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

Dev did not utter a word and bent down to take the blessings of Kir and Ita. He looked at Unma for a brief second and looked away.  He then went inside the car.  Ador who was sobbing,  badly,  could not believe she married him, that also against his wishes and against all odds. She was tensed as to what would be waiting for her in her in-laws place.  She looked at Ita  teary eyed and said, "Mummam,  this is the life I had chosen,  so don't feel guilty.  Take care of Papa and Unma.  Love you"  and she left her home without looking back once,  for fear they would understand  that she was fearing her future. 


Dev did not utter a word to Ador on the entire journey back home. Neither did he glance at her.  He was tired after all and closed his eyes to get some rest.  He was thinking,  back home what would Bali do, create a scene or to let him go unscathed. 


When Ador entered her in law's  place,  that she would be calling her new home,  was longing for her parents love.  She missed them already in a two hour journey. 


She was welcomed to Durgabari(her in law's  home)  in grandeur.  Someone told her to wait outside till the milk in the steel utensil had boiled on the stove and poured out,  on its own, deemed as auspicious.  Then her mother in law Gopi welcomed her home.  Just like any traditional Hindu marriage there were some games post wedding which groom and bride need to play.  It happened in Durgabari   too.  Dev, who became his usual cool self with friends and family,  won every game,  be it finding the bride's ring in a utensil filled with milk,  roses and small small conch shells  and other rings  of other ladies dropped in the milk.  He also won karee,  a game of shells,  to see who brings in wealth, to the family. He was all geared up to put Ador in back foot,  wherever he found opportunity. And in the final game, when Ador was told to catch hold of a very slippery fish in a bowl of muddy water,  she failed in her two attempts.  Everybody laughed as she was losing.  Lastly she could catch hold of the fish by the head. 


She told to herself,  that at the end of the day,  she did emerge as the winner, after all. This ended the day.  Now started the kalratri,  wherein both groom and bride would not be seeing each other. Both slept in separate rooms after a tiring day. 


Bali,  as per his son's  tantrum organised two wedding receptions,  one for family and friends,  the other for his corporate clients.  He too made it a lavish affair,  cause Dev was his only son.  Tolly club,  an eminent club of Kolkata was booked for reception.  Wines flew like river.  Everyone was raising a toast. 


Dev looked dapper in a white blackberry suit that Kir  and Ita had given him. There was live orchestra and people dancing around,  merry making. 


Ador's  relatives who were making fun of her behind her back, on her day of marriage,  were present here too. They were green with envy. 


Some took the advantage of getting on the good books of Bali  and Dev. 


At the end of both days of reception,  all relatives left,  both from groom and bride's end, with the gifts that Kir and Ita had showered for marriage. 


Durgabari was peaceful with only four inhabitants from the immediate family along with the usual domestic help,  cook and chauffeur  along with Adhi,  who  used to pay visit twice daily.


A new chapter