An Arranged Marriage

I had never understood the concept of an arranged marriage till it happened to me. I was waiting for my Mr. Right to walk into my life when my family found a match for me. Every inch of my being rebelled against the decision. But I had to crush the rebellion when I saw the faces of my loved ones glowing with joy. After all, it was their happiness that made me happy. As I prepared to meet him, only for the sake of my beloved family, a prayer echoed deep within my soul, "Dear God! Please make him reject me!"

I don't know what had caught his eyes but I noticed that his eyes kept turning back to me every now and then. I was not sure whether I should feel happy or proud but I did notice that my fingers trembled and my hands become drenched with sweat. As expected, he expressed his willingness to marry me pushing me further into an ocean of conundrum.

I was still in a battle with myself when I held out my shivering hand for him to hold during our marriage. But he held my hand tightly and firmly with a promise that he will hold me close to his heart all life long. I could feel the warmth of his love as his steady fingers embraced my jittery ones. I was utterly nervous when I was left alone with a man I hardly knew after a pompous wedding ceremony. But the glint of love in his eyes told me that he was not a stranger but a part of me like I was already to him. As I took my first step into married life with him, I was still not sure whether I can reciprocate the love he was so selflessly showering upon me.

But fate proved me wrong as love happened, contrary to my belief. I knew I was in love with him when I began waiting eagerly for him to come back from work. I knew I was in love with him when I started craving to run into his arms as soon as I heard the sound of his car in the driveway. I knew I was in love with him when I started making little sacrifices for him without any regrets like the day when I cooked fried okra for him that he liked the most but I despised. I knew I was in love with him when I began laughing my heart out at his craziest jokes. I knew I was in love with him when I was unable to find anything about him that I couldn't fall in love with.