30 Days of Winter - Entry 6.0

                                       30 Days of Winter - Entry 6.0

 

The Prologue

Its been 30 days since the first time they met. It was a really good conversation for a first meeting.

But do we really get to know someone completely in the first meeting ? 

But then do arrange marriages give out that kind of time which it takes to know someone?

They say if you already know everything about someone, there would be no thrill or spice in your marriage when you grow old.

But don’t you see the irony in that ? Well, if you need to ask, does it really matter. (If you do, DM me.)

 Some of you would say there is a thing called long courtships. Well, I would say, if you got long one, consider yourself lucky.

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Well its been almost 20 days since they met,where they talked about food, music, travel, their routines and feelings on a good conversation. They had exchanged their phone numbers and started chatting on social media. Of course there was this thrill of knowing someone new and being all attentive from both ends adding the spice to the chats. But can we really know someone by chatting for a few days through our eyes glued to the screen. I don’t think so.

Well then its a good thing they said YES to their parents. A YES to meeting once again and knowing more about each other.

 

The Evening

 

(They had decided to meet at a fancy restaurant at 7:30. And quite a surprise, they both were right on time. The table is set. The so called Heyy’s and Hii’s are done with. The game is on.)

(Riya being the icebreaker started)

Riya: Wow, this place seems very new. Its got quite a beautiful ambience with all these christmas decors.

Rahul: Yes, it opened in October only. I have been here once.

(They placed the order. And here comes again this awkward silence when 2 people don’t know what to talk about. What to ask a person while meeting them as a prospect for an arrange marriage.)

Rahul: I don’t know how to put it mildly but what are your fears about married life?

(Not the most appropriate first question while starting dinner, but somebody needed to say something.)

Riya: I guess it is time for those serious questions. I have thought about this and a lot of things come to my mind. Like the fear of not having a proper relationship with my in-laws (the so called cursed relationship with my mother in law). Then things like I always want to continue with my profession and it includes some late nights every once in a while. Then hoping that I don’t have to compromise in all the things in my lifestyle to get in sync with my partner.  

Riya: You? 

Rahul: Well this is the biggest change as they come. I worry about the adjusting, the change in home equation, the accommodating someone.But its more about developing that connect, that relationship with the person and building that feeling of love, respect and trust. Other than that it seems like a thrilling adventure of a lifetime. So yeah, its a bitter sweet thing for me.

 

( Meanwhile the Chinese sizzler has arrived and both of their faces completely answered how soggy and bland the taste was. They both ended up asking for the cheque and thinking of going somewhere else.)

 

Riya: What about going at that Chinese place just round the corner, “Shangrila”. I heard its amazing.

Rahul: Lead the way, captain.

(Rahul says this while paying the cheque. Its quite an event isn't it. Who pays the cheque? Do they split it up or one of them pays it all up.)

(A dragon breathing fire at the end of the Shangrila board. They notes played by a violin touched their ears as they entered the place)

Riya: Oh nice, somebody is performing a piece on violin. 

( It was “Wicked Games”.They were seated at a corner table.)

Rahul: Yeah, its deeply satisfying.

Riya: Aren’t we fortunate enough. I mean if compared to the last year, where we spent most of the time locked away in our homes. Its so good now, being able to roam this freely listening to violins while having dinner at a restaurant.

Rahul: It truly is. To think if all of this could not return to normal. I guess post all that, we are have started valuing the need of normality and physicality so much.

Riya: Tell me, whats your favourite spot/ place in this world? The place at which you can sit for hours .

Rahul: Umm, it would be my room. Mind you, just the room. There's this wall of mine covered fully with a board and all of my favourite  movies, thoughts,     people and arts hanging on it. Its something I see first everyday I wake up. The wall is like my heart. You may say its a nerdy thing to have, but it is how it is, though not for long now.

Riya: Why not for long? 

Rahul: I mean hypothetically speaking after marrying I think I wont be able to keep that in our room.

(Almost giving out a funny face)

Riya: Oh, the hypothetical game, nice. So hypothetically speaking we will see what to do about that.

(Giggling it out)

Rahul: What’s yours?

Riya: My Terrace, period. It is the most beautiful spot I will ever at be. I sometimes sit through the night gazing stars and the city lights with the company of some good music. It is simply serene and a proper ritual.

 

Rahul: Earlier I noticed when you came into the restaurant that you had your earphones on and were almost reacting to its beats, like you were dancing internally. Is that a thing you always do ?

Riya: Umm, yeah. I thought everybody did that.

(Speaking in an embarrassed tone)

Rahul: Chill lady, chill. I was just pulling your leg. I do the same, everybody does that. Earphones transport us all in another world.

