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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The agony I'm in, both physical and emotional. As I sat with my cousins, I was compelled to share my story with my relatives, who've shown me kindness and concern. I take a deep breath and begin.
"It started with Indu... we were close, and due to my fear of rejection and other situations by the time I got to know she had feelings for me it was very late. I couldn't share this with anyone, not even my parents. Only my brother knew, and that was just a day ago. He promised to help me, to talk to everyone and make things right."
My relatives listen intently, their expressions a mix of shock and empathy.
"Why didn't you tell us before, Arun?" they ask.
I shake my head, "I couldn't. I was scared and ashamed. I didn't know how to escape the situation. But my brother... he's been a pillar of strength. He promised to handle it, to protect me."
My cousins nod understandingly. "We'll keep your secret, Arun. We won't tell anyone. Let your brother handle it."
I nod, grateful for their support. "Please, don't tell my brother that you know. I don't want him to feel betrayed."They agreed, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me after I opened up with them.
The next morning, my brother arrived in Hyderabad, concern etched on his face. He had come to take me home, as my situation was deteriorating. He had also spoken with our cousins, seeking their advice, and shared the situation with them. After hours of discussion, they all agreed that I was to blame for my predicament.
Their solution was to postpone the marriage, then talk things out and potentially cancel it altogether. I was in no shape to argue, my swollen hand and leg making every step a struggle. While not completely fractured, my leg was badly injured, and my brother decided to have me wear a splint to make the situation appear even more dire.
This, he hoped, would help justify postponing the marriage due to my accident. Our cousins agreed, and we set off for our village, leaving behind the chaos in Hyderabad. I was relieved to be escaping the toxic situation, but anxious about what lay ahead. Only one question in my head "Would I be able to escape the marriage altogether, or was it just a temporary reprieve?"
As we arrived in our village, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. My brother had already spoken to Mom and Dad over the phone, revealing the truth about my situation. I had also spoken to Dad, confessing my love for Indu and my reluctance to marry someone else. He was upset that I hadn't shared my feelings earlier, but promised to discuss it further when we met in person.
Now, as I sat at my brother's house, I was anxious about facing my parents. When Dad arrived, I burst into tears and hugged him tightly, feeling a sense of relief and comfort. For the first time in years, I felt like I could be myself around him.
Dad was supportive and reassuring, telling me that he was there for me and would explore options to help me out of this situation.
We then moved to our parents' house, where I met Mom. She was visibly upset, but tried to remain calm and reason with me.
