Marriage Anniversary

Anu and Minu were going to celebrate their first marriage anniversary in a couple of weeks. They had married against the wishes of their families. As a result, they were not accepted in any of the two households. They were living as outcasts in a rented one-room shanty on the periphery of the city. Anu was an artist by learning and a painter by profession. Minu was a seamstress and used to make dresses for a big clothing brand. As their caste was different, their families disapproved of their union. The families thinking was that if Anu and Minu were allowed to mingle their caste purity would be diluted.

Both families, therefore, didn't see eye to eye on social and religious functions. Anu 's family was even more conservative. Because being the groom's family they did miss out on a hefty dowry. This dowry would have helped in giving Anu' s sister in marriage. Also on the social map their image had got a beating. Although traditions have been changing slowly but nobody wanted the experiment to be conducted one's own self. Rather they would be happy if the change came through others and benefits came to them at their terms and conditions.

Anu and Minu had liked each other since school days. They were tuition pals. Common studies and exchange of notes was the cause of the growth in their relationship. Anu was a soft-spoken, well-mannered boy whom Minu liked as he was unlike other boys of his age. While Minu was a shy girl with a good handwriting. Due to their individual unique qualities, they were attracted towards each other. Anu was a good artist since childhood and drew wonderful pictures. This was the reason he took up art as his subject and graduated from the Govt Art College. He immediately got a job with an Ad Agency. Minu, on the other hand, was good at stitching and designing. Hence she studied tailoring at a vocational school.

After being thrown out of their families it was definitely not a comfortable life. But each was happy in the other's company and braved the hardships stoically. They had the belief that together they could surmount and beat any odds.

But things turned out to be otherwise. They had to leave the comfort of their homes. A totally new life minus any support awaited them. The money was scarce. Both had new jobs with no assets to fall back upon. No household goods in their rooms. They had to make a total new beginning. They made a modest beginning with whatever they could manage, prioritising their needs and laying aside the wants. But they were happy together. This was a new challenge for them. But they were not totally devoid of sadness. After all, they were missing their loved ones of so many years. But determined they were to succeed and on their own.

It was not that their families were totally avoiding them. Mothers have soft hearts. Both mothers did try sometimes to cover up for the families but both Anu and Minu obliged them politely with conditions.

Slowly and steadily Anu and Minu picked up the threads of their lives together.

Now their first anniversary was due. Their hard-earned anniversary. Swimming against the tide they had picked up bits and pieces and stitched together a life wonderful. They were going to celebrate. Make a grand event of their marriage anniversary.

But they were undecided of the grandiosity of the event. The celebration could not be held leaving out their families. But how to make them a part of this event. Anu and Minu decided to invite their families and patch up the differences that had arisen due to their union. Probably now they would be forgiven and everyone can go back to their earlier happy lives again. After all almost one year had passed and with time the earlier hate was surely absent they thought.

But there was a surprise waiting for both Anu and Minu. Anu was locked up in a room when he had gone to invite his kin. He had resisted but was soon overpowered. His belongings snatched, he couldn't tell Minu what had happened to him. Minu unknowing what had happened to Anu went to invite her own family. There also Minu got a cold shoulder. Her dear ones were unrelenting to accept her relationship with Anu. Her family forcibly made her write a statement that she had been taken away against her wishes and kept in captivity for one year.

Also, her statement made Anu the prime accused and his family the accomplices. Later this statement was recorded with the Police as a complaint. The Police, as a result, had to start an investigation. Anu's family was asked to explain their stand and Anu was ordered to report to the Police Station. As a result, Anu got his freedom from captivity. But he had to report to the Police. The Police then recorded his statement and Minu was called to testify the correctness of it. This was the day of their marriage held one year ago which was solemnized in front of the Goddess Kali at the temple. Anu and Minu's meeting again reunited after their brief separation took the big plunge. They had decided what had to be done. Together they holding hands in each other's hand slipped away from everybody's watchful gaze and ran away from their families, from captivity towards freedom and fresh air and a new life. They let their fate celebrate their marriage anniversary.