It was 3rd July 1989. The most memorable day of my life. The
pinch of the sultry summer was being manifested by the profuse sweating from my
entire body. It was past eleven - approaching midnight. My bhabi (sister-in-law)
literally pushed me inside the room and closed the door from outside. Although
fully aware of the occasion I was a bit nervous. There I was, all alone in the
company of the girl whom I married just a couple of days back. I had not even
seen her face well. Since my parents had finalized the marriage without asking
for my opinion, I had decided not to see the bride before the marriage. I did
not know much about her except that she was a post graduate in science and the
daughter of a commerce professor. And I never got the chance to exchange a word
with her. This was for the first time that I was going to be face to face with
her. Although we had tied the nuptial knot and taken the vow to remain man and
wife for life, we were still strangers to each other.
She was sitting quietly on the floral bed, clad in a
dazzling red zari saree, her face partly hiding under the ghunghat (veil).
I was not able to decide how to begin with. Should I lift her veil? Or
should I just begin the conversation by asking her the name?? I was in a fix. I
was lost in the ocean of my thoughts. The musical clock struck 12 and I came
back to the reality of the situation. I was feeling awkward. I was unable to
digest the fact that the girl was none other than my wife, my own wife - the
girl who, by virtue of having married me, had become a part of my life. I could
hardly realize that I had absolute right on her; her body, her mind, her
thoughts, her soul, her everything. I was sitting on the chair in one corner of
the room and brooding over my next course of action. I did not know how much
time had passed. Finally the silence was broken by a few sweet words ringing
like the cooing of the Koel, "Won't you come here? To me?? Are you not
happy with this marriage???"
I was chuckled - dumbfounded. Who was it? The voice was
coming from the bridal couch. A looked up. A pair of large tear-bedimmed eyes
from under the veil was staring at me. I was perturbed by the melancholic look
on her face. A string in my heart's beena trembled in distress……… Am
I not doing injustice to her by not speaking at all? A sense of guilt
overwhelmed me. Slowly I went up to the floral bed and sat close to her. I
lifted her veil a bit and looked into her deep blue large eyes. Tears were
still oozing out of her eyelids. I begged her pardon for my uncalled for
indifference and apologetically requested her to stop the tears. Gradually she
became normal and a ray of charging smile flashed on her face. I asked, ”Will
you tell me your name?” “Don’t you know that?” she questioned. “Yes I do”, I
quipped, “I have heard it from others, but I want to hear it from you.” She
laughed and the tense atmosphere got diluted.
We then talked, talked and talked. There was no specific
topic. We told each other about ourselves, about our likes and dislikes, about
our college life, about our friends and about a lot more things. Finally she
asked why I did not go to see her before marriage as it was a common custom in
our society. I told her frankly that I had full faith in the choice of my
parents and since the marriage had already been finalised I did not feel the
necessity to honour the custom and ruin the suspense of that fateful night.
Her face was brightening up. Probably she was appreciating
my frankness deep in her heart. She stared at me for a while. Then suddenly she
sprang up and put both her arms around my neck, her head resting on my
shoulder. She sobbed as she told," You are not an ordinary man- you are
extra-ordinary. I am really fortunate enough to get you as my life partner. I
had absolutely no idea that there could be such a tender, loving heart
underneath your fierce bearded look. I am really proud of you. And I promise to
be with you in all adversities. Nothing in the world can ever separate
us." I was moved by her words and held her in tight embrace. I switched
off the lights and in the darkness two souls mingled to become one and
inseparable. Two hearts had started beating together with divine bliss.
This post has been written for Housing.com and their #together campaign.
Check out the below link: https://housing.com/
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