"No father, I'm not going to mar my dreams and aspirations by getting married. I want to pursue higher studies. My decision is irrevocable." Meera said as she stormed out of the house without looking back. 

"What has gotten into her? She'll not find the man of her dreams. She'll not let us do the honours for her. How will she ever get married with such an attitude? God please help me finding a way out" Meera's father, Natesan was making his bleak prayer before the idol of Lord Krishna and was almost in tears.

"We can change her. Don't worry. You're the head of the family. Don't break down" Natesan's wife, Meera's mother, Radha, reassured her husband. 

Meera's parents were grief stricken as if a death had taken place in the family.

“I can offer you my sympathy, but I can't get married if that's what you're sad about. Please ma, I have certain dreams."

Natesan lost his cool and raised his voice "Your dreams are absurd. Becoming a post-graduate in automobile engineering is the last thing any girl could do. Automobile is for guys. I'm tired of telling you that. You've become a graduate and a mechanical engineer, that too. We never liked it, yet agreed. Now, you have the obligation to fulfill our expectations too. Don't make me beg, Meera" as Radha remained mum without raising her voice in the usual debate.

"You're the one who taught me men and women should be treated equal. I was born and raised by your holy words. I never have any contradiction in my thoughts and actions, but you seem to have some. I believe that men and women are equal.  If you were bestowed with a son, I'm sure that you'd have agreed to his dreams if this was it. Why aren't you giving a woman a chance to prove herself?"

The boisterous and emphatic reply left Natesan out of words. He just gestured with an expression of disapproval.

Later that night, Natesan couldn’t sleep, "Radha! I failed to be a good father” he said with a few drops of tears trickling down his cheeks.

“Oh please, you’re a great father and everybody longs for a parent like you who accepts all the wishes of a daughter” Radha consoled him.

“And yet, she doesn’t want to satisfy a teensy wish of a longing father” he said.

“Radha, I’m about to retire in a few months. There wouldn’t be any kind of pension provided. Though my savings are enough for her marriage, if she delays it, the savings will also start depleting” his thoughts seemed to form these words.

He wiped his tears and with a resolute expression on his face told his wife “Whatever it takes, I’ll make her understand the situation by tomorrow morning”

Radha smiled and patted his back.

The next day, Meera’s father went to her room and found her sleeping. He sat beside his child who was sleeping peacefully and stroked her hair with pure compassion.

Meera woke up, dazed that she had never seen her father do that in years.

“Meera, it’s time to get up and brush your teeth. I have brought your coffee. Get freshened up. We need to talk” he said wearing a smile on his face.

“If it’s still about the marriage, then, I shan’t father” she replied as she got out of her bed and started walking towards her bathroom defiantly.

The smile on  Natesan’s lips turned into a clear frown.

She came out of the bathroom, sat at the edge of her bed and started sipping her coffee.

“Please listen to me” Natesan said with his voice desperate almost on the verge of breaking down

“No father. I’m clear in my mind. I don’t want to get married. Please don’t force me” said Meera and was about to go out of the room when her father raised his voice “Why don’t you just listen to what I have to say? It’s been so long since we had a proper conversation. Treat this as the last wish of your dad and just listen. Please”

“Pa, why are you talking like this?” she asked

“I don’t know, Meera. Will you please listen to what I say?” Natesan asked exasperatedly.

 “Okay, pa.” she said.

“Meera, as you might know, your father is pushing sixty and about to retire in three months. We’re from a middle class family, Meera, I’ve not saved much but sufficient enough to get you married. However, any delay in the marriage will reduce my ability to conduct it as per the socially acceptable norms. I don’t want that to happen and so please give us your consent. Consider this an old man’s dying wish.”

.“So, all along you’ve considered me as a burden?” Meera asked, as Natesan was taken aback by the response.

“No Meera, not at all. As a father, I have some responsibilities. Why don’t you understand the lamentations of a poor father?” he said with a hint of despair visible on his face.

