A Matrimonial Story:
My Mother's Woes
Since recently I've started taking minor interests in the saas-bahu, maa-beti soaps doing the rounds of prime-time. Though I still don't give much more regard to them than a pile of cat-poop, it seems they just might hold some ground in reality. For, I'm witnessing a similar high-emotion packed maa-beti drama unfold under the roof of my very own home. The "beti" here is my sister, a fun and freedom loving freak who's just comlpleted four years of engineering staying away from home. Away from the scrutiny of her parents, she has but obviously made the most of all that time, enjoying herself to the hilt. Now back home, she is grudgingly coming to terms with the restrictions which automatically apply themselves when you live with your parents. However, these are the least of her woes. How can an Indian drama concerning the fiarer sex be complete without prospects of marriage??? And that is just what our story revolves around. My mother, like all Indian mothers, has decided that it is time to take up the cause of finding a suitable groom for her daughter. And thus begins a battle of will and wit, between the maa and beti. The two women, who have until now been totally understanding and supportive towards each other in all highs and lows of life, find it difficult to see eye to eye without sparking off the dreaded topic of marriage. The tension has been building up for the past couple of days, and the interaction between the two protagonists has been reduced to either cold silence or emotional outbursts. I'm yet to see tears flowing from either end but I doubt if that situation is far away.
Well, to be fair towards my mother, she has not actually started looking for the groom. But she has certainly attempted to take the first step, i.e. getting a matrimonial photo clicked. Just two days back, we all went to a Kodak studio, under the pretext of getting a family photograph clicked (which was a fair enough reason, as we don't have a single proper family photo). First, my mom smilingly suggested that my sister dress up in a sari. My sis probably didn't see through the ruse, but she scoffingly refused, out of distaste. My mother, not to be let down, then suggested she put on some make-up. Things probably started dawning on my sister now, and she refused this too, a bit more silently though. At the studio, the family photos were taken, but after that my mother started insisting that a single photo be taken of my sister. Turning to the photographer she said she wanted a matrimonial photo. Needless to say, my poor sister was thunderstruck. Stoutly refusing to get anything clicked she walked out of the studio. Sensing that a row may be inevitable if she persisted, my mother let things go there, but not before throwing a knives and daggers look (the ones which they show from three different angles in TV soaps) towards my sister. The cold war had begun.
And so, the war persists. My mother has been trying to employ the deadly weapon of emotional blackmail, while my sister simply sticks to her defense of stout refusal. Both sides are trying to gain ground by different means. My mom is tapping into the network of my mamis and chachis, who have been through this battle and emerged victorious. However, unknown to my mother, my sister has been gathering intelligence from the daughters of these very people, as they warn her of the different ploys used by mothers to hurry their daughters towards their nuptials.
What happens next? Will the Indian mother once again conquer the new age freedom loving spirit of the next generation? Or will the beti introduce some new twist in the tale (a love interest maybe ;-), in true tradition of Indian prime time television)? Stay tuned for the next episode!!!
