The Logical (Wo)Man

It all started with a small incident that had a life changing effect on Sia. She was due to marry the love of her life at the end of this year. What a moment it was when both families sat together for the wedding planning. It was supposed to be a “Gala” celebration with Page 3 coverage. As they spoke, Sia locked (rather lip locked) herself with her fiancée inside his room. “You’ll be mine forever, Gorgeous!” he said “Hmmm..” she murmured still kissing on his lower lip. She could feel his hand on her back lingering on her bulge. “By the way Baba (Father) and me were discussing something and I think you should know it too…” He broke off the kiss and now held her by her waist, face to face, intimidating her medium stature by his gigantic 6’2’’ figure. Sia was surprised at his sudden serious tone. She thought maybe it was about Dowry (well an indirect one of course). She had witnessed this in many weddings where the groom’s family (specially in India) places unbelievable demands that costs a fortune and gradually leads the bride’s family to bankruptcy. Such practices are quite common, although no one admits it openly (Of course with exceptions). She could never imagine that happening to her. Maybe Arjun is immature but he’s not self-centered! “What is it honey?” an anxious Sia muttered. “Well, father suggested that we should contribute to meet 50 percent expenses of our family, monthly. I mean from our salaries.” What a relief! “Sure baby! It’s our family now!” Sia chirped. She would give away a fortune to be with him. Well speaking of “Giving Away”, she denied a promotion (which could have taken her to places), two job offers from multinational IT Companies with fat compensation packages and comforting perks only because she wouldn’t leave her hometown where her future family was planned. Well, talking of planning, “God” had other plans. He seemed to like the reply as he kissed her neck and started pressing both her breasts. “Mmm… I love them so much.. They are so soft and smooth” Sia always thought whether it was logical to even think that she was being groped by her own fiancée. Arjun was very touchy all the time. He didn’t even hesitate in front of strangers or in a public place. Well, he was her first love and she had no prior experiences of such physical intimacies and love making. Sometimes her mind used to rebel against his actions (that included making love against her wishes) but she never paid much heed to that as long as he loved her. She wanted to remind him about their plan of buying an apartment. Their small cozy retreat where they can start a family. “Hey did you talk to him about us moving to our apartment post marriage?” she enquired “Mmm” he sucked on her left areola. “Hey are you listening to me?” “hmm.. ya I will” reluctance was clear in his voice. “When?” “Soon babe” “I think we should go and talk to him together” Sia moved away and buttoned up her shirt. “What the hell! Why did you cover up?” “Arjun, you are not listening to what I have to say” “I will handle it Sia. No more arguments!” “But Arjun, we have been discussing this for a long time. Right?” (long means more than 7 years) “Why are you so eager to make me leave my family?” He retorted. “Honey I don’t mean it like that! We need to start our own family. We need to learn how to survive and support each other since our parents will not always be there for us! Besides even they have a life.” “Keep your ‘Gyan’ (wise words) to yourself Sia! I will NOT leave my home and my parents. They are getting old”. “But I'll leave mine right? Even they are aging!” “Yes, but that’s what all the girls do. That’s the ‘Rule’ of the ‘Society’ “ Rules that were exclusively applicable to Females. Fair enough. She thought “But…” “ENOUGH! Can you not shut up when we are being intimate?” He snarled like an enraged bull. “Arjun I didn’t mean to..” “You have to screw it up every f**king time” “Please hear me out?” “Just shut up Sia” He then turned around and stormed out of the room slamming the door behind. This was probably the thousandth time he did that. Sia could not understand why he was so hesitant to start something on his own. Be it a family, a new Project, a Business venture or anything. She followed him out and saw him going into their huge marble floored fully furnished living room, it was almost twice as much as Sia’s. Both families were discussing details with the Wedding Planner. Arjun’s family were rich and had a flourishing Construction business that was started by their great Grandfather. But she was not marrying him for money. In fact, Sia earned more than double of what Arjun did and also she was his senior. Her friends were surprised when she announced their marriage. Her best friend Joey was awestruck. “But he is you junior! I mean maybe he is elder to you but you’re his boss!” “I know Joey but l love him!” Sia didn’t care about all that but she was then unaware about his family background and their conservative mindset of treating , scratch that, mis-treating women. Sia came back to senses when Arjun complained “Baba, she is nagging me again about the apartment! I can’t take it anymore!” In her dreams she couldn’t believe that he shares all of their discussions with his father. There was absolutely nothing private between them from the beginning. Sia felt like a mouse inside a trap, betrayed, lonely, in pain. “Sia , what is this? Eshob ki Shunchi?