He was an ordinary boy. He had always been an ordinary boy. His father though, was quite extraordinary. His father was educated and intelligent and and important member of society. He worshipped his father and did everything right. Everything for the approval of his father. His older and younger brothers were smart like his father and were handsome men. His youngest brother was outgoing and had a thousand friends. Everyone knew him. And then, he was also the youngest. Parents have a way of being partial to the youngest children. The girls didn't matter so much. They were girls. Which leaves him, the not-so smart, not all that good looking, ordinary boy, who nobody thought much about. But today everybody only talked about him. He was the most important person today and he was pleased. Tonight he would be married to his new bride and start a new life. From now on, he would be important. At least to his new bride. Oh, and of course her family.
As the time to leave for her home neared, everybody donned their new clothes for the joyous and sacred occasion. The women flaunted the jewellery gifted to them by their parents at the time of their marriage. The sisters of the groom were excited to have one more woman in the house to share their lives with, at least the sister that was still unmarried. The older sister loved the groom like nobody else did. They were the dark, and to be polite, not goodlooking children whom nobody cared all that much about. She had come over to her parents' house a couple of months ago to help and enjoy all the preparations for the wedding of her darling younger brother. Her husband and children had arrived a few days ago too. Everyone was happy and looked forward to being welcomed to the ceremony by the bride's family.
At the home of the new bride-to-be the groom was treated no less than a king. All kinds of delicacies were offered to the baraat, the party of friends and relatives of the groom. After a lot of rituals and ceremonies, they were married. He was now a married man. He was married to this small-town girl. She was rather short. He couldn't make much more of her while her face stayed covered by the ghoonghat. Time to go home and start this new and wonderful chapter of his life.
One by one, the few cars that the family owned and the hired bus started being filled up by the returning baraat. The bride had almost arrived at her new home to see it for the very first time, with a new husband, whom she had already seen today, for the very first time.
But for some reason, the bride was stopped on her way. Nobody knew what was wrong, but the bride needed to return home to her parents. A car was arranged for her to be taken back to the house where the sobs had hardly started to die down. Everybody returned home. But for the groom, the night had just begun with a few hours until sunrise. His father and the rest of the immediate family gathered in the patriarch's room. He looked grave. Everybody looked grave. The most handsome brother, younger than the groom but not the youngest of the four, wasn't in the room. There had been an accident. On a day that was supposed to be the happiest day of his life, he had lost his brother. This was not a happy day for anyone.
Overnight, celebrations made way for mourning. The entire household and the rest of the family and friends made it to the house in the morning dressed in white. Songs, laughing and gleeful teasing made way for sobs, whispers and even wailing. The mourning lasted the customary thirteen days. After thirteen days, the household could return to normal life. And so, once again, the new bride made her way to her new home, but with none of the excited welcoming from her new family. She made her way into the home like a ghost. Quiet, sombre, with nobody caring to spare her a glance.
As the time to leave for her home neared, everybody donned their new clothes for the joyous and sacred occasion. The women flaunted the jewellery gifted to them by their parents at the time of their marriage. The sisters of the groom were excited to have one more woman in the house to share their lives with, at least the sister that was still unmarried. The older sister loved the groom like nobody else did. They were the dark, and to be polite, not goodlooking children whom nobody cared all that much about. She had come over to her parents' house a couple of months ago to help and enjoy all the preparations for the wedding of her darling younger brother. Her husband and children had arrived a few days ago too. Everyone was happy and looked forward to being welcomed to the ceremony by the bride's family.
At the home of the new bride-to-be the groom was treated no less than a king. All kinds of delicacies were offered to the baraat, the party of friends and relatives of the groom. After a lot of rituals and ceremonies, they were married. He was now a married man. He was married to this small-town girl. She was rather short. He couldn't make much more of her while her face stayed covered by the ghoonghat. Time to go home and start this new and wonderful chapter of his life.
One by one, the few cars that the family owned and the hired bus started being filled up by the returning baraat. The bride had almost arrived at her new home to see it for the very first time, with a new husband, whom she had already seen today, for the very first time.
But for some reason, the bride was stopped on her way. Nobody knew what was wrong, but the bride needed to return home to her parents. A car was arranged for her to be taken back to the house where the sobs had hardly started to die down. Everybody returned home. But for the groom, the night had just begun with a few hours until sunrise. His father and the rest of the immediate family gathered in the patriarch's room. He looked grave. Everybody looked grave. The most handsome brother, younger than the groom but not the youngest of the four, wasn't in the room. There had been an accident. On a day that was supposed to be the happiest day of his life, he had lost his brother. This was not a happy day for anyone.
Overnight, celebrations made way for mourning. The entire household and the rest of the family and friends made it to the house in the morning dressed in white. Songs, laughing and gleeful teasing made way for sobs, whispers and even wailing. The mourning lasted the customary thirteen days. After thirteen days, the household could return to normal life. And so, once again, the new bride made her way to her new home, but with none of the excited welcoming from her new family. She made her way into the home like a ghost. Quiet, sombre, with nobody caring to spare her a glance.
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