The warm afternoon sun streamed through the grilled hallway windows that Suryakanthi found comforting. She was on an hour-long call with Mrs Kamath. Suryakanthi listened, nodded, and made a mental note before chiming in now and then. “I know the groom’s family well. They are a golden family!” She took pride in her matchmaking skills and said with aplomb, “I know your preferences on family background, caste, horoscope, and everything else.” Suryakanti was about to end the call when Mrs Kamath congratulated her for completing 20 years of bringing many families together that materialised into successful marriages.
Suryakanthi felt the colour flood to her face and thanked her. Mrs Kamath continued, “Last week I was amazed by the spectacular grandeur of the wedding festivities for your niece. All the credit goes to you. ”
Suryakanthi reached for a maroon wedding invitation from the stack of envelopes on her desk. Memories of the marriage floated before her eyes. Suryakanthi was cheerful and upbeat about finding a similar match for her daughter.
It was almost six in the evening. She waited eagerly for her daughter to return from work soon. She was intent on getting her daughter a good catch, and that would complete her dream of a fairy-tale wedding, a happily ever after.
“Kavita” Suryakanthi held both her hands. “My darling daughter, I would always choose what’s best for you. But it’s true, you are not convinced of my matchmaking talents.” Suryakanthi said with a deep sigh. She promptly opened an envelope, and out slid photos of young men – an enviable catch, she thought. She spread the photos on the table and said, “I want you to take a good look at these photos and decide soon.” She went on, ” They are from prestigious families, with high-paying jobs, and most importantly, their horoscopes match yours.”
Kavita shot her a glance. “Is this what you think will make me happy?” Kavita asked doubtfully. “Someone who merely fits your checklist.” She dismissed it with an air of indifference.
Suryakanti pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows in shock at the sudden outburst from her ever-obedient daughter.
“You always knew about my childhood dream of becoming a fashion designer. Am I a burden or a misfortune to you?” Kavita hissed furiously.
Before Kavita could launch into an explanation. “You are unwary, but that’s how the world works,” Suryakanthi said with an infuriating air of patience. “So you think nothing worse can happen to you. You have unrealistic expectations from life. You might not mind people speaking ill of you- but what if, by extension, they speak ill of your family? Your parents? Do you mind that?
“My life can’t be over!”
“Is that all that’s left to me? Sacrificing everything I want for the sake of others?” Kavita quipped before walking out of her room nonchalantly.
Occasionally, Suryakanthi felt guilty, but she never mentioned it once. As far as Kavita was concerned, the matter was closed. With her father, it was another story. Although he said nothing, Kavita could feel his silent approval. She prepared to leave the house to attend her cousin’s wedding. She watched with dismayed eyes and heard the clamouring voices of the crowd taking selfies, surrounded by a bevy of children.
Suddenly overwhelmed with loneliness. Kavita never thought of children except as a distant inevitability. It struck her instantly that she must unburden her heart. Her eyes frantically searched for her mother’s familiar face.
Almost out of breath, Kavita found her mother meticulously supervising marriage rituals. She led her mother to the adjoining room. Behind closed doors, Suryakanthi was worried and asked in a terse whisper, “Kavita, what’s the matter?”
Kavita’s pulse quickened, and she blurted, “For the past two years, I have been in a relationship with my friend’s brother, Satish. He is a divorced banker, and he is from another community.” Kavita stopped awkwardly.
Suryakanthi gasped and was utterly speechless. When she saw her daughter’s determined eyes, she knew it was too late for her to change her mind. Kavita wrung her hands and mustered all her courage. “I’ll not marry anyone else, and you promised you would always hear me out.” She protested. Kavita hastily slipped out the door.
Society’s perceptions had always shaped Suryakanthi’s inner world. It was inevitable that she saw things were falling apart. Her daughter had left her with a whirlpool of conflicting thoughts.
Suryakanthi had barely eaten that day. Days turned to weeks, and as much as she tried, Kavita grew distant with each passing day. She felt like they were strangers living under the same roof. Fear plagued her thoughts: what if I’m making a terrible mistake by saying no and losing my only daughter? Suryakanti realized her rigid beliefs served no purpose. Eventually, society will leave her with nowhere to belong. She might as well stop worrying about what society thinks she must do.
Somewhere before midnight, it began to rain. She thought of it as a good omen. Suryakanthi fixed an auspicious date for her daughter’s marriage. Tears of joy welled up in her eyes as she watched the couple in traditional attire, with colourful garlands, exchange their sacred vows. Suryakanthi smiled inwardly and knew in her heart that seeing her daughter in high spirits was reward enough for a doting mother.
