QUORA DIARIES

ELEVEN

@KINJALHARIYA

She nervously looked at the clock, for probably the umpteenth time since the morning. Looking in the mirror she adjusted her hair and cautiously analyzed her own reflection. Her dusky appearance looked a little fair due to the layers of foundation. Her eyes felt heavy from the weight of the mascara and eyeliner. Her cheeks appeared crimson, thanks to the generously applied blush and her lips shimmered due to the lipstick. She felt disgusted and moreover dejected because she knew the reflection looked far more hideous than she could have ever looked in life. Is this that necessary? To be decorated with all these and be presented in front of people who'll scrutinize the way she walks, talks and smiles. She'll be a commodity that will be appreciated or dejected on the basis of how she looks. Nobody will even give a fleeting glance to her qualifications let alone her nature.

"Maa, why do I have to look so different from who I am? Will this makeup permanently change the face I have?"

"This is a general makeup, beta. Every girl does this. Had you given a little importance to all this before, then we wouldn't have had to run behind boys to get you married."

"I was giving importance to studies. I thought it was more important to be learned and educated than to be beautiful."

She found herself talking to the walls, as her mother had already left.

------------

"Meet our daughter!", her mother chimed. Another round of snacks followed with questions pertaining to her.

'I guess you should show him your room now." She died a little inside. She dreaded this part of the entire meeting. She felt uneasy. Maybe now the boy will tell her that he likes someone else or maybe he'll make some unjust demand. She thought.

"This is my room."

"It is nice."

He went to her bookshelf and started reading the titles aloud. "You like reading?"

"Yes", she said, "I'll just come" and went to the washroom.

She returned wearing a saree and almost no makeup. "Many boys have come and rejected me. Many others came and promised marriage but never returned. And some, they asked me to deny."

And then, there was silence. He kept looking at her all this while. She was dusky, slender and had decent features. She was not strikingly beautiful, yet she wasn't plain. She was different, so different that men failed to understand it.

"I must say, your collection is awesome",he said, pointing at her bookshelf. "If we happen to marry, would you bring it along?" She was taken aback. For the first time, someone had so straight forwardly talked about marriage to her. "Yes. I might only if you don't reject me."

"Excuse me?"

"I know it might sound rude but before you, many guys came and said all the sweet things, ofcourse not the marriage part but still quite sweet things, and then disappeared not to come back ever. Even before meeting you, I was caked with makeup but I did not want to be someone who I am not or rather I did not want to be what I could never be."

"Ahhh..."

"Huh?"

"I feel relieved. All this while I thought you will reject me."

She smiled. "Why should I reject you?"

"Matter of fact, I have been rejected by many girls too. Some found me fat. Some said I was short. Some complained about my salary and some had lovers. Even today, when I saw you, your qualifications, merits and all these medals, I was preparing myself for another rejection."

She looked at him, bewildered by what he just uttered.

"Do you mean it makes no difference to you that I'm dark?"

"Come on, you are educated; you at least don't say that! And btw, it's called dusky, not dark."

"But does that mean you'll say a yes? I mean you know na, you can get a better girl."

"I haven't got any yet and I'm equally unsure about my looks. I mean, look at me. My weird hairstyle and my nose!"

Within moments, they were laughing. She felt so much at ease. For the first time, she felt accepted and appreciated. Her interests were talked about.

"You know I like your lips. They are naturally pink." She blushed. For the first time, her cheeks felt warm.

"I guess we should go down."

"Not that I want to but then yeah if only I go down, then only I can tell my parents that finally their search is over. One more thing. You are a beautiful girl. More than that, I was smitten by the way you respectfully treated everyone downstairs. You were modest and calm. Over the years, I had met many girls who kept telling me things about them I was least interested in. It's today that I realize pairs are actually made in heaven. Please say yes. I like you and I want to marry you."

"What makes you think I'll say a No?"

"But then I have one condition."

Her heart sank. The word 'but' had never done good to anyone.

"What is it?"

"Nothing much. I want dowry."

She stared at him. The man she thought who was so nice was no different.

"I am sorry. I do not approve dowry."

She stared at him. The man she thought who was so nice was no different.

"I am sorry. I do not approve dowry."

He stuck his tongue out and pointed at the bookshelf, "I want that. Please?"

"You scared me."

"Now you are scaring me. Will you not bring it along?"

"What if I don't?"

"Then I'll come and stay at your home."

And that's how, Manik and Nandini got married, that too with a dowry!