Part 1
Even 3 months of hard work and dedication didn't help in much savings. Rent for the room, food and grocery expenses, and everyday commute fare for M.R.T. left only a handful of dollars for Shailja. But still, her face is glowing with immense happiness and satisfaction.
Weather in Singapore always seems to be unpredictable. As soon as she gets back from the office, she is feeling dizzy because of the humidity and heat outside. She felt like drinking chilled water out of the fridge but the savings are still not enough to buy even a small one.
At one point she thought to open the middle door and get the water from Abhay’s fridge but then the echo and sensation of his hand felt with the exact same intensity when he slapped her on the cheeks and it stopped her thought of even going to his side of the house. Even it is said when a man's ego and a woman's self-esteem wake up, it turns the world upside down.
Today that refrigerator belongs to Abhay which they once bought together but it was Shailja’s choice. In fact, Abhay was also Shailja’s choice. She was very proud of her choice and her decision to get married to Abhay even after her family's strong opposition and disagreement.
“We have nothing in common. He is from a different caste. Even our social status doesn't match. His lifestyle is completely different from ours.” Shailja’s father reacted when she told him about Abhay.
But at that time Love is all over her and Abhay’s fascinating personality, his wittiness and ambitious nature made everything else unseen. Shailja and Abhay were studying together in college and the friendship turned into deep love with every passing year. Shailja is from an upper-class Jain family and Abhay is from a middle-class Bengali family. Their families are like two poles apart and it was way difficult to get their consent. So they decided to get married in court.
After post-graduation, Abhay was having an ordinary job in a small firm in Kolkata but his dream was always to fly in the sky and after marrying Shailja, it felt like that his dreams got wings and now no one can stop him from taking off. During a wedding, Abhay got to meet one of his distant relatives who offered him a job in his garments business settled in Singapore. He offered him a handsome salary and a home to stay in a foreign country. Abhay was looking for the opportunity and this one came from the front. He got super excited and it was like a step ahead in his journey towards success.
Passport, visa, and tickets everything got arranged in a matter of months and both are ready to start a new journey of life. But before leaving the country Shailja wanted to meet her family once. She called her mother and as it is said mother's love can do wonders, hence her mother's insistence and emotions convinced her family and they invited the couple for dinner.
Before leaving, her mother gave Shailja an envelope of farewell along with a beautiful jewelry set and two pairs of gold bangles.
Departure date arrived and both flew to Singapore with new hope and lots of dreams in their eyes. The Lion City welcomed them with open arms.
