When her mom had thrust that picture in her hand casually asking, “What
do you think of him?” she had no clue it would become the most important face
in her life. “He’s okay”, she had said matching her mum’s tone even though her
heartbeat had climbed up a notch. Then that weekend she met him for coffee.
Even in that short hour she had felt at ease because he had seemed completely at ease despite the whole ‘arranged
marriage’ rigmarole.
do you think of him?” she had no clue it would become the most important face
in her life. “He’s okay”, she had said matching her mum’s tone even though her
heartbeat had climbed up a notch. Then that weekend she met him for coffee.
Even in that short hour she had felt at ease because he had seemed completely at ease despite the whole ‘arranged
marriage’ rigmarole.
Yes she liked him, she had told her mum. She really did.
A month later after a few phone calls and dinners with him she’d
found herself engaged. And another few months later here she was.. Married. A
Married Woman! She vaguely remembered reading a book by that name, a book that
didn’t have nice things to say about marriage. Quickly she banished those
thoughts.
found herself engaged. And another few months later here she was.. Married. A
Married Woman! She vaguely remembered reading a book by that name, a book that
didn’t have nice things to say about marriage. Quickly she banished those
thoughts.
That’s what she’d done since the day of her engagement- banished all thought of what marriage would be like. Mercifully she barely had had much time
what with completing the shopping and finishing her work assignments before she
went on leave.
what with completing the shopping and finishing her work assignments before she
went on leave.
She sat in her new home while her new husband pottered around in the kitchen. He had offered to make tea while she refreshed herself after the long road journey. All those feelings, long suppressed, seemed to have woken up now and were
clamouring to be recognised. Nervousness, excitement, happiness,… and DREAD. A wave of homesickness
hit her.. Hard. And the dread!
How did I get myself into this? An educated, independent
girl like me.. in an arranged marriage? For godsake who goes in for an arranged
marriage these days? How much do I really know this man? She asked herself.
What if he turns out to be an alcoholic, a wife beater or worse?.. she was alone.. all alone with this stranger.
girl like me.. in an arranged marriage? For godsake who goes in for an arranged
marriage these days? How much do I really know this man? She asked herself.
What if he turns out to be an alcoholic, a wife beater or worse?.. she was alone.. all alone with this stranger.
Jerkily she got up from the sofa upsetting the bottle of water at
the side table. Crash!!!! The bottle went crashing down taking with it a bunch
of knick knacks. “Are you okay?” he called out from the kitchen. “Yes”, she managed to
croak, her words stuck in her throat.
the side table. Crash!!!! The bottle went crashing down taking with it a bunch
of knick knacks. “Are you okay?” he called out from the kitchen. “Yes”, she managed to
croak, her words stuck in her throat.
She bent down to pick up the bottle and there under the bed sat a
carton full of books.
carton full of books.
Playboys! OMG he’s into porn! she thought. Shaking guiltily, she pulled out the
carton. And there, in neat rows, she discovered…. her own bookshelf.
carton. And there, in neat rows, she discovered…. her own bookshelf.
All her favourites..
Love story, Man Woman and Child.. He was a romantic! Jonathan
Livingstone Seagull- a rebel and a perfectionist, Bill Bryson – So he liked
travel and he liked humour. Then Joseph Heller, Ayn Rand.. Oh she did like him.
Her eyes glistened with tears of relief.
Livingstone Seagull- a rebel and a perfectionist, Bill Bryson – So he liked
travel and he liked humour. Then Joseph Heller, Ayn Rand.. Oh she did like him.
Her eyes glistened with tears of relief.
‘Chai garam.. he sang
out from the doorway. She looked up hastily to find him balancing the tea tray
in one hand while three boxes of biscuits were piled up in the other supported
by his chin. “I didn’t know which ones you’d like so I brought all,” he said
with a boyish grin.
out from the doorway. She looked up hastily to find him balancing the tea tray
in one hand while three boxes of biscuits were piled up in the other supported
by his chin. “I didn’t know which ones you’d like so I brought all,” he said
with a boyish grin.
“You okay?” he asked as he saw the look on her face.
“Yes, I’m fine,” said she smiling shyly as she moved to help
him with the tray. She knew she would be fine.
him with the tray. She knew she would be fine.
Day 3 ‘The Write Tribe Festival of Words’ (8th – 14th December 2013) prompt is Books. For some mindblowing entries from super talented Write Tribers go here.
that would be a dream come true!!! cute!!
Awwww!! That was so cute! 🙂
The best kind of bonding – Bonding over books!! 🙂
Sweet story.
Books, you totally make it alright !
Sweet story.
Books, you totally make it alright !
Nothing gives away a person's inner life like the books they read…Of course, she'd be alright 🙂
Bonding over books made the love story even sweeter. Love the PLAYBOY angle..hehe
Sweet of the guy.. And lucky girl.. These are the small simple pleasure of arranged marriages that you can take each other by surprise.. Lovely read
Lovely! I am not married to a reader. Well, technically he reads anything cricket, so he is one in his own way 🙂 But I think I have gradually convincing him to read more now. 🙂
LOL sweet story! And she thought she would find girly magazines! ♥
My heart soared after realizing what wonderful gifts he had thought to buy her and hide in the box!
Lol.. Sheetal.. Best of luck finding him.
How sweet! That's my future perfect guy 😉
Thanks Roshan and welcome here.
Simply awesome and cute too.. loved that ending 😀
My take for the prompt: http://www.godyears.net/2013/12/things-i-overhead-while-talking-to.html
Thanks people. Loved sharing it.
Sid: :-P…why else would he put it under the bed? Of course she realised later he might just have been trying to make space for her stuff. I'm sure she found a better place for them in the days to come.
Tugged at the heartstrings 🙂 Good one,OM:)
He's into porn – Hilarious misjudgement 🙂 We guys have it tough! Love the take on the prompt though 🙂
Of course she will be fine. Cute story
This was such a beautiful, heartwarming and romantic take on the prompt. Loved reading this cute little post a lot.
A lovely story. It is an interesting fact that we believe we know those people better when we share similar interests. It is very true when it comes to a similar liking for books.
Wow! That was a cute little story. With him and books, she's definitely going to be fine. 🙂
hahah… nice! lovely post.
Awww…that was cute! A person can always be judged by the kind of books they read no?
Aww!! How sweet! Bonding over books… Yes, she'll be fine! 🙂