He wiped a lone tear which trickled down his cheek which Meera had noticed and added “I’ve asked for a boy’s family to come tomorrow in hope that you’d understand the family situation after I’ve explained it to you. As a parent, I’ve failed to do so. I’ll call them and tell that my daughter is not interested” Natesan said with his voice and hopes both broken down and stood to leave her room. Just then, he heard a broken down voice “Pa, I’ll not disappoint you. I’ll get married. I’ve never seen you breakdown and it aches to see that I’m the reason for it. I’m sorry to have let you down and I promise not to tamper your happiness, henceforth” she said.

It was the last thing Natesan had expected to hear from her rebellious daughter. He was so delighted and his happiness was at its peak. He went to his daughter and gave her a tight hug and said “I knew, that you’d understand and thank you so much.”

The next morning, there was a lot of hustle-bustle in the house. The house was decorated.

“Radha, is Meera ready?” Natesan asked happily. Natesan was smiling, but Radha wasn’t.

“She’s getting ready. But, she’s not a bit interested in marriage. There’s not a tinge of happiness that I could be seen on her face. I think we ought to postpone this thing” Radha said.

“I’ll go and talk to her” he said.

Meera’s eyes were teary. She wiped her tears as soon as she heard the footsteps of someone approaching to her room and she masked her sorrow by wearing a fake smile as though she looked happy. Her face seemed happy in the mirror through which Natesan’s saw her.

“Don’t talk nonsense, Radha. She’s happy. I saw her” Natesan said.

Radha drew a deep breath and said “Okay” hesitantly.

A car honked outside the house. Natesan opened the door to see an old couple get out of the car. It was clear that the bridegroom had not come.

“Sorry for the inconvenience sir, my son couldn’t make it as he had a very important call from his office at the last moment. But, he told us to convey that he likes your beautiful daughter, Meera as he’d seen her in the photo” the groom’s mother was loud and clear.

“My daughter likes your son too”, Natesan lied, doubtful whether Meera had even seen the photo which he had placed beside her bed last night.

“Oh that’s good to know” the groom’s father said smiling.

“Oh sorry, Please come in” Natesan received them.

The groom’s parent’s eyes were shining bright and showed how much they appreciated the decorations of the house. Natesan patted Radha for her good job. Radha smiled.

Mr. and Mrs. TamizhSelvan were seated on the sofa. Radha went to Meera’s room to tell her how to behave as this was the first time a groom’s parents had come to the house.

“Meera, they have arrived. The boy hasn’t come. I’ve placed the coffees to be served to the groom’s parents and us on the table. First give it to them before us and keep your head bowed” Radha advised.

She served coffee as per the instructions given by her mother and of course with a bowed head. The look in Mr. and Mrs. TamizhSelvan eyes clearly stated that they were satisfied with the bride.

Meera didn’t sit down until they said so and behaved like a dutiful lady and Natesan was very pleased by such an exhibition of good behavior by his rebellious daughter.

The two families got on quite well. They shared many joyous moments about their son. There was a faint smile visible in Meera’s eyes. Smile of satisfaction, as one would call.

Everything was fine until the groom’s mother asked “Okay. We’re totally satisfied now and we can fix the marriage date if you promise to offer my son’s dream car, Honda Accord”.

The smile in all the three members in the girl’s family had disappeared and the rebel in Meera was out.

“You’re asking for a dowry and that too, a costly car? How can my father afford it? I will marry your son only on account that my father doesn’t give any dowry. Otherwise, you may walk out” she said without hesitation.

The groom’s family left even before she could complete her sentence.

Meera locked herself in her room, saddened by the thought that her father would’ve broken down completely. Neither Natesan nor Radha made a knock on her door and it was after she was convinced that her parents were asleep, she opened the door and she went back to bed.

After Meera’s parents were convinced that she was asleep they got into a conversation

“Radha, did you see her speak today?” Natesan asked.

“I know, it was so bad on her part. She’ll never get married” she said sadly.

“Nonsense. Did you see the command she had? The emphatic speech, that her father’s money shouldn’t be wasted on account of her getting married? I’ve decided. I’ll make her study further. The money which I had saved for her marriage will go for her education. She has convinced me that she will take care of her parents until we face the deathbed. Don’t you think that she’d be happy?” Natesan said proudly.

“She’d be flattered” Radha said.

Meera wasn’t asleep either. She heard the whole conversation. Tears of joy rolled out of her eyes, she hugged her pillow tightly and slept peacefully.