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What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie Mcferrin posts a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. This week’s word: ENGULF.
The bright colors, the excited voices, the notes rising from nadaswaram, the dhum dhum of the thavil were all driving him crazy, but most of all the scent of jasmines that was everywhere, engulfing him in its cloying sweetness, making him want to gag
What was he thinking, acquiescing to his parents’ demand, that he marry the girl of their choice, when he knew marriage was not for him, not now, not ever?!
He knew it was the thought of the disappointment he would see in their eyes that stopped him from speaking up all these days, and now it was late, way too late.
Just then he heard a commotion and turned around to see a girl who appeared vaguely familiar (Good God, she was the one in the photo they sent him, the one he had seen for about five minutes last month!) walking quickly towards him, followed by an anxious-looking coterie trying their best to stop her.
“I am really sorry, we have to call this off” she said stopping in front of him, “I just can’t do this as I am not ready for marriage yet.”
©Shail Mohan 2015
Shail's Nest 
I have just returned from traveling in India so I can very much relate to this. In my many conversations about arranged marriage, I found those I spoke with were concerned that both the potential bride and potential groom agree before they formalized the agreement. Your writing is wonderful way of expressing this concept.
Thank you. Too many trapped into arranged marriages by emotionally blackmailing parents who themselves are ignorant (and against) any other form.
I hope you enjoyed your travel. 🙂
Wow. I want to read more. That really did pack a punch.
Thank you and welcome to Shail’s Nest 🙂
Thank you.
Wow,
I feel you posted right in time. Because I’m in a similar position right now. (I was thinking of sending a pm to you about this via Twitter, but you actually made a post about it now lol, how ironic). Recently, my parents are insisting about getting a boy for me now. Luckily in a sense, they want to postpone the initial engagement and marriage until I finish my studies, but just find the guy now. So it’s not fully arranged, thank god. However, they want a boy according to their standards which appears to be a conservative traditional boy, who is educated (traditional part is fine, not so much the conservative, as I have a more modern mindset and more open..cannot deal with too much narrow mindedness). I confessed to them that I don’t feel confident about this nor am mentally ready for this process (I would rather find someone on my own, and completely ok for being single) and they didn’t take it well.
ending up in a small firefight. They do have valid reasons why getting married around now and I do see their point, however like as usual, they cannot see beyond. Some reasons they stated that I feel may have some truth in it:
Age: They feel the younger you marry the better as you’ll be done raising kids early and can relax. Plus they think that once you are older, no one will want you. While this may be true, (except for not getting anyone to being “old”), I don’t think everyone cares about rushing to be done raising kids by 50. Having kids should be a personal enjoyment, not some kind of duty. Plus as you previously posted, age is only a number and no matter what age you are, it’s best to marry when you’re ready and not rush because of age. I mean my cousin married at 34 (which is way too old for Indian standards) and is living one of the happiest lives ever. They know that too.
It’s part of their responsibility. My mom feel she has to be obliged to what Indian society says, aka get your kids married off and make sure they have kids before a certain age. Truth be told, it’s not their responsibility. Should be ours as we are the ones living with our spouse, not them.
You need someone to take care of you: Shouldn’t we able to take care of ourselves and not always depend on our spouses? We should care for each other and share responsibilities, but not at the expense where we need to be spoonfed everything.
So those are some things. For me, what they want won’t be ideal for me I feel. I talked with this with my cousins and they feel the same after what we experienced. I’m more of a modern mindset, a bit more open and love interacting with people from different races and backgrounds. I have dreams and ideals I still hope to achieve. However I fear if I don’t object and keep quiet, it’ll all be robbed from me and I’m stuck being a traditional “naadan” girl who just cooks, cleans, and rear kids (This can be part of it, but NOT all of it !!).
What really killed me is my mom thinks I need to live the way her generation lived. She insisted that even if my husband and in laws treat me badly and walk all over me, that I cannot speak up or even leave the relationship. I even have to live and think like the “older” generations. Is that possible even? Why can’t I just be me rather than changing myself to please others for their satisfaction?
