100 Words: You Do?
“I do.” he responded loudly to the priest’s question. She clutched his arm tight. “Don’t.” she screamed, or thought she did. Actually no words came out.
Her mind whirled. What was she doing? She hardly knew this man, how could she spend the rest of her life with him. What about all her dreams, her hopes?
She let go of the arm she was holding, turned to the man on her right and said, “My father might have agreed to give me away to you. But I didn’t.”
She held her head high as she walked out of the church.
Thanks for your feedback on my previous 100 words attempt. You’ve spurred me on to continue.
Just to explain, it is common practice in some Churches for the priest to ask: “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” And the father of the bride responds, ‘I do.’
This one is about arranged marriages – a practice that still exists in India and is often against the wishes of the girl. Something similar happened in our Church many years ago. A girl was being married off against her wishes, but before she reached the altar the priest received a phone call from a well-wisher that tipped him off about this. When he questioned the bride, she said that it was true. The wedding was called off and two lives saved. Unfortunately, this is one case in which it worked that way. Most often, no one has the courage to buck the system and many lives are ruined in the process.
May you be inspired – every day!
Wow.. So dramatic… 🙂
Glori recently posted..8 Easy Ways for Introverts to Recharge
Thanks, Glori. That was the idea 😉
You should write a short story of more than 100o words starting from this scene, or if you will allow me to, I will. Love the idea 🙂
Sulekha Rawat recently posted..You Complete Me…
Be my guest, Sulekha. Would love to read the rest 😉
You knowww I would comment on this one, Corinne..
And she did the right thing.
Punam recently posted..Dahej, Daajo, Dowry – All in the game
I knew you would, Punam. And yes, she did!!
Corrine that would not be a wedding I would want photograph lol!! I often wonder what is going through the bride & groom minds that day!! Hopefully not this lol
Haha! It’s pretty true to life this one, Jim. Only she didn’t go up to the altar but did it at the door! My father was supposed to raise the toast and came back to tell us that there was no wedding!
This is a perfect balance of drama and pathos – not easy to do in one hundred words. I must try this at some point. Not sure how I’d share them, but that can be worked out later.
Best wishes,
Casey
Casey recently posted..Ways of sharing memories after cyberloss
Thanks, Casey. Give it a shot – it’s addictive! 😉
Fabulous follow up!
Claire ‘Word by Word’ recently posted..A Letter to her Sister
Thanks, Claire.
Corinne, this is such a good follow up to the previous one. I love the courage you infused in this woman. Glad she walked away.
One lesson I’ve learned from writing short, short stories (and I haven’t written many) is that it helps one to keep the story tight, without any superfluous tangents, or descriptions. I’m so glad you’re delving into creative writing. It’s fun right?
Myrna recently posted..MULTIDIMENSIONAL SELF
Thanks, Myrna. I consider your feedback very important considering how well you do the short stories. I’m enjoying this – seriously!
Ooohhhh! I liked it!
Sili recently posted..Wearing the Big Girl Panties
Thanks, Sili ♥
Awesome! One brave woman, indeed!
Martha Orlando recently posted.."You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid!"
It’s nearly true to life, Martha. Except she did it at the entrance of the Church.
Wow! Really? Truth is wilder than fiction. 🙂
Martha Orlando recently posted.."You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid!"
Like I told Jim, my Dad had to raise the toast for the wedding. He went to Church and came back telling us the wedding was off. We didn’t believe him of course. It was all so dramatic. The priest got a call from the girl’s boyfriend telling him that she was being forced in to this marriage. So the priest asked her at the door and she said that it was true. The wedding was off!
Excellent! I recently wrote a short story – 1000 word limit. I didn’t think I could do it, but I confess the limit made me write tighter and stronger.
Brenda recently posted..Your Extraordinary Life
Thank you, Brenda. I’m honored to have your approval. I’m loving this – my first attempt at creative writing. I guess I’ll try the 1k words soon.
You’ve made me blush .. just open your mind and take notice if the world around you. There are stories in our life everyday if only we notice what’s going on around us.
Brenda recently posted..Your Extraordinary Life
Thank you again, Brenda. Oh the stories are all around – I didn’t have the courage to write them before.
Lovely attitude – she truly did the right thing. Beautiful narration undoubtedly:)
privytrifles recently posted..Sunday Scribblings: LOVE – A mystery ~ Part 5
Thanks so much, Privy. ♥
Thanks Sherlin and Privy.
Very intense moment BS. But I’m sure I’ll also have the courage to say, forget it…LOL!
I’m glad we’re not into arranged marriage 😉 although at my age, I’m having second thoughts 😛
I don’t doubt that you’ll have the courage to do anything you set out to do (or not do, in this case!), Melissa. I don’t have a problem with arranged marriages, I see them working much of the time. It’s when people are forced in to marriages that I have a problem. Want me to arrange one for you? 😉
LOL…arranged date would be a good idea BS 😀
melissa recently posted..The Bestest Mom Ever!
Done! 🙂
I wish more and more women had the strength to say “no” to marrying a man against her wishes
rimly recently posted..A Friday Moment
I wish the same, Rimly!
Love the dramatic ending! That is how it should be. 🙂
Rachel recently posted..Sunday Fun Day – Rock Eating Limerick
Thanks, Rachel. Glad you liked it!
Very well written. This has happened to some people, which is sad, I only wish that the girl spoke earlier rather than at the altar.
Magali recently posted..Dilli Taxi in Bombay by Akshay Bhoan
Thanks, Magali. Apparently, she was being held hostage by her father and relatives and had no choice until the last minute 🙁
Wonderful story Corinne, I wish my sister could have done this at her first wedding….Such a brave girl your heroine..<3
I wish a lot more women would have the courage this girl had, Jan.
awesome dramatization !
Rahul Miglani recently posted..voices in the dark
Courage speaks.