Arranged love or Love arranged

I greeted the couple and conveyed my best wishes to them, the bride wanted me to be with her on the stage. But I felt that the stage was already too crowded, I promised her to come back after sometime and came down. I looked around, kids were playing, aunties were doing their regular gossip, everyone one enjoying the lavish dinner and was praising the couple. I took my favorite mocktail and sat in one corner. I looked at happy faces of the bride and groom and went back in my memory lane.

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I was dressed in a pink saree and my mom’s heavy jewelry; I was gazing outside the window and was scared about my future. Vinit’s family came to see me, they liked me, and said that they want the wedding to happen after 2 weeks. Just a week back one of my dad’s friend suggested Vinit’s alliance for me, and today my marriage got fixed with him. But in all this process, Vinit was present nowhere, I had just seen his photo, and got some second hand information about his likes and dislikes from his sister and mom. He was working in the USA from last 5 years and had plans to settle down there itself. I was doing my masters and wanted to be in India and work for my dream company. I had always been a simple and practical girl. I knew that my family always wants the best for me, and I believed them 100%. But this time I was restless, as I have been asked to spend my life with someone I have never talked to or met. Elderly said, this is nothing new they also met their spouse first time on their wedding itself. Mom tried to console me by saying that Vinit will be in India next week, and that time I will get to meet him. 

I was lost in my thoughts when my cousin sister Pooja entered the room. She was bubbly and full of life. We all used to call her filmy because of her endless love for romantic songs and SRK’s movies. She had already announced it to her parents that whenever she will marry it will be a love marriage only. 

“Congratulations Divya.” She hugged me tight. I somehow managed to smile in response. It took her no time to figure out that something was wrong. She took my hand in her and asked me if I was fine with this marriage.

I and Pooja were of same age, and we were very close to each other. We were more like best friends then cousin sisters. I knew that only Pooja can understand my feeling and kept my heart in front of her. As expected she asked to say no for this wedding, but when I told her that I don’t want to make my parents upset she consoled me and said when Vinit comes to India, she will meet him, once she finds him good for me then only she will let me marry him.

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Next week Vinit was in India, My mom and dad were busy in shopping and other arrangements for the wedding and I was getting ready to go and meet Vinit. Vinit requested my parents that he would like to meet me outside my house and my parents agreed, Pooja was asked to accompany me. 

We reached the coffee shop and Vinit was already present there. I was nervous and shy; I had so much to ask but didn’t know where to start from. But Pooja already started quizzing Vinit. By the end of our coffee I felt something unusual, it was Pooja and Vinit who were talking and sharing things about each other and I sat there quietly. I noticed, Vinit was a talkative, humorous gentleman but he was not my type.He was a romantic movie lover like Pooja and one who likes books only in the bookshelf unlike me. On our way back Pooja had all praises for Vinit, she even said that she would love to marry a guy like Vinit and I should be happy that I am getting married to him.

Next morning Vinit’s family came to our place, Vinit was also there. They were very sorry and informed us that Vinit liked Pooja more than me. Vinit also talked to me in private and explained his feelings, he was sorry for me. But I was happy for him and Pooja, and somewhere for myself too, as I was not sure about this marriage. Pooja’s parents were also called, after hour’s long discussion families decided that Pooja and Vinit should get married on the same day when my marriage was arranged with Vinit.

Pooja was sad for me but when we talked I convinced her that I had no feelings for Vinit and I am very happy for them. Once she was assured that I have no issues with she marring Vinit, she shared her feelings for Vinit with me, she told me how much she liked Vinit. Vinit had also told me that it was like love at first sight for him. I told this to Pooja and she was blushing.

Next full week I was shopping with Pooja and Vinit for their wedding and I felt very light and happy doing it. Finally my dearest sister was getting married to the guy she love. I was very happy for her.

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I was lost in my memories when someone called my name. I looked up to see Deven.

“Hello Divya.” He greeted me.

“Oh Hi, Deven.” I replied, still surprised to see him there and wondering what to say.

Deven was my classmate during graduation, he had a crush on me and I used to like him too. But I always maintained distance from anything associated with love or relationships as I always felt it will make my life complicated and I never wanted any complications in life. No one other than Pooja knew my feelings for Deven. I turned to look at Pooja and found her smiling at me.

“So Divya, how is your project going on?” I heard Deven and turned back to him. We had a long conversation that night and had dinner together. He took my number and asked to keep in touch. 

Later when I went back on stage and asked Pooja if she invited Deven , she hugged me and said. “I found my love Divya, and my Love was arranged by you. And now it’s my turn to Arrange your love.” 

I didn’t knew what to say, I just hugged her back.

Indiblogger meet with my Better half

Last Saturday (4^th August) I attend my second Indiblogger meet. I have been to my first Blogger’s meet some 2 years back and ever since I was eager to go for a blogger’s meet again. When I saw Bangalore blogger’s meet invitation on Indiblogger I got super excited. This meet was sponsored by Surf Excel, yes the same brand which most of us are using and seeing from our childhood. With the launch of their new improved product Surf Excel matic they came up with a new TV advertisement, where a cute kid acts like a washing machine and gets inside a tub full of water and says “Soaking Yaar”. When I saw the blogger’s meet handle #Soak No More, I remembered this ad.

