In the last week of a March, Mr.D., his parents, uncle and his wife, came to Annakkutty's house for Pennukaanal aka 'to see the girl'. You see, this is a big comedy tradition in Indian marriage setting. A boy, considered to be of a marriageable age (not necessarily to have marriage maturity), will come to some girls house. The girl is made to serve tea to this family. These guests, performs 'staring and measuring the girl' by all means. The girl, so uncomfortable in these stares, feels like running away from there into some forest. The boy's family likes her. See here, this boy who apparently has lost his spinal cord somewhere in his parental house plays much a less role in selecting his future life partner. The family measures the girl's parental financial potential and says that they have liked the girl. Nevertheless they would say "We have liked the girl, we have no demands from our side".
Mr.D.'s father was a bit different here.
"We have no demands but you have to give whatever is to be given", his raised voice came.
Annakkutty froze. Am I getting married? To this guy, who has been all a while sitting near to his uncle in a corner and never bothered even to look at her? And see his shameless father talking about the monetary expectations as a reward against being given birth to a spinal cordless fellow.
Annakkutty's Kunjanty, said. "Yes, yes. We will do everything."
"I want the engagement by next week. The marriage to be by June 1st week, latest. See you people need to cooperate. My sister, who is in Canada has to come. My brothers need to be informed. I will have to do things properly. So you have to plan accordingly." Mr.D.'s father kept chanting all the "I" and "Me" sentences. Annakkutty thought, why is this old fellow is speaking only about his part as if we are not involved in the marriage. Suddenly an idea struck her.
"My brother has not seen Mr.D.. So how can this be fixed and how can engagement happen next week." Annakkutty said, believing that her brother would say no to his guy for sure, once he meets him. The entire set of guests looked at her as if they are witnessing a crime in front. Their eyes rolled, and they looked at each other.
"Oh, do not worry on what she says", Annakkutty's Kunjanty's voice broke the whole awkwardness. "See the brother and sister have been together till now, involving in all their life. That's why she is saying so. She has liked you all."
I have liked them all?? How come? Whereas I haven't liked anyone from this arrogant mass, let apart this spineless fellow. See their arrogance. But more worry was that, now, no one cares towards Annakkutty. All at home have closed their eyes and ears toward her, as usual. Annakkutty surprisingly looked at her mother and Kunjanty. They were busy chatting with their future relatives. After all it is the duty for the entire family to get a fatherless girl married off at the earliest. Tears dint flow but all Annakkutty wanted was a forest to hide.
The Engagement Day
Yea, so Annakkutty is getting engaged. She wore the saree selected by her mother and aunts. She hates that color. She wears the ornaments selected by her aunts. She hates them. A beautician does her make up. She hated the way she looked. A numbness sphered Annakkutty all a while. No one cares. No one listens. The only hope is for the spineless fellow who would marry Annakkutty to show some spine towards her in the future.
The engagement happened. While putting the ring, Mr.D.'s hands were shivering. Annakkutty hated it. Annakkutty's hands never shivered. Her numbness didn't let her feel anything then. For the entire duration of engagement when Annakkutty and Mr.D. were together, only one sentence came out of Mr.D..
"When are you going back to Bangalore", Mr.D. asked. A sound that she was hearing for the first time in her life. So he has proved to have a tongue of his own!
The engagement happened. While putting the ring, Mr.D.'s hands were shivering. Annakkutty hated it. Annakkutty's hands never shivered. Her numbness didn't let her feel anything then. For the entire duration of engagement when Annakkutty and Mr.D. were together, only one sentence came out of Mr.D..
"When are you going back to Bangalore", Mr.D. asked. A sound that she was hearing for the first time in her life. So he has proved to have a tongue of his own!
