World upside down

I remember that day clearly. The day my world went upside down. It was around 8 in the evening. Sunaina, my wife was on her way back home. She had been a little late from office due to March coming to a close. The weather was getting hotter. Slowly, the weather Gods would be increasing their wrath, as if testing people’s patience or punishing them for their past life’s crimes. I had reached home on time and served myself a couple of glasses of fresh lime juice. The sugary sweet taste of fresh lime juice was a perfect anecdote for the weather. Meanwhile, waiting for my wife, I had cut vegetables and soaked rice. Tonight, we had planned on having biryani. I loved devouring my wife’s biryani. Not just biryani, I loved everything she cooked. My stomach churned a little and I helped myself to a few pieces of cake she had baked a couple of days ago. I left last two pieces as post dinner dessert.

Little did I know my world was about to go upside down in a few minutes. Little did I know that I wouldn’t be able to have my last piece of cake. Little did I know that I would not be able to have my wife’s biryani that day. Little did I know that my wife would come home with a doctor’s report making me a diabetic and snatching me away from the true love of my life – sweets.  

Day 2 - Picture prompt

‘I’m Writing Bravely for the Write Tribe Festival of Words – March 2019’

Kundli Connections

Kundli (horoscope) - the magical piece of paper that holds the answers to all questions unfathomable to the logical mind of a sane human being. Apart from holding the powers to foresee about how the child would fare in his studies, whether the beta has the yog of flying abroad and how much money would he mint; the kundli becomes the most sacred and sought-after word for Indian parents when it comes to getting their offspring married to complete strangers.

Image courtesy: Google search

After all, when the prospective partners aren’t allowed to talk to each other for more than a few hours, let alone allowing them to date other person, one obviously needs a measuring scale to decide whether this is ‘the stranger’ who you can get your child to spend their life with? Well well, the kundli comes to the rescue. For it is not the likes and dislikes of the children that should help choose their partner, but it is some random planetary position that gets the privilege of deciding whether this is the best dulha (groom) for your rajdulaari (princess) or she is the perfect bahu (daughter-in-law) you are looking for your eklauta beta (only son).

Your khandaani pandit (priest) plays a very important role in this ‘stranger gets married to stranger’ game. For it is him who would after some deep analysis of the rahus and the ketus residing in the kundlis of both the girl and guy, shall he let you know whether she is ‘the stranger’ who would keep your son happy, be a good daughter-in-law bringing in prosperity to your household and who shall also bear you the khandan ka varis.

The zodiacs are matched. Very necessary. For an Arian shall find it hard to get along with a Capricorn and shall be best compatible with a Gemini. The mangaliks are to be set up with fellow mangaliks only. Wait, the ones having shanis would also do at times. The planets and their positions are studied, dashas and mahadashas are calculated, matched and after trying various permutations and combinations of the planetary positions of both the stranger parties, a score is arrived at out of a total 36 points. This score is ‘the’ magical number which would decide whether to go ahead with this particular stranger for your child or not.

Anything below 18 is not acceptable at all and this rishta is to be dismissed off without another thought. Yes, even the planetary positions need a minimum number of passing marks. Well, if the scores stand anything from 25 to 32, then this particular stranger with whom the score has been achieved can be met and then be judged on other parameters.

And Holy Hell, if the score is anything above 32, rounds of gulab jamuns start circulating amongst the families already for this is ‘the’ match that is made in heaven. And come hell or high water, this rishta cannot be refused. Because this is ‘the’ bouy that is supposed to give your daughter all the happiness she deserves in the world and she is ‘the’ sanskari bahu your house would ever get. And making the guy meet the girl and other such unimportant events later, boom.. they are married !!

In this process, one might also come across families that aren’t compatible to yours. And this magical piece of paper called kundli comes in handy for warding off such families. The mother just puts up a sad face and announces with a sigh to the other mother that the kundlis aren’t compatible which is responded by the other party with another sigh and something like ‘it’s all destined’ and other such well-rehearsed lines. Both the parties know the truth, but none utters. After all, it is so rude to say that your beta isn’t earning as much as our daughter. Why say and spoil, when you can blame it all on the kundli?

So you see, things are that simple in our arranged marriage system to decide whether he/she is ‘the one’ or not. Pretty convenient, ain’t it?

This post is written as a part of April A to Z Challenge 2014 under Non-Themed category. I am doing two posts for this Challenge and Themed posts can be found here.

Elderly couples

Have you ever noticed those elderly couples around? The ones with withering bodies, the ones hanging onto each other for support! I happen to notice a few of them around. The first thing that strikes me about them is their composure and calmness as a couple. They seem so comfortable in each other’s presence. Neither is the wife worried about her husband’s hovering eyes nor the husband over protecting her. No going overboard with showing their love for each other amidst public places and no hassles or haggles in handling each other as a couple. Just a state of pure comfort!

What is it that makes them so confident about the other person that they seem to be in state of perfect harmony? Of course, it is because of the amount of time they’ve spent with each other. May be, there is some unknown bond which probably only time can create. They know other person well, their weakness, their needs, their attitudes and may be that’s how they have adjusted themselves accordingly.

The other day while in the bus, (yes, I am talking about my Rickety Ride) I saw an elderly couple seated at the first seat. The bus was crowded and I stood near them. The conductor came by and asked for the place for the ticket. The woman opened her purse, took out a few notes and mumbled something to the conductor. The bus conductor couldn’t understand the name of the place she mumbled about. Hence he asked her again. Her husband got the clue and he mentioned the place to the conductor. I wonder how effortlessly the husband realized that her wife’s mumbling can only be understood only by him! The entire route, they sat in almost silence. Yet the comfort within them was so very throbbing. While getting down, the husband asked her to be careful, even telling the bus driver to not start the bus until she gets down. His concern, so evident in his voice. It made me smile seeing their beautiful chemistry.

Yet another day, an elderly couple boarded the bus. (and this time it’s not my Rickety Ride. Well you see, I happen to travel on a lot of buses; not that they are my favourite mode of travel, but I happen to). The husband boarded the bus first and grabbed the first available seat. The wifey followed and he stood up to allow his wife to sit. There were a few seats available, though not near his wife’s seat and hence the husband chose to stand near his wife rather than grab a seat for himself away from her. The wife kept on pestering him to go and sit somewhere or sit at her place. But he refused. The best part of their conversation was her coaxing and his refusing which they did in the most adorable manner. The comfort and the bond was so very alive between them.

It just warmed my heart to witness that pure comfort and bliss of togetherness. At times, I want to go and hug them for their adorableness. Do you find such elderly couples adorable too?

This post is written as a part of April A to Z Challenge 2014 under Non-Themed category. I am doing two posts for this Challenge and Themed posts can be found here.