She boarded her daily bus and soon it was time to reach out for the exit door as her stop was just few minutes away. The friendly old bus conductor whom she met every day during her journey from home to office flashed the regular friendly smile. He was on cloud nine as his daughter was soon to walk down the aisle. The wedding was just round the corner and it was for this reason that he was to go on a long leave. He was informing the same to the regular commuters. She congratulated him and the conductor accepted her wishes gleefully. For the next few days her regular commute continued. After a couple of days the friendly conductor was back. She checked with him if all went well at the wedding. With the same enthusiastic smile he answered in the affirmative. He described the elaborate wedding preparations that both the parties had done and all went well as planned. His happiness clearly reflected in his eyes. Then he went on to tell her that in a couple of months it was time to get his son married. In fact, just like his daughter his son too had completed his education and was doing well in life. He also mentioned how his son had found a lovely bride for himself who too was well educated.
She inquired about the lavishness that he plans for his only son’s wedding. To which he reverted that it would be court marriage. She was amazed. The memoirs of her own wedding preparations flashed before her eyes where her family was forced to make elaborate preparations in the
name of traditions. Out of curiosity she inquired why the difference. When the daughter was married off in style why have a simple legal formality for the son. His answer came as a pleasant surprise. His son’s fiancée was befitting for his son but came from a poor background. They did not want to put any unnecessary burden on the shoulders of the bride’s family. He said that perfect life partner was more important than a perfect wedding ceremony. His virtues and principles are truly an inspiration in a society which is still not liberated from the shackles of pseudo rituals which are a sophisticated form of dowry. In a society where the groom from affluent backgrounds burden the bride’s family with unreasonable demands in the name of customs this man and his family are a ray of hope that emphasize that good values still exist.