A Loveless Arranged Marriage Chapter 3. Unfold the past

  Previously, we saw Rishi and Deepa visit the Rishi family deity temple. Amidst many surprises and emotions, they spent their days in their native lands. Now, they are about to embark on their loveless relationship. Let’s see what happens next.

  At 4:55 a.m., Rishi was preparing for his train journey. While he was packing his clothes, Ishwari entered the room. Noticing her, Rishi asked, “What’s up, Mom? Is something wrong?” She replied, “Nothing much; I just wanted to check if you packed your bags and to have a word with you.” Rishi asked, “Hmm, what’s it about?” Ishwari replied, “First, stop what you’re doing,” and Rishi complied.

  Rishi asked, “So, what is it, Mom?” Ishwari replied, “Rishi, now that you’re married, a girl has chosen you as her husband. Before marriage, she might have had many dreams, and it’s your responsibility to help fulfill those.” Rishi looked confused and interrupted, “Mom, I understand all of this. Why are you bringing it up now?”

  Ishwari continued, “It’s not just about understanding. Many girls have dreams before marriage, but often they end up sacrificing those dreams. As a husband, it’s your duty to help make those dreams come true.”

  Rishi thought to himself, “Her dream is to get separated.” Ishwari asked, “Do you understand, Rishi?” Rishi replied, “Mom, I promise I’ll do everything I can to fulfill her dreams, whatever they may be.”

  Ishwari smiled and said, “That’s my boy. Now, hurry up and finish packing. Time is running out.” She then left the room, and Rishi resumed packing his bag.

  Outside Rishi’s residence, Rishi and Jayraj were loading luggage into the car. Jayraj asked, “Son-in-law, can I have a word with you?” Rishi replied, “Sure, Uncle. What’s up?”

  Jayraj said, “My daughter, Deepa, married because of my wishes. She always dreamed of becoming a collector. However, achieving that will take several years.” Rishi interrupted, “What do you mean, several years?”

  Jayraj explained, “Yes, son-in-law. After passing the UPSC exam, the first year is spent in training at the academy. Following that, there’s field training and various attachments, which can take another year or so. After completing these training phases, they start their career with postings in junior roles. It typically takes around 5-7 years of service before they can be appointed as a District Magistrate or Collector.”

  Rishi replied, “Hmm, I hadn’t heard about that, Uncle.” Jayraj said, “Even before Deepa began her UPSC preparation, I wasn’t aware of it. But after she failed the exam four times, I realized that even if she passed, most of her time would be spent in training. I worried that she wouldn’t accept marriage because of her dedication to her career.” Rishi responded, “I understand.”

  Jayraj continued, “Son-in-law, I have a request. While you and Deepa are in Mumbai, please help her achieve her dream. Don’t be an obstacle to it.” Rishi promised, “Uncle, I vow to support Deepa in achieving her dream.” Jayraj hugged Rishi and said, “I’m very fortunate to have you as my son-in-law.”

  Rishi replied, “I’m lucky to have you as my father-in-law, Uncle. Many parents see their daughters as a reflection of their family’s honor, but you’re helping your children achieve their dreams.”

  Jayraj said, “Thank you, son-in-law. Your support brings me relief. Now, we need to finish loading the luggage.” With that, Rishi and Jayraj continued their work.

  Inside the house, Parvathi was giving advice to Deepa, who pretended to listen attentively. Ishwari approached them and asked, “Are you two discussing something important?”

  Parvathi replied, “Oh, nothing much. We were just chatting casually.” Ishwari then said, “I’d like to speak with Deepa privately. Is that alright?” Parvathi responded, “Of course,” and then left them alone.

  After Parvathi left, Ishwari asked Deepa, “Does your mother’s advice bore you, or what?” Deepa replied, “No, she was just talking casually.” Ishwari said, “Don’t lie, Deepa. I know your mom was giving you advice on how to behave in your husband’s house and how to take care of him.”

  Deepa smiled, and Ishwari continued, “My mom used to say the same things. But those words don’t really matter; it’s just a formality.” Deepa responded, “Hmm.” As they were talking, Ishwari took off the ring she was wearing.

  Ishwari then asked, “Deepa, can you show me your right hand, please?” Deepa, feeling uncertain, extended her right hand. Ishwari placed her ring on Deepa’s ring finger and said, “In our family, we give this ring to the daughter-in-law who is joining our household. There is a belief that whoever wears this ring will remain happy with her husband forever. My mother-in-law gave it to me when I married Rishi’s dad, and now I’m passing it on to you.”

