Heartbreaking Departure

Horrible experience of attending a niece's wedding.

Though my relations with my brother’s wife were soaring but still I jumped with joy after getting a marriage invitation from my niece (my elder brother’s daughter). We all were very excited to attend my niece's wedding. I enthusiastically planned the rituals to be performed on the marriage occasion. In our culture, to wear traditional attire is normally appreciated in attending holy prayer and religious ceremonies. We bought new and startling party wear outfits for different occasions in marriage. In my family, four members were there to attend the marriage. The marriage program was planned for four days, I arranged all the necessary items such as designer jewelry, foot wears, and purses to feel the real enjoyment and to make the moment memorable.

The most important part of the marriage was the gift to my niece. I spent long hours selecting different types of fancy and useful gift items for my lovely niece. Ultimately the mission was accomplished through in-depth surveying and buying gift items such as one big kitchen items, gorgeous party dress, some jewelry, chocolates and traditional sweets. Packages of all items were made very attractive. Then we started packing for travelling by car to reach the marriage destination. Excitement was at pinnacle as it was the first marriage in the younger generation and also I was very close to my niece during my college time.

We started our journey at dawn that day. My husband was driving the car. Me and my daughters were enjoying the stunning natural landscape. We took a break for breakfast and confirmed to my brother’s family our plans to attend the marriage occasion. We started after half an hour. It took approximately 7 hours to reach the city where the marriage ceremony was to be held. Since the city was not familiar to us, we tried to contact my brother’s family about the accommodation but they did not reply. We thought that maybe they were very busy with marriage arrangements. Therefore, we found hotel accommodation to make ourselves comfortable.

After getting ready for the party, we all again contacted my brother’s family and that time, one relative picked up the call. She guided us on how to reach the marriage spot as she was a resident of that city. We faced many hurdles, rough roads and traffic congestion on the way to the marriage place. Somehow, we reached our destination. As we entered the marriage hall, no one came to us. Everybody was pretending to be busy in their affair. Still, we ignored and started looking for my brother. But he was engaged in performing some prayer. So, we stepped inside the marriage hall. There I met the sister of my brother's wife. She was trying to ignore it but we encountered each other and had formal talks. At the same time, my brother’s wife saw us and started shouting, why didn’t you inform us about your plan to attend the marriage. We were shocked and upset. Then, a relative of my brother’s wife clarified that they had already informed us and then my brother's wife ran away from the scene. My brother’s wife also left us to attend other guests. It was really embarrassing for us. We all had great planning, and enthusiasm to attend the marriage and such a distressing experience penetrated my heart.

We were standing in the marriage garden and observing the functions over there. My second brother suddenly saw us holding the gift and was isolated from function. He immediately came to meet us and asked to take a seat in the marriage hall. I was depressed and planning to leave the party but my second brother requested to intermingle with other guests and stay back. I was convinced and sat as a distant guest in the marriage hall. After the pre-wedding function was over and all guests went for dinner, only the four were left in the marriage hall. I was feeling extremely dejected and my mind was bombarded with intense negative thoughts as to why we planned to attend this kind of marriage.

The worst and heart wrenching experience of the marriage ceremony was my brother’s rude attitude towards me and his wife’s irate behavior. After some time my brother’s wife approached us and yelled with an aggressive tone, ‘why are you not having dinner? Go and eat. Why are you standing here’. That was insulting. Nobody comes to attend the marriage for dinner. We came all the way to bless my niece. She took the gift from me and uttered some absurd words. In such a disconcerting ambiance, my voice was choked and we did not say anything. My husband and daughters ate little food but I took a plate and didn’t eat anything.

 It was a strong ground for us to walk out from the party as my brother also did not respond well and never contacted thereafter. Now I feel that it was a right decision to walk out from the marriage ceremony. But we couldn’t find the reason behind the weird behavior of my brother and his wife.   

 

Important note: Above narrative is based on a true event. Any resemblance is just a coincidence. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement.

