Engagement Ring

Sahiba was a modern-minded woman. She lived her life on her own terms. After the engagement, when she felt that her in-laws were superstitious and conservative, she decided to break the marriage. But was it that easy? Sahiba was feeling suffocated in heavy jewellery and clothes, but she sat quietly, drenched in sweat, due to her values.

Her ocean-like blue and deep eyes were looking for Ronak again and again, but she could not see Ronak anywhere. Just then, her sister-in-law Juhi came and said smilingly, "Sahiba, your ocean-like eyes have spread this kaajal here and there, but have some patience, Ronak has taken Priyanshi to the hospital."

Sahiba's fair face turned red with anger. This thing could not remain hidden from Juhi's experienced eyes, but as soon as she saw Ronak's aunt-in-law Santosh, she signaled Sahiba through her eyes and Sahiba controlled herself.

Tai Saas Santosh said, "So Raunak has brought this angel, otherwise there were proposals from so many big families." Raunak's mother Sudha said, "Didi, leave it now, we just have to see how Raunak's daughter-in-law will be able to stay in this house." Sahiba and Raunak's engagement was happening reluctantly. While Raunak's family had a problem with Sahiba being middle class, Sahiba's family did not see any possibility of this marriage being successful. Priyanshi, who was Raunak's elder sister and was now going to be Sahiba's elder sister-in-law, suddenly started having labor pains on the night of the engagement. Both the brothers, Raunak and Rahil, and Priyanshi's aunt had gone to the hospital with Priyanshi. Tai Saas was looking at Sahiba's looks and the gifts she had received from her parents' home. Then he gifted Sahiba a pair of jhumkas and a maroon Kanjeevaram saree. Sudha was going in and out again and again. She was helpless as she could not go to the hospital but her heart was set on Priyanshi.

Sudha was warned by Guruji that if she was with her daughter at the time of childbirth, it could lead to something bad. Priyanshi was Sudha's darling and father Virendra's favourite, but can the love of parents change the fate of their children?

Sahiba was sitting and dozing off when her sleep broke with the ringtone of the phone. It was Ronak's call. On picking up the phone, Sahiba said, "What is this impoliteness?" "Was it necessary for you to go? I am feeling so lonely..."

Rounak said in irritation, "Now get into wife mode a little, mummy-papa have got us engaged. And now soon after the marriage, we are shifting to a flat near your office." What is the reason for this impatience?

Sahiba said to end the conversation, "How is Priyanshi Di?" Ronak said, "I called to tell you that she has given birth to a son."

There was a tense atmosphere in the house, Sahiba felt in her heart that maybe now the fog of tension will reduce a little. But there was a silent peace. Ronak's family did not talk to Sahiba or her family.

Sahiba suddenly felt like a stranger. Giving up, Sahiba and her family returned from the marriage hall without meeting Ronak. Sahiba's mother said to Sahiba on the way, "How will you adjust in that family? He is very proud of his status and position."

Before Sahiba could say anything, there was a message from Raunak, he had apologized to the whole family for leaving in the middle of the conversation and had invited Sahiba for breakfast tomorrow so that she could talk to the whole family properly. Sahiba's parents had agreed reluctantly, but for the sake of their daughter's happiness. Sahiba had gone wearing a white suit and a red dupatta. She was thinking that Raunak would praise her but he had not even looked at her properly in front of his family. There was silence at the breakfast table.

Then Raunak's sister-in-law Juhi said, "Mummy, don't worry, we all will take care of Priyanshi and the child." Sudha said angrily, "Who are you Juhi to take care of Priyanshi? Priyanshi and her son have a right over this house."

Juhi was left speechless in front of the guests. Sahiba was secretly happy that she would not have to live in this suffocating atmosphere. Sahiba had seen Priyanshi only twice but both times she found her very arrogant. Sahiba was thinking in her mind whether this is the condition of daughters-in-law in this house.

After breakfast, Juhi came to Sahiba's room and said, "Look Sahiba, Mummyji gets a little sensitive about Priyanshi but she is not bad at heart."

Then Ronak said, "Bhabhi, make coffee quickly, my mood got spoiled at the breakfast table."

