I
happened to watch the ‘Chakravyuh’ scene of B. R Chopra’s ‘Mahabharata’ today
on Epic channel and the first thing that struck me was its uncanny similarity
with a certain thing. The young, confident and cheerful Abhimanyu entered the Chakravyuh
formation when his uncles and other family members promised to help him but
later they were barred from entering the formation by the enemy soldiers.
Inside, Abhimanyu was attacked by his elders in the Kaurava army all at a time:
an unethical attack. He died bravely defending himself and crying for this
father. Gurus Dronachrya and Kripacharya were genuinely sad about this but could
not do anything. A brave young life was lost due to unethical fighting.
‘Chakravyuh’
exist in modern context too and are known by the name of the ‘Arranged Indian
Marriages’ that don’t turn out to be as expected. A young and confident girl
enters the alliance but ends up catering to everyone’s demands and fighting for
her freedom and rights. Her family members are not allowed to interfere and
thus they become helpless as well. She ‘dies’ fighting, not literally always,
and even though her downfall and deterioration is mourned by a few members,
they are too dependent to take a stand. An arranged marriage in India is an
unethical combat that swallows young lives where they not only battle for their
freedom every day; they are attacked by many societal malpractices all at once
as well. There is no way out from such formations, they are one way streets
that lead only to frustration and rapid decline.
That day, when
Gouri waved me a poignant goodbye and looked at me innocently with those wide
blue-green eyes as if reminding me of an invaluable loss, I found it hard to smile
at her. Finally, I clutched her tightly; I did not want her to go. She pulled
me downwards and murmured something in my ear that made me go pale but I
carefully recorded all that on my mobile. My mind began racing in a very
different direction, devising a plan to checkmate the evil queen, Divya, who
stood in a corner, smiling to herself. I glanced at her and felt a pang, as if
someone had backstabbed me. Her fake concern made a poor veil over her
impatience.
Varun bent down
and tried hard to cheer up the child.
“Papa…I don’t …”
Gouri sobbed.
“You will find
many good friends there” he said patting her ruddy cheek.
Had Bhavna been alive,
they would have made a happy family. I recalled our happy moments and felt
choked. I wanted to make Gouri smile but could not.
The announcement
for the British Airways flight to Edinburgh was over. Varun, with a
heavy contemplating face, proceeded with Gouri and chuckling, Divya as if celebrated
her victory.
After they left,
she walked off, smiling ear to ear, leaving me to smolder in the embers she had
thrown in our lives. I sat on a bench, alone, somberly sipping my coffee and thinking
about this mayhem.
Even though
Divya is my third cousin, I came to know her properly only when she married
Varun, some four years after Bhavna died. She was closer to her and thus stepped
in to save Gouri from some evil stepmother who might make child’s life miserable.
We took a lovely illusion for a solid reality and failed to understand the
farce underlying her charming exterior. A shrewd game changer, she mastered
pulling the right strings at right time and manipulating emotions with utmost
dexterity.
“I have married
Varun only because of this motherless child” Divya said with tearful eyes when
people showered praises on her for celebrating Gouri’s birthday in a grand way,
making Varun feel proud of his decision. However, very soon, harsh winters
arrived after a cheerful spring.
“I want to
fulfill Bhavna didi’s dream. I want Gouri to have the best education we
can give her” the devil incarnate began rambling all the time.
“Edinburgh is
the land of opportunities and I will make sure my child reaps everyone of them”
she said putting her foot down.
“I am answerable
to didi in that life” she said looking at my old grandmother.
“Edinburgh is something
else! Moreover, my brother lives there. He will be the local guardian. I would
not settle for anything less than the best for my daughter” She cried putting a
little stress on last two words.
After a month of
pottering around sulkily and accusing people of doubting her pure intentions,
she had had her way. Varun decided upon a good boarding school in the UK. The
most depressing fact was that how a six year old would feel was no one’s
priority. She had won. I swear, that day, I wanted to shoot that woman at point
blank range.
I opened my moist
eyes and came out of the airport with heavy steps, planning a way out to bring
Gouri back. After all, she was a part of my sister’s soul and in her I saw
Bhavna looking at me with those curious blue-green eyes.
Time slipped
like sand in the fist but God helps in His own interesting ways! Only a few weeks
later, one of my friends spotted Divya with a tall man, in a high end hotel. That
cue was enough for me to jump in action. I played that recording again and geared
myself for some solid action. My next two
months were spent in playing a spy, following Divya like a phantom. I went
wherever she went and made detailed notes of her secret life. She would visit
spas, clubs, malls, restaurants and sometimes theatres with one of the three
men she was regular with. I also found out that while one was her college
dropout ex-boyfriend, the other two were married businessmen, one in real
estate and the other in garments.
