Middle Class Love #Wattys2015

Prologue: And so We Meet

Dear Diary,

I am twenty-frickin-three and working in an ad agency. Why do I even write to you..argghhhhh. I mean, its so childlike but ...yeah WHATEVER!

Today is the day I pretend I am a cow being sold at the cattle market. My mother and cousins are fussing over what to wear. Ten sarees that I have NEVER seen in my life lie in front of me.

"Monica, what about that candy pink one??" moans my cousin Anu

"Geez..Anu. Its sick" I slap my forehead in disgust as I say it. That color would not even go well with my skin tone.

"You're as dark as hell Monica" my mother always told me. This was always followed by the ultimatum "Who's gonna marry you?". I would tell her "Well, if there was someone as dumb as dad to marry you then I will find one myself." It always amazes me how that powerful slap across my cheek would throw my head very forcefully in one direction. What an aim and what brute force!! (Who Run This Motha? Mommm!!) My mother would let angry cuss words squeeze through gritted teeth "You are a shame to me!!"

Today, I am hiding under three layers of make-up to assuage her inferiority complex. Sarees are being foisted on me and I sit like a mute calf waiting to be slaughtered. Another pawn in the marriage market was going to be auctioned off and this time it was going to be me!

The door opens behind me and my dad yells impatiently to my mother "Anna, the guy will be here in an hour." Unable to turn around and show him my miserable face , I could only hear the sound of my favorite china vase hitting the door , lying in one sorry mess. Someone's cellphone rang. Someone else ran to pick it up. My mother was whispering words of advice to me "Moni, serve him the tea first. Walk with your eyes downcast.Act coy." It was too much to bear.

My mind was beginning to cloud with scenes from movies where the same situation occurred. The girl would shyly serve a guy she's never known all her life ,some tea. He would regard her with a mix of seriousness and curiosity. As she offers him tea, his fingers would curl around the cup and not- so-accidentally touch hers. Their eyes would meet and that diapered angel would shoot an arrow..what's his name?? That Valentine's Day-wallah? Happily ever after comes after that! There would be some unimaginably vulgar item song on the night of the wedding and a probably a baby at the end of the song!Chhe..does all this crap happen in reality? I shuddered at the thought of having to sleep with a stranger for the rest of my life.

My shoulders are being violently shaken by two of my impatient cousins. I don't even know why they're giggling! The door opens a second time and my dad appears announcing that the guy will be here in fifteen minutes. What!!! Fifteen minutes and I was in my blouse and underskirt. I was not even dressed to make myself happy. As if by magnetic power, all of them in the room crowd around me to drape an absolutely garish and sleazy blue saree on me.

I feel claustrophobic. I cannot breathe. Three people are trying to do my hair, breathing down my back in the process. It is irritating!! Someone with absolutely foul breath is leaning towards my face and trying to apply some lipstick on my mouth. I squirm in disgust. Someone's kissing my cheeks in joy. Why is water running down my neck???...I swear to God its not sweat! Whoever is kissing me is crying! I shut my eyes in fear. Someone is tugging at the strap of my lingerie, adjusting it. Dammit, its sliding off my shoulder!!! I pull it back in place. I am annoyed. I've had enough.

I get up from the chair like a jack-in-the box springing forward . Everyone is shocked and are thrown back by my sudden movement. "Get Out!!" I scream. "GET OUUUUUUTTTTTTT." I point towards the room. Ten blank stares meet my gaze. "Didn't you hear me?" I ask angrily. Everyone moves out wordlessly; my mother included. I sink to the floor in misery, tears sliding down my cheek. Tearing away the semi transparent blue saree, I run to take a quick shower. In five minutes, I have changed into an ivory anarkali, put on some minimal make-up, done my hair and run to the hall to join my family.

People are too shocked to even say anything! I can see my father's approving smile, my mother's expression of insult , the mouths of my cousins and aunts agape. "Screw all of you" I thought. Shutting the door to my room, I went to the kitchen, placed the coffee cups on a tray and left it on the dining table.

"Nobody is going to act coy or try to cover up their darkness here!" I said with a cold smile. My father was the only one who walked towards me, took my hand and patted my back. I hugged him and whispered into his ear "Thank You Papa!". He whispered "That's my girl" in return. Someone sniffled, I pretended to not have heard it. I picked up the bottle of ice water on the counter and indulged myself. Matters such as this always needed one to be calm and cool at all times.

The doorbell rang and my sister ran to open it. There he was, along with his parents. I couldn't see his face clearly but when he stepped into the living room it occurred to me that he was somehow familiar.

Our eyes met, He smiled at me. I didn't.

Till Tomorrow i.e. if there is one....

Monica Lawrence

P.S. He's apparently my dad's friend's son.

Mood: Murrrderrrr

Song: Die Another Day - Madonna