UNROMANTIC

Chapter1:Hello to my married life

Kaveri Iyer,
17th Feb 2024,

"Have a look at this and tell me your opinion too.For me he's the best choice.He has a profession with handsome salary and his family background is no joke.He's endowed with a good personality in addition to his tall well-built body and good looks.He's three years older than you and I find him the perfect match for you.Think carefully!Don't miss out this good person" lectured my mom giving me a photograph of a man in black suit in the early morning when I'm getting fresh air on our balcony with a cup of coffee on my right hand.It's been many months my mom is convincing me to go on blind dates but my lack of interests in it force my mom to find herself a good choice.She's been lecturing me a lot about my future life and wanting me to get married to a good person with a good family.Though I know her concerns and worries I'm occupied with my worklife so have no time to think about it and always neglect her lecture and get used to it.I'm worried about losing my job after marriage as most of the indian wives are compelled to lose their jobs to look after the household and children forcing them to lose their dreams and live as a housewife for a lifetime.I do have seen some families who support their dreams and very supportive but it doesn't mean that the family I will be marrying too will give me that chance so even though he get a perfect job and strong family I must make sure that they support my worklife and respect my dreams not only seeing me as a mere wife to look after the household and children.I have to meet up with the man to know his opinion too because we are going to live with each other for a lifetime.I know marriage is not a joke it's forming a new life with my partner and I have seen a lot of couples getting divorce after living together for a couple of years.And I don't want to meet that fate.So I get choosy while discussing about marriage. That makes my mom trying hard to find the right one.I do feel bad seeing her working very hard for my future life and I can't stop her too.Whenever I tell her to stop doing it she'll start yelling at me saying that it's all about my good,no parents want their child to live a hard life.This time I'm thinking to consider her arrangement after meeting the person and will let her ask their family about my worklife after marriage.

24th Feb 2024
It's been a week my mom lectured me about the marriage and today I'm in front of the mirror in my room grooming up myself getting ready to go to meet the man mom have talked about.Mom has told me that she has meet their family three days before to talk about the things I've told her.They have agreed it and will let me work in a college of their city after the marriage.They say it's a college for a relative of theirs and there's a vaccant seat of counselling section as the former one has resigned two weeks ago.

I'm all dress up with a cream coloured salwar with a white chunni,my hair braided extending upto my waist.I take a taxi and it takes 30 minutes to reach the destination.There I enter to the resturant where we agreed to meet.There I see him sitting at the middle row.I take a deep breathe and walk to the table where he's sitting."Hi, this is Rajveeer.Nice to meet you.I think I can skip other introoductions as you may have known them all from your mother"said he with a clear and confident voice getting up from his chair extending his hand to have a shake with mine.I extend mine too hesitantly and we have a handshake for the first time."Hi, I'm Kaveri Iyer,26 years old.Nice to meet you too" utter I with a smile.Even though I look calm and put a smile on my face my mind is unrest thinking why I tell my age,just name is enough.He smile back and tell me to take the sit.As soon as we sit down he ask me what I like to order."A black cofee and a slice of vanilla cake
for me, please" said I to the waiter standing beside the table.What about you sir?asked the waiter and he answered "Same as her except for the coffee flavour,Americano for me,thanks".While waiting for the order I take the chance and start talking "Umm..how long have you been here?Did I make you wait?"in a worried tone.Then he answered "No worries.You came on time.It's me reaching here early."And he continues,"So you want to hear my oppinion on this marriage?"My answer is 'ok'.I have no problems with the marriage.What about you?"Then I answer,"For me...I just want to get to know you a little more."
"No problem,as you wish.Then I'll make more time to meet you later.Tell me your number so that we can text each other later"he said taking out his cellphone from his pocket.I tell my number and he rings to my phone saying"That's my number,text me later."
I answer "ok,Sure."After we finish the cake and the coffee he says "Ok then anything you want to say more?"I answer"Nothing for now, I'll text if I have anything to say later."
"Then can you wait for five minutes?"he asks.I answer,"sure,no problem".Then he gets up and walks to one table where a boy sits and asks him to get up.He starts checking his pocket and after takes out a cellphone.The boy yells,"What are you doing?Are you crazy" trying to snatch the phone back.Then he pins the boy down on the table and answers,"Not before but now I'm crazy of frustation seeing you and all your dirty deeds."All the noises there grab the attention of the people in the resturant and a girl next to the table gets up and says "That's my phone" in a surprised tone.He hands over the phone to the girl saying to be careful next time and calls the police and hands over him to them.It feels like an action movie to me standing silently with a surprised face and I remember once my mother told me that he's working in an investigation bureau as an investigating agent.While I'm wandering in my thoughts he comes back and say,"Thank you for waiting!I'll take you home if you don't mind."He offers.I say ok but he insists and we come back together.On the way back home he narrates the story about the boy secretly snatching the girl's phone from her bag as I asked him about that.

It's a memorable day for me and first meeting with him goes very well.After that day I know he is a good person and after talking and meeting with him for sometime I decide to agree the marriage and talk with mom about that.Mom is very happy to hear that and both the families agree to hold the marriage ceremony on 4th of April.I'm excited for this once in a lifetime event and sometimes I feel sad thinking about leaving my sweet home and my beloved ones( mom,dad and little sister).The house is furnished with decorations and all the family members and relatives are busy to make the arrangements.
"Do you like it?"mom asks me while I'm trying on the bridal saree."Yes,I like it"I answer in a joyous tone.We are shopping for some new clothes and ornaments for the marriage.Even though the family of the bridegroom told us not to bring any dowry,my mom denies and buys some of the neccessaries.Actually Rajveer has informed me that they have arranged everything in their house so I don't need to bring any dowry as he wants to break the dowry system.But I buy my daily neccessities and small items.

4th April,2024
I can't believe that it's already my marriage day.It feels so unreal to me.My heart is piling with unknown emotions.My hands and feet are filled with red mehendi with beautiful patterns and I'm not looking like myself anymore putting all those make-ups.The glittering red saree and the ornaments make me stands out from the crowd.He appears very good in that groom's outfit.He's really handsome and well-built.The ceremony ends at 10 in the night and it's a starry spring night.After we reach their home we enter in the house and mother-in-law gave blessings to both of us and tell us to go to our room and have a good rest.Then we take turns to change our clothes in the bathroom.It's a big room,well-decorated and peaceful.Actually I feel very awkward and remain silent and stand near the wall."Why are you standing there?Do you have anything to say?" he asked with a concerned tone.I reply,"nothing."
Then we are called to have meal.After having dinner we take turns to bath and we are ready to sleep and he tell me to choose one bed between the two beds in the room.I say,"Anyone of them is ok".Then he just climbs on one of the bed and lie down wishing me to have a good sleep.I wish him back and go to sleep.We are tired so we've fallen asleep after a few minutes.Thus my long- awaited married life begins today.