Rhythm Of Luv

1. Marriage @ 18. Yeah, sure!

Dedicated to @KiaraMj5

He whined hard as he tried to win his father's trust. Though his father was unfazed by all his emotional blackmail or his logical arguments. He looked at his mother who sat on divan preparing for the next days meal. She had refused to take sides already. Exasperated, the son tried again.

"Bapu, you want me to have a good job right and be successful. For that I would need good.. No.. Best education. This college is where I want to study. Plus, I have secured the admission then why not let me go?"

His father looked at his slightly stubborn but determined child. He had a point. He was good in studies and he was fighting with his own father for his choices and future. He had took the decision for himself and was sticking to it. He felt proud. He would become a good person, he thought. Then, he read the same in his wife's eyes. What to do with this kid? Crush his dreams or let him go? He was a mere 18 year old boy, just passed out from his boards. A spoilt brat. Here, his family could control him. But abroad was a different case. His father knew with a taste of freedom and no one there to remind his responsibility, he would surely try it 'all'. Just for fun, experiment and experience. And he feared that the try might turn into addiction.

He looked at his mother and she nodded. They had to go as per their discussion.

"Are you 100% sure you want to go NYU, Luv?" He played his first card.

"How many times I have to tell you that?" Luv fumed.

"But what if you turn to bad company?"

"I won't."

"But what if you would?" His father challenged.

Luv seemed to think for a while.

"I can promise that I would try not to get into trouble and try not not to get caught up in the wind. But it would be a try."

His father liked his honesty.

"And about girls?" His mother asked.

"What about them?" Now the boy was mad, "What they have to do with my matter?"

"Well, I fear.. I fear..." He could see his father's discomfort. Well, relationships with opposite sex is not something Indian parents like to talk about with their children.

"I understand what you are trying to say. But it won't happen." Luv's cheeks were already red. Whoa, where my parents' imagination comes from!

"You sure?" His elder brother asked looking up from TV, winking.

Luv swore silently.

"There is no way to out I guess." What I'm speaking, he thought.

"Actually, your mother and I were thinking of something else. Something you can do or have to do if you want to go USA. After that we won't have to worry."

"Tell me and I will do it." He replied desperately.

"Marriage." It was his mother.

"What?" The elder jumped out of the couch and looked at his younger brother who was as white as himself. I haven't drunk anything today, why I am listening weird things, he thought.

"You are kidding right?" he asked on his brother's behalf who seemed to go in a little bit of shock.

"Do I look like I am kidding? If he want to go USA, fine, go. But he have to marry a girl first. That will remind him there the responsibility he has in India and won't dare him to do something stupid."

"Yeah, how thoughtful. He is 18 for God's sake. Who marries at 18?"

"I was married at 15." His father's eyes were bloodshot.

"It was some 1980 when you got married. This is 2008. Your father had old values and the samaj believed in child marriage."

"He is not child anymore. and remember, your father respects old values." There was a command in his father's voice that silenced Surya for arguing more. He stared at his father in disbelief.

"What if I don't want to marry?" Luv seemed to find his voice back.

"Then you can choose any college from India and complete your graduation." Tejendra Singh played a final card, "But if you really want to go, then tell me your decision first in tomorrow morning. We will arrange things according to that."

"According to that?" Surya asked.

"If it's a yes, we are going to the girl's house and if it's no, don't even bother me."

He is high, Luv thought.

"You have already chosen the girl?"

"I don't take decision unprepared. Now, it's up to you." He patted shoulder of a sons. These lot has lot to learn, he thought as he left. But he knew, games like these were miles away from their sons. They would never play dirty, they would play it straight and finish it with their strength.

"Marriage! Welcome to the screwed land!" Surya muttered and both brothers headed to their shared room.

This was how the journey unfold for Luv. Unlike other people, he married the girl without even seeing her and compromised to fulfil a dream. What Luv Singh Rathore never knew that the marriage might be a compromise but when he would return someday his story with Rhythm Shekhwat would again unfold and this time with a promise of happily ever after.