TRAVELS AND TRIBULATIONS
During my trips, I made many acquaintances with various people from different corners of the world. It was hard to keep count. Every trip had its own course, and I befriended a number of individuals as they were destined to come across in my life. Because of my warm, generous, and friendly nature, I was loved and cherished by all.
All my emotional perils were a thing of the past as I soared to the peak of happiness.
But as they say, nothing lasts forever. As soon as the season changed, my disease reappeared, but I still maintained my stability and joyful demeanor.
As the old saying goes, nothing ever stays the same. Deep down, even amidst the excitement and the indulgence, there was a quiet understanding that this chapter, too, was destined to close. That the trajectory I was on was unsustainable. Fate had its own course and this was just the beginning…
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MARRIAGE AND RELOCATION
As I approached marriageable age, prospects started flooding in, but as soon as my disease was revealed, I was rejected. Just as we were about to give up, as I was planning my major trip to the USA, to head the branch of the Travel Agency I worked for, my engagement was fixed with a family from out of state.
At that juncture, the prospect of marriage or leaving Mumbai simply hadn't registered within the realm of my thoughts. I was so deeply entrenched in my career aspirations, I did not realize the massive shift that was about to occur.
Then came the whirlwind of the wedding. It felt surreal, almost as if I were observing the events unfold from a distance. The reality of relocating to a completely different city, didn't truly penetrate my consciousness.
I moved through the wedding rituals in a daze, utterly clueless about the profound changes that lay ahead. In those days, the tradition of arranged marriages was rarely questioned; honoring one's parents' wishes was the unspoken norm.
I recall making a feeble attempt to express my concerns about sacrificing a significant career opportunity, but my pleas were met with silence.
And yet, with the clarity of hindsight, I can see the wisdom in my parents' decision. Had I not married then, I wouldn't be here today, reflecting on this pivotal moment. In a twist of fate, what felt like a loss, at that time turned out to be the most fortunate turning point of my life. I genuinely believe I couldn't have found a more perfect stable and handsome man to hold my hand and stride through unchartered rough terrain of life.
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ADJUSTING TO NEW LIFE, NEW HOME -NEW CHALLENGE
The initial years of my marriage were spent in an quaint town in the outskirts of the city. I had to adjust to a completely new lifestyle, a far cry from the independent existence and the zealous career I enjoyed in Mumbai.
The vibrant city, where I had carved out a niche for myself, was replaced by a quieter, more domesticated life. This transition was jarring, like stepping off a speeding train into a silent room.
I missed the energy of my work, the camaraderie of my colleagues, and the sense of purpose that had driven me.
I poured my energy into creating a harmonious home, striving to accommodate my husband, my in-laws, and the constant flow of guests. It demanded a significant shift, a conscious stepping down from the unconventional and dynamic lifestyle I had known. It wasn't easy, this recalibration, but I was determined to make it work.
Our early years of marriage were mentally taxing. My husband, with the struggling task of building his business, was often preoccupied, leaving me feeling a little adrift.
The social landscape of this new city was vastly different from the one I had left behind.
Yet, I recognized this as simply another facet of life, a new environment that I had to culminate in. Somewhere along the way, I had learned the quiet strength of resilience. Complaining felt futile; instead, I focused on finding solutions, on meeting each difficult situation with a positive drive. I was learning to build a new foundation, brick by brick, in this unfamiliar environment.
And yes I did have my moments when I would completely break down and surrender as stated earlier, but my mother refused to let me give up. She helped me adjust and survive in the practicalities of married life by offering me advice and drilling mentally that giving up was not an option.
(And of course I would like to acknowledge and express my gratitude to all my sisters in law for putting up with me.)
The woman I knew myself to be, the one with dreams and ambitions rooted in Mumbai, felt lost, submerged beneath the weight of tradition and expectation. I had no inkling of the person I was about to become in this new, unfamiliar landscape. I was undeniably unprepared, both mentally and emotionally, for the life that was about to unfold.
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