Status Updates From Arranged Marriage - Perjodohan

Aww there is marginal hope that things work out fine for & between Dinesh & Asha.

That she references Sita and a perfect life just being an illusion ... I wonder if she'd already started thinking Palace of Illusions & Forest of Enchantments at this point.

Woah! Ashoo! Rude! You're my age and had me feeling like you were in your 40s at least. Maybe being single & child free keeps you looking & feeling a bit younger a bit longer.

He wanted a chance to be a selfish, self-indulgent bastard. Yet again, no "good" male characters.

Uff! Therapy, people! Get therapy! Slapping the kid was one thing (kinda had it coming), but the impact of those words is going to last so much longer!

Apparently talking to one another and trying to see if things could move in a different direction, one mutually beneficial, is not a viable option. Why are the women in this book always either running back to disaster or away from difficult (but not irreconcilable) situations?

The Meena's of the world could do with a bit more actual self-reflection, instead of pretending at it.

Ashok has checked out of this marriage. And he is not excused, because it doesn't sound like he did much to meet Abha where she was, or help her out, or have a conversation. So his disappointment over under expectations that were never voiced appropriately are null and void.

"I'd been too well trained, all my life, I'm holding in anger and heartbreak." Weirdly, same. Nothing overt it intentional, but it was an unspoken expectation and the example around me. I'm contrast there were the American shows where everyone, including girls, spoke up. That have me a reference but not permission. Took me a long time & work on myself to break those patterns.

Lol I so know a Meena or two in my own life. They are... An interesting creature.

I don't think I've ever seen the word "ingenuous" actually used. Disingenuous, all the time. But not its inverse.

Oh look, another male character to dislike. Why Ashok? Why are you holding Meena's elbow? How disrespectful towards your wife of you.

Why would you end the story there!? What happens to Runu? How does it go with Sunil? Argh! This is what I dislike about short stories!!!

Ick. Sunil isn't wrong. He isn't right either. But the social stigma of what will people say when you don't have any means for financial independence is way stronger.
The greater evil being abortion because of gender, it's still the right thing to leave that home.

"I wept long, hot tears at the unfairness of a world which insisted not only that women had to have husbands but that they had to be grateful to them" - so exactly accurate. Similarly, a world that expects children to be grateful to the their parents for taking care of the bare minimum necessities.
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows would make an excellent follow up book to this story.

No, really. What's with the shouting and disparaging remarks and snide comments. The disrespect is abhorrent.

Why are all the men in this book unreasonable assholes?

I would have still left. Cause that language of what will people say and you're my wife you belong in my home would have been the death knell on that marriage.

This story reads so "INDIAN"... The dialogue is a bit stilted and over the top, the whole thing is heavy handed. Maybe one of her FIRST first pieces...?

That's not even his brother!? It's a fucking friend. And he knew he was coming and staying in advance but only have her last minute by the way. Fuck that noise!

Oh Deepak you fecking inconsiderate moronic idiot

When you visit someone, you shut the fuck up and follow the norms of that place and those people with the exception being health issues.

Back right up! Last minute trip into a semi-permanent stay with ZERO conversation and consideration. So much no!

You go Preeti's mum! You get it aunty!

She repeatedly centers men or doesn't name the women who are the main characters. Very annoying! Clearly deliberate. Highly effective writing.

Argh! I want to know HER story. Not his pathetic, weak minded version. I hope she got away and built and lived a really rich life! Again, a pity about the son. But I can understand it.

God forbid she be clever and capable enough to manage on her own. Of course he assumes someone else, some other man, was involved.

The lack of a second car and not trying to reach her how to drive is just another example of his controlling and isolating behavior.

Good girl! Took the valuable and ran from a marriage that was abusive towards her, but not necessarily the boy. Yes, yes, callous of her to leave the boy. How dare she and all that. But time and again we've seen abused women return to their husbands because they can't run away, and take care of the child, and find gainful employment for financial independence.

The poor baby who has lost his mother is now calling the grandmother Ma. Likely encouraged by the mother to do so. This whole thing is rage inducing.