Once upon a time, men and women entered marriage with very clear policies regarding the division of labour: he would go to work and "bring home the bacon," while she would stay at home and cook, clean, and raise the children. Things aren't the same as they used to be. Modern Indian romance, intimacies, and marriages are far more complicated than assessments and reality television shows portray. In India, arranged marriages are an unique and complex process. People seek a 'soulmate' with whom they can spend the rest of their lives, but they also have specific expectations of the potential bride or groom. There is a strong narrative about finding love, compatibility, and connection, but what stands out is a real intent to replicate class identities beneath all of this. In a country that depends on a spending population, "middle class" is a necessary armour, a shared language, a value system, and, more importantly, a way of life. Life may be unjust, irritating, and disarmingly disappointing on most days. Being middle class, on the other hand, creates character in a culture obsessed with the need to be a part of the rat race. Marriage also places the onus of making sacrifices, concessions, and making the marriage work on the couple. This tale illuminates the unseen and underappreciated aspects of an Indian arranged marriage, the life of a middle-class wife and husband and their shared responsibilities as they navigate through life. Immense amount of desi tadka awaiting your way. *I don't own the illustration on the poster.*

An Arranged Setup that Sparkled into a Love Story of Its Own. »»---♡---«« 'His nose is crooked!' 'I think he has some gray hair!' 'He looks too mature for his age!' 'Nah! He is seven years older than you!' 'One of his eyes seems smaller!' 'Don't you think he is smiling too much in this photo?' 'God! I wonder how, even after looking at hundreds of biodatas every day, none could catch my parents' attention. With every biodata they see, they manage to point out some flaw or another.' »»---♡---«« An Indian Arranged Marriage Story. Modern-day marriages are no cakewalk, and arranged marriages are certainly not. Set against an Indian backdrop, "Love Unrushed!" explores not only the complexities of an arranged marriage but also the pursuit of individual happiness within the confines of societal norms. If you are up for a simple and subtle blooming love story, ponder-worthy thoughts with social stigmas and taboos effortlessly slipped in here and there, and some real, relatable characters, then this story is definitely for you. You will find a part of Riya and Aditya hidden within you as they navigate their arranged marriage, unveiling the hidden layers of their personal and professional insecurities. There will be no unrealistic villains or overdramatic plots, but this story will undoubtedly highlight the true version of how marriages are arranged in India. Thus, this book tends toward a realistic portrayal with a touch of fiction. Please be kind. This book is under editing and the chapters with (•) are recently edited. Rest are in progress.

The households in India have been run by women primarily, following the centuries old tradition. From taking care of the child's breakfast to ensuring that the mother in-law's morning cup of tea is served on time, it is always the woman of the household. She is a wife, a daughter, a daughter in-law, a mother.... But who is she in reality? Mrinalini. The name was abruptly forgotten the moment she stepped into the Acharya household as a married woman. She became Mrinal for her husband, Bouma (daughter in-law) for her in-laws and other elders, Boudi(sister in-law) for her brothers in-law and Mrs. Acharya or Acharya Boudi for outsiders. Her identity was forgotten as she gradually accepted her duties as a married woman, as a daughter in-law and as someone who was expected to sacrifice. Their home wasn't a mansion or even a bungalow. There were financial constraints and there were challenges like every other middle class home. Not everything was easily available, apart from that one thing that was abundant and pravalent: PATRIARCHY She was taken for granted like most women in India are. Maybe there was love, maybe there was no mistreatment yet Mrinalini felt the walls around her constricting on her and causing her asphyxiation. This is the story of a bird compelled to live in a locked, golden cage... Will she ever liberate herself and fly? ... Dedicated to all the Indian mothers and women and to women all around the world who dedicated their entire lives to raise their children, to give love and to be selfless. ... This story doesn't aim to hurt or offend anyone's thoughts or sentiments. This is a work of pure fiction that came to my mind after watching the Bengali movie, 'Mukherji da r Bou'. The concept and the story and the characters explored in the story are all going to be my creation and my own original ideas. No plagiarism intended or supported. My work is copyrighted