One day I saw
her entering a mall …‘Click...click…click…click’, she walked like a ramp model
in her high pencil heels right up the first floor where a tall, clean-shaven
man,(that garment businessman) waited for her quite impatiently. After hugs,
laments and some jewelery shopping, they went off towards a hotel.
I followed them
eagerly, noting down everything, from car number to route description, even the
time. This spying became my routine for next several days. However, even though
I was a bit nervous, I tried doing the task with utmost secrecy. When I had gathered
enough evidence to raise a finger, I approached someone. No, not Varun, but his
younger brother. Playing a bit smart, I decided to involve him in spying in
order to lend credibility to my case. He gladly obliged!
On a sleepy
Thursday, we followed Divya, whose car stopped at a five star hotel.
“There…there
goes that heroine” we muttered grudgingly, hiding our faces behind the
magazines as she took the lift up with that real estate lover of hers.
“Recorded” I
replied.
“Is it the time
we tell bhai?” he asked.
“Yes” I said and
we went home to arrange the evidence chronologically and then straight to
Varun’s office, situated in a prime commercial business centre.
While waiting a
few minutes outside his cabin, I tell you, I was seriously nervous. I wiped the
little drops of sweat on my neck and forehead but it seemed his brother was seething
inside, like a volcano about to erupt. He sat patiently; hands folded on his
chest staring at the floor, with strange expressions of resentment.
“You may go in,
sir is free” said Varun’s secretary, coming out from his black glass cabin,
with files and laptop.
We stepped
inside and as usual, saw him totally immersed in work. A half filled cup of
coffee lay ignored in a corner while he was busy sending an urgent mailer to a
client.
“Sit” he muttered
making a gesture.
“Three coffees
please” he told someone on intercom.
“Yes, tell me,
what is so urgent?” Varun asked, finally paying attention to both of us.
“Here” we replied
without beating around the bush and spread all the pictures, phone records and
video recordings etc on the table.
“What? What is
all this?” he asked perplexed
“The truth. Did
you ever wonder why Gouri was sent off abroad for schooling?” I asked, looking
into his eyes.
“Because she had
come to know of Divya’s affair. Gouri had spotted her with a man in your
bedroom. Listen.” I said as I played the same recording in which Gouri had
confessed the same to me before leaving for hostel.
“So, she wanted
to kick the child, the entire trouble, out of her life and spend her time here
and there…We hope you are getting the thing. She has married you for money and
not for Gouri.” We said
Varun looked as aghast
and shocked as someone slapped tightly in full public view.
“Bhai,
when you are here, working hard, she spends her days in spas and nights in hotel
rooms. Now, she has none to take care of. Being too far, Gouri would hardly
visit even in holidays. And now, Divya has become a free bird, can’t you see?” said
his brother.
“And we have the
evidence. I wanted to be sure of the child’s accusations before pointing a
finger at your wife and that’s why all this” I said showing him the photocopies
of receipts we managed by bribing the receptionists of the spas she frequented
and also told him how we did all that.
A mixed hue of
frustration and anger filled Varun and he stood up in anger, taking his reading
glasses off. We wondered how he would handle the biggest shock of his life.
“Here it is. We
do not have words to tell you the details” we said
“Now what?”
We showed him a
photocopied report of Dr. Mehta’s maternity clinic where Divya had got an
abortion done, some two weeks before marriage. This was enough to break the
thread. He put his phone on the loudspeaker and called her. She claimed to be
at her friend’s place whose son was sick. We then went straight to that hotel
room where she was having a fun time with one of her boyfriends and pressed the
doorbell hard. Although, mentally prepared for the tempest that would ensue, I
had never seen this face of Varun; he looked mad with rage and fury. He was not
only heartbroken but the manner in which Divya had backstabbed him was too much
for an emotional soul to bear. Divya, whom he had started liking.
On the grounds
of infidelity, he was granted a quick divorce. While Divya and her parents
still blame me for the ruckus created in their lives, I am alright with it as
long as I can save Gouri from Divya’s devious plans, which had begun taking
shape. A young, motherless child just needs love and attention.
Today, I find it
hard to suppress the cheer! I look at the joyful faces and feel proud! If you
have an undying will to change the wrong, no one can stop the good times from
smiling at you! Months back, on this very same airport, I was trying hard to
control my tears. I wonder how fickle fate can be! It’s never in one mood for
long.
All of us, along
with my old granny, are here; eagerly awaiting our British Airways flight,
to bring our little fairy, the apple of our eyes back! Look! Somewhere
in the bright horizon, Bhavna is smiling at me!
For the last few
months, I had been wondering about the marital life of one of my good friends. On a
few earlier occasions, she did sound a bit sad on phone. However, I was not
sure enough to ask her anything directly. A few days back, I received her sms that she has changed her phone number. So, I called her casually for a little chit
chat.
