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.*
"You're going to be my present and my future. You're going to hold all my babies because I'm going to be the lucky man to marry you. You're going to love me again, Maryam Khan. Slowly and then all together. And I will watch you as you do."
Imran and Maryam's lives had been entwined ever since their respective siblings got married to each other. After an abrupt confrontation just like this almost year ago, Maryam had let her love for Imran go.
She had vowed to never let him in and never let her fall for him again. Everything was going as planned for her until Imran went off like a ticking time bomb. Pouring his heart to her, and confessing his feelings. He brought to life her wildest dreams, and the events that followed turned her life upside down.
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Book #2 in The Abdullah Brothers series
Read book 1 in the series here:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/232411538?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=share_writing&wp_page=create&wp_uname=tisyourgirldiha&wp_originator=nPtsyB%2F1Ju4T31iTfkMkBbt2xL%2BoJu%2BCP0Y5nhlifx57PulQnpv8TU8z9kwCgcx7urxxsEwQz3UhJDnbQcvzR1xcDxVXoJx3v1JsM2fCk%2BWCcuFwffvPZ8dqhfEMDuE5
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Cover credit: The extremely talented @cidrahx