Saturday, October 30, 2010

FATHER'S DIKTAT

Rinki is a dear niece of mine. Her father, Dilip is my first cousin. She has a brother younger by 3 years. I have seen her growing right from her birth. We live in the same city but in different localities, a little distance from each other. We visit each other at least once a month if not more. She is very charming girl and had been good in studies as well as other extracurricular activities. She represented school as well as college in basket ball and was in university badminton team.

After she completed her graduation she showed keenness to take up a job while pursuing MBA in HR. Dilip was keen to marry her off but I sided with her saying that 20 is too early for marriage. He reluctantly agreed. She came out with flying colours in MBA. This lead to her being offered a job in a big MNC. Another year passed before Dilip brought up marriage. He started looking out for a suitable match. I suggested that he ask Rinki if she has anyone in mind. He stated that it was just not possible. But on my insisting, he did ask her in my presence. She replied in negative but I could make out that it was more out of her fear of father than truth. So I cajoled her saying that she had been working for over 3 years and surely she must have met a lot of people, adding that it is just normal for young boys or girls to like each other. She reluctantly told that she did have affinity towards a youngman in her organization who was in another department and senior to her. She confirmed that he too liked her and had introduced her to his parents. Dilip was taken aback and blew his top as the said boy was from different caste. Rinki went off to her room in tears. For over an hour I tried to make him see reason with logic but though he did not counter me but did not relent also. I learnt that Rinki had withdrawn into her shell.

About 10 days later he called us for lunch next day which was Sunday adding that a family was coming to see Rinki alongwith their son. On reaching there we found tension in the air. Dilip was usual self while his wife, Rinki and her brother were in sullen mood. On getting an opportunity Rinki told me that she would ensure that she is not liked by that family. On my asking she said she would look at them with cock eyed way and behave dumb generally. I advised her not to do so but we can sort it out later and she can say no.
That family arrived around 6 in the evening. Apart from the boy and his parents, his younger sister was also there. After normal hello hello we settled down in the drawing room and Dilip asked his wife to call Rinki who was in her room. I was waiting with bated breath. As she entered with sullen look her jaw dropped open on seeing the boy and his parents. That is when Dilip along with boy and his parents broke into loud laughter. His sister too joined in on seeing Rinki. He was the same boy whom Rinki liked.

Later Dilip told me that after I had left that day, he thought about the whole thing keeping my logic in mind. He said that he realized that happiness of his daughter was far more important than casteism. And he also was sure that Rinki’s choice would not be bad. So he arranged to meet the boy after a couple of days. He found him to be much beyond his expectations. Thereafter he met his parents and fixed up this meeting. He had asked his parents to keep it to themselves and not to tell anyone, specially Rinki. He had made the boy a conspirator in the first meeting itself. Best part is that he kept me also in total dark till then.

She has been married for more than 2 years now and is expecting their first child sometime in end March or early April next year.


PS : I had a serious post in mind but keeping the festival season in view I decided to share something which would bring smile to you all.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, your blog is amazing, and specially this post..i really want everyone to read it and this should come infront at a big level, cus ppl in our society treat their children as properties and think they will spend the rest of their lives acc to their parents on which they have a full right...

Jahnabi Roy said...

lucky rinki :) good for her...

Sakshi said...

This is so sweet. Totally sweet :)

Raj said...

:)

if only everyone could be so sensible

Jack said...

APURVA :

Welcome to my space. Please do go through Titles of my old posts by visiting archive. Do read the ones you feel interesting and please give your views. I visited you yesterday and read all posts. I will visit again today and leave my comments. Hope to see you often. Take care


E B :

I am so glad to see you here. I have been visiting you and leaving my comments. I will just check if you have changed your link. Take care


SAKSHI :

It was a very pleasant surprise for me too. Take care


RAJ :

Welcome to my space. Hope you do read my older posts too and give your views. I too hope that parents should be sensible not to force children for anything against their wishes. Take care

Rooj Siddiqui said...

Only if people could be so sane and sensible. Lucky Rinki :)

Komal Ali said...

AWWWW! :) This just..makes me want to believe.
I wish there were more people like you who would make small but substantial differences in people's lives.
God bless you, uncle jack.

Cherry Blossom said...

A loving story with a positive message that people can be sensible enough to value the choices made by the children. Above all, your post carries a message that casteism is least important as long as human beings are respected for their deeds, and not their caste or creed.I'll be waiting for the serious post that you have in mind.

Ann said...

Well this is a happy beginning.. I really love such things and very few fortunate people are able to complete their love stories.. And Rinki is one of them, that she got an understanding uncle and a considerate father. Wish her luck ..

And yeah, thanks for sharing ;)

Americanising Desi said...

lucky her :) and i bet she made all proud!

Jack said...

NOSTALGIC :

How I wish that too! Take care


KOMAL :

Thanks for your wishes. Hope I can meet your expectations. Take care


C B :

We should give due to children and be open with them. Caste and all is something we need to let go. I will try to post next one soon. Take care


ANN :

It is my earnest wish that there should be more girls like Rinki who can have happiness. Take care


A D :

Yes, both families are so proud of her. Take care

Preeti said...

awww... I love happy endings :) So rinki and her family lived happily ever after :):) hus to the little bundle of joy in advance :)

EM said...

Reading this brought me a lot of joy.

Jack said...

PREETI :

How I wish everyone is lucky like her! Take care


E M :

I am so glad you shared their happiness. Take care

Tranquility Speaks said...

It was wonderful reading this post and it felt great to know that people from the parents generation are flexible and look beyond caste :)

Jack said...

TRANQUILITY :

I am so glad to see you here. How I wish that we all can get over such biases and support children for their happiness! Of course, if it is not illegal or harmful to them.

Take care

vinny said...

:)

our country needs more dad's like Dilip Sir...

Jack said...

VINNIE :

Very true. We need to have open mind.

Take care

Tanvi said...

It absolutely brought a smile to my face. Specially after the previous sad one!