QUORA DIARIES

@G VEMA REDDY New place, new people, new surroundings, new name, new recognition, new status, more permissions, more responsibilities-One thread, Mangala sutram, has the power to change the entire course of life. Three knots will decide next fifty years of life. Girl will spend her whole life with a guy tie these knots. Boy wants the girl sitting aside him should be a familiar one to him so as the boy to the girl. Some people enjoy that luxury, some people don’t. Nandini and Manik fell into the latter category. They knew very little about each other. Nandini was feeling nervous when Manik was tying the knots. Manik could see the sweat on her neck though marriage was happening in an air-conditioned room. She closed the eyes when he finished tying. It’s over Nandini. You are no longer your papa's princess but a responsible wife. She told to herself, opened eyes and put a fake smile on face. Manik didn’t talk much with Nandini before marriage. Even after marriage, nothing had changed. She felt so nervous on their first night before going into the room, but she relieved and shocked at the same time after seeing Manik sleeping peacefully. He didn’t talk much with her, didn’t ask anything and didn’t try to share anything with her. She was feeling alone in that house. Her only solace was Manik's mother. Nandini had been treated as daughter by Manik’s mother. Manik’s father died few years back. He didn’t wish her on her birthday and didn’t care to inquire when she was getting so many calls and saying thank you over phone. She got a gift from her friend, who was staying in Dubai, through courier. She was finding it difficult to open when Manik came and helped to open. He didn’t care to ask her what it was and why it came. She got disappointed with him. But, she loved that gift. In fact, she felt this was the best gift among all. She tried so many times to have a conversation with him, but he somehow escaped every time. One month into the marriage life, she lost all hopes of leading a happy married life. She was working in an IT company. She used to leave early from the office in the initial days after marriage, but now she started staying late in office though she didn’t have the work. He was working as Assistant manager in one of ICICI bank branches located in Chennai. One day, sun was showing anger on Chennai till the evening, then dark clouds started hugging him tightly. Clouds started smiling. It started with a little smile, little by little, it became a guffaw. A heavy downpour. Streets filled with water, roads got blocked and traffic was jammed. Nandini got stuck in office. She couldn’t go to home on her scooty. Auto drivers were hesitating to drive to low areas. Ola and Uber apps were showing “sorry, all rides are full.” She waited upto 9PM. One of her colleague had agreed to drop off Nandini at her home when she received a call from her husband. “Nandini. I am waiting for you at parking lot. Come quickly.” Nandini couldn’t believe for a moment. She ran to the ground floor, from there to parking lot. There she saw her husband waiting for him in the car. She got onto the car. “Thanks for coming” Nandini was smiling at Manik, but nothing from him. He didn’t say anything. “We don’t have car, right? Then how come you get this car?” Nandini threw another question. He didn’t say anything. She disappointed a bit, turned her face towards left side. “Mother is worrying about you. She is worrying about your safety. That’s why I came to pick you up” finally Manik opened up. Nandini’s disappointment further increased. She thought he came to pick her up because he care about her. Now, she understood. Before marriage, she dreamt a lot about her post marriage life. She couldn’t enjoy her pre-marriage life due to her parents’ restrictions everywhere. She hoped her life would change after marriage. It changed indeed but not in the way she hoped for. She couldn’t control herself after she reached home. She went to wash room, opened the tap and cried out loudly. She shared her grief with her mother-in-law. Sadly, she came to know that Manik had been only like this from several years. Most of the time, Manik would spend time in office, less in home before marriage. He would not spend much time with his mother. She hoped that Manik would change at least if he get married with someone. She hoped that he would come early after getting married for her wife’s sake and she could spend some time with him. But, nothing had changed. Nandini realised that Manik didn’t have best or close friends. Situation got worse when she felt sick and was admitted in hospital. Manik came only twice to see her though she stayed in hospital for few days. He came on first day and on the day Nandini’s parents came to see her. She fed up with all these things. She came to conclusion that