Nirni

As one grows up,  in the Indian subcontinent,  marriages are arranged. 
This story revolves around a boy,  who was immature enough to get married,  shoved into the rat race of work and earning money and before he could realise his goals in life clearly,  he was put into an arranged marriage. 
As years go by,  he though bodily matured,  but emotionally still a boy gets involved into alcoholism,  smoking,  women,  gambling.  He took his arranged marriage as part of life's  adjustments. 
I  don't love you anymore is contradictory as he falls in love with his wife past 25 years of marriage,  whereby he realises,  friends who seemed friends actually,  were enemies in disguise.He goes for rehabilitation,  due to alcoholic tendencies but does not recover.  He does not succeed in business world and feels all these bad things that are happening to him is because of his wife.   She is the greatest bad luck in his life is what he feels. He never loved his wife,  from the first day of marriage,  took her just for sexual needs,  made her his 24*7 secretary,  beat her to pulp due to alcoholism and frustration.
But she never left his side. As years go by,  he sees his wife as the only strongest pillar of his life. So when at the age of 60, he thinks of telling her his true feelings for her,  his wife says that she has moved on in life.  Now that her children are grown up,  she is tired of his bickering and fights.  She confessed,  I don't love u anymore and goes to enrol in an old age home,  to live a life  without any pain and emotional struggle.

Even when you look at the book cover of two ducklings, here in this book, looking at opposite directions, this also has a lot of significance,  as per the storyline.  Both are in the same pail,  as in marriage,  at a young age, tied to the family, but both looking in opposite ways.  One into family bond,  taking care of in law's,  children,  daily grocery shopping,  cooking and doing all household chores.  The other has his life outward bound,  partying around,  drinks and friends, women,  gambling, earning money and travelling distant lands,  passports filled with visas of countries around the world, no strings attached to the family. 
As years fly by and things don't change in the scenario,  the wife at old age walks out of marriage, to lead a life as per her choice, at 62 years,  the man has now stabled up and looks forward to live his old age along with his wife,  but here is the cliche,  she simply walks out without looking behind to a life where she relentlessly always gave without any returns or favours asked. She walks towards an unknown voyage at old age where nobody expects anything from her and she does not expect anything from anyone, a house she would learn to call her home,  an old age home.....

This is my first attempt in weaving a story.  I would appreciate for a genuine feedback from my supporters in the form of comments,  votes and spirit stones.  
I was unwell for the past month and a half , so the speed has lessened,  but I will not fail in weaving my thoughtsand pen them down at the earliest.  Your genuine feedback will help spark my imagination.

I don't love u anymore

The months passed by and the date arrived.  Kir  and Ita  did a lot of shopping for their elder daughter and her would be relatives. 


In India, doing "kanyadaan",  giving away a daughter in marriage is deemed pious,  as if one is donating hundred cows in charity. 


In many parts of India,  dowry system still exists post  India  boasting with strict laws on punishment , if caught. Though it is done openly,  seldom people complain about giving dowry, where  a huge amount of cash and gold ornaments is sent along with the daughter, that is the new bride to her in-laws place.  It is called stree dhan, that the girl can use in times of trouble.  But alas,  most people use  girls as a bait for marriage,  eyeing on the amount of dowry to be received.  In some parts of India,  there is a lot of brutality after getting dowry or not getting dowry depending upon the thought process of the groom and his relatives.  In South India,  amongst a sect of Hindu, gold amounting to the weight of the would be bride is given to the groom as stree dhan .


Amongst people of bengal,  the cash is not kept as mode of transaction, mostly. Here dowry is given in kind.  As in television set, refrigerator,  air conditioning system,  double bed with mattress,  pillows and bed sheets and bed covers,  Almira,  dressing table,  cosmetics,  suit for the groom and relatives, car  for the groom (be it a four wheeler or two wheeler), gold ornaments,  prized clothings and beautiful silk or linen or dhakai  sarees, the rich give flats to live in too.  It's a money gambling resource which if utilised wisely  can be called good investments for the newly wedded bride and groom and the groom's  family. 


In the case of Ador,  her parents tried to give the best they could afford.  Nowadays education system as a career choice gives a lot of money.  During Kir  and Ita's working days,  education system brought in a lot of respect and prestige,  but the salaries were less. 


They gave the best teak wood king size bed,  branded mattress,  pillows,  bed sheets,  covers,  toiletries,  suitcases, gold ornaments for the bride and groom,  wooden wardrobe,  dress for Ika's daughter,  suitcases for Ika and Jay,  banarasi  Saree and suit  for them along with toiletries,  all branded.  The same they gave for Gopi  and Bali.  Kir gave utensils too of copper and steel,  a huge vase of brass,  clothing for the domestic helps too and around forty four pure silk sarees as namaskaree for the groom's  relatives,  nearby and distant ones. 


Plus the food that was to be served during those three days were the best of the best,  costliest items,  for everyone to remember the day of grandeur, to give the newly wed, blessings galore.


When Dev got down from the well decorated car , sent by Kir  to fetch him,  all of Kir  and Ita's relatives were jealous of the tall,  fair groom with features of a Greek God.  Ita was looking beautiful , in a traditional look welcoming her son in law,  by offering him sweets,  two silver coins in two palms of Dev and the must to do welcome Aarti.


Along with Dev came his friends and relatives,  the baraati  as we call them. Firecrackers lit up the night sky.  Refreshments were being served to all.  Unma was looking beautiful in a Saree.  She was giggling with her friends in a corner of the wedding hall.  The advocate had come to sign the wedding certificate. 


Dev was all laughter with his friends. At that time his aunt came to him.  He asked his aunt, " So how is Ador?  Is she good looking?  Did you like her?"


Her aunt replied with a gesture of two hands under both her armpits and said "she looks fat to me,  u did not notice it? "


This was not taken in  good humour by Dev and he left the venue,  saying he will not marry Ador.


6th December chaos