Script: Forcing to adopt twin orphans when they lost biological parents

Script: Forcing to adopt twin orphans when they lost biological parents

Scene: 1

In the area of Downing 10, Dazon Road, US City, at around 6 PM, Gracie and Jamesy are returning from Costco. Suddenly they are approached by Cop team.

Police officer: Hey, How are you? 

Both Gracie and James reacted strangely and replied: Hi, we are good.

Police officer: Nice, we would like to have polite discussion about your personal life. Can we continue?

Gracie and Jamesy: Sure!

Police officer: We contacted you because you are affluent and ready to take some financial responsibility. As you might have heard a day back that heart throbbing train accident occurred in a city where trains had head-on collision and huge number of people have lost their life. Many kids were separated from their parents and sent to orphan. Initial reports indicated that incident occurred due to error in electronic interlocking. It was so shocking that some of the human bodies were smashed and difficult to identify.

Scene: 2

Standing near to police van, cops are looking serious and worrying about kids who had lost their real parents.

Gracie and Jamesy: Ya, we heard that dreaded accident. Is there any thing that we can help out for the victims of train accident? 

Police officer: Thanks. Our government is looking after them and announced relief package for families of dead people and survivors according to the severity of injuries.

Gracie and Jamesy become emotional. Suddenly rain starts and they ask cops to come to their home nearby.

 

Scene:3

Cops with Gracie and Jamesy walked through beautiful garden and entered to living room through stairs. Gracie switched on the lights and all sat on the grey color U shape sofa comfortably. On center table, there is small dummy guitar just to enhance the beauty of living room.

Gracie moves to kitchen to prepare coffee for all. It took some time as she puts some snacks in oven which is already baked and to make it hot before serving. James and cops are through smile. Cops appreciate the layout of the living room.

Now Gracie is back with tray with coffee and snacks and serves to all. There is dim light in the room. Rains are stopped now outside and there is dark cloudy weather.

After having snacks, cops begin their discussion about the ill-fated twins who lost their real parents. Cops got these twins in dreaded scenario of train crash. Both twins were sitting in a carrier and found safe between the two compartments of train. Cops further tell that it is a miracle that God saved both the baby boys. Now it is our duty to look after them. 

Gracie can not control the tears and becomes emotional. Gracie and James come forward to extend views in their mind of monetary help.

But cops have different. They just insisted that Gracie and Jamesy by saying: As you are well settled and have good job role so you expect you to adopt these orphan twins.

At the moment, Gracie and Jamesy Shaked: How can we groom these two children. We are not trained to feed babies and change their cloths.

Cops: You can get training to groom babies through online videos and other grooming tutorials. We chose you after reviewing your track record of being honest to your duty and excellent behavioral traits. You have always been humble to others in social situations. Donate funds to NGOs and participate in functions of voluntary organizations.

Gracie and Jamesy: That is true. But it is great responsibility to groom babies whose biological parents are missing.

Cops: Please cooperate with us. We have selected you to handover the twins for their good future.

Gracie and Jamesy: We have a query. Ok. You are insisting us to adopt twins. What if their real parents come in future?

Cops: That is our outlook. Currently, you are legal parents of twins. We will start the official formalities of adoption.

Gracie and Jamesy throw pale look and say: Ok.

Scene:4

Gracie and Jamesy are in orphan and completing all formalities of adoption. This building is located near beautiful river bank and surrounded by huge lush green shrubs and tall trees.

 Orphan in-charge Anna: Goodbye kids. Twins also waived their hands.

Gracie and Jamesy come out with twins from Orphan and sit in their Honda city car.  Babies are belted in car seat. Twins are smiling and surround with toys in car.

Gracie prepares milk for them at home and feeding. Twins are very happy to see new attractive house.

Now Gracie and Jamesy are planning how to sleep with kids. They set up twin bed for kids. They name the babies Tim and Tom.

