After asking Rakesh to take a seat, the girl's mother said, "Rani is coming; please wait a moment." Then, she left the room.
The meeting had been arranged in a room on the second floor so that Rakesh and the bridetobe could talk in private. This was Rani's own room. It was impeccably organized and tidy, bathed in abundant natural light and a refreshing breeze. Although the room was equipped with an air conditioner, the natural ventilation was so good that there was no need to turn it on.
After two or three minutes, Rani entered the room. As soon as she walked in, Rakesh instinctively stood up from his chair.
Rani said, "Why did you stand up? Please, have a seat."
They both sat in silence for nearly a minute. Then, at the exact same moment, they both started to say something together. And then...
The Conversation: Expectations vs. Reality
Rakesh: "May I ask you something?"
Rani: "Yes, go ahead."
Rakesh: "You've completed your graduation, but you don't work. I actually prefer a partner who wants to be a housewife. Tell me, do you believe in God?"
Rani: "Yes, I believe... more or less."
Rakesh: "I only have one request: if you just stand by your family, I will be happy. From my side, I will give you everything I possibly can—I will pour my heart out for you. I don't have anything else to ask. Now, if there is anything you want to know, please tell me."
Rani began to speak, her tone polite but chillingly direct: "First of all, what I want to say is that you have already assumed this marriage is definitely happening. You don't earn a good living. From what I've heard, your income isn't even enough to support two people properly. On top of that, have you looked at your age? I am only 22 years old. Do we even match? Am I unattractive?
Besides, I love someone else. I only agreed to sit through this meeting because my family insisted. Your house doesn't even have a concrete roof. You tell me—after growing up in a house like this since childhood, could anyone actually go and live in yours? The person I am in a relationship with is a manager at a government bank. I believe I've made myself clear. Do you have any other questions?"
The Weight of a Broken Heart
Rakesh let out a long, heavy sigh. His chest felt as though it was bursting with tears. To stop the tears that were desperately trying to force their way out, he gripped his own knee with all his might. Then, he lowered his head.
"I'm calling Mother," Rani said. "Whatever we needed to discuss has been said."
Rakesh nodded in silent agreement.
Rani called for her mother, who came rushing in. "What happened, dear?" her mother asked.
"Oh, nothing happened," Rani replied dismissively as she walked out of the room.
Rani's mother turned to her potential son-in-law. "Did Rani say something hurtful to you?"
"No, no," Rakesh replied. "Everything is fine."
"Alright then," Rani's mother said. "Come with me. We've arranged for you all to have some food."
Rakesh felt his hands and feet go numb. It was as if all his enthusiasm and joy had been wrung out of him in a single instant. Following Rani's mother, he saw that the meal had been set up in
a massive hall. There was a huge table surrounded by chairs—large enough to seat twenty people at once.
Rani's mother led Rakesh past the dining hall to another room where his family members were laughing and chatting with Rani's family. Asking Rakesh to sit there, Rani's mother addressed his family, "You must stay for lunch today."
Rakesh's family members hesitated. "It will be late by the time we get home. Besides, food has already been cooked at our house."
But Rani's mother and father insisted, "We won't hear any of it! You must eat here, or we will be very offended."
Five or ten minutes later, Rakesh's family was called into the large dining hall where the feast was prepared. Everyone was summoned, but Rakesh didn't want to go. Eventually, he relented, but only on the condition that he would sit with them—he refused to eat.