  Deepa looked at the ring for a moment and felt a pang of sadness, thinking she might be betraying its significance. Ishwari called Deepa’s name, but she didn’t respond at first.

  When Ishwari called her again, Deepa answered, “Yes, aunty?” Ishwari asked, “What’s wrong, Deepa? Are you okay?” Deepa replied, “Nothing, aunty.” Ishwari said, “Alright. Everyone is waiting outside for us. Let’s go.” They both went outside.

  Outside the house, Rishi, Jayraj, and Ashwin were in the car, while Parvathi was outside, chatting with Jayraj. When Deepa and Ishwari arrived, Deepa got into the car, and Ishwari stayed outside with Parvathi. As Ashwin started the car, Ishwari and Parvathi waved goodbye.

  The four of them began their journey to Tirunelveli Railway Station. After two hours, they arrived at the station. They unloaded the luggage from the car and brought it inside the station. Arriving 30 minutes early, they began to wait for their train. Rishi was on the phone with someone, Ashwin was checking his social media, and Deepa was also on a call.

  After ending her call, Jayraj approached Deepa and asked, “Deepa, are you angry with me?” Deepa replied, “No, Dad.”

  Jayraj pressed further, “Please, Deepa, tell me the truth. I was the one who first encouraged you, and later, I was the one who stood in the way of your dreams. Be honest with me, even if you need to shout at me; it’s fine. But don’t hide your feelings. It’s hurting me.”

  Deepa thought about how telling her father the truth—about her plan to separate from Rishi after a year—would create problems. Instead, she said, “No, Dad. To me, you’re like a superhero. You’d do anything for me, even oppose the world if necessary. You always think carefully before making any decision that affects my life. If you ask something of me, how could I ever oppose you?”

  Jayraj smiled through his tears, feeling a sense of inner relief. Deepa added, “Also, my dad is more of a fun, jovial person, not someone who gets overly emotional. It doesn’t suit him at all.” Jayraj smiled at the compliment, and Deepa returned the smile. However, she felt a pang of grief inside for lying to her father.

  The train arrived at Platform 2, and they began loading the luggage onto the train. Within a minute, they had all their bags settled in the train’s compartment. After ten minutes, Ashwin and Jayraj stepped outside, and the train departed from the station.

  As the train left Tirunelveli, Rishi and Deepa settled into their seats and let out a sigh of relief. They looked at each other and asked in unison, “Can we eat our breakfast now?”

  After that, they both had their breakfast. Rishi was chatting with someone, while Deepa gazed out the window, though it was blocked by glass. She asked, “Rishi, is this compartment always like this?” Rishi replied, “Like what?”

  Deepa explained, “In this compartment, can’t we open the window? It feels like a cage. I prefer traveling in a train where we can open the window, talk with our co-passengers, and enjoy the breeze from outside. There’s music and fresh air; it creates such a pleasant vibe.” Rishi responded, “Yeah, I also like traveling in sleeper class.”

  Deepa asked, “How much time is left until the next station?” Rishi replied, “At least an hour.” Deepa groaned, “An hour? I’ll be bored.”

  Rishi suggested, “Hmm, how about I recommend some movies and web series?” Deepa shook her head, “No, I prefer watching those at night.” After thinking for a moment, Rishi said, “Well, how about we just talk until the next station?”

  Deepa asked, “What should we talk about?” Rishi replied, “Anything you want. We can use this time to get to know each other better.” Deepa considered it for a second and then agreed, “Okay, fine.”

  Deepa then asked, “Okay, first tell me: why did you choose to remain single?” Rishi replied, “Because I like to live alone.” Deepa was puzzled and asked, “You like to live alone? So you’ve decided not to marry?” Rishi replied, confused, “Yes, is that a problem?”

  Deepa responded, “No, I just thought there would be something more interesting, like a breakup.” Rishi laughed and said, “Well, I’m quite an introverted guy. For me, love is like a chapter that’s not written in my book.”

  Deepa was shocked and asked, “Seriously, you haven’t loved anyone in your life until now?” Rishi hesitated at first but then said, “No, but when I was studying for the 12th grade, I had a crush.” Deepa, still confused, asked, “You first told me that you didn’t have a love story, but now you’re saying you had a crush. Can you explain it clearly? It’s confusing.”

  Rishi replied, “Well, love happens when two people have feelings for each other. In my case, I had feelings for that person, so it was a crush.” Deepa responded, “That’s also known as one-sided love.” Rishi agreed, “Yes, but I prefer to call it a crush.” Deepa said, “Alright, but tell me about that crush.”

