The Social Puppet

It had disgusted me right from the moment it had started. I had never felt so used or, according to me, even abused before. It was like am no better than a commodity or maybe an animal, decked up, displayed and ready to be sent off to the highest bidder.

How do we buy cattle? The owner puts up a board saying he is ready to sell. Then comes the first round of perusal, see if it meets our requirements. If it does, we go to the store to get a first hand look and feel of it. All things set, start the price negotiations. And once it is ours, we scream our throats hoarse trying to get others' attention towards our newest trophy. 

Well, this is how I view my marriage.
A deal, a showoff and a grand in-your-face affair of the assertion of my parents' rights over me. It had all started the day my mom had taken me out for shopping. No one was bothered about me. Just because I had turned 22 and the world 'had started talking', it was suddenly time for me to get married. I had protested, cried and screamed myself out that no, am not ready but to no avail. After many screaming competitions, I gave in thinking that maybe if I agree for the photo - shoot at their insistence, they might listen to me too. And hence, the shopping. 

I tried a thousand dresses. "Which looks better on her?" "No, no, no black. It's for an auspicious occasion." Nothing was costly enough and for once, mom had not got bored of my complaints at fitting. And then came the day of the photo-shoot. An early appointment at the parlor and, here I am, smiling in the most charming way possible for the camera. So, the cow has freshly been given a bath and scrubbed till she shone. 

No no no.

She looks better from that angle. 

This way she looks better. 

From there, that ugly scar would be hidden.

Then the snaps sent off to the potential buyers. They should be at least MBA, sons of administrative officers, earning min 1 lakh per month, have bank balance strong enough to buy an island and voila, they are the one. Who cares whether they will keep my frequency? They can give me money to spend, food to eat and place to live. Being men, they will definitely be able to get me pregnant, at least, twice. Love, chemistry, equation, frequency - thats physics gal, not life. 

Then the selected few came to 'see' me. My mom's best jewellery came out and new saree was bought. And the checks started. Can speak English? Check. Can cook? Check. Can walk normally on two legs and has no misaligned eyes? Check. Beta, please recite few lines of Daffodils. Achcha, we are a very high profile family. You will be able to adjust na?

Wonder of wonders, I was even given 5 minutes alone with the boy. Somehow, I could not have known a person properly enough in years and suddenly I will find my soul-mate in 5 minutes. You also like action movies? Wow. Rani Mukherjee is your favorite? Mine too. Indian political situation is so bad na? Ohhh, you also think so? Great, lets get married!!!!
Here came the negotiations. "We will take it only if you pay us 20 lakh." "No no. Our thing is so good. Please take it only with a 15 lakh accompanying." "Okay, we can settle for 12 if you throw in a car too. And that too must at least be a Honda City." "Please take just the money now. We will get the car delivered later.""Okay. Deal" "Deal."

And then the grand affair. No expenses spared. After all, am an only daughter. Where will dad show off his financial prowess again? C'mon, everyone will be there to see. Our daughter is the best. She marrying the man WE chose. Not like others who marry their 'boyfriends', how gross!!!! How immoral, chhiiii!!!!!

And today here I am, waiting to properly meet my husband for the first time. All my life I was told not to talk to strangers and here I am waiting to sleep with one.

Is the painting ever asked where it would like to hang?