I quickly logged in to register myself, but then stopped thinking of my husband, who was coming back from the US after 4 months, just a week before the meet. After staying away for 4 months, he will expect me to spend time with him, and I was rather more excited to meet my blogger friends. But when I logged in to Indiblogger, I was surprised that this blogger’s meet was open for the family members of the blogger too. There was no looking back after that, I booked my seat along with my husband. In evening when he called me, I informed him about the meet, after a series of “I don’t want to come” “what I will do there” “Your blogger meet is more important than me” he finally agreed to think over it. But he was not willing to come till the last day, and same dialogs keep coming from him. After lot of pleading and emotional drama I made him ready to accompany me for the meet.

Like good school kids we reached the meet venue The Capitol hotel, 5 minutes before the mentioned time. At the entrance we were greeted by Karthik and lovely ladies helped us to register for the meet again. I wanted to sit in the front but husband dear insisted for sitting at back side, as he was still planning to bunk the meet. I started meeting some of the bloggers I follow or met during last meet, and husband dear remained glued to the ipad as he was feeling odd man out there. After some 30 minutes Anoop took over the stage and the meet formally began. All the bloggers got chance to introduce themselves. With introduction we were supposed to say one thing which our family doesn’t know about us. I must say many secrets were revealed that day in the bloggers meet. Along with the introductions Anoop was asking some questions related to blogging and the winners were getting nice gifts like bean bags, 6 month supply for surf excel and gift hampers in cute baskets. I can’t tell you how much I wanted to win that basket; it looked so pretty. But to my bad luck I won none. However I learned this thing that to win these freebies one need to sit in front seats, or should have very loud voice to get noticed J

After introduction we were divided in four groups, red, orange blue and green. There were several games and the winning teams were getting lovely gifts. For one the game, where we were supposed to make as many 5 letter words as we can with the letters on out T-shirts, orange team made the most number of words and each member of that team won themselves a DVD player from Samsung. I was in blue team and we lost badly, as letter ‘S’ and ‘E’ were missing for us. L We lost the games but had gala time participating in gamesJ.

We were hungry after these games and enjoyed the yummy sandwiches and pastries served with hot tea & coffee. I talked to some bloggers while sipping my coffee, and was constantly checking on husband dear to make sure he is having fun too.

As the last event of the meet we had a presentation from the sponsors. Mr. Girish from Surf Excel Matic talked about their new product. He explained, how with the presence of new vibrating molecules in surf excel matic, one does not need to waste time in soaking the cloths for better cleaning. He was asking question throughout his presentation, and the bloggers were giving him creative answers. One such answer which I remember and laughed out loud on was when Girish asked “what these vibrating molecules do”, one creative blogger replied “these are the excited vibrating molecules ready to please the lady in cleaning”.

With this presentation the meet ended and it was time to say good bye to the fellow bloggers and the Indiblogger team. We collected our Indiblogger t-shirt, which was not black or white, rather a lovely purple color polo T-shirt this time. Meet was over but I was still hooked to that cute basket and my husband was consoling me for not winning it.

On our way back home I asked my husband how he found this meet. He smiled and said it was good. I was very happy and satisfied with his answer, as I do not want him to curse me for dragging him to this meet. We had a lovely time meeting fellow bloggers and some wonderful, creative and positive people. I am already looking forward for next blogger meet, and I am sure this time I don’t need to plead my better half to accompany me, he will be happy to come along J

Love Marriage Vs Arranged Marriage

We Indians are obsessed with marriage. When a child opens his/her eyes in this world, family and relatives start to plan his/her wedding. As in western countries there is just one kind of marriage, that is love marriage. We Indians have choice here also; we can do love marriage or arranged marriage. Listed below are some of the scenarios, which look entirely different in a Love marriage, compared to an Arranged marriage.

 

No # 1

Love Marriage:  You fell in love with a girl/guy, now arrange the family to accept her/him.

Arranged Marriage:  Your family arranged a girl/guy for you, now you accept it and love her/him.

No # 2

Love Marriage:  Girl can never threaten the guy with these lines “I will go to my mom’s place.”

Arranged Marriage:  Girl can win any argument by saying this “I will go to my mom’s place.”

No # 3

Love Marriage:  If the guy and girl fight, elders will say “We told you he/she is not good for you”.

Arranged Marriage:  If the Guy and girl fight, elders will say “Fights are normal in every marriage”.


No # 4

Love Marriage:  Guy can’t count on the heavy free money which he can get.

Arranged Marriage:  Guy’s family decide months before marriage that how they want to use the free money.


No # 5

Love Marriage:  “You have changed after marriage” this line will come in most of the arguments between the couple.

Arranged Marriage:  “You have changed after marriage” this line may not find place in the arguments as the couple did not knew each other before marriage.


No # 6

Love Marriage:  Family keeps no expectation from Daughter in law/Son in law.

Arranged Marriage:  Family expects the daughter in law/Son in law to be perfect.


No # 7

Love marriage:  People expect you to be in love forever, the couple is expected to be lost in each other all the time.

Arrange Marriage:  No such expectation from the couple.

Whether one had love marriage or arranged marriage, at the end of the day they are nothing but a husband and wife. They will love, fight, cajole, argue, guide and care for each other. Just by seeing the couple it is very difficult for an outside to tell that this couple had a love marriage or an arrange marriage. It is up to the couple, how they nurture their relationship and where they want to take it. They are soul mates, who will be there for each other forever.

Happy Friendship Day :)

Friendship is the eternal bond which binds two hearts. This is the base of every relationship. We don't get to choose our mom, dad or siblings but we get to choose our friends. Friendship makes the world look beautiful, and every moment seems happy.

I wish a very happy Friendship day to all my friends and the readers of my blog. A big thanks to all of you for touching my life in such beautiful way.... Happy Friendship Day!!