Life is Funny
By Lokanath Mishra
In the picturesque Shillai village of Himachal Pradesh, a young woman named Sita was in her final year of B.A. when she fell in love with Kapil Negi, a software engineer. Kapil, who also loved Sita deeply, decided to approach his parents to discuss their future together. However, his parents had a unique condition – they wanted Sita to marry not just Kapil, but also his brother Pradeep, who was also a software engineer and worked in the same company as Kapil. Both brothers were staying in Noida and shared a flat.
The proposal was taken to Sita’s parents, and after discussions, both families agreed to the arrangement. The traditional polyandry ceremony, known as ‘Jodidara’, was held, attended by hundreds of villagers. The ceremony was a celebration of the union between Sita, Kapil, and Pradeep, and was a testament to the cultural heritage of the Hatti tribe.
Kapil and Pradeep, the two brothers, later spoke out about the ceremony, emphasizing that the ‘Jodidar Pratha’ has been a part of their tradition for generations. They stressed that the decision to marry Sita was mutual and made with their consent. “We got married with our consent. It was our mutual decision,” Kapil said, highlighting the importance of understanding and respecting cultural diversity.
The marriage sparked a discussion about the tradition and its significance in their community. While some people criticized the arrangement on social media, the Negi brothers stood by their tradition, which is recognized under Himachal Pradesh’s revenue laws. They emphasized that their tradition was not imposed upon them, but was a part of their cultural identity.
The Negi brothers’ marriage is a testament to the diversity of cultural practices in India. Despite the challenges and criticisms, they have chosen to follow their tradition and live their lives according to their values. Their story highlights the importance of understanding and respecting cultural diversity, and the need to appreciate the unique traditions and practices of different communities.
Sita was expecting a visit from her in-laws, Kapil and Pradeep’s parents. However, when she was asked to prepare a nice meal for them, she responded angrily, refusing to cook and suggesting that Kapil take them to a hotel instead. She mentioned that she was already cooking for three people daily and sharing a bed with both brothers in shifts, four hours with each one, and didn’t have the patience to look after their parents.
But when Sita opened the door, she was shocked to see her own family members standing at the gate, including her parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, and their children. She was stunned and frustrated, having expected her in-laws to visit, not her own family.
Sita quickly called Kapil, demanding to know why they hadn’t informed her earlier about the visit. “Why didn’t you tell me? Bring food from the hotel,” she said, trying to keep her cool.
Kapil’s response caught her off guard. “We planned a surprise party to teach you a lesson,” he said, revealing that both brothers had coordinated a four-day trip with their family at a hill station and had invited her family to her home.
Sita’s anger turned to embarrassment as she realized she had been outsmarted by her husbands. Kapil’s parting words stung: “Enjoy with your family while we enjoy with ours. Until you consider our family as your own, we won’t consider your family as ours.”
With that, he ended the call, leaving Sita to manage the unexpected gathering. She took a deep breath and put on a smile, welcoming her family members into her home. As she served them and caught up with their news, she couldn’t help but reflect on the importance of mutual respect and understanding in marriage, particularly when it came to family dynamics.
The situation had taught her a valuable lesson: that being part of a polyandrous family required a lot of compromise and understanding. She realized that she needed to work on building a stronger bond with her husbands’ family and consider them as her own. As she looked around at her family members laughing and chatting, she knew that she had a lot to learn and adapt to.
Despite the initial shock and frustration, Sita decided to make the most of the situation and enjoy the time with her family. She knew that with time, patience, and effort, she could build a stronger and more loving relationship with her husbands and their family.
After the incident where Sita’s family visited unexpectedly, she realized her fault and made an effort to love not only her husbands, Kapil and Pradeep, but also their parents. She gave birth to six children and lived a happy life with her polyandrous family.
Tragedy struck when Kapil died in a road accident, leaving Sita and Pradeep to raise their children together. Despite the challenges, they stayed happily together, and their children grew up to be successful in their respective fields.
However, after 38 years of marriage, Pradeep unexpectedly left Sita for a younger widow woman. Sita was heartbroken and went to a lawyer to file divorce proceedings. The petition was pending for a year, and Sita was determined to move on with her life.
But life had other plans. Pradeep, who had left Sita for a younger woman, got sick, and the younger woman left him. He was forced to return to his wife of 39 years, Sita. When her advocate asked Sita why she took him back, she smiled and said, “Life is funny.”
TThe situation had taught her a valuable lesson: that being part of a polyandrous family required a lot of compromise and understanding. She realized that she needed to work on building a stronger bond with her husbands’ family and consider them as her own. As she looked around at her family members laughing and chatting, she knew that she had a lot to learn and adapt to.
The phrase “Life is funny” suggests that Sita has come to accept the ups and downs of life and has learned to find humor and wisdom in her experiences. Her story serves as a reminder to appreciate the people and relationships in our lives and to be prepared for the unexpected twists and turns that life can bring.