Courtship Period
In Bangalore, it was five minutes walkable distance from the hostel where Annakkutty stayed to the office where Mr.D. worked. But Mr.D. probably felt that there are miles between these places. He never bothered to turn up to meet Annakkutty even once. Annakkutty's hostel mates raised the concern whether Mr.D. was actually willing to marry Annakkutty. Whom to ask. Annakkutty called her mother and kept telling how she felt. But the wise mother, had everything well planned. She said, now that engagement is over, Annakkutty should keep quite.
Annakkutty's pillows got soaked with her tears. She begged the God to interfere. God shut His eyes. None saw Annakkutty crying. Even her roommate was not aware of what was going inside Annakkutty. Where is the solace? Where to turn for help? Annakkutty wanted to run into the forest as fast as possible.
When God hesitated to interfere, Annakkutty turned to her father, with all her energy. Father heard her! The next day Mr.D. texted Annakkutty to come to a nearby mall at 6.30pm. Annakkutty went there on time. But, no one turned up till 7.30. Annakkutty tried calling Mr.D. back. Calls were not answered.
The above incident repeated two more times, though the third time Mr.D. picked up the call (after multiple calls) to say that he is super busy in work.
After marriage Annakkutty took courage to ask Mr.D. why he (mis)behaved this way. Mr.D. casually told that he never liked the idea of roaming around with the girl just after engagement. Make sense right?!
Nevertheless marriage preparations went fine. Annakkutty's father in law somehow found lot of problems in Annakkutty even before marriage and kept reminding Annakkutty's mother about all these things. And Alas! Mother, indeed tried correcting Annakkutty to her level best!!
In Bangalore, it was five minutes walkable distance from the hostel where Annakkutty stayed to the office where Mr.D. worked. But Mr.D. probably felt that there are miles between these places. He never bothered to turn up to meet Annakkutty even once. Annakkutty's hostel mates raised the concern whether Mr.D. was actually willing to marry Annakkutty. Whom to ask. Annakkutty called her mother and kept telling how she felt. But the wise mother, had everything well planned. She said, now that engagement is over, Annakkutty should keep quite.
Annakkutty's pillows got soaked with her tears. She begged the God to interfere. God shut His eyes. None saw Annakkutty crying. Even her roommate was not aware of what was going inside Annakkutty. Where is the solace? Where to turn for help? Annakkutty wanted to run into the forest as fast as possible.
When God hesitated to interfere, Annakkutty turned to her father, with all her energy. Father heard her! The next day Mr.D. texted Annakkutty to come to a nearby mall at 6.30pm. Annakkutty went there on time. But, no one turned up till 7.30. Annakkutty tried calling Mr.D. back. Calls were not answered.
The above incident repeated two more times, though the third time Mr.D. picked up the call (after multiple calls) to say that he is super busy in work.
After marriage Annakkutty took courage to ask Mr.D. why he (mis)behaved this way. Mr.D. casually told that he never liked the idea of roaming around with the girl just after engagement. Make sense right?!
Nevertheless marriage preparations went fine. Annakkutty's father in law somehow found lot of problems in Annakkutty even before marriage and kept reminding Annakkutty's mother about all these things. And Alas! Mother, indeed tried correcting Annakkutty to her level best!!
Marriage - Oh Really?
D day arrived. Again Annakkutty is dressed up as her aunts have planned. Aunts are excited how their sister is getting relieved of this burden. Annakkutty's grandmother kept reciting her rosaries. Where is Annakkutty on the fine morning of the day on which her marriage is to take place? Having no forest in the proximity, Annakkutty went to the bathroom and kept crying. No one even bothered where Annakkutty is. When the time arrived they asked Annakkutty to start to church.
In church Annakkutty just obeyed what everyone told her. She dint know what to do. The Mass is over. The priests blessed the couple. The numbness, numbness, numbness! Tears, tears, tears!! You know how much of a hug Annakkutty wants when she is writing this!!!
In church Annakkutty just obeyed what everyone told her. She dint know what to do. The Mass is over. The priests blessed the couple. The numbness, numbness, numbness! Tears, tears, tears!! You know how much of a hug Annakkutty wants when she is writing this!!!
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