Also to add, if I were to get married, I am hoping for someone, preferably a malayalee family with a open mindset and are broad minded. Same with the in-laws too. Would love a mom in law like you !! 😀 I did suggest to them maybe get a family outside Kerala as they would have more exposure to other cultures and hopefully have many friends from different cultures and backgrounds (I don’t how many malayalees would go beyond to make close friendships with a non malayalee. My best friend is a North Indian. There are some who do, but there are many who ignore and disregard them. Seen it first hand), but they seem against it as think people grown up outside Kerala are not “suitable”. They think malayalee kids in America are into drugs and those outside Kerala like in Bangalore, Mumbai all divorce (rubbish I know).
I feel the first thing any generation should accept is that the one that comes next will not, never ever, live the same life as them. I think finishing your studies is a good idea and also finding a job before you think of marrying. i really hope you are able to convince your parents to your view point (if that is important to you) 🙂
I agree that newer generations cannot live like the olden times, unless they choose to. I realized a long time ago that if I have kids, I cannot place my wishes and expectations on them and must let them discover themselves and be who they are if they want to thrive in this world. Obviously I will make sure they turn out to be good human beings. I’ll def guide them and make sure they learn for themselves.
My parents, or at least my mom is still stuck in 19th century in most parts. She believes everyone has to be the same and grow up the same way, and rants about how my cousins in India and my family here have different outlooks in life. What’s wrong with differences and having different outlooks? You see things at different angles and perspectives. I get along with my cousins well in India and I think the main reason that is because we have tremendous respect for each other despite our beliefs and values. We don’t judge and tell each other how to live each others’ lives. They too, don’t agree with many things they are taught by elders and go their own way, however w/o their parents knowing. (In the west, we all know because these social issues are always out in the open). I knew that one of my cousins who is marrying his longtime girlfriend in May was dating his soon to be bride YEARS BEFORE my parents even knew about it (He threatened my brother and I to keep it to ourselves and not tell anyone). His parents wanted the traditional route and were against “dating” and the “girlfriend/boyfriend” thing lol and I can imagine what happened when they found out. However it’s obvious the parents accepted it as the they are going to marry..so hopefully this will help them see things differently.
I really don’t know how to tackle this though and it’s hard to have a healthy conversation without instigating a fight.
Also what do you think of the three points I mentioned? What do you agree/disagree with? Just curious.
Good one there Shail, although I must say that it is not the mridangam which is played in weddings but the Thavil, entirely different instrument altogether 🙂
Thank you. I just could not get that name and I settled for mrudangam. Will update now. And thanks again! 🙂
Ah, thank God for perfect timing! 😀
Indeed 😀
Take a bow, Shail!
APPLAUSE
Oh gee, thank you! 🙂
Good! Hope many people have the guts to be open like the girl!
Yes, let’s hope so 🙂
Saved at the eleventh hour
By sheer gutsy, girl power
Open ends in tale galore
Even in the Comments Store
Your stories, Shail, are sure sweet and sour!
I love that, the girl power! 🙂 Thank you, Gulshan 🙂
🙂
Great use of the prompt, Shail. I am following…and writing again. Hope to read more!
Here is my story: http://mcguffysreader.blogspot.com/2015/03/engulfed.html
Good to see you after a long gap, Ann. Thank you for your comment. 🙂
nice one….I have been there and I am always glad I spoke out on time
I am glad you’ve spoken up. Best thing to do 🙂
The vibes from this engulf me. I wish something like this had happened to a dear one when it was time for the wedding, even that morning. Sigh. Transported me to a rather tough time when relationships were terribly strained because of it.
Ohh, that’s bad. I hope it is all back to normal now!
Not really, it ended badly; but could have been a lot worse, so we’re allthankful that it was only so bad. 😦 Still, that is life 🙂
‘Still, that is life’ 🙂