but I couldn't look up. I placed the tray on center table and sat beside my father. I always feel assertive around him.

Kartik's family started talking to me. It was like an interview. And there were 7 members in interview panel, including Kartik. From my job profile to my hobbies and my extra-curricular activities, they directed a series of questions to me. But they never made me uncomfortable. I also answered confidently. Kartik didn't talked to me directly, but he was looking at me secretly in-betweens. After numerous question, they told me and Kartik to go to the room to talk separately. We went ahead to our room. Kartik didn't say anything. So, I started.

"Hello." I said.

"What? A hello. Don't you have anything better to say?" I shouted in my mind.

"Hi." Kartik replied.

"Should I keep the door opened or not?" I asked stupidest question. "What are you doing Ishita?" I said to myself.

"No, let it be. Not a problem." He replied, calmly.

We sat on chairs. Kartik is a shy person. So I started the talk. I asked about his hobbies, future plans, cultural and sports interest and all. He also asked few questions about myself. But in general, I asked him more questions than he asked me. 10 minutes later, mom knocked the door and signalled us to come out. When we were about to leave the room, I stopped him.

"I want to ask you one more question." I said.

"Sure, Go ahead." He replied.

"What are your expectation from your life partner?" I asked.

Tough question for him I guessed, as he took some time to answer.

"My future life partner should accept me as I am and should be able to adjust with me and my family." He replied.

I appreciated his answer with a smile. As we had nothing more to discuss at that time, we stepped out and joined the elders. After little casual talk, Kartik's family left.

After Kartik's family left, every member of my family gathered around me. They wanted to know my answer. I asked for some more time to think. So my dad asked me one question.

"Just tell me one thing. If they say yes, what will be your reply?"

I didn't know what to say. But I have to answer anyway. Sooner or later. And after careful thinking, I said-

"My answer is.."

Everybody was looking at me like I was about to make some lottery announcement. So I purposely took a pause to create suspense, looked at each person one-by-one and said-

"YES."

Everyone was cheering. I was happy too as well as little anxious. It was a big decision and I took very little time for it. But sometimes its ok to go with your gut feeling.

Well, my family took the decision, but on the other hand, Kartik didn't even think anything. When being asked, he said he couldn't decide and wanted to meet one more time. But we were leaving far apart and it was decided that we talk over the phone. We exchanged the number via a common relative.

On scheduled time, I was waiting for the call. Viharika was teasing me as usual. As soon as my phone rang, my heartbeat increased. Viharika told me to put him on speaker, so she can mock me later. I didn't do it and spoke to Kartik standing in Balcony. We talked for 10 to 15 minutes.

Even after talk over the call, Kartik didn't give final answer, as he wanted some more time to think.

Few days later, we went to my cousin's marriage. We were enjoying the function. Some were dancing, while some people were enjoying food. Uncles were discussing politics and sports, while aunties were gossiping and talking about dressing and jewellery of groom and bride. Meanwhile, my mom approached me and whispered in my ear to step aside.

When I went with her, my dad, brother, uncles and aunties were already waiting for me. I wondered what was going on. My mom looked at me, held my hand and said with a smile on her face-

"They said 'YES'." 'They' obviously means Kartik's family.

Everyone was so happy. With tears in our eyes, I hugged dad. We couldn't say anything as emotions stopped our voice. Dad then called Kartik's family and finalize the 'Rishta'. And announced the news to some close relatives. Now, along with Bride and Groom, everyone was congratulating me and my family. Few moments later, I received a message. It was from Kartik.

I also wanted to ask one more thing. So I continued the chat.

I didn't know, why I asked this question. I didn't know whether I wanted answer or not. But, something inside me, was seriously hoping for an answer. And the answer I received was surely worthy.

"And then..."

"Ishita, come here." Someone shouted from behind. Braking my story telling to Nehal and bringing us back to present time. "It's time for the ceremony."

"Yes. Coming" I replied and got back to Nehal. "Go and get ready. We have to go."

"But your story?"

"We'll do remaining story later."

"When?"

"After the ceremony. May be." I told her as I went to attend the ceremony. "Wait for it."

-- Purvit Soni