“Mehndi Laga ke Rakhna, Doli saja ke rakhna….” and the song continued playing in the background!
Rashi grinned triumphantly. At last, both families had acceded to their unremitting requests. Red Choora, exquisite jewellery and impeccable make up, she looked resplendent. The day finally came when she was getting married to the love of her life; what more she could have wished for! Her dream was taking shape and her happiness knew no bounds! Ecstatic, she was waiting for her groom to arrive.
“Tum jo aaye jindagi me baat ban gayi…”
Angad looked into Rashi’s eyes while exchanging jaimala and she felt a twinge of nervousness. Wedding jitters were palpable, her life was going to change for “Forever”! But was it only her life going to change? It was the marriage of (Equals) and she believed that both of them will make it work and will have a blissful life ahead.
Laughing heartily with her friends, while Rashi was enjoying and relishing at the moment; Angad whispered in her ears, “Do not smile so much, be a coy bride.” And her heart ached for was it the same Angad who talked about “Equality”? She gazed at him intently while he seemed busy greeting guests and friends with loud guffaws.
10 hours of arduous wedding rituals on the first day came to an end; Rashi bade farewell to her family and looked forward to her “new” life. Her enthusiasm was slowly ebbing away and exhaustion was taking over. Fatigued, she entered into Angad’s home, sense of enervation loomed large as she changed into a heavy brocade sari for performing another set of mandatory customs. Angad felt a sigh of relief into a light kurta pajama. Looking at him, she yearned for her salwar kameez but was it possible? Red heavy sari with the long ghoonghat, sindoor in her forehead, mangal sutra, toe rings, glass bangles, and anklets- without them, she had no identity “now”. Choked and bewildered, she was not sure if this is what she was looking forward to! She desperately needed to speak to Angad and seek solace in his company but he was busy with his family exploring the gifts while exchanging friendly banter with his cousins.
The “celebrations” followed for another few days; it was time now for Rashi to go back to her parents’ home. Excitedly, she changed into her comfort dress and was geared up to go back to her own self.
“You have to wear a sari at our home, change it immediately and come back before 6 P.M.”; retorted her Mother-in-Law. Sheepishly, she went back to her room and looked at Angad for she coveted his attention and support.
“It is just a matter of a few days, why do you have to go against their wishes. Why can’t you adjust? You are the bride and you need to accommodate and make “slight” changes in your lifestyle to maintain the equilibrium at “our” home! The onus is on you to keep everyone happy!”
And now she had understood completely that it was not the marriage of Equals. But she was now ready to defy the norms and not get into “unequal, unfair and unhappy partnership.”
Politely, she refused to change into a sari and told Angad, “Let us take the joint responsibility of making the marriage work and flourish! Let us make it a marriage of Equals!”