  Rishi began to share his crush story: “I was studying for my 12th grade, and I was struggling with chemistry. My marks were consistently low, so my mom enrolled me in a special chemistry tuition class. There were about 15 students in the class, and our chemistry teacher was really fun, making the lessons enjoyable.

  A few days after I started, a new student joined. Her name was Leena, and she was my first crush. She was very outgoing, and everyone quickly became friends with her. I fell in love with her at first sight. I didn’t really understand what drew me to her, but she was truly special.” Deepa interrupted and asked, “So, it was love at first sight. Did you ever tell her how you felt?”

  Rishi continued, “No, I never had the courage to tell her how I felt. I had opportunities, but I didn’t establish a close connection with her. She was always friendly, but I was afraid it might ruin our friendship if I confessed. With the exams approaching, I focused on studying instead.”

  Deepa asked, “But after the board exams, you could have told her your feelings.” Rishi replied, “After 12th grade, she moved to different city because of her dad’s job, and I never saw her again.” Deepa inquired, “So, do you still have feelings for her?”

  Rishi answered, “No.” As they spoke, the train began to approach the next station. Deepa asked, “Are we arriving at the next station?” Rishi confirmed, “Yes.” Deepa then said, “Okay, I’m getting off the train. Are you coming?” Rishi replied, “Sure.”

  Rishi and Deepa got off the train and, after 5 minutes, the train departed from the station. They returned to their coupe, where Deepa asked Rishi, “So, is there no connection between your choice to live alone and your love story?”

  Rishi replied, “No.” Deepa then said, “Can you explain to me why you prefer to live alone? I’ve heard people say they like it, but I still don’t understand why.”

  Rishi replied, “I don’t know about others, but for me, it was a dream to live on my own, even if just for a week.” Deepa interrupted, “Wait! Is it a dream for you?” Rishi said, “Yes.” Deepa encouraged him to continue.

  Rishi explained, “After I graduated, I got a job at ACL, with my posting in Mumbai. I saw it as a great opportunity to live the way I had always dreamed of.” Deepa asked, “Did your mom allow you to go?”

  Rishi replied, “No, my mom was initially worried. She loved living in our native land and was concerned about how I’d manage on my own in a new city where I didn’t know anyone. But I convinced her I could handle it. The first week was tough—I didn’t know how to cook, I didn’t speak Hindi, and so on. But I eventually adapted, and that life I had made me enjoy living alone.” Deepa, after hearing this, said, “It sounds a bit weird but also interesting.”

  After some time, Rishi asked Deepa, “Can you share your love story with me?” Deepa replied, “Why are you reminding me of that painful event?” Rishi responded, “I know you’re still upset about your breakup, but sharing your pain might give you some relief. I’m not forcing you.” Deepa thought for a while and then said, “Okay, I’ll tell you my love story.”

  She began to narrate, “It was my first year of college when I met him. He was introduced to me by my friend Keerthy. In the first semester, we were just friends, but during the second semester, I started developing a crush on him. Those were my most memorable days; I would go to college early just to see him. I never imagined he would propose to me. I still remember the date, August 20, 2015. My friend Keerthy called me outside the college. I didn’t know why she was calling me. When I went outside, I saw my friends Keerthy and Arul there. I was confused about what was happening. Suddenly, he came with a rose and a greeting card and proposed to me.”

  Deepa continued, “I was shocked, and my happiness was through the roof. I accepted his love proposal. The years we spent together were so adorable. We used to fight, but our arguments never lasted more than a day. Those days were so memorable for me.” She suddenly got emotional. “But everything was shattered within a day.”

  Rishi said, “Forget it; a person who can’t stand up for his love isn’t worthy of it.” Deepa replied, “Even my brother told me that, but it’s hard for me to accept that he broke up with me because he was a coward.”

  Rishi was about to say something, but he thought it would be better to leave her alone instead of hurting her further. Deepa sat near the window, resting her head against the glass, lost in thoughts of her love life and crying. When lunchtime came, Deepa was still immersed in her memories. Rishi noticed that it was 2:25 p.m. and called out to Deepa. She responded emotionally, “Hmm,” and Rishi said, “It’s 2:25 p.m. now; can we have lunch?”

  Deepa replied, “You go ahead; I’m not hungry right now.” Rishi asked, “Are you sure?” Deepa replied, “Yes.” Rishi then said, “Deepa, I know you’re sad right now, but dwelling on something that happened a year ago is only hurting you more. It’s already late; please have your lunch.”

