Riddles Of Marriage

Aruna and Ashok get into the car. Ashok drives on impatiently. The dashboard clock shows 2.30 in the afternoon as they head to her lawyer’s firm. They had enough and now it is pointless to continue their marriage. It is difficult to say how a marriage breaks up as many causes work to its collapse. Besides the role, Ashok and Aruna themselves played there were others like the usual in-laws and some stray outsider who contributed to the dismantling of their marriage. Ashok is a successful businessman while Aruna is an efficient homemaker. Aruna enters the advocate’s office as Ashok parks the car in the shade and waits in the garden adjacent to the building.

He calls out to her “Try to come soon.” In the time that she takes to get the documents, Ashok lights a cigarette and reflects on the whole episode. Where did we go wrong?; after all, so many stay married, happy, or not so happy. He is not looking ahead for this divorce as, at the age of 55, it appears as a dead end. Squabbles and arguments spoil the fun of life, day after day. Finally, Aruna turns up with the papers.

“Let’s go to the Lakshmi Narayan temple for blessings for our new venture”, said Aruna.

Ashok agreed, however thinking what an incongruous action is this. A prayer to part ways. She walks separately from him. Together, but separate. This is their life now. Even the footwear they leave outside the temple is spaced at a good distance as if this pair has nothing to do with that. 

Fifteen minutes later they are out on the road facing each other. Aruna appears calm. Ashok suggests why not spend the last afternoon at some quiet restaurant. This afternoon is lonelier than usual.

“Now all the battles are over, we only have to file our papers tomorrow. What are your plans ahead, Aruna?”

“Nothing, in particular, Ashok. I need the time and peace to be with myself.”

“Sure. I hope we stay in touch. After all, I have not hurt you in any way. It didn’t work out and so here we are, in spite of ourselves.”

They now walk into a large spacious restaurant half filled with stray coffee addicts. A few students relaxing from their classes. They order coffee and some snacks. The place is practically deserted. Some music from an i-pod with the sound of the coffee machine.

The door opens and a young couple enters. It is as if the sun stepped in with all its light. With the light there comes a lot of noise. A girl with a pretty face all lit with smiles enters dressed brightly in red and yellow with hair done up into a top knot. Her friend is a smart young boy elegantly dressed and looking neat. Such a refreshing face, unlike the tired out faded faces that haunt such places. The girl is very talkative and the boy just listens. They seem magnetized with each other. Now arguing, now engaging with her tinkling laughter she looks at the other’s eyes for long, long moments. They care not for what others think. It is obvious they are in love. Ashok thinks what a great thing is a youth that it unites hope with fun all the time. Peals of her laughter attract the few who are present in the sultry afternoon. The boy tries to say something but she outwits him in higher decibels and pulls his hair. She then opens her bag and starts a search for something. She removes some papers from her bag and both are discussing something serious. As the boy is poring over some documents she screams and a quarrel is in full swing. “How can you be so careless?” she shouts and the boy calmly tells her that she had not given any papers to him. “Search your bag again. You carry smaller bags within the big bag. Check carefully and you will find it.” She raises her hands and is busy tying up her loose hair, taming the bundle with all sorts of clips. Now both are searching within the big bag which is like mine. “Here it is.” He says and gives the paper to her. A bright smile has now lighted up.  He phones someone but the two are in some problem. She gets up, walks across to where Aruna and Ashok are seated. 

She turns to Ashok and Aruna with a smile, “Uncle, can you help us?” 

“In what way?” asks Ashok.

“Come over here.” She calls out to the boy. “I am Amolika and this chap is Rajat. We are in love. Have been for the last 4 years. Tomorrow we want to get married but we are short of two witnesses. Can you please help us? It will take at the most an hour.”

 Aruna and Ashok are taken aback. “Yes, we will come if you have all legal papers in order.”

“Yes. We worked hard to get all the formalities in place. I can show you the papers.”

“No. That’s not necessary. But tell me how come you waited so long?”

“Oh, that’s a long story. We got our parental consent, horoscopes matched but we could not make out if we were really matched to each other. So we kept waiting.”

“And what did you find out?”

“We found that we argue and fight over everything but we just love each other for what we are. I cannot explain. Can you Rajat?”.

“No. I think we will go ahead and get married and this is how we will live, with fight and fun. I can’t live without her. All the time fighting or laughing. What has marriage got to do with living which has its own demands and we need to make do with what we have and what we can. The rest is just one big laugh. We feel we are already married for long. There is nothing like marital happiness just as there is nothing like happiness in work. All are myths. We, each of us, need enough space between each other in life. The paperwork for marriage is just a formality. Before coming here for snacks we visited Lakshmi Narayan Temple for the blessings of the Lord and the Devi. It was her idea mainly. You two will help us, no?”

“Of course we will” echoed Ashok and Aruna, their voices choking.

“If we are not inquisitive, uncle how long are you two married?”

“Oh! Very, very long.” Replied Ashok.

The youngsters depart.

Ashok faces Aruna. “Do you want to go ahead with this divorce, Aruna?”

Aruna smiled at Ashok and tore the papers in her hands.

“Let us go.”

“Where?”

“To the Laksmi Narayan Temple, where else?”