Threads of Tradition: Tales Of Indian Arranged Marriages

2.

The warm sun bathed the pristine beaches of the Maldives in a radiant glow, creating a scene that could only be described as paradise. Soft waves lapped at the shore, their rhythmic whispers harmonizing with the gentle rustle of palm fronds. Kavya Awasthi stood on the balcony of their luxurious overwater villa, gazing out at the horizon where the sky kissed the sea, a spectrum of pinks and oranges fading into deep blue. This was supposed to be a dream come true—the perfect honeymoon for a perfect couple.

As she inhaled the salty air, her heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and apprehension. She had envisioned this trip as the beginning of a beautiful love story, a chance to build the intimacy that felt missing on their wedding day. But as she turned to look at Arjun, who sat at the small dining table, his laptop open and fingers typing furiously, the fantasy began to crumble.

“Arjun,” she said softly, crossing the room to his side. “Why don’t we take a break? It’s our honeymoon; we should enjoy this moment together.”

He barely glanced up, his brows furrowed in concentration. “Just a few more emails, Kavya. I need to finalize the deal with the investors before we head out. We can celebrate later.”

Kavya felt a pang of disappointment, but she forced a smile, trying to mask her frustration. “But it’s beautiful out there! The sunset will be gone before you know it.”

“Just a minute,” he replied tersely, his tone clipped. The words cut deeper than she expected. She took a step back, feeling a coldness seep into the air between them.

After a moment, he closed his laptop with a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as if to alleviate some of the stress pressing down on him. “Okay, fine. Let’s go watch the sunset.”

His forced enthusiasm felt hollow, but she nodded, eager to salvage what little romance was left at this moment. They stepped outside, the warmth of the evening wrapping around them, but an invisible distance lingered. They walked along the shoreline, the sand warm beneath their feet, and Kavya felt a flicker of hope reigniting in her heart.

“Look at the colours,” she said, pointing at the sky as shades of orange melted into a deep purple. “It’s like a painting.”

“It’s just the sun setting,” he replied dismissively, his eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for something beyond the beauty before them. “We need to get back before it gets too dark. I want to go over some plans for tomorrow’s meeting.”

Her heart sank. This was not how she had imagined their honeymoon—filled with romantic strolls and whispered secrets, not business meetings and spreadsheets. “Arjun,” she ventured, hesitating as she sought the right words. “Can we not talk about work for just one evening? I want to feel connected to you.”

He turned to her, frustration evident in his eyes. “You knew I had to manage things. This is important for my career. Can’t you understand that?”

Kavya flinched at his harsh tone, feeling the familiar ache of isolation creeps back in. The confident man she had married seemed to be slipping away, revealing a different side—one that was impatient and dismissive of her needs. “I understand, but I also thought… I thought this was a time for us to be together. To enjoy each other’s company.”

“We will enjoy each other’s company, but I can’t afford to fall behind. You’ll see; it’ll be worth it in the end,” he replied, his voice softening slightly but not quite reaching her heart.

They stood in silence for a moment, the waves crashing softly behind them, and Kavya couldn’t help but feel the weight of his ambition pressing down on her. The man who once seemed like a prince now felt more like a stranger, one who cared deeply for his success but less for the heart that lay before him.

As they returned to their villa, Kavya’s spirit felt heavier. The lavish surroundings felt almost suffocating, adorned with everything she had dreamed of but lacking the warmth she craved. Arjun’s ambition, once an attractive trait, now felt like a barrier, separating them in a way she had never anticipated.

The nights that followed were filled with awkward silences, and Kavya found herself spending more time alone on the beach, searching for solace in the soft rhythm of the ocean waves. She took long walks, collecting seashells, hoping that somehow they would help mend her aching heart. The island, with its beauty and charm, felt like a cruel reminder of her loneliness.

One evening, as she sat on the shore, watching the sun dip below the horizon, a realization washed over her. The honeymoon, once a symbol of love and unity, was now a stark reminder of the divide between them. Arjun was consumed by his career, and she was left grappling with feelings of confusion and emotional turmoil.

As the stars began to twinkle in the vast night sky, Kavya’s heart ached with longing for the connection she had hoped to find. She wanted to share laughter, dreams, and moments of vulnerability, but all she felt was a gaping chasm between them.

“Maybe things will change,” she whispered to herself, clutching a small shell in her hand. But as the waves crashed against the shore, carrying away her hopes, she couldn’t shake the growing fear that this was just the beginning of a much more complicated journey—a journey fraught with obstacles she never anticipated, where love would be tested by ambition, insecurity, and unspoken truths.