HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dear world,  

Another year ends. And here I am, shivering in the cold, hungry and exhausted, wondering what the New Year will bring. More hunger? More fatigue? More despair?

I can see a mother at the traffic light. She is tapping on the windowpanes of those fancy cars, hoping to attract a few coins, or if she annoys the owner enough, maybe a ten-rupee note flung on her face to make her go away and leave the occupant to continue chatting on that dinky cell phone.

            I can see a young sister and brother are fast asleep on the pavement near the old laundry. They do not know who their father is—they have never seen him. From the time I can remember, I have seen the mother living on this street and watched her beg. She has taught her child to beg, too.

I can see a young sick brother tied to a sisters’ waist in a sling made out of rags, and carrying him from car to car asking for alms.

I can see a mother telling her 14 year old daughter to cover herself when she begs, since men stare at her and make dirty jokes. She tells her not to talk to any man. She also beats her a lot if she sees her chatting with customers who come to the laundry to pick up their clothes. It is dangerous, she says, and she doesn’t understand.

I can see a Dad, who has managed to get a few caps and whistles for his child not to play with but to sell at the next traffic junction where there are young people on motorcycles. I can see him teaching her child to clap, laugh and scream ‘Happy New Year’ each time a car stops. I can hear them practicing —‘Happy New Year’.

I am sure that someone somewhere will hear their prayers and wish them the same, too. God is great!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

ARRANGED MARRIAGE....Naa Babaa Naaa

This is post is inspired by the DEAL than Ankit was giving today about his brothers marriage and more importantly about the north Indian arranged marriages.

A very typical thing with boys is that when they are ten years, they find themselves to be grown up enough. When they are fifteen, they think they can handle any situation independently. When twenty, they are supreme, and they are convinced that they have grown up enough. And then when they are twenty five and you talk about marriage, they would suddenly start feeling, they are’nt so grown-up yet and ARRANGED MARRIAGE....Naa Babaa Naaa..... So true …ain’t it!

The most important fact that goes against Arrange marriages is the image that comes to ones mind when one hears about it. Strange but true, an arrange marriage sounds so bore. You can immediately think of staunch Parents, forcing you against the will to hold the hand of some stranger. You think of sacrifice and adjustments. Not that the image is totally incorrect but ya, i am of an opinion that this stereotyped image is now quite old and needs a change. 

But then dont forget, the hectic process of arrange marriages, first you see a photograph and then when you would have just made up your mind to look a photo in _that way_! Your parents would suddenly fix-up an appointment for you. Of course they know what they are doing and they would also compel you to think that what they are doing is for your own good. You may not give a damn …but that’s another story!

And then think about how you would face that semi-interview kinda round from your’might be’ in-laws. And what would you talk in that fifteen minutes to half hour meeting with the “Might-Be” itself. Where in you are supposed to ask, enquire, confirm, impress, express and what not…huff. And there is a possible villain called horoscope-matcher. If it says ‘this’ is it!!!!
    
So far so scary! but then, in present times, Arrange marriages can be fun too.. i mean they are getting interesting. Thanks to Dhirubhai Ambani Yeah! Look at all newly arranged and engaged guys and gals and you would understand what i mean! Telecom revolution you see!
  
Things have now become quite informal. Ya! the possible places to see your ‘might – be’s are getting shifted to cool restaurants’ instead of homes.  Also you might meet, talk (on phone) spy-it-urself on FB profiles and share about each other before coming to a decision. Ah the word!
Aye! That’s true again that the decision making key may still not be in your hands but then look at the positive side. You have a little fairer chance to communicate your wish to the other side. And then leave it considering ‘Marriages are made in heaven’. But ya dont expect heaven to manufacture perfect products. Might be they are not competent enuff, or may be they are lithargic, or may be the processes are not quite in place. The Quality Assurance department in heaven is certainly weak. May be they have quota system there too… oh lets forget it. thats another story.
So the bottom line is the arrange marriages now a days are getting converted to ‘arranged love’. Hmmm… whats love after all! One of my love-bitten and committed female friend beautifully says “Its all in the brain.” Think about it! And if you still feel something that is happening with you is real bad take this, “Whatever doesnt kill you, only makes you stronger! ”. So, dont worry be happy… ollaleo...!