"I was a rebel in my big joint family. A single girl child from an affluent and orthodox family getting married to a boy from a middle-class family, that too from another caste, can create a lot of problems, especially from the girl’s family. And when the girl is ‘bright’ and ‘promising’ and the boy does not seem so (who will agree anyway), things get even worse. So, as with any typical inter-caste marriage, the road was quite bumpy. But we wanted it to happen with both our parents present and managed it under a lot of pressure. Finally they (my parents) gave in and it happened – a wedding in the temple. I was told never to come back home. Life’s not easy when you feel you just don’t exist at home. Especially when you are the only child and are still rejected!

Of course, they said it with a heavy heart – I fully understand.

A new life began; there was so much to take care of. The first priority was to come to a truce with my family. They were the ones who were against the wedding and we were already living with my husband’s parents. We called my home every week and it was only my father who would answer my calls. This went on for a few months and then my cousin was about to get married. The wedding was an important milestone in our lives too. We went home for the first time after our marriage (four months to be exact) and everyone was quiet not knowing how my grandpa would react. He was the head of the family. I was told not to come or else, he would throw us both out. But then, we were prepared and wanted to meet him personally. Luckily, he took it coolly and started the talk. The ice started melting and a truce was declared.”