Sahiba felt like a stranger to Ronak as a fiancé. He went to the hospital as soon as he had coffee. Priyanshi came back after 3 days with her son. Priyanshi had a love marriage which failed. Sahiba came to know from Ronak that Priyanshi has come home but due to office she thought that she will leave on Sunday. When Sahiba reached home on Sunday, Sahiba felt that the air of the house has become more suffocated after Priyanshi's arrival.

Sahiba was still talking to Juhi when Sahiba's future mother-in-law Sudha said, "Sahiba, it has been more than 2 days since your sister came back from the hospital, isn't it your duty to at least ask about her health over the phone..." Ronak said, "Mummy, I myself told Sahiba to come and meet her instead of calling."

When Sahiba and Ronak reached Priyanshi's room, Juhi was holding the baby in her lap and Priyanshi was chatting with someone on the phone. Seeing Sahiba, she ignored her and started talking to Ronak about taking care of the baby. Sahiba kept sitting as if insulted and then got up and sat outside. Ronak did not like this behavior of Sahiba. According to Ronak, if Sahiba wants to become a part of this family, then she will have to make the effort.

Throughout the journey, Raunak kept explaining to Sahiba about the duties of a daughter-in-law, “Look Sahiba, we will definitely live separately but you will have to win the hearts of my family first.”

Sahiba found this side of Raunak very unfamiliar. Just a month after the engagement, Sahiba had realized that she would have to stand alone on this front. Raunak remained very formal even at Sahiba’s house. Sahiba's younger sister Saloni said, "Jiju, where are you guys going for honeymoon?"

Raunak said, "I haven't thought about it yet." Sahiba said on the way, "Raunak, your love has suddenly disappeared as soon as you got engaged."

Raunak said, "What is your problem?" "Are you and I running away somewhere?" "People go on honeymoon to get some solitude, to understand each other, we will do our honeymoon in our flat itself."

The days after the engagement were filled with boredom and suffocation and the nights were spent in coaxing and impatience. Sometimes Raunak would be busy and sometimes he would be in a bad mood. As soon as the engagement happened, Raunak's expectations from Sahiba had increased a lot. Whenever Sahiba went to Raunak's house, she would be shocked to see that Juhi Bhabhi had to remain dressed up like a doll all day. Sometimes the aunt-in-law, sometimes the aunt-in-law, sometimes the elder sister-in-law or a sister-in-law would stay at home.

Sahiba had understood that there was no physical fatigue in Raunak's house but there was a lot of mental inactivity. Sahiba's future mother-in-law Sudha would always explain something or the other to Sahiba, "Sahiba, you will definitely live separately after marriage but it is your responsibility to follow the rituals of this house." "Do not cook anything in the kitchen without taking a bath, do not even touch an egg on Tuesday and Saturday and every full moon day the daughter-in-law of the house comes to the temple early in the morning and offers food. I hope that even if you live separately, you will not forget the rituals of our house."

Sahiba was thinking whether she would get married or become a slave. Her way of living life would change. But Sahiba dismissed this thought thinking that after marriage she would live in her flat according to her own will. The next day when Sahiba started getting ready for office, Juhi called, "Sahiba, Mummy has asked you to keep Ekadashi fast." Sahiba hung up without saying anything. Today evening Raunak and Sahiba had to go to see the interiors of their new flat. When Raunak came in the evening, Sahiba opened her tiffin in front of Raunak. She had lovingly prepared egg curry for Raunak. As soon as the tiffin was opened, Raunak said, "What is this, on Tuesday also you got the cook to prepare eggs and what is this, you have washed your hair today also?" Sahiba felt as if some old illiterate man was standing in front of her and not Raunak. When Sahiba and Raunak reached the flat, they saw that there was a lot of hustle bustle in the flat. On seeing Sahiba, Sudha said, "You did not call us but I have brought Priyanshi myself. Let me see how you will keep my son in the flat." "What is this, why have you built a temple in the east direction?" Priyanshi's son was crying loudly and Priyanshi was busy with her mobile. On seeing Sahiba, Priyanshi said, "You are doing the interior and all the work so quickly just to live alone, right?" "You could have enjoyed your in-laws' house for a few days." Sahiba said softly, "Didi, I neither want to enjoy my in-laws' house nor my parents' house, I just want to breathe freely in my own house." Sudha said, "Sahiba, Priyanshi lives at her father's house. Not at your house, so there is no need to taunt her about her parents' house." Sahiba knew that Ronak's ears had been filled by her mother's house. As much as Raunak was fearless as a lover, he was equally timid as a would-be husband. Sahiba knew that Raunak did not even talk to her openly to keep his family happy. After the engagement, sometimes on the pretext of some festival or some fast, Sahiba's mother-in-law would repeatedly call Sahiba to her house and sometimes would come to Sahiba's house with a huge entourage. Hosting Sahiba's mother-in-law was proving very costly for Sahiba's family. As soon as the marriage was fixed, Raunak's entire family started advising Sahiba about when and at what interval she should have children.

