Swiping for Shaadi: Episode 17 - Enlightenment

(Read the previous part here)

Before Anjali could return to Mumbai, she had to attend another wedding of a distant cousin in Agra itself. She was reluctant to attend the same, but her father pestered and then, convinced her, “Maybe, someone at the wedding will like you.”

But it was of no use. The wedding was not attended by many of the youngsters. Some aunties liked Anjali’s outfit but they refrained from suggesting marriage proposals because she worked in a city like Mumbai.

She even overheard one of the aunties whispering, “Mishraji’s daughter has been unmarried for a long time. He has been searching like crazy all over India, but it seems there is something wrong with his daughter.”

“Really! She looks perfectly normal. But when he told me that she works in Mumbai, then I guessed that kuch to gadbad jarur hai.” 🙆

“Hmmmm…” They hummed as if they had found out the root cause of Anjali’s single status.

She thought of interrupting the conversation, and clarifying to them that she wasn’t problematic, and their perspective was jaundiced. But she kept mum and instead focused on her thoughts about Mumbai life. She compared her weekend in Agra to her happening life in Mumbai.

Obviously, there was a massive difference in both cities. She seemed to have a dichotomous life. In Agra, she was chained to her family’s thoughts and opinions, while in Mumbai, there was no one to bother her. She could have bread and butter for breakfast, and no one would nag her, “shaadi ke baad apne pati ko kya bread butter khilaogi.”

She caught a  glimpse of her parents, still squabbling with each other regarding the new rose plants in her mother’s garden. Why does she always do that? Anjali wondered. Why she doesn’t listen to her husband and not invest so much time and energy in her garden? Why does she even plant those flowers and seeds all the time?

It is her hobby, it is her passion, a voice murmured in her head. Just like Anjali had for herself – photography and Instagramming all the nooks and corners of the world. Maybe, having a passion is something she had inherited from her mother. Mishraji never had a passion, well, he had developed a new hobby of finding the right groom for Anjali. But before that, he had a business to take care of and the neighbourhood to gossip and discuss matters of significant nature. Apart from business and neighbourhood, Mishraji was never keen on any leisurely activities. He disliked books and reading, always condemned music artists and singers and sports were the last thing in his mind to develop a liking for. Even though he was an Indian man, he was least interested in sports, including cricket.

So no passion of Mishraji! Anjali was flabbergasted at her detailed reflection that evening. Really, wedding ceremonies are thought-provoking and spouse-searching places for single women, she inferred. She always thought that she was like her father, but no! She was like her mother. Father was always hostile towards her mother’s hobby and passion for gardening. Gosh! What would Anjali do if she found a man like her father? 🤠

Why do you click photos?

Why do you have to travel all the time?

Why do you have to buy a camera lens?

Why do you have to invest in your photography equipment?

It was a bright moment of enlightenment for Anjali. It had dawned in her mind that she didn’t need anyone like her father. If her prospective spouse has a few qualities and characteristics of her father, it would mean a sad marriage and not a happy one.

She gasped for breath as she noticed her parents separating in opposite directions, still cursing and criticizing each other. Poor Mom! How Anjali had always belittled her and supported her father!

She continued towards the buffet section and added a few dishes to her plate. She had lost her hunger because of the sudden intellectual reasoning she had a few minutes back. She loaded her plate and moved towards an isolated place in the wedding hall. At a distance, she noticed her Uncle, Alokji amongst a group of well-dressed and groomed ladies. It was a usual sight – the ladies in the entire neighbourhood admired Uncle for his sense of humour and caring nature.

Alokji is so nice and humble – he always helps me in getting an auto when I am in the market.

Alokji always answers calls – he is there to help me whenever I am in a crisis.

Alokji is so funny – he makes me laugh.

Alokji is so caring – his wife must be so lucky to have a caring husband. Otherwise, just look at my husband. He doesn’t even know that I had a haircut in the morning.

Well, that was the popularity of Alok Uncle, and Anjali didn’t mind it. It is fortunate to have a loving and caring husband like him, but was he the epitome of loyalty and love? She observed them intently the other time and noticed how he got along with all the ladies.

He teased them and they giggled. It looked as if a young, flamboyant guy was flirting with beautiful and hot college girls. 😎 On the contrary, Shantiji dined with a group of ladies and looked rather gloomy. She had noticed her husband chitchatting with the ladies, but she had seemed to be accustomed to his habits.

Yeah, I do want a loving and caring man, Anjali said to herself, but not someone who takes care of all the ladies in the neighbourhood. She observed the two gentlemen in her family – first was her father who didn’t care for his wife’s hobbies, and another was her Uncle who cared about all the ladies, including his wife. What kind of examples of perfect husbands she had in her own house?

What if she finds and ends up with someone like these two gentlemen? This was not something she wanted, she had dreamed of or she had planned for. Was marriage even the right thing to do? Was it an obligatory thing to do? Why can’t I keep it an option, she pondered as if she was a college-going student appearing for the final exams.

Freaking out, she finished whatever she had put on her plate and decided not to bother her parents or Uncle about the new marriage proposal they had sought. She was quiet and pretended that nothing was happening in her mind and preferred to focus on her packing task. 😐

While leaving, her father nudged her again, “You remember about the proposal, right? Don’t register on any portal until I confirm.”

Stay Tuned for Next Part on 29th October 2023!