  Deepa didn’t care about Rishi’s words and continued crying. Rishi then said, “See, Deepa, at least for...” Suddenly, Deepa interrupted him, “What the heck is with you? Didn’t you hear what I said?” Rishi replied, “I know, but I’m saying this for you only.”

  Deepa snapped back, “Then why are you forcing me? If you want to do something, just leave me alone.” Realizing it was better to leave her alone, Rishi left the coupe. Deepa cried for a while longer. In the midst of her tears, she realized what she had done and left the coupe to search for Rishi.

  When she came outside, Deepa saw someone standing on the right-hand side of their compartment. As she approached and opened the door, she noticed Rishi standing near the compartment door, listening to music. She called out to him once, but he didn’t respond. When she called again, Rishi heard her. He slowly turned to his right and saw Deepa standing beside him.

  “Why did you come here, Deepa? Did something happen?” Rishi asked. Deepa replied, “Nothing, I just came here searching for you.” Rishi said, “Oh, sorry, I was listening to music. That’s why I couldn’t hear you.”

  Deepa responded, “No problem,” then hesitated before saying, “I’m also sorry.” Rishi asked, “For what?” “Because I shouted at you. I was emotional at that time, and you were just trying to convince me to have lunch. But I got mad at you,” she said.

  Rishi replied, “No problem, I understand.” Deepa asked, “Didn’t you get angry at me?” He replied, “Nope, I know that pain. When my dad died, I was so depressed. I used to skip meals. At home, my mom convinced me to eat, but at college, my friend Arvind would try to convince me. I even shouted at him, but he never cared. He kept trying to convince me until I ate.”

  Deepa replied, “Hmm, so shall we have our lunch now?” Rishi said, “Yeah, I’m hungry too.”

  Later that evening, around 6 p.m., Rishi woke up from his sleep. He saw that the next station was approaching, so he got out of the train. Three minutes later, Deepa woke up and noticed Rishi wasn’t around. When she looked out of the train window, she saw Rishi buying something at the station. Suddenly, the train horn blew, and Deepa noticed that Rishi was still at the station. As the train started moving, Rishi also realized it and began running towards the train with his goods.

  Deepa, frightened, started shouting inside the compartment. She saw that Rishi missed their compartment door and quickly ran to the left-hand compartment. By the time she reached the door, the train had already passed the station. Deepa was terrified and didn’t know what to do.

  Suddenly, she heard someone calling her from behind. When she turned around, she saw Rishi standing there. She felt a wave of relief wash over her and started shouting at him, “Are you so dumb that you didn’t even hear the train horn?” Rishi replied, “I’m sorry, but the shop was crowded. That’s why I didn’t hear it.”

  Deepa retorted, “You could have missed the train! Do you know what would have happened?” Rishi replied sarcastically, “What would happen? You’d go to Mumbai alone, and I’d come by the next train.” Deepa replied, “Very funny.”

  They both got back into their compartment and started having tea. While they were drinking, Deepa asked, “Rishi, I forgot. Can you share your number?” They exchanged numbers. After finishing their tea, Rishi started watching a web series. Deepa watched him and asked, “Are you a movie freak?” Rishi replied, “Yeah, I am.”

  Deepa then asked, “Can you suggest a movie for me to watch?” Rishi replied, “Do you have any OTT subscriptions?” Deepa answered, “Yes, I have Hotstar.” Rishi said, “In that case, I recommend Soul.”

  Deepa asked, “Soul?” Rishi confirmed, “Yes, Soul. It’s an animated movie from Pixar. Are you okay with watching an animated film?” Deepa responded, “I’m fine with it. Thanks for the suggestion.” Rishi said, “No problem.”

  Deepa started watching Soul. By 8:48 p.m., Rishi noticed that Deepa was still engrossed in the film. He called out to her, but she didn’t respond. He tried again, and Deepa answered, “Yes?” Rishi asked, “I’m going to have dinner. Do you want to join me?” Deepa replied, “Yes, just give me two minutes.”

  After 2 minutes, they began having their dinner. As they ate, Rishi asked Deepa, “How was the movie?” Deepa replied, “It was nice, and the message was great. It’s about fighting for your dreams but not becoming so obsessed that you lose sight of everything else around you.” Rishi responded, “Hmm.” After finishing their dinner, they both went to sleep.

  With that, Day 1 on the train came to an end. Stay tuned to see what happens next in the upcoming chapter.