Riya: Oh thank god. I know right, they do. Its like you can leave all your worries and mood behind once you plug in your earphones. Its a remedy for all the situations you don’t want to deal with. They are a life saver.

(The food had arrived. The noodles and other dishes turned out to be delicious as hell.)

 Riya: Let me ask this, Are you happy with your life? Or is there any big change you want for yourself? 

Rahul: I actually am quite happy with my life. Its good right now, an excellent job, living with my family, no debts to worry about it. Its all good. But if you are talking about being content then I am not. As in its always been a dream to own my own company, be my own boss and run things my way. That is something I yearn to do in the future.

Riya: That’s good to hear. Ambition and dreams must be fulfilled at all costs. As for me, I am really happy with it. It has all the elements I want in my life, but their is always that yearning to develop and advance in my field. But that I would like to do only in this company. That place feels like home.

(They asked for the cheque. This time Riya paid for it. I guess cheques didn’t matter much in their case) 

Riya: Fancy for another walk ?

Rahul: Always up for a walk.

(They were walking on the main street when Rahul sees an Ice Cream parlor.)

 Rahul: Got room for some dessert.

 Riya: Of course, who says no to ice cream.

( Riya went for the Cookie n Cream and Rahul for the classic chocolate chips. Rahul bought two extra cones and gave them to the street kids sitting beside the shop. They turned a corner to walk into the less crowded lanes of that area.)

 Riya: Ice creams are so underrated in winters. They are yummier even in this cold weather.

(Rahul giving a super agreeing nod)

Rahul: Can I ask you this, its rather an odd question.

Riya: Of course you can.

Rahul: I have met quite some girls in all this arrange marriage stuff. But there’s this one thing about you that doesn’t match with any of them. You are the only one who seems rather too honest and isn’t pretending or sugarcoating anything, as in you are completely being yourself. I do know that’s how a person should be, but I haven’t seen anyone who does it this directly. 

Riya: Oh, you noticed that. I guess I had it coming. There is a reason behind that. I guess you will agree that we both belong to a generation that is too volatile, too sensitive. We have this need to going at full speed as fast as possible to achieve things even by pretending. Our methods somehow are designed in that fashion. Somehow that is also a reason we get fed up or bored easily from things. I think an awful lot of people complain that they are in a boring marriage. That the magic has vanished. I think they are wrong there. Marriages aren't boring or they don’t fail because a couple gets bored. They fail because while people are knowing each other in the beginning (Like Rahul and Riya), They pretend to be a person that their partners want or a like able personality. But how long can you keep it up. There comes a time when you go on being yourself, so I believe in sharing and showing my true self to you because it is a big decision in our lives. I guess we both owe it to each other. Because if we agree to do this, we are in for life.

Rahul: Bravo. Thank you for saying this. It was important. Full Disclosure - I share your feeling and am being completely myself.

(Rahul gave an actual bow in respect for her feelings)

Riya: As for the difficult questions we have to ask each other, I got one for you. Whats gonna be the hardest thing to do or achieve once we get in a marriage - Hypothetically speaking.

(Trying to cover the seriousness of the directness of question by hypothetically speaking)

Rahul: That's too loaded for a question. I don’t think there’s is any correct answer to this. Lets try this, you answer first.

(Riya understood the hesitation and discomfort and started answering)

Riya: I think it is compatibility. To have that level of sync and naturally complementing each other in our very own nature.You know its the small things. Like we giving each other a personal space once in a while. You doing something correct and something wrong and me taking care of those wrong things and vice versa. Its like a perfect sync between things. I think that will be a hard thing to pull off. Wouldn’t it be?

Rahul: Maybe the hardest of things. But thing is, it is the kind of thing which takes time. There is no threshold when we will get to that stage. I think “Effort” plays a role in that. At the starting of every relationship, efforts are what we require. I mean today I see a lack of effort in many relationships. Nobody is perfect for each other. Its not all about the grand gestures or getting a rosy picture. We’ll fight and be angry towards each other every now and then. Love is not some eternal feeling. Its rather a tree you plant and cultivate/ water with your efforts feelings, consistency and emotions. Its like a promise to be always there for each other. That's how the root, the core remains powerful enough. Thats why the efforts and consistency are concepts of forever.

 

(They walked a little further way down the roads completing the full circle. This time in a shared peaceful silence. Their mind and hearts were too busy churning out thoughts to talk with each other. They said goodbye with a smile to each other, but their hearts and minds thinking what to do next.)

 

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I have reduced the length of it by 500 words compared to the first phase of the trilogy. Thank you for the constructive and meaningful criticism. Keep it coming.