P has left for work and I’m sitting here, doing nothing. It is one of those days where you feel depressed for apparently no reason. Or is there a reason? I don’t know. Sitting in the living room all alone, I was watching the gold fishes playing in my little aquarium. Thoughts started flooding my mind. I look at my hand and I see the Platinum ring…and those few diamonds sparkle. A smile comes to my lips as I think of that day when he wore it on my fingers.
Ours was a traditional Indian arranged marriage. I met him along with his parents and we talked for a few minutes. We liked each other and our fate was sealed. I’m not thinking of the pros and cons of the so-called arranged marriage, but we believe that it was a match made in heaven. After three months, we were engaged. And that’s the second time we met again- the day of our engagement 🙂
Few days before the engagement day, Dad asked me to pick a ring. Usually, the guy picks one for the girl and vice-versa. But in order to avoid the complications of liking the design and the fit, (and we were home only two days prior to the engagement, so there was no question of getting our fit) both the families agreed that we pick our own respective rings. So, here I was being adamant that I needed a platinum ring. In Kerala, we usually pick a gold ring engraved with our spouse’ name. It’s a tradition or custom as you call it and that’s how it is. But being me, I was stubborn and headstrong that I didn’t want a heavy gold ring and that too “tagged”. Mamma accused me of being bull-headed, but I still went for my platinum ring.
It was shining and the six little diamonds sparkled in the white light at the jewelry shop. I was so excited to pick it up and the salesman announced that it is possible to engrave the spouse’ name on the inside of the ring- just for a feel! 🙂 I came back home and wore the ring myself, just to realize that it looked like a plain old ring, a normal silver band and the diamonds weren’t sparkling either. I was sitting disappointed wondering whether I picked up a wrong ring, whether I should have succumbed to what my parents wanted me to pick. After all, it is going to be on my finger forever!
Mamma came to me and said, “Shalu, I know you don’t know him yet. And I understand what you go through. You are a confused girl who is happy and excited to be engaged, wishing and praying that he is the right man for you. But things would be different in a little while from now on. You will get to know him better and he will be yours forever. A day will come when he is not by your side, maybe he is posted to the Border where he can’t take you, or a normal day when he is out for work and you at home, feeling a little lonely and you would you miss him. That day, your ring will be with you, his name engraved and that would definitely bring a smile”. I laughed it off but her words did touch me and I found myself saying that I will return the platinum ring and get the gold one as they wished. But Mom let me keep my Platinum ring as well.
For the ceremony, he wore me the gold ring in front of all the guests and family. I had my platy with me, hidden from others and I was waiting for a chance to ask him to wear it on my finger. And we never got a chance. We were surrounded with friends and relatives wishing us and blessing us for our engagement. And I remember the blushing me not even able to look into his eyes. So forget asking him to wear me the ring!
I had to leave for work in two days and he came to drop me at the station. It was evening and I knew we both were feeling a little strange or I don’t know..may be sad? I had to board the bus in another ten minutes and he took me for a stroll. We walked..he blabbering something..and I was lost in thoughts. I knew I would miss him though it was only few hours I had spent in four months to the man I got engaged to. There were only few words exchanged between us in these months. And believe me when I say they were all formal talks! 🙂
While he went on and on about some random topic. I stopped and looked into his eyes. He was flabbergasted. I took out the ring from my pocket and asked him to put it on my finger. He was stunned, skipping a few heartbeats. Silence prevailed for a few seconds and he did what I asked of him. He smiled. When I was about to board the bus, he gave me a warm hug and did he kiss me? I guess he did..on my forehead. 🙂 I knew I had fallen for him.
And now looking at my ring, I smile. My Mom was right, after all.
I’m participating in Write Tribe’s 7 Days To Rediscovering Your Blogging Groove. And we are telling a story.
Do you have a story to share? Did you like mine?
Vinitha says
Aww!! That was a heart warming story of your’s, Shalini, right from your life and heart! How two souls get connected in an instant! Though it was an arranged marriage, I bet you were in love before wedding, which makes it alright to say that you had love marriage. And I do believe all marriages are love marriages only mode of first meeting differs. Mine was love marriage, met him at college. 😉
Manas Mukul says
I just pray after reading this that the love always prevails in your life…:)
Vinodini Iyer says
These are what sweet memories are made of! Lovely going through your treasure trove of memories.I quite relate to your stance at wearing a platinum ring 🙂
Rajlakshmi says
I am going all cushy mooshy reading your story 😀 that;’s so beautiful.
I wish you two lots of happiness and such lovely moments.
parulthakur24 says
Wow! this is such a lovely tale of your love. Sitting on my laptop reading it, I feel like telling one of my own Shalini. Thank you for sharing such a sweet one with all of us. Super lovely!
When you get a chance, read my tale of the two of us in love for last 8+ years. This was written long back but I felt like sharing with you 🙂
http://happinessandfood.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/love-turns-8/
Cynthia Vincent Daniel says
Lovely and heart touching, Shalini Mine was an arranged marriage too but exactly similar how an arranged marriage would have been. And my Mr. A is out of town too. we r in the same situation :D. Maybe I will write a book someday on our story. 🙂
meenameno says
Aaaw thts a sweet story! Arranged marriages hv thir own charm no
nabanita21 says
That was so beautiful..would you believe it if i said it was like a chapter from a love story in a novel? But then it is, isn’t it? From the love story of your life
Random Thoughts Naba – Found You!
ellytreehugger AKA elly stornebrink says
Shalini, I am happy for you and at first wondered if this was non-fiction only to realize it was YOUR story: thanks for sharing as it was beautifully heart-warming. And by the way, I’m prone to platinum too as I love silver (more than gold)! 😉 <3 (My tale is quite different from yours….)
ellytreehugger AKA elly stornebrink says
Shalini, I am happy for you and at first wondered if this was non-fiction only to realize it was YOUR story: thanks for sharing as it was beautifully heart-warming. And by the way, I’m prone to platinum too as I love silver (more than gold)! 😉 <3 (My tale is quite different from yours: http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2014/10/a-dream-vision-in-my-heart.html). 🙂 <3
G Angela says
Such a sweet story, congrats and wishing you many more beautiful moments… loved reading !
Sreesha Diva says
That’s so :’) :’) What a sweet story!
I know how it is in Kerala, with the name engraved and all. Even I refused to get one of those done. But they didn’t let me get platinum, cos, you know, obvious reasons, they wanted to see the “yellow” :/
menons129 says
Shalini it such a tender feeling to read about your sweet romancr. I am so happy for you. May God bless you.
Jaibala Rao says
So cute you love story is Shalini