Blossoming Bonds: A Tale Of An Arranged Marriage

Chapter 1

"Look this shaadi is just a formality for me mujhse kuch expect mt krna I didn't want to marry you.. Maa ne force nhi kiya hota to mai dekhta bhi nhi tumhari taraf.. Do din mai Banglore shift ho rahe hai hum vaha par mere flat mai extra room hai reh lena vaha par and do whatever u want to do.. Do din ke liye let's stay as roommates.. I'll sleep on the floor.. "
And that's how Aakarsh's monologue to her wife ended on the night post marriage. Saying this he laid the bed on the floor and just slept off. Monica was stilled and thought..
'Shayad itna jaldi decision nhi lena tha... Mumma ko ek baar bol deti ki time chahiye to pta chal jaata ki jaha companionship dhundh rahi thi vahan sirf disappointment hai... Kuch bolne bhi nhi diya bs bola aur chal diya.. Kya zindagi niklegi iske saath.. Bhagwan ji pyaar bhi nhi manga tha yaar aapse bs ye hi bola tha na ki friendship jaisa to kuch ho yaha to try krne ka bhi scope nhi hai... First day and there's a dead end to the marriage here... Chod Monu uss khadus ko nhi krna tujhpe focus tu bhi mt de bhaav.. Teri job lag gayi hai na Banglore bs ab uspe focus kr.. Personal life already gir chuki hai khai mai bs professional life balance kr sakte hai to vahi krte hai... Aur aaj last din tha jo iss chomu pe aansu bahae ab nahi..'
And that's how talking to herself while changing the heavy lehenga and shedding off the heavy emotions off her head Monica too slept off on the bed.. She wasn't a saint to sleep on the floor because her husband decided to. He decides to distance himself, He makes the effort to do so.

Two days later...
"Ha mumma pahunch gayi banglore."
"Ghar thik hai? "
"Ha ghar to acha hai..."
"Aur Aakarsh ji? "
"Ha vo bhi theek hai.."
"Tum honeymoon pr bhi ho aate abhi to acha nhi rehta.?"
"Yaar mummaa abhi naya naya office join kiya hai isiliye nhi jaa rahe kahin baad mai chale jaayenge.. Aur vaise bhi honeymoon pe jaate hai taaki saath mai time spend kr sake yaha vahi to krenge hum... To relax karo aap"
"Tu khush hai na vaha.. "
"Ha thik hai sab aur mai bhi khush hu mat kro chinta aap... Papa kaise hai"
"Tujhe miss kar rahe hai... Dekh beta pata hai hume ki teri shaadi krvane ke liye thodi jaldbaazi kr di humne lekin rishta itna acha tha ki socha nhi jyada.. "
"Rishta kitna bhi acha ho mumma.. Thoda waqt dekar sochna phir bhi zaruri hota hai.. Pehli baar mai sab kuch acha hi dikhta hai.. "
"Kya hua kuch dikkat hai kya? Beta dekh agar aisa kuch ho to... "
"Mumma mumma ruko aisa kuch nhi hai mai bs aise hi bol rhi thi yaha sab ache hai mom dad bhi bahut ache hai aur mujhe kaafi jaldi accept kr liya.. Sab thoda alag hai ghar se pr ho jaayegi aadat dheere dheere.. "
"Hm.. Dhyan rakhna.. Aur yaad rakhna tuje bida kiya hai lekin ye ghar abhi bhi tera hai kabhi bhi aa jaana"
"Ha mumma"
"Dhyan rakhna chal Aashu aa gaya clg se usko naashta de aati hu krti hu tujhe phone baadme"
"Ha thik hai Bye Radhe Radhe"
"Radhe Radhe"

'Huh... Mumma se bhi krli baat mom ko bhi kr diya mssg dopaher ho gayi hai kuch banate hai aur khate hai... Mr. Khadus pata nahi kab tak hi aayenge '

Dinner Time

Only the clicking sounds of plates and spoons could be heard. Monica was the usual silent girl but this silence was a bit awkward...

