Live to Love: Arranged

23 November, 1994, was perhaps the most thundering jingling night of Ahmedabad. A big white mansion was all shining with little fairy lights. Function was on its peak. Seems like stars were dancing in the courtyard of that house. All the lights and fragrance of Ahmedabad were reserved exclusively for the celebration. All the big names of Ahmedabad in fact of all the big business houses of India, was present there. Everyone wanted to be a part of this function. Everyone wanted to make sure his entry in the good books of owner of the house.

Among all these an old man, who was the happiest person of the night, was seeing the arrangements and enjoying himself like a kid too. Well he was none other than but Mr. Dinanath Mittal himself. And he was feeling like dancing and dancing whole night in the celebration of his grandson's big day. Yes, it was a reception party of his grandson KABEER MITTAL's marriage.

Kabeer Mittal, 27 yrs. old the famous business tycoon, most handsome, popular and eligible bachelor of Ahmedabad. His sudden marriage news had shaken the Ahmedabad business world. Everyone wanted to see and meet that lucky girl, who stole the hard nut Kabeer Mittal. Media wanted to get a glimpse of her to make a hot news. And above all the girls, who used to drool over him, wanted to see the Diva, who crack this hard nut. But for him it's just a celebration, which made his grandpa super happy. Well, ideally, he should be the happiest but it was his grandpa. And like always his happiness lies in his grandpa's happiness, so indirectly he was the happiest but not for the reason everyone was assuming for. He was all smiling and attending the guests and suddenly saw grandpa was dancing like a little kid. He adored him for some moments but he couldn't let him do that as it was not good for his health. He approached him to stop acting childishly.

Kabeer kept his hand on grandpa's shoulder from behind," grandpa, it’s enough for you now. Or else, you will be sick."

“how can I stop my son. Its your marriage day and I am super happy, most blessed and happiest”. His grandpa replied still dancing merrily.

Kabeer again refuted, “grandpa, enough now. Rest we will celebrate later. Now come, have your medicines and take rest”.

Kabeer, you.

Kabeer hold his hand and said, “let’s go now.”

And he made him sit on a chair and brought his medicines, which he took silently.

Kabeer suddenly asked, “grandpa, can I ask something”.

“oh, from when you start to take permissions, just ask my dear.”

He chuckled and asked, “you held this function for your beloved daughter in law… right”.

Grandpa nodded a yes. Kabeer continued," then why she is not here. Everyone is asking for her.”

“This is all because of you.” grandpa replied.

“me, but what did I do.” Kabir quickly asked again.

Grandpa replied looking at the crowd, “see carefully… these people are not here to bless your wife, but they just want to see Mrs. Mittal and this media, as if ready to eat her alive”.

Kabeer was more confused after this. He asked gently again, “yes, I can see. But what is wrong in it.”

Grandpa smiled and replied, “no, nothing wrong. But Muskaan is not habituated of all this. She will be panic. And these people, they will not bless her but envy her. And I don’t want that your new life will start with any kind of negativity. You don’t worry, let me handle these guests and if your friends want to meet her. Take them inside.”

Kabeer was still not satisfied. He said again, “but grandpa, we need to do a press release.”

“yeah, I know. And for this we will release some photographs in newspapers. Now end this conversation and go, see the guests.” Grandpa replied stubbornly not leaving any room for further argument.

Kabeer shook his head as he was not fully convinced but he knew that grandpa was too adamant when it came to his beliefs. So he choose to keep silent and headed towards his friends shaking his head.

*************

The beautiful function had turned into a memory now. Night being darker and silent. Guests were gone and lights went off. And here he was thinking about God knows what. Kabeer sat on a sofa of living room resting his head on back and closed eyes. He was thinking. But what. It supposed to be the most awaited night for a groom. But all he was feeling nothing. He recalled how everyone who went to meet his bride came to congratulate him again for finding such a beautiful wife. Even his friends went speechless when they met her. How he felt a surge of annoyance when some of his mother's friends came to congratulate him for a beautiful wife.

For a second, he got so restless that, "how come everyone is praising her and here he has not seen her properly.”

He muttered a curse to himself for being so stubborn that not even pay an eyeful glance to her, but bygones were bygones. Now thinking about next and the thought of next passed a chill down in his spine. He was feeling so clueless about upcoming. One side he was tired of listening that she was so beautiful and other side his friend's talks ringing in his ears. All his friends suggested him to overpower her and acted like a man. Coz this was the night which would decide that who would going to lead their life. But how is it even possible. Coz as per his opinion a man and woman share an equal share of responsibilities, duties, and rights for each other, But what a man should do. Should he just go and hovered over her. How could he even think to do this? Even the thought was itself seem very strange. She was his wife, so what. She was all but a stranger for him. He just didn't know anything other than her name and some basic information about her and vice versa. Then how could he do that.

"oh, I will be mad." Kabeer clutched his head in his hands and muttered to himself, "why I even get married. Now see, I can’t even go in my room freely. So stupid of me.”

With this thought all the past moments swam before his eyes like a movie. " How it all started six months before, when he won that business man of the year award. How he became famous overnight. How his so-called mother started looking so called high society girls for him. And how he finally gave in with the idea of marriage only after knowing the health condition of grandpa, and his stubbornness. And how he left all this matter on the shoulders of grandpa throwing Mrs Somani out. And in just two months he became a groom. But now what?

All he was drowned in his own thoughts when grandpa came and saw him in the living room. He went to him and asked teasingly," what happen young master, your wife throw you out in first night only, how come."

Kabeer jerked when he saw him and replied," no grandpa, it’s not that, I just..."

And who could understand him more than his grandpa. He looked through him and understood his dilemma. Slowly he asked," what happen son. What is the problem? Why you have not gone to your room till now? She must be waiting, my dear.”

Kabeer lowered his eyes," yes, grandpa, I am going."

Grandpa held his hand, “Kabeer, tell me son. Is there a problem?"

Kabeer replied softly, “no, not really, but just feeling…. Umm, feeling a bit kind of awkward.

“hmmm, so, this is the matter. Yeah, it’s a bit awkward, but son, its more awkward for her. Here, you… thinking before going to your room and there she has come leaving her whole world behind. From now on, its not only your duty, but her rights too, that you take care of her. So that, she would never remember her paternal home. “slowly grandpa replied and tried to brush off his dilemmas.

Kabeer nodded a yes still trying to understand his point.

Grandpa continued," Kabeer, there is lots of things about Muskaan that you don’t know. I suggest you to take it slow and try to understand her better." Grandpa patted his back," now go, she will be waiting."

And Kabeer stood silently as knew it was useless to wait or argue. He took some steps when grandpa called him from back," Kabeer, I want to say something more too."

“yeah grandpa, I am all ears.” He got surprised saw him hesitating.

Grandpa softly said, “ummm, Kabeer, she is all yours now, but there is nothing called ritual now. Some moves are appreciated when taken with love. Think and understand.”

Kabeer saw his face for some moments, processed his words in his mind and nodded confusingly. Then he went to his room.

**************