Civilized Beggars / Dahej ki Kimat / Scary Demands /

Adal Badal kar samjhaai, dahej buri baat hai bhai

In the middle of the sky, there is heaven, far away from our dear earth,
from where Lord Vishnu operates the whole universe. Today he is sitting in his
courtroom. His unusual darbaris Chulbul Pandey & Rajnikant are discussing
some critical Bollywood issues, like how to make Fardeen Khan realize that he
cant act? Are Ranbir and Katrina perfect for each other? etc. Suddenly the three
of them notice Narad Muni entering the court, hymning his favorite chant.
Lord Vishnu immediately calls him and complains about not meeting off
late. TO this Narad explains that he had been busy taking care of increased
atrocities in the world, one of the most brutal being the killing of young girls due
to dowry. Lord Vishnu stood up in shock. For a moment he couldnt believe his
ears. He asked Narad, how is it even possible. Dowry had ended decades ago.
Today the women are so empowered, people are so educated, and life is so
advanced; how could even someone think of dowry. At this moment Narad asks
Lord Vishnu to visit a family with him and experience what a girl still goes through.
They leave for earth at this moment.
There was a young girl named Sunita. Despite of being born in a middle
class family, she was very ambitious, wished to fly high and be independent. Days
were very joyous for her, and like any young girl she had beautiful dreams about
her prince charming and marriage. But she was equally aware of the fact that her
society was badly stuck in the bloody claws of dowry. Dowry, that bloody devil,
even thought of which could bring chills to a girls parents. Thats why she had
made up her mind that her dream boy would be the one, who would stand
against dowry.
At such a young age Sunitas hand was asked for by distant known. Ravi,
would be groom of Sunita, owned a shop in city market. He was well behaved,
good looking and an ambitious boy. Like the other boys of his age, he too aspired
to rise high and be a successful businessman one day. Though his parents were
not so well educated, Ravi was well learnt and quiet modern in his thoughts. He
staunchly opposed dowry and thats why he had ensured that his family would
never expect or ask for anything in dowry. With everyones consent, the marriage
was fixed and a simple ceremony marked onset of their happy family life.
Time flew happily and they weaved lovely dreams of happy future. Although at
times Ravis mother did feel uncomfortable when she was confronted with
questions on dowry by her neighbors or relatives, but looking at the happy life of
her children, she decided to keep her desires and concerns to herself. All this time,
Ravis shop had grown too, but not the way as he had dreamt of. He still carried in
his corner of heart, that dream of rising to be a rich businessman someday. He
was doing good enough to support his family of five. Sunita and Ravi had
somehow found content in their little world; they were at peace to see smiling
faces around.
Then one day, a highly flamboyant person entered Ravis shop. He appeared to be
one of those brats, who knew just how to burn their money. Ravi carefully looked
at this highly decorated procession of cheap richness and almost came to shock to
find out that he was none other than his old friend, Bobby. Ravi, recalled that
Bobby had owned a similar shop in distant market. Ravi was though happy to see
him, but at the same time he was curious about how a dumb fellow like him could
raise so much. Bobby narrated him the complete story of his recent past. Like Ravi,
Bobby too got married a few years back. That was the time when he got his
desires fulfilled. His family had asked for a lot of dowry from his wife Sheenas
family. Now, using that dowry he was spending a king-size life. Bobbys principle
was his Father-in-laws wealth was for his and his familys happiness only and
hence there was no harm in asking for it.
Ravi felt greatly disappointed that his dear friend had such thoughts and
acted so wickedly, but in one corner of his heart the seeds of jealously had
germinated. The thought of having a lavish lifestyle at the cost of wealth of his in
laws slowly gripped him. Initially he was upset with his friends growth but slowly
Bobby went off his mind, he was now only thinking about how he also could have
enjoyed the joys of life if only his father in law had given him lots of dowry. Poor
fellow in craving to own materialistic gifts was on verge of losing the real
happiness of life. He used to remain sad and lost. He hardly took any interest in
Sunita. Although everyone kept enquiring, but he would always ask for excuses.
But finally one day he couldnt hold it any longer and burst open in front of his
mother. So much strong was the evil desire to get dowry that even a wise man
like Ravi had completely lost his mind. Probably that was the end of all their
happy days. All smiles and contentment was crossing their doorsteps and was
about to fly forever.
A dissatisfy mother could not take her sons condition. It led to a perfect
plot where she could spat out all the venom on the unfortunate girl that had been
building in her, all these years. Sunita was greatly surprised at this sudden
transformation of this behavior of her in laws. Since she had some idea of her
mother-in-laws hidden desires, so she chose to just keep quiet. But what really
shocked her was indifference of Ravis behavior to all this; and finally that day
came too when Ravi openly expressed his desire for dowry. Sunita almost went
numb for a while. She had no idea about how all this had surfaced up. Although
she had no idea about where to go, but she was very clear about one thing, she
was not going back to her parents. Gradually, Ravis taunts turned into abuses and
then fights. Sunita used get thrashings and ill-treated, almost every now and then.
One day she finally went to Lord Vishnu and asked him, Why all this has
happened to me? Where was I wrong? What sin did I commit? If this is how
Almighty God had written her fate, she no longer wanted to live. She was fed up
of her life. At this moment, Lord Vishnu too couldnt take it any longer.
He finally decided that some positive solution to such a problem is must,
and then this idea struck to him. He saw that on one side there were Men who
had turned into greedy wolves, who were ready to do all kind of atrocities for
petty pieces of copper, while on other side were his poor daughters who were
ready to take anything, just to keep their parents away from tiniest of worries.
Lord Vishnu finally decided that the best way to bring back his boys into their
senses was to swap their roles with the ladies. So he swapped the souls of Sunita
and Ravi. Now, Sunita was in Ravis Body, while Ravi was in Sunitas body.
Unknowingly, they started to play their usual roles. Ravis mother was as usual
playing her tantrums, but it was Ravis soul who was facing them.
He was shocked to experience what actually his wife faced every day. It
was so inhuman and unjust. This was the moment when he realized that how
much he had belittled himself in front of his wife, in-laws, and his society. It
occurred to him as if he had suddenly woken up from a bad dream. He felt guilty
of committing a big sin and the feeling of remorse overtook his heart. He
apologized to his wife and her parents; explained to his mother that how evil had
got into his heart. The feeling of jealousy and greed for dowry would have ruined
everything in his life, only if Lord Vishnu hadnt saved them.
So the whole family finally thanked Lord Vishnu and vowed to lead a
simple, happy, and satisfied life forever. Lord Vishnu cant keep on swapping souls
in every house to explain evils of dowry, but we are mature enough to imagine
how it would feel to walk in the shoes of poor girls, who bear such pains in their
Real homes.

-------------------------------------------------The End-------------------------------------------------