When Papa called me to ask, “What should I say now?” after receiving a proposal from Chadda uncle on behalf of Raman’s family—I didn’t hesitate. “It was always a yes from my side,” I said with a pounding heart.
He sighed deeply and asked, “But what about the kundalis?”
I replied calmly, “We can check for remedies, and even if there are consequences, we’ll deal with them. Life is uncertain anyway. Let’s not lose hope again.”
Papa consulted our family pandit once more, who suggested that while the match wasn’t traditionally ideal, there were remedies available if we truly wished to proceed. The only probable challenge, he said, could be a strained relationship with my future mother-in-law.
I accepted it without hesitation. “If she won’t adjust, I will,” I told Papa. After all, what was a little resistance compared to the battle we had fought to reach this stage?
And finally, the day arrived when both families were scheduled to meet formally.
We were excited—hopeful, dreaming again—but unaware that this day would become the first crack in our journey together.
Papa, waiting for a call from the middleman who had coordinated the meeting, left home later than expected. The middleman, unfortunately, was closer to Raman’s father, and while he had informed us of the timing in the morning, he didn’t call again in the evening to confirm that Raman’s father had already reached the venue.
This delay hurt Raman’s father's ego. He grew upset and said, “We are the boy’s side; the girl’s family should’ve arrived before us. Are we not important enough for them?”
Despite the rough start, both parties sat down to talk. But the discussion quickly took a turn towards one-upmanship.
Raman’s father remarked, “There were proposals from very rich families for our son. But now he wants to marry your daughter, so we had to agree.”
Papa responded calmly but firmly, “My daughter also had many proposals. She’s preparing for the IAS. She will have a bright future ahead—and your son won’t find a girl like her anywhere else.”
The tension didn’t stop there. The topic of dowry came up next—another storm waiting to explode.
Papa, being a principled man, clearly said, “I’m against dowry. I prefer a simple marriage. I believe in giving my daughter what she needs, not feeding someone’s pride.”
This struck Raman’s father's ego hard. He snapped, “We’re not hungry for your money! Whatever you wish to give, give it to your daughter. We don't need anything!”
Despite the emotionally charged conversation and visible friction, somewhere between pride and principle, both sides agreed to the union. They couldn’t ignore that their children’s love had endured trials no logic could justify.
And so, the engagement was finalized.
The date was set: 13th May 2013.
Amid hopes and hidden cracks, we had taken a step forward—together.
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