SIDNAAZ ( An Unforgettable Journey)

98. Paheliyaan

Sid and Naira sat down on the staircase. Sid held Naira's hands protectively and started sharing.

Sid: When your mom and dad were getting married, it wasn't the fairy tale you might think it was. Your dad's side of the family sab log nahi but kuch close-relatives... they weren't exactly kind. Mein unka naam nahi lena chaahunga because I don't want ki tera abhi ka rishta affect ho, but I am saying you just to share it with you. so, the thing is they demanded dowry—money, gold, land—things that your mom and our family didn't have at that point in time. At first, they disguised it as 'tradition' or 'gifts,' but it became clear they were relentless, ziddi!! They threatened to call off the wedding if their demands weren't met...

Naira's eyes widened in disbelief. Sid's tone was calm, he wanted to be as gentle as he could but he could feel the pain he felt years ago, his fingers trembling slightly as they rested on hers.

Sid: Your Naani, Maa was devastated. Hum log sab daao pe lagaa diye the for the wedding preparations, and the pressure they put on us was so much ki mein tereko nahi bata sakta.How helpless I feel and there were nights I'd wake up to find Maa crying in the kitchen, trying to figure out how to keep the wedding on track without giving in to their greed.

Naira- Did papa knows all of these?

Sid- I don't think so, as they were saying continuously, "ye humaare beech ki baat hai bacchon ko bataane ki zarurat nahi hai" and "jo chizein aap bhejegi wo aapki beti ke liye hi toh hoga"...and all that bullsh*t

Naira- Oh God!

Sid: But you know your mom— smart...wo jaan gayi sabu kuch kuch hi time m. As you know she is so strong and resilient. Neetu didn't let their threats get to her. Wo mereko direct aake boli ki she wouldn't marry into a family that saw her as a transaction. But, obviously it's not that easy, me and mom made Neetu understand ki ese nahi thik hoga...but but but Oh God what do I even tell you that didn't stop them from trying to humiliate us. Thik shaadi ke din they said ki they would walk out unless we handed over a gold necklace which they very well knew we couldn't afford.

Naira was eerily silent, lost in the sid's unfolding the truth of her dad-side family and how vicious they are

Sid: I told them if they were so shallow jo ese kar rahe hai God knows what will happen to my sister and I suggested they could leave. For a moment, it felt like everything was falling apart, Maa was completely broken. Your mom was strong but I know she was holding back tears, but I couldn't stand the injustice and mereko darr tha ki abhi shaadi huyi nahi hai ye ese hai toh baad m god only knows meri behen kaise rahegi. Then something miraculous happened Naira—your dad!

There's suddenly a glimmer of hope in Naira's eyes. She finally hoped her superhero, her dad would be the one that changed the story. Sid smiled faintly, a flicker of pride in his eyes.

Sid: He stood up to them and held your mom's hands like a rock. He told them he care too less about their demands or threats. Jiju was so so so angry mein kabhi unko itte gusse mein nahi dekha tha. He said he wanted to marry Neetu for who she was, not for her family's wealth and how much she could bring to her new family. It was the first time I saw him standing against his family, and sach bolu toh it changed everything. everything. He proved he was worthy of her. he proved that he love Neetu unconditionally. aur jab fir bhi unke ghar waale nahi maane. Then Jiju said, that he had already bought a flat apart from them, this house. And said humein aapse kuch nahi chahiye bas family ka dharm nibhayiye aur akele chod dijiye hum dono ko.

Naira: Toh daadi aur papa mile kab? mtlb unki kabhi iss baare m...

Sid didn't let her complete the question, he knew what she was wondering