Is Marriage the end or beginning ?

I have a friend who is very intelligent and wanted to opt for her CA exams after her graduation. But one fine day while we were giving our mid- term exams of First Year B.Com, she failed to turn up for the exams. Worried, we went to her home only to see her decked up her engagement. We were shocked but she seems to be happy and carefree. Infact glowing and blushing at the sight of her to be prince charming. She forgot all the career goals and higher studies aspiration. She was married before off before the final exams and she seems so comfortable to discontinue her studies.  I am disturbed till date and the shock is shared by her sister in law (like a mother to her) who was assured that my friend will be allowed further studies once she settled in her married life. You never settle in life till your last breath!

My sister’s best friend was married by system called “Gauna(prevelent in northern states)” while in school. She completed her M.Com from her mom’s place and was then set off to her in-law’s place. Sounds better than the earlier one? Worst, the girl topped the university in her M.com exams only to work as a school teacher in the native place of her husband. Her husband is no match to her in terms of her intelligence and caliber.

I am no one to determine the happiness quotient of the above two women but I am disturbed as to how we seem to seamlessly compromise to our fates. When you compromise you seem to lose and forget a part of the game. People say that marriage means to compromise but you know it cannot be happy marriage, atleast for one party. Is Marriage the end or beginning for these two women?

The morale of the stories to me – Parents need to do lot of soul searching while making decision for their kids. Transparency is a must amongst children and parents, even if it a negative or an unacceptable thing. Lack of this leads to distressed future of your child or a hidden volcano in the heart of your child which, when erupts throw lava of mistrust, shock and grief for parents and the child of course !

I met a street smart entreprenuer in making ...

I had to literally run to catch my train (that's how most of us catch local trains in mumbai, no wonder, huge response to Mumbai marathon !). I was panting for breath when I got in. But I was happy I would reach home little early to play with my son. Someone gave me a fourth seat, not so comfortable but still ok(it's a common term if you travel by mumbai local everyday). I was still setting down and then came  boy with fresh -Mosambis (sweet lime) Shubham

         He would have passed unnoticed, had not been a lady ask him to put his tokri (fruit basket) down to check the fruits. He couldn't hold the tokri and show her the fruits, so I asked to hold one side. He then asked another lady to hold another side of the tokri so that he was free to trade. And he said "" Aap meri madat karoge toh mein aapko thank you bolunga". That's what brought a smile on my face. And this just the beginning.

He was a pukka business man selling his fruits with branding and his sweet talks. I asked him are you studying ?,  he told me "Ha mein 6^th mein hoon." Then some asked sirf kaam karta hai ya padhta bhi hai. He replied " Subah 6 se 12 baje tak school jata hoon and sham ko fruits bechta hoon. 400 ki kharidi hai, 310 leke ja raho hoo( he meant it otherwise).Abhi chutti hai". I asked results kaise aaye. He  said "4^th aaya hoon". And then he showed me some fruits asking,” acche hai na madam”. When  I said yes, he said to his customer, “dekha yeh madam bhi boli acche hai”. We all in the compartment started laughing.

He did not forget to thank me and the other lady. The one who asked him to show him his tokri must have felt left out. Hence she said, “mujhe toh thank you nahi kaha”. He  said, “aapko kyoon bolu aapne meri madat kaha ki”. She  argued "main nahi rukati toh kaise bikte tere sare phal", he counter answered and that was amazing" Aapne toh fruits lene ke liye kaha tha, yeh aunty ne toh meri help ki " He made us laugh more. And yes he also said, “aapke wajh se mere pair me bhi chot aayi”. And that too much for the lady.

         But we enjoyed. And yes he did tell me that I am Lucky for him as he sold all his fruits. I bought his last two fruits. Surprising, how these kids work hard to survive. We never had too. I am sure he will grow up to a successful man. You can see stars only in darkness. There is a saying in Marathi " बाळाचे पाये पाळण्यात दिसतात !"