“How are you?” I
asked
“Fine” she said
in a plain voice.
“Where are you
these days?” I asked
“I am out on parole”
She said in a strange, somewhat philosophical tone.
“..??...”
“At home, papa’s
place” she replied her voice regaining normalcy
“Hmmm” I said.
“Only a few good
days in hand” She added
“Of what?” I
asked
“My holidays
here, in my house” she said with a sigh.
“Hmmm” I replied
for I did not know what else to say.
My fears were
true. Sometimes, a word or two creates a clearer and real picture of
circumstances than hours of deep analysis. Felt sorry for her but I also know it
is really foolish to interfere in such cases of marital discord, for one always
stands at a risk to make a complete fool of him/herself. We can only pray from
the periphery.
WOW: 38 missed calls in 10 mins! He wondered
what was going on'
“I am not getting what your problem is? Does
he beat you, Slap you?” asked the mother quite irritatingly.
“No mummy, but please talk to him and
his family.” the daughter replied
“Then? What will we talk about?”
“But I am sick! I live in a jail,
literally. He checks up on me every half an hour or so, sometimes even every fifteen
minutes.’ The daughter replied with teary eyes.
“Does slapping only amount to cruelty? He
had guts to record my line-phone conversations. He enquired with the neighbors
about me mamma!” she added
“And how did you get to know all this?”
asked the mother
“Singh aunty told me that. I found the
recorder under the table. Sometimes, he locks himself up in the room and
refuses to come out for hours. It is too much papa” said the daughter as she
switched her cell phone off and threw it away in disgust.
“Beta, it happens. He loves you. Every
boy shows his love in a different manner.” The mother tried to pacify her.
“By being so obsessive? Is this love
papa? He does not allow me to work even. I left my job under his pressure” she
again looked sadly at her father.
“Beta, he is well settled and do
not forget that you are enjoying the comforts you only dreamt of.” The mother
tried to throw in some positives.
“So? Is freedom not a thing? Mummy,
diamonds have blinded you to my deep agony. A foreign honeymoon is not a surety
of a good marriage. He avoids taking me out on social occasions even. If he
does not trust me, it is better to go our own ways” the daughter said firmly.
“I agree beta, he is a bit possessive
but he is handsome and well settled too. And you are making a scene out of a
minor thing” The mother said as she paced up and down the room.
“A bit? You call this a bit! The small
dreams that a girl harbors and the ambitions she nurtures over the years always
fade behind the glittery wedding to the rich groom. They lay like dead
under the flowery aisle that often leads to a golden prison. He comes home for lunch usually unannounced and gives me strange
stares that match the shades of an internal agony and helpless doubt of a
juvenile.” The daughter said as she looked her mother in the eye.
“See, we do not want your philosophy. We
have one more daughter to marry, can’t you see girl! If you cannot help in
finding a suitable match, at least do not create troubles.” The mother heaped
on the chair avoiding the eye contact.
“Mummy, I cannot live with a psycho like
this. Firstly, you did everything in such a hurry that I could not get time to interact
properly with him. I got to know his rotten mind only after marriage. I am
repenting your mistake mummy. Look papa, are you listening?” said the daughter as
she wiped another tear.
“I think you should stop this nonsense
now and focus on your personal life. What will you do if he gets interested in
another woman? Where will you go then? Hold your life girl; hold him fast
before he slips away. After all who finds such a prince so easily! The mother
said as if trying to push her outside the house.
“Alright, there is no hope I can see
here. I am going back to that dark hole”. She said, switching on her mobile.
“My God! Look at this papa! Do you need
more proof now? I switched it off for just 10 minutes!” the daughter said as
she gaped at the screen in awe and irritation.
“Beta,
probably you are right. I think it is time to talk to him and his parents
seriously and if required, seek medical help.” The father said and stood up when
he saw 38 missed calls
in 10 mins! He wondered what was going on.
PS: Mental troubles and deviated behavior
are not taken seriously in our country. Instead, marriage is considered to be a
panacea of all such issues. Visiting a psychiatrist or a councilor is still a
taboo. There are so many girls who are stuck with such abnormal spouses. It is
necessary to seek help in such cases; it can save bigger troubles in future.
This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda. We give out creative writing prompts each weekend for Indian bloggers.
A benevolent elderly lady who lives near my house casually told me a thing that left me pondering about attitudes that can eat up our nation like termites. She told me that her daughter, an MBBS, MD, got married into a wealthy business family. However, things were not rosy for long; only after a few months, she was forbidden from practicing by her parents-in-law, who felt that household and kids should be the utmost priority of her life. She tried a lot to convince them but finally, they put their foot down and now she is a full time housewife and a devoted mother to her two college going children. Her medical degree not only got wasted but this has far reaching effects as well. A medical seat that she had occupied got wasted since as a doctor she is not contributing anything to her country that is always short of trained doctors. Also, a lot of taxpayers’ money goes into making one specialist doctor and non-practicing people from medical profession only add to the liability of the nation.
