I acknowledge that I caused immense distress to my parents. I take full responsibility for the turmoil I put them through. My mother, already an anxious person by nature, endured countless sleepless nights filled with worry and fear for my well-being. Even after three years of being in the relationship, she refused to give up. In an attempt to frighten me, she shared horror stories—tales of domestic violence, abuse, and even murder. She was convinced that his family would never agree to our wedding because I was a dark-skinned, middle-class South Indian girl.
According to her, they would perceive me as someone who trapped their fair-skinned son for their North Indian wealth and property. She believed that I would be required to offer a substantial dowry to marry their affluent, fair-skinned North Indian boy. I would have to continuously provide gold, money, and gifts to sustain the marriage. I would eventually be subjected to torture to extract more money since I supposedly trapped their son, who now had a reputable job. And oh, he would probably leave me once he secured a job.
Vardaan, a wealthy, fair-skinned North Indian boy with a good job, could easily find a wealthy, fair-skinned North Indian girl who would provide gifts, money, and gold without hesitation. Phew!
I shared these anxieties, or rather my mother's anxieties, with Vardaan. He reassured me time and again that none of these things would ever happen. His sister even introduced me to their mother as her friend, and I became a regular guest in their home. His mother was the sweetest, most genuine, down-to-earth person I had ever met. I later told my dad that she reminded me of him!
Oh, did I mention? By this time, I was pursuing my master's degree and had moved into my college hostel, away from home. All this drama unfolded during my weekend visits back home. As my college journey was nearing its end, I dreaded the prospect of returning home permanently.
This was when the second major act of rebellion in my life began to take shape. I had never felt more fearful in my entire life. I toyed with the idea of moving to a different city after completing my MA. A new city would offer me a fresh start. From the small library in Alwal to the shattered glass walls of DC, my life was on the brink of transitioning from a college hostel to an entirely new city. Was I ready? I was faced with a genuine choice this time—Bangalore or Hyderabad?
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The North-South Love Saga
RomanceOnce upon a time, Uma, a Telugu girl, and Vardaan, a Hindi boy, fatefully crossed paths in a library. Little did they know that their encounter would ignite a love that would shape their lives forever. In the face of a daunting long-distance relatio...
