November 9, 2025

“Ladies and gentlemen, give a big round of applause to today’s pair — Prajwal and Priya — the most perfectly matched couple! Prajwal, looking stunning in his golden-themed attire and as handsome as a prince, took centre stage — though no one could take their eyes off the gorgeous Priya in her elegant white gown.” 

The city’s top MC hosted the event, filling the celebration with energy and excitement. With the DJ, live music, and a stage set like a movie shoot, the wedding truly felt like a grand spectacle — after all, it was the union of two of the city’s most prominent families.

When the Toastmaster spoke, she narrated how Prajwal first met Priya — quite by accident — in a hospital. Prajwal had gone there to visit his cousin, who had been admitted, but the hospital administrator, Priya, mistakenly assumed he was a patient. That was the first time he saw her. 

Later, his cousin Vijeta teased him about the glow in Priya’s eyes — something that had clearly caught Prajwal’s attention. Encouraged by her teasing, Prajwal began visiting the hospital more often. Priya soon noticed his frequent visits, and one day, while waiting near the hospital entrance, she finally met him. 

“Excuse me,” Prajwal said nervously. “Can you tell me who the best doctor here is?” 

Smiling, she led him toward the waiting area. “May I know which department?” she asked, meeting his eyes. 

Prajwal stammered before finally saying, “Actually… I came to meet you.” His mouth went dry. To escape the awkward moment, he quickly added, “How about we go to the coffee shop?” 

Priya looked deep into his eyes and replied with a playful smile, “There won’t be any doctors there.” She laughed softly. 

As they walked toward the café, Prajwal, standing close to her, was mesmerized. Her dreamy eyes, dimpled cheeks, and radiant smile felt straight out of a movie. Just then, her phone rang, and it began to drizzle outside. Before leaving, she said, “You can take down my number.” 

And that was all Prajwal needed — the beginning of a new story. 

That meeting turned into friendship, and friendship soon deepened into love. And so, this special wedding day finally arrived. The Toastmaster’s speech received thunderous applause. 

The marriage and reception were extraordinary. Mr. Peter and Mrs. Pauline — Prajwal’s parents — and Mr. Gomez and Mrs. Ana — Priya’s parents — were overjoyed. Two well-to-do families had now become one. 

The reception the next evening went beautifully. Prajwal’s confidence, humour, respect for elders, and charming personality impressed everyone — especially Mr. Gomez. During one conversation, Prajwal recounted a funny incident: when a Japanese delegate arrived but the assigned driver had an emergency, Prajwal personally went to pick her up from the airport. The lady talked nonstop all the way to the office, assuming he was the driver and not giving him a chance to introduce himself. When he finally did, she was speechless — and the whole gathering burst into laughter as he mimicked her. 

While listening, Priya gently held Prajwal’s hand — a simple gesture that showed the strength of their bond. 

Later that evening, before bedtime, Mr. Mark teasingly said to Mr. Gomez, “Hey Gomez, that Mrs. Grace seemed to be following you the whole evening!” 

That was Gomez and his buddy Mark’s usual conversation starter. Mrs. Grace had been Mark’s crush in their younger days — though Grace, back then, had a soft corner for Gomez. She eventually married someone else, but even now, Mark couldn’t help lighting up whenever he saw her at social gatherings. 

Mrs. Ana playfully pulled Mr. Gomez’s ear and said, “If Grace tries to get close to this old man again, I won’t let that happen — I’ll finish him off first!” 

The three of them laughed heartily. 

As the event ended, Mr. Gomez felt relieved and happy. Having fulfilled his duty of marrying off his only daughter, he was ready to enjoy peaceful days ahead. 

Soon, Prajwal and Priya moved to London, and life went on. 

Years later, regular video calls kept the families connected. Mr. Gomez was relaxed, enjoying his retired life. Then one day, Priya shared joyful news — she was expecting a baby boy. Time flew by, and their son Kevin grew up fast. 

