Village meets city love

Chapter 27: "Echoes of Wisdom and Resilience"

Lavanya’s morning started peacefully in her parents' home. Her mother, Anbu, noticing Lavanya's thoughtful demeanor, decided to ask, "Is everything alright with your marriage, Lavanya?"

Lavanya, caught off guard, initially replied, "No, Amma, everything is fine. No issues." Trying to divert the conversation, she asked, "Tell me about your own married life, Amma."

Anbu, sensing her daughter's need for deeper insight, began to share a personal story about her marriage to Lavanya.

"You know, Lavanya, every parent gifts their daughter gold jewelry as a blessing in marriage, just like my parents did. They presented me with seven sovereigns of gold jewelry. The next day, as part of the rituals, I visited my parents' house and returned home around 6 PM. I decided to put the jewelry in the wardrobe locker but found the box empty. I was shocked and immediately searched for your father. I found him in the veranda and told him about the missing jewelry, suggesting we should report it to the police."

Anbu paused, her eyes reflecting the memory of that day. "But your father calmly told me that he was the one who had taken the jewelry and asked me not to question it hereafter. I was disappointed and felt he wasn’t the man I expected him to be. I nodded and walked away, resigning myself to the fact."

Lavanya listened, her curiosity piqued. Anbu continued, "It wasn’t until four months into our marriage that I discovered the real reason. Your father's sister  in-law's was pressuring her to bring more money because she had given birth to another daughter instead of a son. They were threatening to marry another girl to her husband if she didn’t comply. With no other option, your father took my jewelry to help her secure her marriage."

Lavanya’s eyes widened in surprise. "I never expected that. I thought he might have gambled it away or something."

Anbu smiled softly. "Yes, I thought the same initially. But your father wasn't like that. Within two years, he bought me back ten sovereigns of gold. He did every job he could to repay me. When I finally spoke to him about it, I told him I was aware of why he took the jewelry. I also told him that I would never say no to helping his family, but I wanted him to communicate with me first. And he did from then on." She paused, her eyes filled with affection. "Your father was not like a cinema hero, but he did every little thing to see me smile at the end of the day. Oh yes, we had our fights, mostly me yelling and him listening. But we never took it to the next day, you know."

Lavanya listened intently as Anbu shared stories of their early years. Anbu spoke about their challenges, the joys, and how they managed to build a life together despite the hardships.

Later, as Lavanya pondered her mother's stories, she asked hesitantly, "Did you ever regret marrying Appa?"

Anbu shook her head, a gentle smile tugging at her lips. "I may have felt saddened by our situations at times, but I never regretted marrying a man like your father. He always made me feel loved and supported."

Meanwhile, at Varun’s house, he was preparing for his morning jog when his father, Raghavan, expressed a desire to join him. "I'll come with you today," Raghavan said, grabbing his shoes.

As they jogged together and later sat on a bench in the park, Raghavan turned to Varun. "Son, I’ve noticed some tension lately. Is everything alright with you and Lavanya?"

Varun, hesitant at first, replied, "Everything is okay, Appa."

Raghavan gave him a knowing look. "Are you sure? Sometimes sharing helps."

Varun sighed and began to open up about the recent issues and misunderstandings. "We've had some problems. Added to that, I’ve become frustrated with financial problems, and I shouted at her in front of everyone for being a housewife. I feel like I’ve let her down."

Raghavan listened patiently and then shared his own experiences. "When I married your mother, we had our fair share of struggles too. It wasn’t always easy. We had to learn to communicate and understand each other. Marriage is about partnership, patience, and growing together."

Raghavan continued, "I remember one particularly challenging time early in our marriage. Your mother and I were having a lot of misunderstandings. She was upset because I had to work long hours and she felt neglected. I informed her that it's how things work in marriage life. Someone has to work to earn money. She argued back, saying she was also taking care of the house, my parents, and my siblings, and it's not an easy job."

Varun listened, engrossed in the story. Raghavan went on, "One night, after a big argument, she packed her bags and went to her parents' house. I was devastated but realized that she is not just a housewife. A housewife is always special. What she argued back that day is true. It's not easy to take care of me her husband, my parents, my siblings, and also do all the house chores. She endures each of our tantrums. We never appreciated it. She always slept with a smile, so I thought she was happy here, but I never knew she smiled because the next morning, she could do all the work and keep her family happy."

Raghavan paused, reflecting. "I realized it with her absence. What would happen if she was not at home? And realised I needed to make more effort to balance work and home."

Varun listened intently. Raghavan continued, "I took a few days off work, went to her parents' house, and apologized sincerely. I promised to make time for her and our family. It wasn’t easy, but we both learned to compromise and support each other. That incident taught me I should treat her as the goddess of our home, not like a servant doing her job. Till today, she is the same housewife with no retirement, even though I got to retire."

Raghavan looked at Varun with seriousness. "And remember, Varun, I want you and Arun to treat your wives the same as goddesses of your lives and homes. Let them make their own decisions and support them in each step. Remember, her parents gave her hand to you with their trust, believing you would take care of her and her happiness. She is their precious gem. Don't break their trust or her."

"As for the financial struggle, you have your mother's jewelry and two grounds of land near Chennai, apart from the house we are staying in now. I can also take an accounts job near our house, so don't worry."

Varun nodded, absorbing his father's words. "Thanks, Appa. I want to make things right with Lavanya. I’ll try harder and definitely treat her as a goddess. And no, Appa, I don't want you to take any job at this age. It was just in the heat of the moment that words slipped from my mouth, and I'm sorry for worrying you all."

Raghavan patted his son's shoulder. "I’m proud of you, Varun. Remember, love and commitment can overcome any obstacle. Just be patient and understanding. And we are all here for you both; you're not alone in anything."

Back in the village, Lavanya found comfort in her mother's words and felt a renewed sense of hope. She decided to give her relationship with Varun another chance, understanding that rebuilding trust and love would require effort and patience from both sides.

Both Lavanya and Varun, separated by distance but united in their thoughts, began to see a path forward. They realized that their love was worth fighting for and that they could rebuild their relationship stronger than before.