It was almost midnight and as usual, there was no cab available around the airport. I pulled out my phone to book a cab online. For my panic, I glanced almost ten missed calls from my mother, I got scared and directly phoned my ma but she didn't acknowledge me, I got anxious and my heart plopped out. I shortly reserved a taxi from the online application on the phone and it took nearly fifteen minutes to catch up with the destination. We immediately drove towards my house, the wide highway was peaceful and the chill was fluttering on the window glass. The moment I arrived at my flat, I flung a hundred rupees note and before the motorist could have refunded back the change I went on running to my flat. As my lodging is on the first floor I generally prefer steps rather than the elevator. without ruining a second I hauled on and ran off to ring the doorbell. My ma opened the door and I apparently noticed a slight smile on her face, I clutched her and inquired if she was okay and the purpose for all those ten phone calls which I skipped. She laughed and sat on an aged wooden chair lecturing me to join her. I was however troubled and wished to understand if everything was alright. I stepped quietly and stood by her side, she pulled my hand and kissed on my forehead.
I learned something suspicious was happening and not often my mother used to pamper me without any intentions. I stared into her eyes in an urge to get explanations to all my questions. She muttered, " I found an excellent match for you" She is Bengali and looks quite beautiful".
Not again Ma, I explained to you and Baba that I am not interested in these arranged weddings and is this the time to discuss weddings? It's already too late and I am exhausted, I answered back angrily.
But, what's wrong in arranged marriages? I like her and she is of the similar cast as well, expressed she.
Oh, Ma! Why do you need me to get wedded so soon? Am I not happy? Or do I put on any problem? Let's end this conversation for a while, reacted I.
Next dawning I got up about ten, baba had already left for his shop and my ma was sitting next to the little chapel of the lawn.
I stepped down the notches and wished her good morning but I didn't receive any answer. I realised that she was quite mad at the previous night conversation. I prevented her and headed back to the living room and switched on the TV to play some melodies. I reclined there to relax while I saw my mom coming along with a priest (pastor), she invited him to settle on the old sofa nearby and took off to fetch some water. I stood clueless, I understood she kept a good plan to convince me this time. In an extent, she returned back with a cup of tea and some sweets.
I was stagnant and had no idea what to do and hence agreed on to remain quiet. My ma yanked a photograph from the furniture behind and whispered, " She is the one, how is she, Pandit Ji?
Well, I guess she and your son will make an ideal pair. Do one thing, get her Kundli and we will evaluate further, answered Pandit Ji.
Wait, what's going on? Ma, I expected you to stop this, why do you want me to get married, shouted I.
Great, no one understands my suffering. I always wished for a baby girl. I had a miscarriage, I grieved, I miss the presence of a daughter but that's me, who cares? Now when I want you to get married you don't care for, Cried she.
Ma, stop, please. Why are you weeping? I can't see you crying, alright ma if you chose the girl and if you feel that she is perfect for me and this family I am willing to get married.
Really? You are ready, thank you, son, I am so happy today and believe me she is truly wonderful and adorable by behaviour. I met her on a matrimonial site and found her precise for you. She is an extremely remarkable girl, informed my mom
Months flew, ultimately, the day of the marriage fetched closer, everyone was excited and the whole building was adorned like an elegant bride. I glimpsed a gorgeous woman walking down the aisle towards me, she was startling. For an instant my heart skipped a wink, I felt excited assuming about her attractiveness and imagining a beautiful life with her. For the relatively initial time, I was feeling sinful to question my mother's selection and wished to thank her for the best bride I could have ever wondered about.
Months ended with bunches of memories and enjoyment. I knew I had a family and commitments, I asked her to think about her job and career as it was difficult to inhabit a luxury life with a single basis of income. She denied and told me that she wished to remain at home and take care of the house and family, I agreed on to appreciate her decision, after all, it was her life.
It was an active day at the department, I was stuck with work when unexpectedly got a buzz from baba, I promptly responded to the call and got panicked on overhearing the painful word of my mother's accident. She was admitted in the hospital and her right leg was smashed. It was a disturbing moment for me, I almost lost my senses and headed to the sanitarium. Thereupon, entering the ward I acknowledged that my wife was not there, I got on to my baba and asked him about her. He stared into my eyes and recited, " she didn't come".
