Four days before marriage
A Love Woven Through Time
Four days before marriage:
They met for the first time. They had not even seen a picture of each other. The reason? He was her family’s choice, and she wanted to accept him blindly. On the other hand, he was not happy with this marriage, so he had no interest in seeing her. He had come simply to tell her the truth.
“Listen, I have no interest in this marriage,” he said. “I was in a serious relationship before. She left me, or we broke up—that does not mean I will replace her. I still love her, and I can’t give that place to anyone else. For my family’s sake, I cannot turn down this proposal. I want you to reject me and just say no to this marriage. I am not saying you aren't beautiful, but we don’t have any future together. You don’t know what love is.” With that, he left.
Four days after marriage:
It was the so-called first night, meant for a couple to truly become each other's. She waited in her dream bridal lehenga, her forearms covered in golden bangles, her palms adorned with intricate mehndi hiding his name within its design—a name he was supposed to find that very night. She waited, and waited, and waited. Until morning, he did not come, spending the whole night drinking with his friends.
Fourteen days after marriage:
He barely looked at her. He didn't want to. Let her do whatever she wanted; he was in no mood to yield his ego. Even though he had warned her of the consequences, she displayed a quiet, unbothered happiness. It was true he avoided eye contact, but he couldn't resist stealing glances at her from behind when she was busy serving relatives or caring for his parents. She looked genuinely happy with whatever little she had received from this marriage.
Forty days after marriage:
He was no longer roaming late at night with friends. Despite his heavy ego, something inside him was shifting. Those days, he found himself endlessly gazing at her while she worked in the kitchen, as she relaxed, when she washed and folded his clothes, or when she was busy gossiping with her sister-in-law. He didn't want to say thank you or sorry, but somehow, the words slipped out. Perhaps it was the day he kept her head against his chest when she suffered from a fever, hugging her and whispering softly into her ear. He found her so soft, so cute, and she possessed a childish innocence when she was wrapped in his arms.
Fourteen months after marriage:
Finding true love is not easy. As the saying goes, “It’s better to be with someone who loves you than someone you love.” He found it right inside his home, under the roof above their bed. Nowadays, they talked endlessly. She never insisted that he stay home or come back early in the evening, yet he found no reason to stay out anymore. He wanted to take her out, treat her to dinner at the best restaurant in the city, and buy her gifts from the finest shopping complex. This never-ending affection brought his long-comatose heart back to life. It recovered and thanked her with every single beat. “I always want to be with you,” he promised her a million times.
Forty months after marriage:
He was ready to accept the greatest challenge life offers once: becoming a father. Over these past few months, he had proven himself to be a devoted husband. Since she was now pregnant, he cooked for her, gave her medicines on time, stocked the refrigerator with a variety of fruits and vegetables, trimmed her nails, painted them with different colors, read stories to her, and pampered her endlessly with love. It was a kind of devotion that might remind everyone of their own soulmate.
Fourteen year after marriage:
They were parents to two children. With a cute daughter and a blessed son, their family was complete. They had every happiness imaginable. She was still the most beautiful woman in the world to him, and he thanked her every day for always standing by his side.
Forty year after marriage:
Somewhere in an old age home, she lay on a bed while he sat beside her, his hand interlaced with hers. He barely looked around at anything else; he had left everything behind as his soulmate was slipping away. The doctors had gently said, “This is the effect of old age, and she doesn't have much time left.” She was so weak she couldn't even open her eyes. Resting her head on his lap, he gently wiped her tears and reminded her of the promise he had made so long ago.
How they reached this point is a story well known to everyone. But as they said, both went hand in hand, just as promised.