Love Marriage Arranged Marriage....

Priya was celebrating her birthday...she had made arrangements for a party at home..She had been wanting to call her friends over for the time that she had taken up a place of her own.So it was to be a House warming cum Birthday party.She had invited her close friends..about 10 in all. The party was going to be special also because one of her childhood friends was going to get married-3 weeks away. She had ordered food but the dessert was being made by Swati ...the girl getting married . Swati had insisted on taking charge of the dessert section. Priya knew how excited was Swati about her forthcoming marriage and in her sweet way was trying to learn making some special dishes ,two out of which were to be presented tonight. Swati 's marriage had been fixed by her family and she was very happy with their choice.

The party was on..Everything was taken care of...Swati had been helping Priya with everything ...Friends had come and there was laughter ,music and merriment. Dolly had flown down from Bangalore for the week end for this get together ...she had another interest too..she would get to spend time with her boyfriend too so Dolly was snuggling up with Harsh and everyone was having a great time..
Dinner was announced...food was excellent ..was being relished by one and all. Then Priya announced that the best was yet to come ...The dessert was prepared by Swati....there was a big cheer and the tempting gorgeously looking dishes were laid on the table. Everyone gave out cries of appreciation and jokingly Harsh told Dolly,''Swati has been at cooking ,getting prepared for marriage .have you started too?''Pat came Dolly's reply,''Swati is having an arranged marriage...I will have a love marriage. She needs to learn to please her new family . Thankfully I would not need to do any such thing...so why should I be doing all this?'' ''Love or arranged any kind of marriage would entail eating ,Dolly so?''quipped in Priya.''well Harsh will see to that ..thats not my problem'''sang Dolly and gulped down a generous spoonfull of the chocolate mousse...

Swati was thinking about the conversation, lying on her bed late night. Was she doing it to please her new family because it was going to be an arranged marriage? Just because Dolly had found her life partner before marriage , did she not need to please anyone ,as she had put it? Swati was confused at the inferences...what was the difference between Dolly and herself? Both were friends ...same generation ..then ?

Slowly slowly peace started setting upon Swati's face ...she had got her answers ....
She concluded that she believed that it was not just a person that she was going to marry ...to possess...she was marrying into a family which would henceforth be her new home. She had learnt from her mother ,seeing her all life doing things for her loved ones. She had learnt the joy of caring ...doing ...serving ...making extra efforts to do things for the people who are her partner's family...would be loving him in the true sense . She did not want to love where it meant possessiveness and made her narrow minded. She remembered her mother saying once,''Swati, the relationships that you make on your own, the ones that you take upon from your loved ones willingly ...always putting others before you ....will actually reflect the person that you are from heart. Always have a large heart and try to encompass more and more....I never think of the wealth that I could leave behind for you for I do not have much...but I would always want to leave behing a big big flexi heart filled with love ....for you to carry on giving out love and joy to all.''
''Yes Mom...I too want to do the same. To love my new family from the core of my heart...because I know it is going to be my family....''Spoke Swati in her heart and went off to sleep with a sweet warm glow on her face. She had her sympathies for Dolly's thoughts.....