What? Why baba? Is she alright? queried I.
Yes! She is, but she wished to stay at home and relax. I am sorry son, I understand you were occupied but still phoned you.
No, Baba, I m never busy for you both, you are my family but I can't understand why did she refuse to come?
It's alright son, she must be exhausted.
Within an hour my mother was discharged from the clinic and was advised to take complete bed rest.
We arrived home, it was an awful day. I directly went to my room to discover my wife and for my impatience saw her laying on the mattress and watching star wars.
It was very shocking, I hiked close to her and asked her if she was alright?
She bobbed her head without actually looking at me and said, "I am not feeling well, ask your mom to prepare dinner".
Mom? Ma is not well too, she has got a fracture in her right leg and she can't move.
So? I am not well and I don't wish to cook, and if your mom can't help then you manage by yourself, howled she.
What has happened to you? How are you behaving? She is like your mama and she needs you, I pleaded with her.
She curled backwards and ordered me to get out of the room. It was upsetting, I felt devastated, I wanted to talk to her and learn the intention for her weird behaviour but she refused and slammed the door on my face.
Next day was a little crucial, I knew she was not in a decent mood but had no knowledge of her immediate mood swings. I bussed her forehead and asked her to take care of herself and family, she nodded with a slight smile and walked into the kitchen. I was satisfied with her indication and calmly walked out. It was Tuesday, and I was done with almost all my chores, I took half day leave and chose to leave home quicker. On the way back, I paid for some Samosas to make my wife's mood happy as she was very fond of them.
Within ten jiffies I reached out of my flat, I hastily snatched the packet of snacks and nearly ran. I reached up I found that the central door was broad open, I directly went to my mother's room but couldn't locate her. I was scared to not see her resting and assumed that she might be sitting in the yard. But for my distress, she wasn't found there, I hurried to my room addressing my wife and what I saw there shredded my soul. I saw my wife involved in her phone and my mother was mopping the floor. My senses got disgruntled and I cried out, " what's going on? Why is ma cleaning the floor? "
"I am not feeling well", responded my wife.
"But you know that ma can't work, her leg is broken. If you don't like to work then don't but why are you making her work?"
Oh, so you mean to say that I am your slave? I dislike the moment I tied the knot with you. It seems I am here to work and take care of everyone. I don't have my life and privacy at all" Cried she.
What are you speaking? When did we expect you to be a slave? You got all the luxury here, my parents treated you as a daughter.
I am not their daughter and I have tied the knot with you, I don't have anything to do with your parents and their comfort.
I think I was mistaken, you are not worth being a wife, you are insensitive women. And the reality is that you hate my parents. You know your behaviour impels me to dislike you, I cried out angrily and snatched my mom's hand to walk her down the veranda.
It was not more than a few minutes when abruptly I saw my wife running down the steps along with a huge brown suitcase. She quietly walked out of the house towards the street. I ran back to stop her and speak about the unnatural behaviour but before I could stop her she reclined in a huge yellow cab and perished. For the very first time in my existence, I realised that I was not a good companion neither was a good son. I missed balancing between both of them and couldn't keep anybody happy.
Following day I was about to ride for the office when I saw my wife strolling out of a vehicle along with her brother. She ran to me and hugged me close, for a second I felt everything was okay and she returned back, I assumed that she might have realised her faults and preferred to stay with us peacefully, but I was wrong. She shuffled in and yelled that it was her right to stay and she was not going to abandon my house. I was surprised, I felt broken listening to her screaming on me and my family. She strode to my baba and asked him to leave his business and stay at home taking care of his wife and family, she screamed on my mother asking her to do chores and cook.
I was out of my wisdom, I held her hand and dragged her out of the house and warned her to never return back. I saw her real face and identity, I then at that moment agreed on to divorce her and stay lonely but happy.
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It took a lot of time and wealth but, at last, we are separated from each other, I am no more a married guy but I am satisfied. I am happy to see that my family is joyful and nobody is there to disrespect them and harm them. Well, it was certainly a failed relationship but I have learnt a lot from this stint. I have realized the importance of families, there unconditional love and respect.