(What am I hearing)?” Sia’s mom asked her in a nervous tone. Suddenly the atmosphere of the room turned cold as excitement faded away from everyone’s faces. The planner, Shouranya Datta , who owned the celebrated wedding planning company ‘Made for Each Other’ alongwith her secretary , were feeling uncomfortable with the rising tone of the conversation. They were in the middle of discussing the design themes for the wedding when the furious groom to be, barged in. What Arjun’s father said next, made Sia freeze “I wonder how you have groomed her. All she knows is to separate my son from us. And how to squeeze out our money” He addressed Sonita, Sia’s mom. “But Sia had paid for the down payment of the Apartment! Also, Arjun knows about it” “Great! She has already booked it then? Even without our permission?” “But as far as we know, Arjun has already discussed it with you all. Is that right Arjun?” Sonita anxiously questioned her soon to be son-in-law. Arjun stood like a wax sculpture , his eyes glued to the marble floor. “Leave Arjun out. He is just a kid. What does he know about running a house?” his mother Diptisha lashed out. “Yes. You are right. He is still a kid and needs to learn a lot of lessons. Why don’t you start teaching him how to behave like an individual and take his own decisions?” Sumanta , Sia’s father said in a cool voice. “Sumanta please, its our child’s future we are talking about” Sonita tried to stop her husband from provoking them further. “No dear, just because I respected my daughter’s decision, that doesn’t mean I ll encourage this tom-foolery any further” Tears fell from Sia’s eyes. “And to add further Mrs. Gupta, please teach your son how to respect women. He lacks it largely” Sumanta knew how Arjun had been a total jerk with his daughter for all these years. “Why don’t you teach your daughter not to behave like a scheming b*tch? She is reason for my son’s health issues” Diptisha tried to cover her son’s reluctance to maintain his health by putting the blame on Sia. “Arjun, would you still choose to remain mum?” Sia was astounded. She expected him to say something at least. But he was mute. “Sia, I don’t think Arjun could see the right thing right now” Sumanta sneered. “Well if that’s the case then we should not poke our nose into your wedding sweety” Arjun’s father Palash slashed. “Do whatever you two would have to do. Don’t expect us to be a part of it” he warned, glaring at Sia. “I think it’s better if we don’t have this wedding altogether. This way everyone would be happy” Sia said firmly. “What the hell are you saying Sia?” Arjun suddenly got back his voice. “Mom, dad, lets go” Sia wiped off the tears and stood up. That was the END of it…Her love, her dream of a family, her wedding. “Lets go..” Sumanta muttered, holding Sonita’s hand, who was still trying to talk it out of her daughter. “Wait, you just can’t go like that!” Arjun followed them. When they were climbing down the stairs, Diptisha warned her “Sia , if you leave , then there’s NO Coming BACK! So, think before you Leap” Sia suddenly thought “that’s what she did not do all these years! ‘THINK’!!” They left without any further discussions. Sia’s intuitions, her logical mind had always warned her about Arjun. Something was not right. Something was missing. Was it the actual love she was looking for? Was she stuck in a “Toxic relationship” that would have gradually lead to a “Divorce” with time? Although we are a progressive country but “Divorce” remains an indirect taboo in our society. No one will talk about it on your face but everyone will b*tch their lungs out when you turn around. Sia was scared, but she had to do it, finally. She loved her parents, more than herself and had ZERO tolerance to any b*ll*hit against them. It led to a series of mellow dramatic events, Arjun begging her for coming back, her mom crying to sleep every night, ‘tuts’ of relatives, friends mocking her behind her back and being all nice in front of her. The only person who was actually happy about her decision was Joey. She was not very fond of Arjun right from the beginning and warned her occasionally like her own mind. When Sia was all quiet at the Corporate Lunch , Joey chirped “ Hey babe… Please don’t feel so low.. I had told you this before .. that humongous fathead a**h**e didn’t deserve you” .. Sia Sighed. “All that gigantic pervert man-kid just wanted was a nanny. I wonder how you guys made lo..” Joey could not finish as tears rolled down Sia’s eyes..  Well she may not be all wrong as he almost weighed a kilo less than a baby elephant. He was quite fit and healthy when they started dating, but his food habits and lifestyle gradually went into a “Slug” mode. Sia had tried her best to bring him back to shape but in vain. Joey hugged her BFF tightly. She could never stand the sight of her bestie feeling all broken. *************************************************************************** In the following 3 years Sia had to switch her job, cut contact with all two faced friendselatives after going through a lot of drama and take her mom to a psychologist who could finally make her see some sense. She chose to avoid all the post-breakup toxicity so that she could move on. But, life was unfair, with all her friends were getting married. The peer pressure was rising almost like the mid-monsoon water level behind the doomed gates of a river barrage. The unofficial age range for marriage ended at 25 and Sia was waypast that. Sometimes she thought that she was acting in a daily Soap Opera, drama all around her. Her relatives started nagging her mom when they realized that Sia was immune to their poison. Yet, Her father, Sumanta was cool about the whole thing. He stood firm with his daughter’s decision and tried to make his wife see the logic in it. He wanted his daughter to pursue higher studies and always supported her that made her independent in all aspects. But what would Sia do now? With her world crushed…Can she begin from the beginning?