it would be absurdity to live with this person. One day, she torn their marriage pic (in that pic Manik was tying knots). She decided to ask for divorce. She discussed this with her parents. Her parents objected it initially, but she was so stubborn this time. She didn’t care his father’s words. She screeched at them for bringing this match. Her parents couldn’t say a word and agreed for divorce. Manik’s mother also agreed as she felt that divorce would make her life better and she also felt she deserved better husband. Nandini discussed this issue with Manik. He was so sad when she asked him for divorce. He took time and agreed for giving divorce. She met lawyer. Lawyer requested her to fill the forms, she did it. He asked her to get Manik’s signature. When Manik came from office, she gave the papers to him for signing. Manik took out one hand written-letter from his bag and asked her to read it. “Dear Nandini I said no when my mother asked me to marry you. But, she forced me and I agreed. The day I saw you in your house, I felt you are my soul mate. I wanted to love you but couldn’t, due to my past. I stopped being close with the people after my dad’s demise. When I was five years old, my gifted me one puppy. I loved him a lot. I used to spend most of the time with that puppy only. But it died later due to a disease. Later, Karan came into my life. He helped me to forget my grief. We both became good friends. When we were in 10th standard, we planned to go to nearby famous place. He was riding the bike. He didn’t like to wear helmet, so I wore it. One car hit us from back side. He died in the spot, that too in my hands. I was severely injured, but survived. Later it took two years to overcome that pain. Later when I was in degree I had developed love feelings on one girl and I proposed her. She also accepted. She had shown all the love I had been craving for. We had been in love for three years. I reached a stage where I couldn’t live without her. Her parents came to know about us and got angry with her. They married her with other guy. I was in depression. My dad helped me a lot during that phase. He used to motivate me a lot. I started loving him more than I used to. When I was almost recovering from that incident, he died in a road accident. Then I realised “If I start loving anything or any person, that thing or person will be taken out of my life by god” So I stopped being close with all including my mother also. I didn’t want to lose my mother. I didn’t have the courage. Then you came into my life. I wanted love you but I couldn’t. On first night, I acted like I was sleeping but I didn’t. You came and slept on sofa. I woke up during mid night and I looked at you throughout the night. You were so beautiful. Not only that night, so many nights I spent by staring at you. I also kissed you few times. On that day, when you stuck in rain, I reached home and mom told me you stuck in office. Immediately I called my friend and requested his car. He didn’t agree initially. I pleaded him. He was shocked that I haven’t begged anyone like that. He gave the car and when I saw you reaching towards the car “Thank god, she is safe”. But I didn’t tell you all this as I was in fear that past would happen once again. When you were in hospital, I came to the hospital only twice but every day I went to the temple and prayed god for your fast recovery. I started loving you. Few days back, when you came and requested me for divorce, my worst fears came true. I couldn’t believe fate myself except to cry alone in wash room. I realised my fate and I agreed for divorce. I hope you will find a right person. Wish you happy life ahead” After she completed reading, Manik stood in front of her, handing her signed papers. She took the papers and came out of room. She stopped in mid-way and went back to his room. There she saw Manik was crying in front of the mirror. Nandini went there and hugged him tightly. He also hugged her and was crying his heart out. After few minutes, he released himself from the hug and took out one box from his bag. He asked her to open it. She opened it and she saw small pieces of papers. He requested her to arrange all piece of papers in a proper order. She arranged it in proper order. It was their marriage pic, which she tore it few days back. Now, he asked her to upside down the each piece of paper slowly. She did it and she saw one alphabet behind each piece. After she finished turning them all, she found “I love you Nandini . Just tell me that you will be my side forever. Just give me one chance to show you the love which I have been hiding from very long time” Nandini was in tears and tore the divorce papers, hugged him and said “I love you” God has taken so much from him. He gave him a perfect gift. Thanks for reading This is not my story guys. ❤