Lockdownwasn’t that easy and same for all. You might have heard of stories wherein peoplewere practicing their forgotten hobbies and having a quality family time, whileon other side there were people who were struggling to have a two-time meal.Moreover, the stress and anxiety that covid19 induced lockdown brought withitself broke all records of depression.
TheTrueScoop team recently interacted with people especially girls who had somestrange stories about lockdown to share. You believe or not, there werefamilies who forced their children to get married in order to save some moneywithout facing societal pressure.
Inthe month of March to May 2020, Tanisha Gupta (26) has paid as many as fourvisits to a mental health counselor. Reason: She has been feeling depressed dueto the continuous pressure from her parents to get married amid the ragingpandemic.
Tanisha,who lives in Model Town in Jalandhar, says Covid-19 has proven to be a blessingin disguise for middle class families as marriage expenses have reduceddrastically owing to capped guest lists and other pandemic-precipitatedrestrictions.
Shesays she has done everything she can and given every possible excuse to changethe mind of her parents, who have now started ‘emotionally blackmailing’ her bysaying “they will be at peace only when they see her well settled”, or “theireyes long to see grandchildren before they die”.
“Iwork for a finance company here on a salary of Rs 35,000. I have my dreams thatI wish to fulfil and want to grow professionally. Above all, I am not mentallyprepared to get married,” she says, adding that she does understand that oncethe pandemic abates, weddings will again become outrageously grand exhibits dueto the societal pressure, but that does not mean she shall ‘sacrifice’ herdreams.
LikeTanisha, many young girls and boys currently living at home have a similarordeal to share. Most of them are from middle class families and say theirparents have been pressuring them to get married in the pandemic era and tiethe nuptial knot by organising a sober ceremony to save money.
Ritika(name changed), who failed to convinced her parents and got married last month,says: “My cousin’s wedding was scheduled in the month of May and was supposedto be a big-fat event but due to the Covid-induced lockdown, the marriage wassolemnised at our residence in the presence of 10 to 12 relatives. My uncle washappy with the way ceremonies were held. He then convinced my father to find amatch for me and get free of his ‘responsibilities’.”
Ritika’sfather then contacted a marriage bureau and sought pictures of suitablematches. “Within three months, everything was planned and I married inSeptember. Though I am still angry with my parents for rushing things, destinyhad its own plans and I must say I have got a quite understanding partner,” shesays.
DaleepKaur, who runs a marriage bureau, says during the lockdown she had received alot of queries for partners. “Covid-19 failed to dampen the spirit of thosewilling to get married,” she said.
KavitaSharma, a psychiatric, said that during lockdown children had already struggledwith job and career-related issues and the pressure to get married must have addedto their woes. Although I haven’t come across any such case personally, I mustsay that Parents should always show some understanding and support their kidsno matter what. Besides, decisions like marriage, having kids should always beleft upon the children to decide, she added.