After that, they all moved together to the village. His father had an ancestral home there, and they eventually bought a small place in the area. It is a simple two-room house.
When his grandfather was still alive, he and the disabled aunt shared one room, while Rakesh lived in the other with his parents. Rakesh would sleep on the bed, and his mother and father would sleep on the floor. Since his grandfather passed away, Rakesh now stays alone in that room. His aunt moved into his old room because she cannot stay by herself in the grandfather's room.
What I haven't mentioned yet is that his disabled aunt is very childlike. Just like a little girl, she needs someone to help her with everything—from bathing to eating. To make matters worse, the house they live in has an asbestos roof. When it rains heavily now, the roof leaks. Rakesh is plagued by many such fears; he feels that if he takes a job far away, he won't be able to give his home and family the time and attention they desperately need.
The Dreams of a "Shy" Man
Now, you might wonder why I've shared all these details and struggles. I shared them because even if a person is shy, their dreams are never small. Just like any other young man, he has dreams of earning well and living in a luxurious house. And do you know what his biggest dream is?It is to get married.
Yes, I said it correctly. Does that make you want to laugh? No, it's not a laughing matter. In reality, people like this—those who are shy, a bit timid, and whose unique struggles are understood by no one—always long for someone by their side. They want someone who will understand their unspoken thoughts, or at the very least, try to understand what is in their heart.
The Dilemma of Love and Expectation
Another reason for his restlessness is that everyone his age is already getting married. Since his college days, Rakesh has developed feelings for two or three girls. He directly confessed his feelings to two of them, but he could never gather the courage to tell the third one, paralyzed by the fear that she, too, would reject him.
Let me tell you about an incident that happened shortly before his grandfather passed away. His family had arranged a marriage proposal for him. The girl was good, and Rakesh actually liked her. However, in the end, Rakesh himself was the one to turn down the marriage. The reason? Drinking alcohol was common in the girl's household. In India, drinking is generally looked down upon, and Rakesh's family, in particular, finds such habits completely unacceptable.
Rakesh envisions a specific kind of partner: someone who is family-oriented and "homely," a woman who will stand by his parents and his aunt. He wants a girl who is shy like him— someone polite, cultured, and well-mannered.
But now, a new problem has surfaced. Because of his increasing age, it's becoming difficult for Rakesh to find a match. There is another factor, too—their house doesn't have a concrete roof. Rakesh is under the impression that girls today only choose a husband based on his job and the size of his house.
He has a specific plan in his mind: he will go out and find a proper job only after he gets married. He wants someone to marry him who loves him for his soul and his character, not for his money or his home. Unfortunately, he hasn't found a single girl willing to marry him while he is still unemployed. And so, his age continues to climb.