I could have sworn I saw you smile at me, Standing in the poring rain
At a loss for words and running out of time...I said this crazy crazy thing
- Marium
The older men of the family along with a maulana went into the little room where the bride sat since the last 3 hours waiting for the baraat to arrive. They pushed a scrap of paper towards her and she signed the dotted line. A chorus of Mubarak Ho's rose all over the tiny room and the girl was further burdened with more garlands. One of them ran outside and called out "Nikah Hogaya!!" which evoked sum more mubarak baads. As the bride took a deep breath and mentally prepared herself for a new life with complete strangers, I thought was that it? Is marriage just a signing of the nikahnama and your done? Does a single signature, terms and agreements certify marriage? it's a shame that even now, marriage is a contract that makes most people are forced to abide under strictures that suffocates the sphere around them. What about the mental equation, the understanding and atleast some love not just between the couple but in the family who is taking a step towards bringing in a new member in the family...? what of them?
