Strangers - unknown relatives to being each other's human diaries to standing at a crossroads of love, family reputation, societal weight, and an upcoming marriage with the biggest question of their lives which would affect everything
Arun doesn't t...
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The weight of unrequited love! After learning from Indu's cousin that she didn't feel the same way, I was consumed by pain and had no one to confide in. I couldn't share my feelings with anyone, not even Indu, which made it even harder to bear. I continued talking to her, but I had to hide my true emotions, which was exhausting.
To cope with the pain, I started spending more time with my relatives in Hyderabad, taking leaves from work, and lying about not being well. Sometimes, I'd tell my manager I was on site when in reality, I was at my relative's place, trying to escape the agony. Spending time with loved ones was my only solace.
There was a time when Indu was going to the village, and I didn't have the courage to drop her off at the railway station. I knew she'd see the pain in my eyes, so I lied and said I was busy with work. I longed to see her, but I couldn't face her without breaking down. I just stayed in my room crying that night because I really wanted to see her but the pain of knowing she would one day really leave me was unbearable.
As the days passed, the reality of losing her sank in, and I couldn't stop my tears at night. I decided to visit my parents in the village for a festival, hoping to find some comfort and distraction from my heartache.
A few years back during my brother's marriage, my mom had seen a girl for me who was the daughter of a relative. Mom wanted us to get married to each other after her education but later it was like it would not happen as that girl's father would never show any interest in the proposal my mom had about our marriage. So I was in the mindset that it not gonna happen and even forgot about that matter. However, during my current visit and the function at my place, the girl and her family came and everyone was talking about me and her and even a few people would say to my mom that her kodalu(son's wife) had come home. I didn't know how to react all this was so sudden.
I didn't like what was happening and how people were talking so after the function, I even spoke with my brother and dad that I didn't like it and told them not to bring my marriage topic with them and not to take things ahead. However, after a few days all of a sudden their family came to my house at night and started talking about marriage. They were questioning me about my work and salary and everything then I was handed a phone in which some of their relative were on Facetime and interrogating me about my work life. After they left I said to Mom what is this and why now. Mom had high hopes for this marriage and was so happy that night that they came to us with the marriage proposal. She asked me what's the problem and I couldn't say anything to her and just stayed quiet and went and spoke to Dad. I told Dad that I had said before not to take things ahead. He said we didn't do anything they came home by themselves and even he didn't have any idea that they were coming home. I was blank and didn't know what to do.
After that, I was there at home for a few more days and I saw Mom being very happy and always talking to Dad about the girl and saying finally what she wanted was happening. I couldn't bring myself to tell Mom that I didn't want this match as I was never a good child and never did anything that my mom wanted and this was the only thing I could do for her. I only had one foolish thought running in my mind "I couldn't be with a person I wanted to be with. So, why can't I do at least this for my mom" However, I didn't yet agree and said to Mom that I wanted to talk to her first and only then I would decide.
