https://mouthshut.com/blog/ibhilqlpt/That-Thing-They-Do
They were our new neighbours. She was of my age. Her father moved his business from Bulandshaher to Delhi. She was eldest of three sisters. It took us a while to become good friends but once we were, then it became a beautiful bond that can and will never be broken. She was an ordinary girl, average in studies. But I feel everyone is special, has some godgift. She was bestowed with patience and positiveness.There was an aura on her face, the innocence in her eyes. She would love to talk about her hometown, her childhood memories and her two sisters, whom she loved a lot. She was an ideal “Big Sister”. We were always a perfect match because I am a short tempered person and she just knew the trick to cool me down in no time.
She came from a conservative family. Girls were given the education with the motive so that they can get a good match. Proposals started pouring as she passed 12th. It was quite upsetting for me, but she was ready. By the time she entered her 3rd year she was married. It was an influencial family of Bulandshaher. I could not be a part of her marriage as it was in her hometown and my parents were reluctant to send me alone there. I had no guts to tell her that but she understood my silence.
I was so restless to see her. I wanted to talk to her over phone. My and her parents advised me to give her some time to adjust in her “new home”. When she came to her parent’s place, I saw a different person. Not only she was tired and pale, but her aura and smile were also missing. I tried to talk to her, but her relatives and family affairs on her first visit left no room for us. She left without answering my many questions. I discussed it with my mother and she told me it sometimes takes a while for a girl to adjust.
I was busy with my studies, but kept an update on her visit. It would be there, and would cancel on last moment. Anyways, she came after 4 months. Dark circles, pale complexion – I was scared and worried. Marriages can’t be so bad. And if they do this to a girl then I am not getting married for sure. This time we talked. She told me, that the dowry was less than expected and now she has been sent to get some cash. She was ill-treated. Her father was worried and was trying to arrange so that she could go back, or else they would not accept her. I was baffled. Why are they not launching complaint against them? She told me that her parents are worried that it might bring bad name to the family, and her two younger sisters are yet to be married. People will not entertain people who drag their girl’s in-laws in legal matters. They somehow arranged and she went back.
She came back after few months, when she was on her family way. She was sent to her parents’ home for delivery. She gave birth to a very sweet baby girl. But this only added to her problems. A girl child was what her in-laws were not expecting her to deliver. They forced her to bring more money. She knew her parents financial condition and this time refused to go back to her parents’ house or bring money. She decided to stay and struggle there.
She would call me up occasionally whenever she could get chance as her inlaws never liked her talking over phone with anyone. She never wanted her parents to know, as they would be worried and would try to arrange so that their daughter could be happy.
to be contd..
