Modern India

When a boy falls in love with a girl and the girl reciprocates back, they get into a relation and if the understanding between them is good enough then they get married. Speaking simply a boy loves a girl, the girl loves him back, they get married, as said by Chetan Bhagat (see, I always acknowledge people from whom I steal ideas). But in India it is a completely different ball game. Not only the bride and groom have to love each other, their families also need to approve the relation. And approval here doesn’t come by only the present family standards but also the long family ‘Background’!

“Are you coming with me or not?” Sam asked, frustrated.

“I can’t.” Ria managed, wiping off the tears of her cheeks!”

“But I love you!”

“I love you too honey.” She said with a little smile in the corner of her lips.

“Then why the hell don’t you come to me? Those people will marry you to someone else!” Sam said, losing himself.

“Those people are my parents!”

“And what am I to you? A ‘friend with advantage’?” Sam shouted and threw away his phone.

Ria broke down into tears, she had nowhere to go. On one side it is the love of her life and on the other her parents. It’s impossible to choose either one. She had only one choice, death. She took the full bottle of sleeping pills and took it all at once. Pain struck her heart within seconds, but as time passed, there was peace, there was silence.

A few years later

“Hello!” Ria said.

“Hi sweetie!” Sam replied with a little smile.

“Don’t ever talk to me!” Ria screamed.

“I am so sorry dear, some work came up at the last moment so I am late, and I am afraid I won’t be able to leave office until midnight!”

“But you promis...” Ria had barely completed her sentence, Sam came from behind and took her by surprise, “Surprise surprise! Look who is here!” he said with a big grin.

“Daddy!” Ria shouted in joy, “I knew you will come home early, you are the best daddy in the whole world!” And went into the arms of her father. Sam smiled, she was all he had, his daughter, his life. He hoped his Ria was watching him from somewhere.

Some relations in this world are more sacred than the Holy Grail itself, the father daughter relation is one of them. Sam used to forget the whole world behind him just as soon he was with his daughter Ria. It may not be a blood relation but its beyond that, just as it was between Sam and Ria. Sam had adopted a baby girl of about an year old and named her Ria, the love of her life. People change, but love remains the same. Life goes on.

The ancient caste system still continues to be a forgettable chapter of Indian culture. It may stand in the way of love, in the way of humanity, it can separate two people, two castes or ‘two states’ but it can never stand in the way of love. 

. That’s how it is, that’s how it will be, evils in the names of caste system will continue to haunt numerous Indian youths. But the people who will try to look in its eyes and challenge it, may face the same fate as Sam and Ria. India is great!