Sahiba was fed up of this interference. She started feeling that while playing the role of a daughter-in-law, the bubbly and independent Sahiba had got lost somewhere. Sahiba and Raunak were indeed engaged, but every program was done according to Sahiba's in-laws. Whenever Sahiba and Raunak went for dinner, Raunak's family also went along.

Today was Sahiba's anniversary. The entire event was organised by Sahiba's in-laws. A party was organised in the evening. Sahiba had no enthusiasm for this celebration. Sahiba felt as if she had become a puppet. Actually, Sahiba wanted to go out somewhere with Raunak on her birthday, but Raunak's old complaint that the family would not like that they are going out alone instead of celebrating with them was the same. Everything was flamboyant in the party, but Sahiba's heart was sad.

All the women of Raunak's family were explaining to Sahiba the duty of a good wife and daughter-in-law and how lucky she was to have such in-laws. Sahiba was present in the entire party just for the sake of formality. Sahiba felt as if her freedom and her existence would be crushed under the weight of mangalsutra and sindoor.

The next day, Raunak took Sahiba to task on the phone, "Why does your face always swell up? Mummy gifted you a chain with so much love but no, you kept looking upset.''

Sahiba was thinking in her mind that why is it that only women have to bear the burden of sanskar? Why is it that only women's flight is curbed in the name of marriage? Why is the medicine of sanskar only for women? Sahiba fell asleep thinking all this. In the morning when Raunak woke up, he saw a message from Sahiba, 'I am going to Kasauli for a trip. I don't want to lose myself by getting entangled in the rituals of marriage, that's why I want to stay alone for a few days.'

Raunak immediately called Sahiba and said smilingly, "This is what happens with you modern women. You talk about freedom but want to run away from responsibilities."

Sahiba said, "I will wait for you in the morning at Rangoli restaurant." Ronak said to Sahiba in the restaurant, "What childishness is this, you did not understand the need to take permission from me or Mummy-Papa..." Sahiba said, "Ronaak, marriage does not mean that I hand over the reins of my happiness to you or your family." "I have understood this, albeit late." "I cannot sacrifice my existence in the name of sanskar any more." "I did not know that sindoor and mangalsutra are so heavy. After marriage, I will not be able to bear the burden of this mangalsutra and sindoor. If you think that you can accept me without mangalsutra and sindoor, then let me know." Ronak said in a sobbing voice, "Is it wrong to have some expectations from you as a wife and daughter-in-law? If my family is expecting a good and cultured daughter-in-law from you, what is wrong in that? “And then why do you forget that my family respected my wish and decided to make you their daughter-in-law. If I wanted, I could have just roamed around with you and passed time, but perhaps modern girls like you find the responsibility of marriage to be like shackles on their feet.”

Sahiba said, “I am not getting married to become a mother or to keep fasts. I wanted to touch the untouched aspects of life with you.”

Raunak said angrily, “What answer will you give to my and your family?”

Sahiba said, “It is better to answer both the families once rather than answering myself every day. Even after engagement, I am a human being, not a dumb cow. “If you can accept me the way I am, then I will come back to your life, otherwise I will plant my roots in some other land. "I don't want that the beautiful moments of the past between us should be ruined because of some small things," saying this Sahiba took off the ring from her finger and gave it to Raunak.

Raunak was unable to understand which burden was greater - the ring or the few moments of love that had settled between them, as he watched Sahiba leave.