Life: The stories

CHILD MARRIAGE!

                           --DAY ONE--

"Let's elope!"
Akarsh heard Manvitha saying.

"Are you crazy?! You're still a minor. I can't possibly do that! You still have to study. After all knowledge is wealth!" Said Akarsh.

"Well, my parents DEFINITELY doesn't agree with you! They're making me marry a dude that I don't even like! We can't get married because you belong to a different caste."

She's still a teenager, after all. I have to be patient.

"Look maanu, sweetie, I understand your frustrations. I feel it too but try to understand the situation. You ARE a miner and it doesn't change. Taking you with me is not only morally not ok, but also it's not ok by the law. I'll get jailed if your parents decide to go to police.
I'm not a miner, WELL THANK GOD! but I still don't have a job. Surviving out there, without a job, without the support of our parents is impossible.
You will turn eighteen next month anyways, we'll be able to do something then!" I explain my thoughts in simple words so she can understand.

"Well I hadn't thought about that" Manvitha agreed, visibly looking tensed.

Teenage years are wicked. You only see the shiny, happy and adventurous part of life, whereas the actual life is much more complex and twisted.
I thought.

"But none of this can change the fact that I will be getting engaged tomorrow and marriage is this weekend, that's 4 days away. All this is good time before I actually turn 18."

Now that's a valid point. I don't know what to say about that.

"Look Manvitha, I will do something. I will do whatever it takes. Trust me. Now you have to go! We'll be in trouble if your parents comes to know that you sneaked out to meet me."

I saw that she was on the verge of crying. I feel so helpless. This is so unfair. My mind is a mess but I can't do anything at all about it, but I have to stay strong at least in front of her.

Forcing a person to get married to someone else and forcing to quit studying, just because she fell for someone who's not her caste is such a stupid thing.
It's unfair to all three people involved in this.
Gosh, I really need to stop complaining about how unfair this whole situation is and start thinking about solutions.

"You try and talk to Akhil about this! He might help us out!" She says.

Oh crap. Why didn't I think about this sooner? Akhil is my best friend! He'll surely help us out.

I hugged her tightly before letting her go home and I called Akhil right after.

                                -**-

"Sooooo, this happened with Akarsh today, so I was busy all day trying to find solutions. Sorry I couldn't text you". Akhil told Prathima.

"Oh, brother got himself in a real sticky situation. They should've been more careful about being seen together in public. So, you guys found any solution?"

"Not any as of now" he shook his head, which was being weighed down by worries.

"Don't worry, something good will happen tomorrow!" She says.

"What good can possibly happen? Oh. You're being sarcastic now?" He lost it.

"Oof. If you can't do anything, you just can't. Just go home and cool your mind. Bro still has a chance till the engagement is already over!" Prathima says confidently.

  
                         --DAY TWO--

"Dude! My life is over! She'll get engaged in a few hours! I can't live without her!" Akarsh says almost crying.
Akhil just hugged his friend and patted his back, not knowing what to do.

"BITCH! QUIT YOUR WHINING! I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE, I WILL STICK TO YOU LIKE A LEACH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!"
That was Manvitha's voice.

The moment the two men realized what was happening, their eyes widened in shock.

"Manvitha! Oh my God! What happened? Did you run away? Even after me telling you all those things?! Why?!"
Even though Akarsh was unhappy that she ran away, he hugged her anyways, and held her like he was holding onto his dear life.

"I don't do stuff like running away! I walked out like a heroine, just like how they show in movies!" She says dreamily.

"Are you saying your parents just let you go then? That can't be! They are dead against us being together!"

"You're right! But this sis here helped us!"
She pointed at the girl who was standing behind her all this time, but everyone failed to notice her because of her small stature.

It was PRATHIMA.

it was now Akhil's turn to get shocked, again.

"Prathima? You? What'd you do? Tell me!" Akhil held her by shoulder and shook her.

"I'll tell you what happened." Manvitha started: "So I was sitting there, all eyes on me. I was trying not to cry, waiting for this ceremony to be over so that I can run away from everyone for forever.
Suddenly a bunch of people in uniform burst into the stage. A woman helped me get up as other officials started asking questions like 'how old are you?'
I told them my age.
They got infuriated. They started lecturing my and that dude's parents about how it's illegal to marry a miner or to force her for marriage.
They threatened my parents that they'll get jailed if they tried anything like this again! Haha! That dude's parents were so scared, they left without a word!"

Guys were listening with their mouths hanging open all the time.

Now Prathima started:

"It was me, I called the SI (Sub Inspector) of this district, no big deal.
He thanked me for reporting this incident, took down the address of the venue and asked me not to worry.
It turns out he'd later contacted the DWCD (Department of Women and Child Development).
The officials Manvitha is talking about are the DWCD people.

I saw how helpless you morons were and I figured I had to take actions and I did. Hashtag, girl power! Hehe!"

Said Prathima and crossed her arms, before looking at Manvitha with 'aren't I cool?' look.

Manvitha crossed her arms and looked at Prathima and gave her an 'I totally agree' nod.

Guys just stood still.

Hey guys! Ssup?
This story is *cough cough* based on real life.
Also, this story is set in a tiny village in India.
Prathima is the most educated of all 4 characters.

And all credits go to rightful owner for the pic used in the beginning.
Hope you liked it!
Until next time,
Thank you and peace! ❤️