Gracie: Hey Tim and Tom, can I narrate queen story before you sleep.

Tim and Tom: Yes. We are eager to listen.

Gracie is telling a story of brave queen.

Kids slept now.

 

Scene: 5

Next day when Gracie and Jamesy embracing the twins with affection.

Gracie and Jamesy: You both our sweet kids. We will never be separated. Twins also smile with joy.

Happy family without any biological relations has strong bonding. They are planning for long exciting tour for famous tourist destination.

Call from stranger (fiction story)

Tagline: Stranger knocked me

I was attending the grand traditional family ceremony. All the family members, guests and working staff were enjoying the party. They were dancing, some members were busy drinking. Among all, I was sitting alone and watching closely the rituals of function. My husband came to me and asked to participate in the function but I was not interested as I wanted to remain away from the crowd.

I was scrolling through messages and videos on my mobile to pass the time. I was thrilled to see the projects I have completed recently and planning to grab challenging professional tasks in my area of command. While engaging in mobile, my relatives called to perform some rituals along with them. I had to go to participate in traditional activities. After the rituals were over, we all gathered in the dining hall for traditional dinner. I was waiting for the crowd to settle. Again, I started checking my mobile and I saw several messages related to my profession. I thought that I would reply later. Now people were dispersed and I was approaching to have dinner.

Suddenly, I received a call from an unknown member showing a location near the hospital. I wanted to take up the call but it was stranger so I ignored it. At that moment, I felt restless. With a pale mood, I was having my dinner. After dinner, I saw several missed calls from the same number. I thought it may be a serious matter so I called back. It was the voice of a young boy. He was very polite and requested me for financial help because his grandfather was critical and hospital staff were not admitting due to being unable to deposit money for treatment. I immediately asked how did you get my number. He replied that when you visited a bank and counseled a needy person, I was impressed to know the noble feelings of yours about others. I was there to withdraw money for the exam fee. You also shared a mobile number to the person and I registered that number for future career support. He further requested that he was in trouble and your support may save the life of his grandfather.  Please mam, I will return the money but this time your help will revive me from a critical situation. I can understand that I am a stranger and no one can rely on an unknown person. He told me that I can send the details about the examination he appeared in. I was in a puzzling situation because he was asking for a large amount of money for treatment and none of the family members would allow me to give money to strangers.

I had some money in my savings account and finally I decided to support the stranger financially. I told him that I will deposit the required amount as an emergency fund in the hospital bank account for treatment. He was very happy and thanked me with a hoarse voice. I felt that a stranger was really in trouble and my support will save the life of a dying person. Meanwhile, I sent the email to the hospital administration and local government office to offer all possible help. This initiative was not admired by others and I was told that such frauds happen frequently in the surrounding area. Then I was quite upset.

After a month, I received a message in my WhatsApp no.  from the same hospital. They informed me that the person whom I helped in critical condition survived. I was very happy. Few days passed; I was on the way to the shopping mall, and suddenly a grand vehicle stopped near me and a young and dashing person came out with aarti thali. He instantly touched my feet and gave me aarti of one of the famous temples. I couldn’t understand what was happening with me. He elaborated the whole story that you supported me financially with my grandfather’s critical health condition. I was helpless at that time. Because of your financial and moral support, He survived and strengthened my mind to focus on my career that was in a sensitive phase. I succeeded in the administrative examination and with your blessings, now I am holding one of the top government positions. How can I forget you? You believed me as a stranger and your kindness really shaped my persona. He returned my money as well as extended several services that I struggle with in daily life. Now I have a son and have a strong emotional bonding.

It is hard to believe in strangers but sometimes we have to think logically to extend our support to strangers through verifying with government tools and helping them in a safe manner.  There are fraudsters in our surroundings but we should comprehend the people who really need support at some stages of their life. 

Important note:  Above story is a fiction and original creation of the writer. Readers must not consider it as true to support others. Any resemblance is just a coincidence. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement.