My Marriage Story

My name is Arjun. I was never the kind of guy who thought much about marriage. I am an introvert, quiet most of the time, and happy in my own small world. Marriage always felt like a big responsibility, a chain that would tie me down, something that would take away my freedom. Or maybe I was just scared of it. I first saw Liya at my cousin Akshay’s wedding. I didn’t know then that she was going to be such an important part of my life. I still remember that day clearly. The wedding hall was crowded, everyone was laughing and talking, music was loud, food was being served. I was doing what I usually do in such events — standing in one corner and watching people. And then I noticed her. She was different. Short hair, almost boy cut. Green eyes that shined whenever she laughed. And she was laughing a lot, talking to everyone, full of energy. She was the kind of person who brought life into a room. And me? I was the kind of person who blended into the walls. I don’t know why, but I kept looking at her again and again. Something about her pulled me in. I wanted to talk to her, but I couldn’t. My legs didn’t move. My tongue didn’t form words. That’s who I am. I wanted to say “Hi” but instead I just stared and then looked away whenever she turned. I left the wedding with only one thing in my mind — her face. Months passed. Life went back to normal. Work, home, routine. I thought maybe it was just a passing attraction. But life had other plans. One day my parents, Vitthal and Pushpa, went to visit Akshay’s house. And guess who was there again? Liya. My parents liked her immediately. They said she was well mannered, polite, and carried herself with respect. My father, Vitthal, is a straightforward man. He didn’t waste time. He asked her directly if her parents were looking for an alliance. She said yes, but also said her father would take the final decision. I didn’t know any of this. For me, life was the same. And then one evening, my father came into my room. “Arjun,” he said, “we have seen a girl for you.” I was shocked. Marriage? Me? I wasn’t ready. I told him directly, “I am not interested. I don’t want to get married now.” But Vitthal kept insisting. He said, “At least see the girl, Arjun. Talk to her once. Then decide.” I got irritated. I raised my voice. I told him, “If you keep forcing me like this, I will leave this house.” That silence after my words was heavy. My father looked at me for a second. His face was calm but I knew my words had hurt him. He just said “Ok” and left the room. For a few days, nobody talked about it. But then my mother, Pushpa, started. She was gentle, soft spoken, and loving. One night she sat beside me and said, “Arjun, she is a beautiful girl. Well mannered. She will bring happiness to your life.” I didn’t say anything. Deep down, I was remembering Liya from Akshay’s wedding. That boy cut hair, those green eyes, that laugh. I didn’t tell my mother this, but inside I was already thinking — maybe fate was bringing her back to me for a reason. There is something I should confess before going deeper into my marriage story. Before Liya, there was someone else in my life. Her name was Shakthi. Shakthi was strong, bold, and beautiful in her own way. She had bronze-colored skin that always glowed under the sun, and a sharpness in her eyes that could both scare you and comfort you. She was not like me at all. She was outspoken, fearless, and never afraid to argue when she felt she was right. Maybe that’s why I loved her so much. She completed me in a way. Where I was silent, she was loud. Where I was shy, she was brave. We were together for seven years. That’s not a small time. Seven years means she knew me inside out. My likes, my dislikes, my weaknesses, even the things I never told anyone. She was not just my girlfriend; she was my best friend, my world. But love stories don’t always end the way we want. Her family never liked me. They always had problems. They thought I wasn’t good enough for her. And then, things got worse. One day, her father and brothers sat me down. They told me, straight to my face, that if I wanted to marry Shakthi, I would have to leave my own family behind. Leave my father Vitthal, my mother Pushpa, my cousin Akshay, my whole world… just to prove my love? For a moment, I thought about it. But then I realized — love that asks you to abandon your roots, is that really love? My family is my backbone, my breath. I couldn’t betray them, not even for Shakthi. That was the beginning of the end. We fought, again and again. Shakthi begged me to agree, to come away with her. I begged her to make her family understand. Neither of us could bend. And then came the breaking point — a huge fight. Her brothers insulted me, her father shouted at me, and I lost my control. The argument turned into a storm. Words were thrown like knives. I shouted too, maybe louder than I should have. That day everything burned to ashes — seven years of love gone in one night. The breakup tore me apart. Nights became long, days became dull. Even though I didn’t show it to the world, inside I was broken. For a long time, I didn’t even believe in the idea of love or marriage. I told myself I would stay single forever. I didn’t want to go through that pain again. That’s why, when my father Vitthal brought up marriage with Liya, I resisted so strongly. I wasn’t just uninterested — I was scared. Scared of repeating the same story. Scared of loving again and losing again. But fate, as I said, had other plans. When my parents kept insisting, I finally gave up one evening. I told them in a serious tone, “Fine. I will marry the girl I see. I won’t reject any alliance. But don’t expect me to go around meeting ten girls and choosing. I’m not comfortable with that ritual.” Vitthal and Pushpa looked at each other. I could see relief in their faces. They just wanted me to move forward. My father nodded, my mother gave me a small smile, and that was it. The next day, my cousin Akshay sent me a w******p message. I didn’t open it immediately. I was busy with work, half irritated. I thought, “Another photo. Some random girl. Let’s just get it over with.” But when I clicked and the photo opened, I froze. I blinked twice. My hand literally trembled. I brought the phone closer, then pulled it away, like my eyes were playing tricks on me. I felt my heart thumping so hard inside my chest I could actually hear it. It was her. Liya. The same Liya from Akshay’s wedding. The girl with short hair and sparkling green eyes. The girl I couldn’t forget, no matter how much I tried to convince myself it was just a passing attraction. Her smile in that photo… it wasn’t just a smile. It felt alive. It had this warmth that went straight into my chest, melting every wall I had built around myself after Shakthi. I sat there staring at my phone for what felt like hours. I kept zooming in, looking at her eyes, her lips curved in that easy, playful smile. My head was spinning. I had never believed in destiny. Never. I always thought life is what we choose, what we build, nothing else. But this… this was something else. This was a force I couldn’t explain. Out of all the girls in the world, it had to be her. I whispered to myself, “This can’t be real.” But it was. And in that moment, something shifted inside me. For the first time in years, I felt a spark of happiness, of hope.