Marriages are made in Heaven - Part II

Why are they not calling me on to the stage? Why is it taking so much time? What had happened? My aunts had informed me earlier that it won’t take more than 10 min for me to be on stage once they reach.. Now, it seems as though more than half an hour had gone….

I saw my family members gathered around his family. No one had informed me of such a custom before marriage. Why are they having a pleading expression? What has gone wrong?

I could hear murmurings going around… a word which I had hated the most caught my ears.

“Dowry!!!”

Even though, our family was respectable one, I could see them pleading with his family.
I could never ever take the insult of my family. They have taken care of me in such a good manner and taught me to have all the goodness to be a self respectable individual. Now, if my family is losing theirs just for sake of my marriage. Then it’s much better not to get married.

The voice urged me to go onto the stage and speak to them directly. At least this time, I have to hear my voice and make sure that others also get a chance to hear it.

I started walking in the direction of the stage not caring about what the beautician had told a little while ago.

“Paaa…. Please don’t go on pleading with them! If they don’t have the money to take care of me after my marriage, why should I get married to him? “ …. “You and all our family members have already taken care of my marriage by spending so much…. You have taught me to secure a respectable position in the society…. “


“It doesn’t matter whether I get married or not to this guy… what matters most for me is my families respect. And I don't want it to be lost for my sake. As long as, you people are there with me, I don’t have to worry whether I am married or not.”

My uncle spoke… "Beti, it seems for teaching him and for securing him such a job they had spend lots of money. They are expecting from us, so he can set up his own firm"

"Uncle… I am sorry for speaking out….But, Isn't it true that my Maa and Paa have spent so much for my education and bringing up also!! How can they say that teaching and bringing up a boy costs more when we have the same fee everywhere?? Don't we, the daughters of a family, have any identity of our own other than that of a paraaya dhaan?? "

I turned on to face the person with whom I should have tied the knot.

“As I am taught to respect elders as well as by considering your family for the past few months as my own family…. I feel little awkward to speak to them in a harsh tone… Just got one thing to say to you, the person who should have been my better half by this time if everything had went fine !!"

I paused and continued. "If you are not able to take care of a girl after marriage by your own money rather than the amount she brings in with her family, also if you and your family are not able to give respect to that girl and her family without considering it on the basis of the amount she brings in. For everyone’s sake, I am just letting you know one thing that you don’t deserve to be getting married at all!! Also, in my lifetime, I will be happy for taking this decision of not marrying you!! "

I started walking back, trying hard to fight back those tears from running down….not for that guy who promised to keep me happy lifelong but for that family who had constantly made sure that each and every second of my life is filled with happiness, for which they are ready to sacrifice anything!!