About a year later, one Sunday morning, Mr. Gomez returned from his routine walk to find Mrs. Ana looking upset. Worried, he asked what had happened. She finally revealed that Priya was coming home — with her little son, Kevin. 

But what followed was heartbreaking. Priya revealed that Prajwal had become abusive and that her marriage had turned toxic. Her words were filled with pain and sadness. She had come back for good — she could no longer live with him. 

Mr. Gomez was furious. He immediately called Prajwal, shouting at him. He also called Mr. Peter, Prajwal’s father, and there was a heated argument. Though Mr. Peter was equally disappointed, Gomez’s reaction came from deep hurt and shock. 

Having worked hard all his life and raised Priya with great love and sacrifice, Gomez could not bear to see a single tear in his daughter’s eyes. He had struggled in his youth and didn’t want his child to suffer the same. Now, he vowed to stand by her. 

He wasted no time reaching out to a religious elder, a lawyer, and a counsellor to help Priya overcome her heartbreak. Emotions and anger overwhelmed him — along with the desire to teach Prajwal a lesson. 

The meeting with the religious elder, attended along with Priya, offered spiritual comfort and consoling words. The lawyer clearly explained the legal grounds for action against Prajwal and how a substantial alimony could be claimed. The counsellor provided practical techniques for emotional healing and recovery. 

In all these meetings, Gomez was actively involved — answering on her behalf, protecting Priya, and standing by her like a guardian. 

However, from Priya’s perspective, much of it didn’t seem practical. Her views were clear: “Our generation is smarter, more self-aware, and capable of handling things in our own way. Will money really heal the mental trauma I went through or correct my wrong choice? Everyone’s problem is unique — I know how to deal with mine.” 

Time passed. Priya found a job, while Ana became busy looking after her grandson. 

One day, Gomez fell ill and was admitted to the hospital. After several tests, the doctor advised him to avoid stress and take complete rest. 

Later, Gomez sat down with Priya for an open-hearted talk. He confessed how deeply her separation had worried him and how his business had been struggling. Though he had fully supported her decisions, he now admitted he could no longer shoulder her battles — because he worried what would happen to his dependents if something happened to him. 

He wanted Priya to think for herself — to either move on or consider settling down again. Ana, too, had started changing her attitude toward Priya, and even the neighbours had begun gossiping. 

This made Priya reflect deeply on her situation — whether to remarry, move again to London independently, or take a new path altogether. The house no longer felt like home. She wondered, If I search for a new proposal, will I ever find someone better than before? 

Days passed. One Sunday afternoon, a luxury car stopped in front of their house, and the doorbell rang. Gomez went to open the door — and to his surprise, it was Prajwal. He welcomed him warmly. 

“Please come in,” he said. “Ana, look who’s here!” 

Ana glanced from the kitchen and said, “Oh! Oh! Come, come! How are you?” Her tone was a mix of surprise and unease. Meeting her ex–son-in-law after such a storm was indeed puzzling. 

As she kept looking at Prajwal, Gomez said, “Go, make hot tea for him.” Then, turning to Prajwal, he added, “Would you like to freshen up? The journey might have tired you.” 

Priya, who had been taking an afternoon nap, came out of her bedroom, tying up her messy hair. She was in a T-shirt and three-quarter pants and sat opposite him with a forced smile. 

Sensing the tension, Gomez cleverly excused himself, saying, “Prajwal, I need to take my medicine,” and went inside, pretending to look for it. 

Priya glanced at Prajwal without much reaction, raising her recently shaped eyebrows. 

“How are you?” Prajwal asked gently. She only moved her lips in playful annoyance. 

Prajwal went and sat next to her. “Forgive me, Priya,” he said softly. “Whatever I did… it’s clear now that without you, my sun doesn’t rise.” 

That apology melted her heart from within, though she didn’t show much reaction. 