"Umm.. I know mai yaha reh rahi hu so I just wanted to ask if.. "
Aakarsh busy with his eating waiting to finish his food as fast as possible looked up annoyed
"If.. I mean.. I know u can manage alone but... "
"Kya bolna hai clear bolo pls.. "
"I just.. I just wanted to ask of I can also contribute a bit ghar ke kharche mai I mean mai bhi kama rahi hu... And I also live in this house to kuch responsibilities mai bhi share kr sakti hu... "
"No need my income is enough.. Mera ho gya "
With that curt reply aakarsh just got up washed his plates and left taking his phone
'Konsa isko bola ki mere paiso pe jee itni kya akad hai bhai... Khadus ke saath saath akdu bhi hai.. Itna to kya hai.. '
And that's how making an annoyed face Monica finished rest of her dinner..
The next day Monica joined her new office
"Hi welcome to the Infinite lanes.. I hope you enjoy working here... I am Shrey Mathur head manager of the team and your direct boss.. So tum mujhe in the office khadoos roop mai dekh sakti ho kabhi kabar mind mat krna ha... Baaki we r chill u'll enjoy here.. "
"Thanks... I am also excited sir.. "
"Sir? Kon sir?" Shrey looked here and there and the pointing towards himself he said "Me? Oh please itni respect mujhse nhi jheli jaati... Call me Shrey only" he completed with a smile
"Sure Shrey" Monica reflected the same on her face
"Ok there's your desk mai kuch files deta hu tumhe humare previous projects ki so u get an idea regarding how we work.. And then u can join us for a new one after that..."
"Sure "
"Bye"
"Bye "

Monica sat on her desk arranged a few things the way she liked and waited for the files to arrive
"Hey new here? "
"Hi... Yes... I am Monica... You? "
"I am Vandana... Interior designer.... You? "
"Same "
"Ohh silly me tum mere desk ke baaju mai baitha ho I should have guessed look's like hum dono same team mai kaam karega"
"Haan.. U seem quite uncomfortable with Hindi though... "
"Haan mera native language nhi hai na yaha iss job ke liye sikhna pada isiliye thoda thoda difficulty hota hai... "
"Ohh.. Koi baat nhi mai hu na I'll teach u perfect Hindi... "
"Sachii... Thank you... "
"You're welcome... Par tumhe bhi mujhe ek help krni hogi.. "
"What? "
"Mujhe Kannada sikhaogi pls.. Yaha ke logo se baat krna thoda difficult ho jaata hai..."
"Khaṇḍita, nīvu cennāgi kannaḍavannu kalisuttīri"
"Huh?"
"I mean mai tumko kannada bahut ache se sikhayega tum tension mat lo... "
"Acha acha btw baaki ki baatein lunch pr krte hai let's focus on work now"
"Yess.. "
And they both had a great time at lunch together and overall, Monica had a cool working environment and was happy with how her day went
'Atleast yaha to sab theek hai.... Varna pata nhi kaise rehti iss sheher mai main.'
And in this way Monica was living her new married life in Bangalore... Although in her new married life the marriage aspect was nil, rest all was what kept her sailing... Be it the work where she enjoyed doing what she was doing along with the fact that she had found some good friends in Vandana and Shrey.. She was also learning a bit basics of Kannada to be able to talk to people here although it was a bit difficult language but she knew she had to learn it and Vandana was a great teacher... Although things at home were the same awkward and silent as the first day... He was busy with himself and she with herself... She did notice him quite a few times and knew he was a gentleman though, cause as rude he was at the same time he respected her boundaries and did not hesitate in doing the household works or stuff... She noticed those habits of his and liked them... But she shrugged them off quicker than that cause she knew there was no hope of them together... And it was just in front of the society that they were a couple... Things weren't going to change... Maybe.. Or maybe not.. Let's see..

Well, so this was the first part hope you all like it do share your thoughts regarding the chapter.