He went there
with his five aunts
and three
brothers-in-law.
The banarasi-clad aunts spoke a lot,
the
co-brothers a little
and the groom
not at all.
He sat almost
broodingly,
the branch
manager of a sarkari bank,
with your
average Indian moustaches.
Kachoris with tangy tamarind chutney
from back-street Natthu halwai served,
whose laurels
along with bhua’s
cross-stitched table cloth
shamelessly
ascribed to the bride.
The aunts
nodded approval when she
brought forth
the tea tray,
with bowed
head and bashful eyes,
tutored by
her omniscient mausi.
Gulping down
the elaichi tea
and eyeing
her surreptitiously,
the groom
quickly noticed her
besan-cured complexion;
her long
snaky braid, pliant
yet
promisingly passionate.
No questions
were ever asked
about bride’s
aspirations.
Topic of
dowry hushed up but
Traditions were
to be respected.
Leave taking
now, the groom afforded
a lingering
glance on his bride-to-be,
definitely not
lost on chuckling aunts
and the beaming parents of the bride.
super! that's exactly what an arranged marriage is like. every word is true. absolutely loved it :)
ReplyDeletethank u chikki darling :)
ReplyDeleteI've completely missed out the charm of this drama and so have a dozen of my relatives :(
ReplyDeleteDon’t worry Deepak you didn’t miss much , arranged or love , marriage treats everyone same 😂
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Deletehmm...if u want we'll enact it out :)
ReplyDeletewell woven emotions in poem.keep going :)
ReplyDeletethank u manish :)
ReplyDeleteCaptures the event beautifully. The narrative is brief yet complete in what it does portray, though I do have d complaint that the other side of the story has not been given a full representation. Tradition also has a "his"(s)tory.
ReplyDeletethanks pranav... but u know i hv sworn to only present herstory :) hehe
ReplyDeleteVery vivid description of the the arrangement process in arranged marriage.
ReplyDeleteexcellent! no better way for the portrayal of the rituals of arranged marriage.
ReplyDeleteKevin.
thank u amren n kevin :)
ReplyDeleteWOW ! it seems as if i am watching a movie by rajshri productions.(Hum Aapke hain kaun)
ReplyDeletehahahahahaha..........
i just love it
Thx 😊 i m glad i could provide wholesome entertainment...
DeleteHahahahaha Neha absolutely adorable ! People find such amusing entertainment even in love marriages 😂 There are no dearth of such amusing people !
ReplyDeletehahaha...payal...but the basic point is "No questions were ever asked
ReplyDeleteabout bride’s aspirations.
Topic of dowry hushed up but
Traditions were to be respected."
these lines are ironical...
How realistic and yet so sublime. We all had to go through this in one form or the other. Today's youth not only find it unbelievable but funny too! Somewhere down the line, the practice still exists..Wake up New India!
ReplyDelete😊
ReplyDeleteAn elliptical look at this whole arranged marriage thing, it is indirect enough to provoke though and pique one's attention yet direct enough to sting.
ReplyDeletethank u, dear Hriday :)for ur infnite patience with my writings
ReplyDelete