Trying to lighten the moment, Prajwal asked, “So, what’s for lunch today?” 

An irritated Priya picked up a pillow beside her and began playfully hitting him. “I plan to chop you into pieces!” she said. 

Prajwal burst out laughing, and his laughter made her smile too. 

Making sure no one was watching, Prajwal went close to her face, pinched her nose, pressed her dimpled cheek, and teased, “Is there a good doctor here? This time I want to take you there,” mimicking their first meeting. 

“Yes,” she replied, hitting him on the head and running her fingers through his hair. Then, poking his forehead, she said, “A mental psychiatrist — you need serious treatment!”

Their laughter filled the room. 

When Kevin woke up from his nap, he was thrilled to see a well-dressed stranger showing him affection — and then realized it was his own father. 

Needless to say, Prajwal and Priya reconciled. Happiness returned. Soon after, Prajwal posted an old wedding photo on social media with a new caption: “Finally — I’m Married.” 

For him, this was reality — a remarriage born from struggle, forgiveness, and love rediscovered. 

They spent a few precious days together, and eventually, Priya agreed to return to London with him to start a new chapter of their life. 

Later, Mark visited Gomez. Curious about the reconciliation, and during their usual light-hearted banter about Grace, Mark asked, “Hey, buddy, how could this happen? You were stubborn about Gautam — and so was Priya — but things completely overturned, now they are together!” 

Gomez shared his reflections. He spoke about the visits to the religious elder, lawyer, and counsellor — and how the advice of one among them, a man he called “the Wise Man,” had changed his perspective. 

That Wise Man had advised Gomez to stop overprotecting Priya and instead let her face her own choices and take responsibility for them. Supporting her blindly, even when she might be wrong, would not truly help her. He had also urged Gomez to have a long conversation with Prajwal to understand both sides. 

After talking with Prajwal over the phone, Gomez realized that their separation had begun with small misunderstandings, work-related frustrations, and miscommunication that eventually grew into resentment — like a mountain. Priya had been combative each time after that. Despite his requests, she had left Prajwal. 

Consequently, Gomez Utilized his hospital admission, to have an Honest and Emotional talk with her. 

Gomez’s chats with Mark became more reflective afterward. They discussed how parenting had changed — in the past, with many children in a household, attention was naturally divided, and kids learned to compete and adjust. But now, with one or two children, homes had become comfort zones. When a girl faces issues at her in-laws’ home, some parents often imagine the worst, overreact, and take sides — turning small issues into serious ones. 

He continued, “Earlier, marital problems were short-lived — there was a saying that husband and wife fight only until dinner. As generations passed, elders would intervene and make peace. But now, with the new generation’s independence and sensitivity in relationships, small issues easily escalate and remain unresolved. 

Marriage, once seen as divine, has become fragile. When God created man and woman differently, He had a sacred bond in mind. Today, marriage needs our prayer — it’s no longer just a couple’s issue but a social one. Every household should pray for couples. When we include this in our family prayers, even the younger ones will learn the purity and importance of marriage.” 

The conversation ended with laughter when Mark mentioned Grace again. Gomez raised his eyebrows and said, “We’re talking about the sacred bond — and she’s married too!” Both laughed knowingly. 

Well, not to forget — when Priya was searching for a new start, a thought had crossed her mind: Why not Prajwal again? She had decided that if he ever came and apologized, she would give him a chance. 

For Prajwal, who was raised with good family values, once Priya came into his life — believing in him and raising a child for him — it became his responsibility thereafter. He knew that no mistake of a wife was beyond forgiveness, even if she had been wrong at times. For him, he only had to calm his male ego and apologize sincerely at her doorstep.

Author’s Note:

Though marital problems are like the ocean, my understanding feels just a notion,

yet I believe in a simple foundation — a family that prays together stays together.

Truly meant for this generation.

If you liked this story, kindly leave a comment below and you can also write to me at steveprakash@yahoo.com — thank you.