#ArrangedShaadi: Is THIS The Key To A ‘Happy Married Life’?

A few months ago, S and I met through our families and decided to get married to each other. From the first awkward phone call, to the first date to the first time we kept talking all night long - this is the eighth in the series all about our arranged marriage… Read #ArrangedShaadi: Love Or Arranged…    

It feels unreal. My home’s dressed up in beautiful colours, my things are packed in huge cartons, my friends and relatives are all over the place dancing and singing and I am going to be married in 3 days. ALL of it feels unreal. 

I can’t imagine waking up in a new room, in a new home three days from today and realizing that that’s how my mornings are going to look like, for life now. To be honest, right now I’d give anything to skip past the first few awkward months of my married life and come to that stage when I am as comfortable living with my in-laws, as they are with me. But from what my sisters tell me, it’s a long walk till there. 

‘It takes time. Only when you get married and start living with your in-laws you understand what each person in the family is like, just like they understand your way of doing things too. You would have arguments with your in-laws and at times, it might make you want to run away to your mum, but it’s only a matter of time. For slowly, without even knowing when, you’ll start blending in. You just gotta hang in there, till then’. My sister said to me, while every other married woman in the room nodded along with her. I was surprised to hear them share their stories about their married lives - how they cried at little things and how they felt alone and doubtful in the beginning, but how it all worked out later. 



It sounded like a crazy, scary journey and yet the women sitting in front of me looked nothing short of happy and content. 

Here’s the thing about leaving your previous life, your family and stepping into a new one: it’s not easy for anybody, but in the end, everybody comes out just alright. You see, the universe has to shift and make space for change, and while its wheels slowly turn, things start falling into place. Slowly, but surely. Meanwhile, you’ve got to believe that every single day, every little effort is going to add up and make a difference, even if everything feels static, right now. You’ve got to be patient for the alignment to complete. Patience is the key to all your problems. 

So, even though I know I might feel lost, nervous and maybe even a tad bit out of place with my in-laws, I will keep trying to be a part. Like I said, I just have to be patient with the workings of the universe, and it will all make sense. Plus, chaos makes for great stories and is an even better teacher. 

Meanwhile, my life is changing and I am practising patience with it. After all, the coming chapters are going to make the most exciting pages of my life!