The Glass Of Champagne

She sipped champagne as she feigned interest in their boring gossip. She was accompanying her mother-in-law on their weekly rummy and kitty party session, at yet another socialite's bungalow. Her afternoons were pretty much the same, wine tastings, cocktail parties, charity functions and many a time, shopping at designer boutiques.

She was kind of disturbed that day, her mom had called her up and like every time, insisted that she returned home.

"They cheated you dearly, come home. Get your job back, what kind of a life is this?" her mother had reasoned.

Her past was running down her mind now, maybe it was the champagne. She had been a brilliant student, and a good daughter to middle class working parents. She aced her degree in finance and cracked the initial rounds of an interview with a top MNC. The final interview was with the chairman and as she faced him, her heart fluttered. Young and dashing, he was more than handsome. And they shared the same surname, she noticed.

A few questions and he put down her file and looking her straight in the eye, he spoke.

"I can't give you the job, I propose marriage instead."

She was thrown off her feet but he calmly went on, "I see your address here. I will be meeting your parents tomorrow and my family will be joining me as well."

To cut a long story short, her parents were over the moon and so was she. The wedding was the talk of the town, covered by the media, splashed on page 3...she was a celebrity overnight. He splurged on her, provided her with all luxuries, her life was on a roll, so she complied with their request of her not working.

It didn't take long for her to fathom why he had hurried. She was qualified, beautiful and from the same caste. His parents were happy. He had no option, they were forcing marriage down his throat, since the day they found his sexual orientation was different. The scion of a wealthy family, the constant media attention, his parents were driving him nuts. He had successfully shut them all up now.

Her parents had been enraged and unlike some other traditional households, they wanted her to leave her husband and return home. They refused to see her leading a fruitless life, just for the sake of family reputation.

She was jolted back from the past, some lady wished to refill her liquor glass. With a smile, she suppressed her feelings. She wished she could tell her mother, that the wealth and riches she owned now, were beyond her middle-class family's imagination. She was used to the luxury, the comforts that money could buy. As far as love was concerned, her husband was broad-minded, he had mentioned that he wouldn't mind if she had some minor flings, while he enjoyed his.

She couldn't explain to her mother, the freedom and power that this life had gifted her. Traditions, principles and even love could take a back seat, she decided, as she enjoyed her second glass of champagne.