Anu’s perfectly arranged facial features gave nothing away, but her eyes bore a glazed faraway look in them as she watched the young boys play cricket.
She envied her son’s their sex and freedom. Their shouts and laughter took her back to the day’s of her childhood; days when she had played with her brothers, free of responsibilities and tiring worry; she had wanted to be a boy.
She recalled days of poking in the dirt to dig out little worms and nights of staring up at the star-studded skies in amazement that stoked her imagination and her inquisitive mind had wanted to know so much, but mother and nan always told her that aspirations of exploration were not for pretty little girls.
They said that pretty little girls grew up to be beautiful, proper, hardworking, obedient and selfless wives to boys from a nice family; pretty little girls bore strong sons to continue the man’s lineage and her questions about love were rebuffed; they said that love would come with the package.
At Seventeen years she had married her family’s handpicked choice of a nice boy from a nice family, bore strong sons and the boring obligation of sexual intimacy, but even after thirteen years of waiting, the kindling spark of love had failed to come with the package; mother and nan had lied to her, Anu still wanted to be an exploring boy and she plotted.
© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha
a cooking pot and twisted tales 
I didn’t get married early or forcefully, but I honestly, I miss those carefree days.
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I can quite understand. Adulting is hard work, marriage is beautiful but also not a walk in the park.
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This was amazing Jackie! I’m still to get married but the story pulled me into its world beautifully to understand Anu and her emotions!
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Thank you Aishwarya. Marriage is a very complex union and must be walked into carefully. There’s no hurry to marry in haste and repent at leisure.
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Hello Jacqueline. I was amazed at how long your sentences were – very clever! Loved the story which you told so well. Now I want to know just what this woman is plotting in order to fill her dream.
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I am waiting for her to tell me 😉 The story was meant to be short, then it went on by itself.
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I wonder why everyone feels that the arranged marriage is torturous. I’ve know several which are far more successful and happy than those supposed “love” marriages.
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Every marriage comes with its own challenges. I know a good number of arranged marriages that are successful too but the concept of arranged marriages can present huge problems for couples right from the onset.
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This struck deep for me! Almost along the lines of my own story. I would love to know what Anu plotted and if she did anything about her unhappiness!
Wonderful story, Jacque 🙂
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Thank you, Rashmi. I’m still working out her options in my head, but I’m thinking that she chose to go back to further her halted education and got a divorce 🙂
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Good choice indeed!
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So sad.
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