Marriage, a reverent link

Nota bene: Marriages are not the ultimate goal.

The thirst for knowledge, a never ending process, is the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. It depends on the individual, he learns the knowledge willingly or unwillingly.

“Do you know Mummy,in the higher level, everything merges into one proving Darwin’s ‘Survival of the fittest’ to be true”.

Ramyani, literally speaking , a book worm of her generation, don’t spare even a single minute without reading. She believed that, life is too short and one have to gather as much information as he or she could, before it is too late. Being a girl, her outlook for life was a bit different. She never depends nor have faith that anyone would come forward to help her.

Her family members were very much worried for her. In fact , being a girl, one day she will have to go to a different home after her marriage as per as their traditions.

“If this continues, I fear you’ll not get a good proposal for Ramyani. After all study is not everything. In our community, the girl must be well trained to run her family, even if she is less educated. Ramyani have completed her Masters. I wonder, what she wants to do, wants to show. She have completed her studies. It’s high time now, you should search for a proper bridegroom for her. She have completed her stu…d…ies….”

“ NO, I HAVE NOT”, the unwanted lecture was interrupted in the middle by the dominant words and the sudden appearance of Ramyani.

“ Mrinalini Aunty, I suppose you have lots of work at home. It will be of a great favor, if you leave me and mom for the time. Mom is learning to cook some South Indian dishes from me. I have to clean the kitchen, prepare the entire set up, and after she learns it, it will be time for my study hour. Hope you understand AUNTY”.

The sudden outburst didn’t gave Mrinalini even a second to speak a single word. She understood she was not welcomed though she already knew “Unwelcomed guests are never entertained”. Mrinalini left the place immediately giving a fake, confused and a joker like smile.

“ Mom, why do you give freedom to these funny characters to roam about in the house? And you say, marriages makes us more responsible. I am sure, Mrinalini aunty don’t get much importance at home; she just likes to move hither and thither, collect and transfer news which are of no use to anybody”.

Looking Ramyani in a bad mood, her mother Sulata tried to change the topic. She understood, her daughter is not a feminist which she was thinking, as Ramyani don’t have interest for marriage nor any soft corner for Mrinalini.

“ I thought, you are against every man who shows superiority in front of their wives. I thought, you don’t bear to hear even a single word against a woman. I thought , you are a feminist my dear”.

Sulata’s words made Ramyani break into a loud laughter. She never heard such philosophical lectures from her mother.

“ Wow, mummy from where you learned about feminism and feminist. If you really want to give me a title, you better call me a Realist rather than a feminist”.

“ And, what about your future. We are growing old. Who will look after you after us”.

“ It’s my future mummy. I can look after myself. And do you think, marriage is the ultimate solution. I have lost my faith in this institution. Let’s see what life holds for me. After all, it’s not too late”.

Ramyani’s words were direct and straight. It’s not that she have a dream to uplift the conditions of the female population nor she have a wish to build a dream home. Sulata wondered, from where she got these thinking. Finally she consoled herself,

“In the higher level, everything merges into one proving Darwin’s ‘Survival of the fittest’ to be true, do you know Mummy”. The words vibrated in Sulata’s ears several times.

Sulata changed her view, tried to see the world through her daughter’s eyes. She realized, the happiness she got at her marriage is the same happiness Ramyani is getting at her not being married. Now days are not the same. In her days, women were given less priority and marriages were kept in high priority. She believed, getting married, being a mother, a house wife and listening to each and every words of the spouse are her sole duties and responsibilities.

Marriage is in fact an universal social institutions found in almost all societies. It is a socially sanctioned relation where a man and a woman lives together, have interpersonal relationship and produces children. It seems odd to define, but it’s true.

Days passed and Ramyani became busy in quenching her thirst for knowledge.

“ Ramyani, I’ll not argue with you anymore. You have gone to the extremes of your quest for knowledge. You are now Dr. Ramyani. You know much more than me, have indirect communication with hundreds of great authors through their writings. But my dear Ramyani, tell me one thing, do you still have some faith in the institution called marriage?”

Ramyani smiled at her mother’s words, hugged her tightly.

“ I really love you so much, mom”.

“ Don’t change the topic Ramyani, do you still have faith”.

Taking a deep breath and a smile of satisfaction, Ramyani started her unfinished talk.

“ Mom, to be very frank, I don’t have a strong faith in marriages. Even if I manage my mind, but do you think, I can rebuild myself for a society which I have left many years back. Even if I find someone who can understand my feelings that too will not work mom”.

“ Ramyani, if you have somebody in your mind, please tell , we’ll accept”.

Ramyani once again smiled at her mother’s words.

“ It’s true mom, I met Mayank when I was  continuing my research. But as I already told you, it will not work because Mayank knows me more than you. He made my faith stronger.

We can still live, work for the upliftment of the societ,but marriage is not a mandatory piece of work. It’s not what I say mom. It’s what my experience taught me. To be frank, I lost the faith in the institution of marriage, but I do give a high priority in human relationship. I am sorry mom, I can’t go against my ethics.

Sorry mom, I have lost my faith in the institution, I mean to say in the institution of marriage.

Sulata now didn’t worried about her daughter’s future, as she knew it was bright, brighter enough to cast away any dark clouds.

Marriages are not meant for everybody.