Custom dictates that once you tie the knot in India, the bride has to pack all her stuff and move to her sasural, aka her husband’s home. It’s tradition, and even though times are changing and many women stay with their family after the wedding, the majority still sticks to convention. As you can imagine, for brides who share a close knit bond with their families, especially their mothers, it’s one of the toughest adjustments to make. Your life is suddenly turned upside down, and everything you’re so used to and comfortable with disappears. Your necessities become luxuries and though your in-laws might shower you with love, nothing really compares to the bond you share with your own parents, right? To think you won’t come back to your good ‘ol bed every day, to not wake up to your maa’s chai (that no one else in the world can replicate), and to not have your mother comfort you with a hug– Ah, that’s a whole lot of sacrifice that just doesn’t get enough credit, does it?
Today, we spoke to 5 newlywed women , and asked them what they’d like to tell their mothers before they move out of their comfort zones. Here’s what they told us:
1. “Maa, you are my one and only mom… meri ek lauti maa… and even though I’m not going to be around you as often as I used to, I never want you to feel like we’re drifting apart. I only realised your value after it sunk in that it’s time to leave MY home and call someone else “mom.” Sorry for fighting with you all the time, up until my wedding day – I have nothing but respect, love and regard for you. No one can ever take your place.”
Priya Haridas
2. “My heart never felt as heavy as it did the day I was packing to move to the US. And I know that yours felt heavier. Just the thought of having to leave you broke my heart and that’s when I realised how much I’m going to miss you and how hard it’s going to be without you. I’ll never be able to cook like you do, run my house and home like you do, manage my life like you do – but I’m going to try! I love you Maa, life will never be the same…
Roxanne Pereira
3. “You have pampered me throughout my life and spoilt me beyond repair. I didn’t agree to get married for the longest time because I didn’t think I’d ever be willing and ready to live without you in the same house. I don’t know why and how you talked me into this… this is ridiculous, actually!”
Sailee Jagtap
4.“I just want to say thank you to you, Mom. For tolerating all my tantrums through so many years, for being a rock solid support and for loving me unconditionally even when I didn’t deserve to be loved. There is no one or nothing that means more to me that you do. I am moving to another home, but I’m taking with me a grateful heart and all your teachings. We’ll still be as close as we are and have been… don’t worry… I’ll never stop troubling you!”
Sanjana Shah
5. “Dear Maa, I might be moving to another house but I won’t stop bugging you. You will still be my SOS. You will be still above all, my first priority. And yes, I still love you more than I love my husband. And guess what, he knows that and is a little jealous of you too!”
Anannya Chatterjee
