The Story of Our Lives

I never believed I would fall in love, once again. Until I met him.

I was the kind of the girl who was best surviving in denial, not realizing what I was missing in my life. I somewhere felt the void, but I had the power to erase it, and I preferred it that way. Life was nothing but simple. I had just left my job, I had no contacts with my friends because most of them were married or settled out in a different country.

My parents knew it, they saw the pain in my “That’s okay, it’s my life and I am happy.” They saw how emotionally numb I was and they wished they could do something about it.

I was just skimming through the papers, my phone lying through the next of the sofa I was seated.

“Beta, Nisha!” The voice called and I looked immediately realizing it was my mother.

“Yes, Mom!” I acknowledged staring at her.

She stared at me, helplessly, her eyes hinted at her anger and frustration. I heaved a sigh of frustration, understanding her point.

“Now what, Mom?” I asked hopelessly, trying to avoid the usual conversation which I knew was hinted at.

“You better know what. Stop acting like you know nothing.” My mom exclaimed, she faced spewing anger at her every word

“MOM!” The tone was raised, not because I wanted to but because my irritation was getting in.

“What have you decided on your life? I need to know, and yes, I need to know now! You won’t work and you spend the rest of your day alone at home. You don’t socialize, you don’t meet guys I set you up for marriage? What have you decided? Why are you wasting your life like this?” Her eyes flamed with anger even her tone was even.

“Mom! Not again!” I said, giving a troubled expression on my face.

“You’ll have to face this sweetheart. If not now, you’ll be facing this in the evening. And it’s gonna be your dad!” She exclaimed.

Now, that’s where I knew I was in trouble. I have a history of not-so-great-confrontations with my father.

My mother, however, continued, “If you don’t want to face him you need to talk to me now. You have two options. First, find yourself a decent job within a week rather than wasting your whole day at home. Second, get married and settled with the guy we set you up this time.”

I kept staring at her, my eyes narrowed down to the obvious fact that she wants me to meet the guy from some stupid matrimonial site. I knew I couldn’t turn my back on this.

That night I slept peacefully. I knew they weren’t even asking for my permission, the venue was decided, time was decided I just had to be there.

The next day I was ready, ready for my first date with Aarav. He was no stranger to me because we used to converse daily through Whats-app. The only information I had received was that he was a design engineer for a major MNC firm. Yeah, he was pretty cool too.

My body was shrouded with one of those blue dresses, floral printed giving a baby-pink color in between. It was the best I could wear for the occasion, not that I was happy with it, I felt as if I looked like a bag of expanse wallpaper. I heard my mother who walked into the room, gazing at my beauty. My face was covered with the talcum powder, eyes bearing the mascara and the thick kajal I wore, my lips were red giving a beautiful glow to my face. My hair was loosened combed properly with a middle partition.

“You look great. Do well!” My mother responded, smiling sweetly at me.

I rolled my eyes at her obviousness and left the room

I was at the restaurant at the right time, waiting for Mr. Aarav to arrive. I received a text saying that he would be late. Now was the time for my procrastinating.

I ordered coffee and took the first sip. I closed my eyes as I did. I was half-nervous, half-tired and irritated playing this game of marriage. I knew I had to get married soon, but the only idea of marriage made me feel burdened. I expected a passionate relationship with full of twists and turns, but all I received were boring expectations from the groom and parents. Rather than a connection, I found out how I should treat the people who were going to be mine after marriage.

My friends used to say, “Arrange marriages are boring. But you’ll get a hang of it once you get married.”

“Don’t think much. Just go for it.” Some people used to say it.

I was tired and exhausted in dollying up for people whom I didn’t know. I was tired of living up to the expectations by pretending to be something I was not. Rather than keeping my hopes high, I had given up on the dream of finding my perfect love.

‘Okay! Relax! Just one date. You can survive this, you just have to smile and blend in.’ I kept saying it to myself.

My fifteen minutes were gone and I had started looking for my date. My eyes were wandering here and there, until I saw a face I recognized.

He was nothing extraordinary, but he had the kind of the face that can stop your tracks. He kept smiling as our eyes met each other. Surprisingly, I was smiling too. This time, even from inside.

“Hi! Nisha?” He said taking a seat in front of me.

Oh boy, his voice was manly and husky. No features of Aarav make him look more charming, but his eyes and his smile did the work. I kept staring at those intense, dazzling eyes which give away a different intensity, honesty and gentleness, the qualities which never existed in a man till now.

“Hi.” My voice was mellow and sweet, and I smiled as he took his seat.

He started explaining how he was late, how the traffic was horrible. I kept listening to him, acknowledging the facts that he was throwing upon. There were no interviewing questions like, ‘What you do?’, ‘How much do you earn for a living?’, ‘Are you comfortable in a joint family?,’How well, can you cook?’. Rather than that, Aarav made me comfortable by removing my shyness, shedding off the familiar talks and discovering our hobbies. Aarav was extrovert by nature, he shared his life experiences in the most hilarious way, he shared out the common hobbies in a most passionate way. The first circuit had passed on. Another few circuits, both of us easily spoke about our families, our jobs and our lifestyles. We spoke in the most easiest way, as if it didn’t matter much at the moment.

By this time, four hours were passed. I knew there had to be something, there was a spark between us. Aarav was the interesting fellow I had met, but still, I was not myself. I was not able to pull off the real me.

Take it slow. Don’t give in, my mind answered even though my heart was happy but my mind was afraid of one thing that mattered to me – rejection.

I was not ready to handle rejection, there were a ton of times I had sustained but this time was different. I didn’t knew I would be making several loops in my mind, and I had lost it when I met the final loop.

At the final loop, he leaned in towards me and smiled, “You are an interesting girl. I would like to get settled with you. Would you marry me?”

“Umm..” I said looking around myself, embarrassed and uncomfortable.

“Umm.. I’ll let you know. It’s too early don’t you think?” I responded as calmly as possible.

He said okay and we moved on. We were getting late. We decided to keep in touch and waved a good bye as friendly as possible.

I left him in his train, even though we said our goodbyes. I wasn’t sure then, but now my mind was in sync with my heart. I instantly knew I have found my other half and that I had fallen in love with him.

Later that night, I discussed with my parents about our first date. My dad was happy, my mom was happy too. They could see the reason of my happiness, the reason of my smile. I was indeed in love with him, but the happiness was not because of the discovery of my love after a long time but because of the acceptance of my love. Destiny had unexpected plans for me, not the worst but the best of the kind.

We met few times till the time came where our family were introduced to each other. They were the sweetest bunch of people I had met. I could see the mother’s warmth in his Mom. It was an ordinary kind yet special, the same warmth of love and compassion I would find in my own mom. His father on the other hand exhibit cheerful, joyous and jovial persona. I received a friend and a sister in his own sister. Her love was innocent, kiddish yet deep and fulfilling. A stupid love which I intended to stare with my own sibling.

I knew, I had the perfect family I wished for. Who says, you won’t find true love through arranged marriages. Sometimes, we meet a person when our hearts are in a messy state and not capable of acknowledging the love.

I met the love of my life through the most conventional ways, but now when I look back, I knew this is the sweetest reality of my life. We find love and we meet the “perfect soulmate” when we least expect it.

And now, I am in a perfect marriage with my husband surrounded by people who would make me happy. Yes, we have our tough times, we have our beautiful moments but when I look back I know I have received my perfect ending. I wouldn’t been writing my perfect love story, if it wasn’t Aarav sitting next to me in that café. I know I owe my life to him.