In yet another case, a lady I know personally is a trained mathematics teacher but was forced to quit her job after she had had her first kid and since then is a full time housewife. Despite repeated requests from her and her parents, her in-laws are still adamant about the issue. Maths is not a subject that many kids enjoy and that can boast of a good teacher pool in the country. In such a case loss of a trained teacher that too one who decided to take up the profession out of her love for teaching the subject is a big loss indeed.
There is no dearth of such reports, facts and figures; we all know that millions of students, especially girls, occupy college seats but provide nothing in return. There are a few things that I really wish to shed some light on.
Firstly, Higher education that churns out specialists like doctors, architects and engineers etc. costs any nation a lot and it is literally a crime to waste the national wealth like this. If someone aspires to be a skilled professional, she/he should always keep in mind that giving services back to the society is the most important thing, the aim of higher education. Also, I personally feel that education liberates you from the banal and monotonous drudgery of life and elevates living and mental standards.
One of the girls I know is an MBA but left her job as soon as she got married. The reason she gives is really annoying: her husband will take care of all the expenses and she need not work. Another girl I know is a PG but stays at home all day and spends her precious time in day dreaming or chatting. She has her own reasons; she says that since her father is rich enough, a job is not required. Job or business, whatever you take, adds to personal growth as well. An independent and empowered woman can maintain and protect her self-esteem and can ‘choose’ to even walk out of an abusive or broken marriage, hence saving her life for better.
We can further add to the list, the people who acquire higher education in some special professional field and then switch over to an entirely different one like administration, entertainment and showbiz, politics or business, which has little use of that professional skill and in which they could have done well even without snatching and wasting one seat from some other deserving and needy aspirant.
We cry ourselves hoarse on ‘brain drain’ but what about those millions of brains that are doing nothing for the nation and are wasting their precious skills in other mundane things.
For past one month I was eagerly waiting for something, as I counted days I myself wondered “shucks! I am actually waiting, man!” I was in a strange dilemma, I could not openly declare that I was rather dying to see him nor I could hide my feelings. Finally that moment came. No! I was not waiting for my pardesi boyfriend on the Airport with a bunch of roses and about-to-slip kisses, but (it sounds so silly!) I was dying to watch ‘Rahul Dulhaniya Le Jayega’ on NDTV Imagine….eheheh and before you all start to taunt on my ‘taste’ of TV shows, let me be very clear about my purpose to watch this much ‘awaited show’. I wanted to see how far can girls go for him.
This is a very modern show, we have full (tann aur mann se!) participation of all the girls as young as a 19 years old who wish to marry Rahul Mahajan, in fact a one time cocaine addict but it doesn’t matter naa, not even his failed first marriage with his pilot wife Shweta, because Rahul is a celebrity somehow. Ya I am using the word ‘somehow’ because he was in the news mostly for wrong reasons and more the media coverage, more fame you gather ‘somehow’ thus all these somehow-Celebes include Rahul as well. They all gathered with gifts in their hands and crammed shayari (Rahul hymns) on their lips. One brave lady claimed she was in love with him since past 10 years and now her tapasya has paid off! The outfits of some were quite interesting and are sure to keep the males glued to the TV sets.
The first episode (scene 2): All the suitors... (hehehe!) gather inside a party hall and are vying with each other so as to attract the attention of the ultimate lady killer! (My jokes are not that bad yaar!) Some are pulling him this side, some that, some are singing in loud voices, and some are simply fuming because he isn’t paying them attention and while some simply walked up to him and begged for his attention! See, I told you naa India is full of modern and confident ladies! They are storming and demanding.
They ooze out a chutzpah that can even embarrass the person watching the show. Now I can understand Rahul when he said in its Ad “aap meri haalat to samajh hi sakte hain naa!”haan Rahul bilkul! And we can even understand and imagine poor you after marriage with one of these firebrands. The first episode (scene 3):(Aha! Pyar ka nazraana! All the girls stand in a row and Rahul inspects them) 2 bangles were given by the lady killer to two girls who beamed with joy as others fumed and tried hard to control tears. And more catfights and dirty politics to come that’s gonna decide who will have the lady killer finally!
Well, coming to the point I, as an audience found it shameful to watch the ladies fight for a stupid pest. Its drooping below the last threshold of dignity. This is their insolent attitude at work. I frankly feel sorry for all the suitors fighting out there for Rahul … it’s a shame on the educated and dignified girls. “When money speaks, no one checks the grammar” …. Hence proved!!
