Black

After a long discussion between her didi, aunty and mom, at last her 'Benarasi' have been selected. It took them approximately 30 minutes to select it. Didi and aunty suggested the pink one but mom wanted her to wear a red benarasi as she did on her own wedding. At last her mom won the battle as usual and the red one was finalised. Unfortunately, nobody asked about the bride's choice, she was standing there just like the mannequins in the mall. She was silently looking at that black saree with golden zari borders but she knew that nobody will entertain her wish to buy a 'black saree' as that is BLACK which is too dull and she is a to be bride who should wear RED which is too bright. She remembered how badly her mom scolded her that day when she wore a black gown to her didi's first marriage anniversary function. Neither that day nor now she could understand the fact that why wearing black is a bad omen according to her mom and aunty and even if it is a bad omen then why that day her mom scolded only her, when  at the same function her dada wore a black shirt. "Pihu! Ei Pihu!… let's go!,her didi called her, she came out of her thoughts and moved away with her. After doing a lots of shopping they reached home. At night when everyone slept, she silently went to her mom's room and took out that red benarasi and brought it to her room. She also took out her wedding card, greeting cards and gifts given by her to be husband and boyfriend of seven years. Yes, she is having a love marriage with that guy with whom she fell in love in her college days. She should feel like at the top of the world right now but she was not at all feeling that happiness which she saw her didi and friends felt before their marriage, that too love marriage! She was thinking about the reason for it, then she saw her books in the shelf and her eyes went on that one book whose cover reads, 'CONCEPT OF LAW'. The day when Avi (her fiance) and his family came to their home for the confirmation of their marriage date, she was reading this book before their arrival.She recalled, after the confirmation of their marriage date, Avi's father said that they don't want their daughter in law to do a job which requires her to interact with so many people from different backgrounds. He also said that, when Avi is earning good and they belong to a high profile family, then there is no need for her to work. She looked at Avi and to her surprise he also said his father's words. Not only Avi, her own family also agreed with him. Nobody felt the need to ask about her decision. When they left, she said to her father that she wants to continue her law degree after her marriage and wants to be a lawyer,he said her not to behave like a fool!,she is lucky enough to get a guy from such a high profile family, so she should quietly agree with their decision.

She took a deep breathe and for a long time continuously stared at those cards,gifts and that red benarasi silently. Then she moved towards her book shelf and took out that book about concept of law. For sometimes she stared at the book also and then kept it on her study table. While starting a new chapter, she could sense the smell of something burning and for the first time in her life she found that smell pleasing, as this time she chose to burn those fascinating shackles binding her rather than to burn her own aspirations and dreams...........

After two years,

She is wearing a black dress once again, but this time she is attending a court session not a anniversary function.

She entered into the court room with a contended and confident smile on her face, as this time her black dress is shining more brightly than that 'red benarasi'.