I ❤ Luv Storys

Congratulations! In fact, a big round of applause for all those who survived the hiccups of the biggest merger of all kinds – Marriage. I bet, now you have a rock solid foundation. Naturally, the pebbles, stones and brick(bat)s that came your way in earlier days are now pushed hard under your feet forming a steady platform. Standing Tall, tell me, how it all started?

Did he get down on his knees? Or her family came home to discuss the prospect? Either way, was it love at first sight or you allowed love to have its own course. Naah! Let’s cut these formal sentences out and be rather open. So, Love or Arranged Marriage?

ARRANGED! Aha! How fortunate! You met your better half in your living room under the assuring eyes of your loved ones. A happy celebration at the outset. Family approval, big fat wedding spanning out for days and a warm welcome to the lady, that too, in style and grandeur. Life comes on a platter at times... Sorry, you said something? Even you had some problems. Really!!! You didn’t know much about each other. Your wife had a tough time adjusting to your lifestyle and to your family culture. Your husband slept till late and couldn’t spare enough time for you on weekends. Well, you both had habits that annoyed each other. Ok! It took a lot of adjustment, patience and love from both the sides that kept the bond alive. 

But Thank God! Some of you didn’t have these issues as it was LOVE MARRIAGE. A sparkling chemistry, dates in fancy restaurants, day dreaming and not to forget hefty phone bills. Each day was a page of a romantic novel, clip of a movie and how beautifully your love story fitted in the latest Bollywood number. Love stories sets my adrenalin high; yours too? No! Why? But yours is a love marriage? Oh! It was a fairy tale in the beginning but you had a tough time as families didn't agree. Even those who nodded, didn't do it with their hearts. And marriage is much more than a fancy date that lasts few hours. We need to give it a lot of understanding, maturity and much more love, not only to the spouse but to the families as well.

Intense matter…huh! What about the singles, who are hanging at the edge of the marriage cliff. Guys, don’t jump, just continue reading. Finding a soulmate is no rocket science; though there is a little risk which we all take, whether it's love or arranged marriage. And, as we all know, 'Risk to Spiderman ko bhi lena padta hai!';  yours truly is no exception. Yes! Yes! I have done it and I’m not sorry. I am talking about my marriage, a love marriage that was arranged.

You know, I ❤ Luv Storys, not necessarily the ones which start with it but the ones which have love in it. Every marriage story, good or not-so-good, happy or not-so-rosy, arranged or love, stays only if the word LOVE is there. You may not find love written on every page on that book but when you put it down, reading it cover to cover, you realize it was 'love' and 'commitment' towards the relationship that helped it sail through.

Whether you bumped into each other at a cafe or were hitched by your parents, it's you who have to work on that relationship. You give your marriage a heart and a soul. Relationships are not built over night. We make it and the day of marriage is just a start, an auspicious start.

They met and lived happily ever after; and we have a modern day fairy tale. Seriously, it doesn’t even happen in movies now…Hero doesn’t run after train, Kareena does... And heroine doesn't cook three course meal, Saif does, that too in Australia...They meet, understand and accept each other. They work on their relationships and respect their families. They count on their wisdom and seek the blessings of elderly. They are committed to their relationship. And remember, this all happens because of Love. Whatever is your destiny, your choice, just embellish it with Love…

Bachelors, Bachelorettes and Parents!

Why stick to the cliches? Break the stereotypes! Don't stay on one side of the story, LOVE OR ARRANGED; remix life a bit. Love the Arrangement and Arrange the Love. Don't forget, we can drive 'Gharhasti ki Gadi' only when ‘Love’ is at the steering wheel.

Glued to this discussion, explore more every Monday through Thursday at 8:30 PM on Sony TV. Here's the first episode!

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*This post is written for 'Love Marriage Ya Arranged Marriage' contest on Indiblogger, sponsored by Sony Entertainment Television.