Marriage at a Distance

rmal day Priya would go to her room but today she lingered around. Her father clearly sensed that something was unusual when he sa

o tell me something?”

y right now. I want to study and work for a while before I get marri

eply , as if he had lost a battle, and said “ This is the best match you could dream of Priya. Raj is everyt

o lead my life. Getting married was not part of the plan. Please understand me. I never questioned anything you and moth

this marriage is not just about an alliance between two families? It is about saving your father from bankruptcy. Don’t you even have an ounce of gratitu

ly on her cheeks. She looked at her father with some hope that he might support

ed her. That realization hit her hard. She buried her head onto the pillow with muff

ompany is bankrupt, I will have to put 1000 families on the road. If I see tha

er again. If anything happens to you, how will I live?Think

dding was a grand affair with the who and who of Mumbai attending it. Priya

she could get but never attempted to touch her, for which she was grateful. Many times she would catch him gazing at her but he would always turn away when their eyes met. Priya on her part ensured that her father-in-law received all the care and attention he should get as an elder as his health was deteriorating day by day. Raj

t how could she suddenly open up to him? It was not in her nature. All her life she had learnt to suppress her feelings and endure them so that was out of question. Priya just watched all the mourning proceedings and lingered around Raj showing support in her own way. But Raj hardly seemed t

aj owned. She watched Raj enter the house, after he had seen the last of the guests off, with an unscruitable look on his face and sit on the single fut

will end. I will start the divorce proceedings as soon as possible.We can get divorced silently. And don't be alarmed that I will end the deal with your father because of the divorce.That is a busine

nning. But her heart didn't want it to end this way when Raj was going through a personal tragedy.

creaming at her, as if asking her “This is all you co

deal was on. The court ordered a mandatory two years separation period before they granted divorce so Priya had to wait.Priya used up the time to finish up her fin

OOOONN

e was able to pay her rent and a portion of the credit. Though it was hard work, she was enjoying every bit of her independence. Of course her independence did come with lots of glitches and hurdles. She suddenly felt uncomfortable thinking about that guy with glasses who kept staring at her in the class and followed her all over the campus. By God’s grace it had not gone beyond it. He never approached her and never came within an arm’s distance to her. With a deep sigh she opened the latch of her apartment main entrance with the passcode and opened the apartment door with the key. As she en

efficiently with minimum utensils and kept it clean. She took out the tofu from the fridge which was the indian version of paneer and some fresh tomat

” , sh

. When she heard no answer from the other side, she hung up. She tried to look up the number on the

ll ran through her spine. She quickly hung up and wondered if it was the stalker from her college or was it Raj? The phone rang again. This

ional, so she decided to calm down first and give it a half an hour before she did anything. Priya took three or four deep breaths and sat on the single couch. She waited for the phone to ring and none came for which she was relieved. After half an hour she went to her window and looked out to see if any stranger or that guy from the college

gh the window. Her eyes widened at the sight with her breath stuck in her throat. There HE was. The guy from the college. He was standing right acr

imself into the apartment? What did he want from her? How can she leave the apartment now without any help? She didn

of the table where her assignments were spread. The action made her assignment fly all ove

or today and tomorrow I will decide what to do.Maybe I can m

mber on the card. It was a mobile phone number so sure

ng -no

ng-no

ing -no

now, a lump was forming in her t

he phone answer her call. A deep voice on

it was indeed. But words were failing her right

? Please answer?” Raj ask

quickly replied “Ra

th was all she heard,

y which she could feel and sense. That broke her resolve not to cry, into pieces. Thick tear

re urgent at her sobs and

rong? Shhhh..don’t cry, if I can, I will surely help yo

d how he was standing right across

you can open the door for me. Send me your address on the phone. No, forget it, tell me right now.One more thing , till I come,

oothed her and she ga

tes.Ok? Priya?” Raj to

she aske

t you are safe. OK?. See you soon” , Raj told her with

ll she coul

e. She re-checked if that guy was st

her couch a

her phone rang again. It was Raj’s

oor, this i

nd opened the door wit

s, she heard the k

ur own in distress is the biggest balm anybody can get . Tears welled

n eyes threatening to roll down any second. His fists tightened

Come with me RIGHT NOW! You will stay with

ay with him?? Was he out of his mind? How

uation but tomorrow I will see what I could do to protect myself.I will ask my frien

ur teenage minded college friends cannot do anything. They cannot be with you 24 hrs. You need serious pr

red her i

how moving in with you will help? Are we going back to our pre-wedding days where I was blackmailed into marrying a person I neve

way from her with his eyes spitting fire which made Priya flinch a

? Your father saved his business. My father died a happy man believing his son had a happy loving family. You packed your bags the moment my

dhood. Every misery, every problem was pushed onto her when all she would do was to express her wishes and desires. Was it too much to ask your parents to stay for her birthday part? Had she gone overboard

myself again.If he believes I was a selfish bitch then so be it. I will not do anything

eep sigh.Maybe he will go

other for even ten minutes. I am sorry I troubl

e unscruitable to her. He sounded gruff when he finally spoke with “ I am not leaving you here tonight with this stalker. We

e looked into his ,now tired, eyes and said “Ok, I will come with you.Thank you for your kind offer”. It was rather very formal for her

hat guy is still around” and moved toward

his fellow tomorrow. Take whatever is important righ

purse and books w

nodd

ctively shrunk behind Raj. Raj turned back and took her hand in his and walked to the car. For once she was relieved to have his hand holding h

n on and they were on