It was the wedding day, and Sharma ji’s son Raju was sitting dressed in the groom’s outfit. But Raju’s face looked as if someone had taken away his favorite mobile phone. He kept looking in the mirror and twisting his mouth in discomfort.
His mother asked, “Raju, don’t you look happy? Today is your wedding.”
Raju took a long breath and said, “Mom, I am scared.”
A neighbor uncle said, “Son, marriage is not an exam.”
Raju replied, “It is more difficult than an exam because here the one asking questions is not a teacher but a wife.”
Hearing this, some people laughed.
The wedding procession was about to start, but Raju’s face was still drooping like someone had fed him unsalted vegetables. His friend said, “Brother, smile a little; your photos will be spoiled.”
Raju said, “Photos can wait, but this is a question of life.”
When the procession reached the bride’s house, the drums started playing loudly. Raju nervously asked, “Why is the drum playing so loudly?”
His friend said, “It is in your welcome.”
During the garland ceremony, the bride came smiling, but Raju became even more nervous. Clouds of worry seemed to hover over his face instead of a smile.
As soon as the bride put the garland around his neck, Raju whispered, “Can I run away now?”
The priest standing nearby heard him and said, “The wedding time is not meant for running away.”
Even while taking photographs, Raju’s face remained gloomy. The photographer said, “Sir, please look a little happy.”
Raju said, “Happiness is inside; it is searching for a way to come out.”
After the wedding was over, his friend asked, “How do you feel now?”
Raju said, “I was scared before, but now I feel some relief… because the wedding is over.”
At night, when Raju reached home, he thought that keeping a long face was probably useless because the marriage had already happened.
People in the neighborhood say that the gloomy groom learned that a smile is necessary in a wedding; otherwise, people think the groom is still planning to run away
RAJEEV VERMA 