Happily Married

This is a poignant story of a man and a woman, which may sound outdated and utopian to many of the present-day generations, but it defines love and marriage.

Haritha and Harish were Neighbours living in the small town of Bobbili in Andhra Pradesh. Harish was the only child of their parents and three lived in the house. Haritha’s parents, grandmother and her father’s unmarried younger brother were living in their house. Both families sustained on agriculture and owned large extents of land. They were friendly neighbours. Haritha and Harish went to the same school together and played together and they both developed a bond towards each other, which grew stronger by the day. He was fifteen and she was twelve years of age.” Haritha we are too young even to raise the topic of marriage in front of our parents. Let us concentrate on our studies and when the time comes I will tell my parents and they will surely take care. “Both agreed that it was the best way forward and carried on as usual. There was no reason why their parents would not agree. Another year passed.

One evening Haritha’s father came home in a jubilant mood and announced,” The Zamindar of the neighbouring town had seen Harith at a function recently. He is keen on getting Haritha married to his son Ravi. Our daughter is very lucky. The boy is 17 years old and has completed his B.A. There is no reason to disagree with the proposal. She will go into a wealthy and -respected family.” As soon as she met Harish the next morning, well Haritha told him, “My marriage is being finalized with the Zamindar’s son. I can’t find any reason to refuse to marry him. You have not completed your studies and have no stature in front of Zamindar’s son. I am too young to be taken seriously. I don’t want our love to become a laughing matter in the families and relatives.” With heavy hearts and tears in their eyes, they decided to part ways. Destiny played a cruel game with them.

The wedding of Haritha and Ravi was a grand 3-day affair. Ravi was tall and Handsome and a good match for Haritha but seemed to be a man of few words. Everyone took him to be an introvert and considering the bride to be much young, they thought that they did not have much to talk about. After the wedding, she was sent to her husband’s home.

 Haritha’s father came to zamindar’s house after 2 months, to take her home for a few days saying,” she is too young to be having to stay away from home and this is the first time she stayed away from us. Her mother is missing her.” To this Zamindar replied that” we don’t send our women folk out of our homes. Your daughter is well taken care of and happy. Please let your wife visit her once in a while” Haritha’s father was floored by the hospitality they showed and went home a happy man.

Just one year after Haritha’s marriage, tragedy struck her like a bolt from the blue. The family was devastated. Her husband was involved in a grave accident and lost his life. There were rumours that he was in an inebriated state and though he was driving the car, a driver was held responsible. Haritha stepped into her parents’ home, for the first time after the marriage, as a widow.

It was difficult for Haritha’s parents to see their widowed daughter and though they thought about asking their Neighbours to consider her for Harish, they did not have the guts as widow marriages were rare those days. They fell ill, worrying about the future of their daughter when one day Harish’s parents themselves brought up the issue of the marriage of Haritha and Harish. . They had sympathy for Haritha and that was the time when social reformers like Kandukuri Veereshalingam and Gurajada Aapparo were leading a movement in Andhra Pradesh in support of widow marriages and against dowry system. Harish’s parents said,’ Haritha is like a daughter to us. Misfortune had struck her at a very young age. She has a long future ahead and she needs a partner in life. Harish will be glad to welcome her into his life.” and finally they were married to each other. Fate which had earlier separated them, brought them together once again. They were destined to be married to one another. This is what we call,” match made in heaven”