THE MARRIAGE CELEBRATION

Deception looms large, but fate has other plans for a family searching for love.

- By Aruna Sandadi

Do you recall, four days ago, we called the marriage bureau and told them to search for a suitable girl for our son? Did they give any information?" Vinita questioned her husband in the morning.

"It is only four days back that we asked them, and won't we get an alliance? Why should we be in a hurry?" Shankar replied to her nonchalantly.

"It's okay," she said, picking up the empty red ceramic coffee cup, and went in. Seated in the hall on a sofa, when the phone came to life, Shankar picked up the call.

"Is it Mr. Shankar, Sir? We are calling from the marriage bureau office," said the person. "You asked us to look out for an alliance for your son. The girl is on the list now. If you come down to our office, we will share further details with you."

"Yes, we requested you. We will be there today evening," Shankar told them determinately.

As confirmed, Shankar, along with his wife, Vinita, reached the office in the evening. They noticed several albums were kept in the glass cupboard. The office manager invited them in with a smiling face.

"Please be seated. The album I wanted to show you is stacked in the room inside," so saying, he disappeared. He was back after some time, brought four photographs, and handed them over to Vinita and Shankar. Vinita almost snatched the pictures out of eagerness.

"Look here. Is she not like Goddess Lakshmi with radiance?" she passed on the pictures to Shankar. Glancing at the photos, Shankar also felt the same opinion.

"She is fine. With the beautiful dress she put on, she looked a hundred per cent like a village girl with innocence and divine beauty."

"True, she will be the exact match for our son. By the way, what did she study?" Shankar enquired with the manager.