Arranged Marriages are like exploring an unknown place with no idea of what is the peculiarity of that place! All you get to know is how the partner looks plus his Curriculum Vitae (resume), as if I am an employer and he is applying for a job vacancy. Sometimes, as a working woman in a typical Indian society, arranged marriage becomes an only source of escape from a midlife crisis that I am bound to face in some years. However, after this huge and awkward festival called marriage, this cultural bonanza in the name of ‘Honeymoon’ comes into picture. Yes, you heard it right. I am going to tell you about my honeymoon!
Introducing myself, I am Shyambhavi Mishra, a typical Uttar Pradeshi who is recently married to Praful Mishra. Yes, he has his origin from my village and it is probably one of the reasons why we tied knots. We live in Vashi, Navi Mumbai now and we both work. Praful works in an MNC and I work for a Financial corporation. So how this information adds up to our little adventure? Well it doesn’t. But our marriage definitely contributed towards its happening.
We took our ‘saath fere’ (a ritual wherein we take seven rounds of the fire, to indicate that we would never leave each other’s company) in Mumbai. Simultaneously, after a week-long celebration the obligatory honeymoon trip was arranged. Our parents planned the entire trip and it included Shimla and Manali, without even consulting our opinion. Although they assured that we will be accompanied by Rama Chacha, my uncle residing in Dehradun, I was quite anxious. So was Praful. Right from my childhood, due to the conservative nature of my family, it was very rare for me to have such a long trip, especially without my parents. I was obviously excited, but somewhere in the corner of my mind, a negative image regarding this trip was slowly developing itself.
As we prepared for trip, Praful started expressing his concern to me. He said that this is not the first time he had this kind of trip and had witnessed something disturbing during that trip. I could figure out that he was mentally not ready for this. However, he did not mention why he felt so. I did not pester him much as I felt awkward doing so. Eventually, he decided to accompany me as it was a special occasion for both of us and also we will get to know much more about each other. But fate dictated a story that I never really thought in my dreams I would ever have!
Praful made a list of places to visit as directed by Rama Chacha and checked our train tickets. We had to catch Dehradun Express from Bandra Terminus which would leave on coming Wednesday at 12 o’clock in the afternoon. A day before our train journey, I met my mom and dad, packed our baggage and next day, my mother-in-law and father-in-law accompanied us to bid adieu. We had our seats in AC Two Tier and slowly, I found myself waving back towards my in-laws, the usual Mumbai crowd and the life I had till that day.
When I had to travel to Allahabad, my native place, I was accustomed to the sleeper class carriage which would be untidy and the loud chaotic vendors constantly moving to and fro the little passage. Now, the deafening silence that I was witnessing in this cool lifeless carriage was quite annoying to me. However, Praful was not a silent person and I am happy that he is not! He always had a topic to talk. If not, he would tell his little tit-bit stories that constantly kept me engaged. The one-day journey that I thought would become a nightmare, was compensated by his blissful company.
We reached our station named ‘Savai Rohilla’, a place somewhere near Chandigarh. It was quite cold and dark place to be then. We landed here at around 10:30 in the night. Even the station was deserted, except for a long line of Taxi Cabs and Tum Tums that stood silently. Many drivers were busy gossiping and some were simply sleeping, as if they never care for any passenger to approach. Praful dialed a number on his phone. After completing a conversation in which he told the person on call our location, he mentioned me that we had to stay here in a hotel room and tomorrow morning a car will be waiting to take us to Shimla.