Three days passed. There were no calls from Aravind. My dad tried calling his father several times – no response from him either.
Panic struck everyone. What had happened? I waited patiently. I was very upset. Parent’s situation was worse.
Dad said:
“We had given them 5 lakhs as dowry on the day of engagement. May be they felt the money was insufficient”
“If they had any issues, they could have told us before the engagement. Why bring it this far, and then maintain silence?”
“No. I am sure it was the dowry issue”
I wanted to just then scold my dad, “Why did you give dowry without my knowledge, how dare you?”, but I could not. Everyone was just too upset to take in such fights just then
Two weeks gone by.
Still no response. I got very angry. I called the women’s helpline number: 044-43111143. I didn’t get any proper positive response from them. The lady started shooting questions at me: “ Do you have proof?” “Did you take any photographs?” “How do we know that you really gave the money and this is not a prank call? Sorry, we can’t do anything”, and she hung up.
I was getting desperate.
I didn’t care for Aravind, or why he hadn’t called me. No one was getting me married with dowry. Never. Any Dick, or Tom or Harry in the world may give dowry and get married, not Karthika. I will not marry Aravind, unless he returns the money. If he doesn’t, I am going to sue him.
Life came to a standstill. Parents were mentally distraught. I couldn’t take it in anymore, Things had to stop. I repeatedly called Aravind to find out what was happening. There was no response.
Then, I picked my friend’s mobile and called him. He picked, and I screamed at him in a single breath:
“What do you think of yourself? You don’t pick my call. Neither do you call me back. No calls or messages for the past two days. Everyone is upset at home. I will register a police case against all of you. See what’s going to happen” – and I disconnected.
I was shaking all over, in anger, in tension. I didn’t know what I had just done. I had vented out my pain.
I guess the “police complaint” trick worked. He immediately called back on my mobile.
“Hey, what’s happening at your place?”
“Why do you care ditcher?”
“What are they saying about me? Are they saying this guy ran off?”
“Shut up. Yes they are. You have put my parents into such mental torture I can’t explain in words. I will make you and your parents suffer the same pain. You don’t know what pain is maybe. Let me teach you.” I was shaking head and heart.
“Hey, I can explain. After all this, do you think we can live happily?”
“No Aravind. Leave being happy. I can’t live with you”
“Exactly. That’s what I too wanted to say”
“Idiot. You have no right to do this to me. I will not leave you alone. Just wait and watch what I will do”
“What will you do to me Karthika?”
“I don’t know. May be I’ll hit you all. All of you”
“Can I come to your office? I’ll talk to you. Please don’t pull my parents into all this. I am alone responsible for what’s happening. I am very sorry. Whatever punishment you wish to give, give me. Not my parents. They are innocent. They know nothing. If I come to your office, will you meet me?”
I disconnected the call.