“Dear Aarav and Chahel…
So, I was always under tremendous pressure to get married from a very early age (as early as when I was 19)… So when I finished my Chartered Accountancy at 22 and had a decent starting job, I was even under more pressure and had to start meeting prospects…
Jainee’s proposal had been sent to my family via her uncle who was my father’s business partner and obviously we were from the same ancestral village so our families knew each other… But I had decided by then to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) from US and hence I had paused on my marriage plans…
However, one fine day, I was told by my dad that Jainee was coming to my office to get a job and I should try and help her get one… My grand mother told me out of her wisdom – that job and all is just an excuse, she is coming to meet you – so I better go with that in mind… I dismissed her suggestion and said that it does not matter…
Jainee had come with her close friend to the office for the interview… I exchanged pleasantries but kept our communication only to that… I went to the HR who were conducting the interviews, and told them that I do not want her to be added to my team or my floor… I figured it would be best to keep a distance…
Jainee however got the job in another team and was working 2 floors below mine… so there was hardly a run in as such… Jainee however once found a reason to come up and ask me to use my mobile phone to call her dad as she was going to be late (for at that time in her work, she was not allowed to bring in mobile phones)… That day, after using my phone, I showed her my floor – she was looking quite hot and I wanted to show off to some of my colleagues… I was young as well after all ;)…
Some days or weeks later, I ran into her on the stairs and she said that may be we can meet for coffee or tea… I was enjoying being wooed really… I said sure, but we never met though… I just wanted to keep it slow and low till I did not give my CPA exams…
When I finished my CPA exams, then I had no reason to stall… so then my parents asked us to meet – for her proposal reminder had come again… so we decided to meet formally…
For the formal meeting, Jainee came dressed in a low grade, cheap Salwar Kameez with her hair oiled… basically trying to show me how she could also be – and I should probably accept that version of her if I wanted to consider getting together…
We met and the whole time, she mostly kept quiet and I was giving her my philosophy of life and what I thought I wanted to do & asking her philosophical questions… She was mostly smiling and hardly answered… She only asked me one question – did I want a wife or a daughter in law… and I was floored… I really was impressed with her thinking process…
After our meeting, she asked me to take us to our college (we studied in adjoining colleges but we never met there) to meet her sister… I was impressed there as well – she was not a meek – yes girl – whom I was used to meeting till then…
I was talking to my best friend that night and was talking about Jainee – telling him that she will make our home a club… more about it in this post…
Next day was my birthday – and coincidentally Jainee and her family came to meet me at my home formally… I had even the guts to ask my younger brother (not verbally but by facial expressions) whilst they were sitting in front of us as to what he thought about her…
Anyways… then there was an inauspicious period where we do not make any important decisions… so for a good 25 days or so, it went quiet… 2 or 3 days after the period was over and since decision was not coming from my side (apparently she had already conveyed her consent much before itself), her parents called my parents… I asked for another meeting to ensure she was aware of all our reality…
We met again – but I don’t remember much about that meeting… but I remember that in the night I was talking to another close friend of mine (my best friend’s sister) in the evening and I told her that I am going to say yes to Jainee…
The next day morning – I was still sleeping when Jainee’s dad called… My dad picked up and held the receiver up – not even covering it – and asked me what my decision was – I did not even get up and said yes… I had discussed about Jainee in the night with my dad – so I think he already knew my decision… he conveyed my decision to Jainee’s parents with a zestful remark that I was saying yes in my sleep – so beware…
That is how me and Jainee – your mom got married…
Yours,
Daddy”
The above is my recount of events that have happened between May/June 2003 to January 20, 2004… As of today that is more than 15 years ago…
Whenever I recount this story, I always maintain that I have only recounted facts – everything I have mentioned has happened and its true…
Jainee on the other hand always maintains – that this is my version of the story… for the whilst things I have mentioned have happened, the way they are represented and the narrative is a false impression…
And she counters it with her own side of the story (may be she should write one to share and amuse you guys)…
Inside VG... 