Bridal Dreams

Asha had blissfully forgotten that someday she will settle down like all her other cousins and friends, but now things were changing. Ever since Holi, her parents were pestering her to start thinking seriously about marriage. Damn! They had even got her a ‘boy’s’ photograph and had asked if they could proceed with the matter. She had somehow escaped the situation saying she needs some more time to think about it. In between all this, she had an interview with a prestigious newspaper lined up for next week, and she didn’t want to lose focus by thinking on anything else, she HAD to get this job.

Taking a walk through the neighborhood park in the evening, she couldn’t help but notice an old couple who too were taking a stroll in the park. She wondered if her marriage too would last that long. She suddenly thought of the guy whose picture her parents had given to her. The guy didn’t seem that bad after all – looks good, has a sound educational background, comes from a well to do family and has a good job in a big firm, she had even went on to check his Facebook page and was quite interested in the guy; but she was not sure if she was ready for marriage.

She would have minimal amount of gold, unlike the trend these days where the bride would be decked top to toe in gold. Asha was always reminded of elephants with their nettipattam – a golden head covering ornament usually used to decorate elephants before taking them out for processions during festivals- whenever she saw girls decked up in so much of gold. She had already planned that she wouldn’t want that and she would use minimal jewellery ensuring that she stood apart from the crowd, yet did not make a fool of herself. She was also against the practice of ‘dowry’ that was still very prevalent in the villages of her country. She would go completely traditional in terms of her attire – a red saree with golden zari work on it. She loved the colour red and the colour always seemed to be lucky for her; jasmine flowers in her hair, mehendi on her hands… 

Before she knew it, she was lost in a magical world – a world that is so vividly brought to life by the bollywood flicks where the hero meets heroine, love happens at the snap of a finger and then, they live happily ever after. 



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Girls in India are caught in the drift when they reach a particular age. They suddenly face a dilemma as to what to focus on in their life, whether to make a career and ensure a living or to get married and secure their life. Girls who remain single after the so called marriageable age are frowned upon by the society and are considered a burden for their families.

Throughout the month of April, thanks to the AtoZ Challenge, I am trying to portray the life of Asha, a common Indian girl with dreams and aspirations. Everyday we focus on one alphabet starting from A on April 1st till Z on April 30th. Stick with me till the end of the journey and do tell me what you think of my writing and my Asha.

A - An Arranged Marriage
B - Bridal Dreams
C - Cherubs From Heaven
D - Rusty Dusty Delhi
E - Ernakulam 
F - Fretting Over F.R.I.E.N.D.S & Fiancé
G - Gratifying Rendezvous
H - Hospitality Crash Course
I - I Love You??!!
J - Journalism's Joy
K - Krishna
L - Love, Longing & Life
M - Milan - A Meeting
N- Noodles, Nimbu Paani & A Nice Guy
O - Online?
P - Phone Number
Q - Questions!
R - Risks
S - Some Soul Searching
T - Timeless Tableau, A Twist in The Tale
U - Union