SEASONS OF LOVE

Seasons of love

Looking at the flower garlands that adorned the walls of our hall, I remembered the fight I had with mom a few weeks ago.

“No! I don’t want to get married now” I yelled at mom. But she wasn’t someone who would give up easily.

She yelled back, “why not? The boy is handsome, educated, good family background and settled. What is your goddamn problem?”

“I don’t believe this! We have been settled in Sydney for the last 27years, but you still believe in the “settled, educated Indian guy” why can’t you accept that I want to get married in my 30s? I am just 27 now”

“That is because in our hearts, we are still Indian and the customs are not going to change for you. For heaven’s sake you haven’t even met that guy yet Riya. Just meet him and then make your decision”

She wasn’t someone who would surrender easily, so was I, so I stormed out of the house to the nearby park.

The park had always been an emotional shelter for me. Whenever I was upset I would go there, sometimes sit for hours and comeback with a light mood and fresh ideas. That day, when I went to sit on my “bench of wisdom”, Uncle Sam was sitting there.

Uncle Sam, Mr. John Samuel, was our neighbor. He lived with his wife. His two sons were married and lived away. Though his name sounded foreign, yet he was of Indian origin. I had always wondered about it. They were Christians, yet his wife, Jasmine prayed in front of lord Krishna. I always wanted to ask, but never did thinking that it was none of my business.

“Hello uncle” I said.

“Hello sweetheart. How are you?”

“Not good. Not at all”

“What’s wrong? You mind sharing with me?”

“Its mom. I don’t know why she is after me to get married? That too arranged. For all I know that guy could be a serial killer”

Uncle nodded, “right. That can happen. Though it s rare, still a possibility. BTW do you like someone else?”

“No. I don’t. But I might, in future”

“Have you talked to the guy your parents have picked?”

“Only over phone”

“Did he sound like “serial killer” types?”

“I don’t know… he sounded extra nice.”

“Ok. Would you mind telling me what is it that you are against? Is it the guy?”

“No. the whole concept of arranged marriage is something I am against. I mean how can I spend my whole life with someone I hardly know? I mean look at my parents, what good did arranged marriage do to them? They can’t even agree on the same ice cream flavor. On the contrary, look at you and Jasmine aunty. I want someone who would make such a pair with me”

He thought for a moment. And then said, “Do you have some time to spare Riya? If yes I would like to tell you a story, at the end of which you might change your mind about arranged marriages”

“I hardly think so. But yes, I would give it a shot”

“The story dates back to 1970s and took place in India. The prime characters of our story are Samir and Jasminder. Our guy, Samir was working as an engineer and when it was time for him to get married, his parents picked up Jasminder for him.”

“Back in those days, guys and girls were not allowed to go out for dates even after their parents met. Samir had just seen Jasminder once when he went to visit their house, and fell in love with her.”

“There was no way by which they could talk. But there was a phone at Jasminder’s house. On the day of their engagement, Samir asked Jasminder for the number. Boy! She did play had to get even after the engagement. But Samir wasn’t someone who would give up easily. He told her that he loved her, to which she smiled. While Samir and his family were returning home after the ceremony, Jasminder slipped a piece of paper into Samir’s hand. On the paper was a number followed by a few instructions:”

“Call me only on Tuesdays between 5-7pm. If anyone picks up the phone except me, don’t say a word. If it’s me, I will refer to you as Sonia. If I call you by some other name that means someone is beside me and I can’t talk. And yes, I like you”

“Samir’s happiness knew no limits. Finally his story was coming on track. She was a dream come true. And that face of hers was brighter that a million moons shining together. Her eyes were like the deepest oceans and her laughter was like a wind chime. All in all she was gorgeous.”

I felt the necessity to intervene, “so they lived happily ever after?”

“Not just yet my dear. Twist comes soon” uncle smiled.

“So where were we? Ah yes! Everything was going great. They would talk over phone on Tuesdays and slowly they started talking every day. They met a few times even and they were like two love birds, made for each other. The love they had burned in their eyes.”

“Problem came, a big one. Just before a week a marriage, Samir’s family came to know that Jasminder was manglik that is she was born on a new moon day. It’s considered unlucky, and believed to prove fatal for the spouse’s life.”

“Samir’s parents were so holding on to the word “manglik” that they decided to call off the marriage. Nothing would change their mind. Both Samir and Jasminder were broken. They both knew they couldn’t live without each other. When Samir knew there was no way that they could be together, he made a decision”

“He prepared visa for himself and Jasminder and left India with her, with a note saying, “I am taking her to someplace where manglik doesn’t matter. I love her and she is the one for me.”

“And then they moved to Sydney, changed their religion so that no one ever bothers about her being manglik”

“Wow! That was some story. Stuff like that can’t exist for real” I said.

“Is that so? Do you know that I was once called Samir?” uncle said with a smile on his face.

“That was your story? And Jasminder is jasmine aunty? Your marriage was arranged and then you had love marriage? Why?”

“Because I love her, so does she. There is no difference in arranged and love marriage if two hearts love each other” he said.

 After that day, I talked to Gaurav, the boy my parents had picked for me, and today is the day we are getting married. Not to mention that we love each other.