Dear Rina,

Life here is so different from how I lived with you and Mother. I am expected to cook and clean still, but much more. My mother-in-law is constantly on my back about making everything perfect. It wouldn't be so hard to adjust if you where here with me. Although my husband, little sister, really reminds me of you he likes to boat race like you do, you two would be good friends. Hope you and mother are healthy and well!
Love your sister,
Neela

Dear Neela,

I’ve missed you so much already. I knew before you even started this marriage that everything would be different, Mother hasn’t shown much sympathy for you, but I sure have. I’m going to write to you everyday, sister. You know the worst part about you moving away? I have to do all the housework now. You would think that maybe she would try and do a couple things to help out, but no. She does nothing and makes me do everything. I don’t know what else to say... Well how was the ceremony? I’ve always dreamed about mine, but as soon as I found out that I don’t get the choice of choosing my husband I changed my ways.
Love you and miss you,
Rina

Dearest Neela,

Firstly, I wrote this letter as a sort of peace offering and I hope you will accept my apology. I understand how frightening and frustrating being part of a new family can be. I, too, felt this way when I first married your father. Looking back I cannot believe how I felt about him at first. I could not even stand being in the same room with him for the first week. But as you can see we grew to like each other and eventually to love. I offer you and your husband my best wishes for your future together.
Rina told me about your quarrels with Gulab (mother in law). I am sorry that you find your new family so disagreeable but perhaps you can find a way to make the best of it. I am certain the reason she seems so harsh is only because she wants what is best for her son. Gulab is like a rose. She can be thorny and hurtful or soft and beautiful. It all depends on how you look at her. Take care to pay attention during her lessons, daughter, she is the one you must convince if you ever want this marriage to be successful.
Your wedding was truly the most beautiful I have ever seen. My old wedding sari fit you perfectly, perhaps even better than me. You should be thankful that you had a wonderful, decent wedding and weren’t married at five like your cousin Lali. It was nice to see a proper Hindu wedding in this family for once.
Well, Rina should be arriving home soon, today we are making idli together for a small gathering I am hosting tonight.
Much love,
Mother

Okay Mother, I guess I should listen to you since you have already been through this with father. I just thought that I would instantly have a realationnship with my husband like you and father had. I had no clue that you had to work at it! I do listen to Gulab but she watches over everything I do, and she is so harsh and cruel in correcting me on everything. My wedding was wonderful and I loved all my new clothes and the new house to move into but everything is so different I am the main person that cooks here and I am expected to do nothing but take care of the family. I just didnt think it would be like this. hope you and Rina will come soon!
Sincerly,
Neela

Dear Rina,

I think of you very much, little sister, especially when I feel that this marriage will not work. I think of how it helps you and that is the only reason I can stand my mother-in-law. Thank you. I have very little to look forward to besides you and Usha, my sister-in-law. Having problems with the house work? I certainly am; it seems like that's all I get to do here. The ceremony was great. Everything was beautiful and the food was delicious. Maybe Mom will make an effort to find someone more agreeable for you. Keep hoping and come visit me soon when you don't have much housework. Hope you are happy and in good health!
Love you and Hope to see you soon,
Neela

Dear Neela,

I will visit you as soon as I can and I know that Mother will want to join me. She will probably want to catch up with your new parents-in-law. I will talk to Mother later this evening and see what she thinks of the idea. Oh, I'm so sorry. I hope your not too overworked. I've been trying to get a chance to talk to Mother about her loosening up on me. I don't think it was working the best. So how is the rest of the family and the house? I've heard that they have a huge family and that their house is marvelous, but I suppose you're the reason that it stays so nice and tidy, right? Well I hope to see a letter coming back soon.
All my love,
Rina

Dear Rina,
Thank you and when you come you can meet Usha! I knew Mother would want to come too but that's okay as long as you can come also! I guess I'll get used to living here, it's just so different from home. Hope your work load lightens also! The house is huge but very comfortable and yes, I am mostly the reason why it stays clean, but Usha also helps me and my mother-in-law keeps the kitchen spotless while I cook. Is Mom already looking for a match for you? My mother-in-law is looking for Usha but Usha is head strong like you and flatly refuses every attempt her mother makes towards finding a match! The only thing that I actually enjoy is that I get a beautiful new piece of expensive cloth every week to make clothes. I am already making a new sari for you in a really dark blue with silver threading to stitch with! I have to go start cooking the evening meal now.
Love your sister,
Neela

Dear Neela,
I knew that you haven't been having the worst time there, so I'm glad your getting to have some fun at least. I think me and Usha would get along quite well, I mean she sounds like a really fun person. Oh, that's so sweet of you to make me a Sari. I have been missing you so much. Mother actually hasn't been pressuring me into anything quite yet, but who knows. Mother has always been a secretive woman. With all the stress she is under I would say that the last thing she would be thinking about is getting rid of me too! Well, at least that's what I'm hoping. I hope to see a letter back from you soon.
Love,
Your sister Rina

Dear Rina,
It's getting better here. I’m starting to get used to the schedule of house work. Usha is really sweet and you two would be the best of friends. She is also helping me with your new sari it is almost finished! She taught me a new stitch that is really quite popular here for the edges it looks beautiful. Mother is secretive she didn't tell me that she found a match for me till a week before i had to meet him and that was only because i needed to take care of what i was going to wear. You will know soon enough though she will be going out to gatherings and lunches a lot to meet with your matches mother.
I love you and good luck,
Neela

Dear Neela,
I have been dreading that, every time Mother leaves the house I badger her to tell me where she is going. I know she is trying to set me up, but I don't think she wants me out of the house. I haven't been able to hang out with Casha for weeks, she understands of course. Mother is still torn up about everything, but she hasn't been talking to me much in school either. I feel like I'm loosing my friends in the process of helping my mother, but I guess we all need to make sacrifices.
Well Love you,
Rina

Dear Rina,
You have been right in dreading it but no matter what you do she will not tell you who your match is until it is certain not to be changed. After it is set for sure you will have to act like a lady at all times and not do anything immature or unwomanly so Mother is probably going to put an end to you playing so many sports. It loosens up after you get married though. Mother will also be taking you to a bazaar to pic out an outfit to meet your fiancé in and to quiz you on how well you can shop. I am sorry you not being able to see your friend Casha but that probably means a match is near for you and Mother doesnt want anybody gossiping because gossip often will ruin matches like it did for Mother’s sister Aunt Aishi. It really is better that way though because your match will probably live a couple villages away and you wont see them barley ever. If you just think of getting married as an adventeure it doesnt seem so much like a scrafice. You will be moving to a new place, meeting new people, and getting used to a new lifestyle it is actually a little fun! Hope you and mother are in good health and are happy!
Love,
Neela

Dear Neela,
I won't be able to write to you that much anymore, Mother has been having me with her shopping, and doing whateverelse she wants to. At least your mother-in-law hasn't been trying to get you two to have kids yet. Mother has been in a really good mood lately, I think she's up to something. Maybe the next time you write a letter to her you should tell me what's going on. The house has been getting dirty lately since we have been going out so much lately. I hope that you are having a good time there, and I hope to talk to you soon.
Love you,
Rina

Dear Rina,
Actually my mother in law has been trying to get us to have kids and I think that I might be pregent......DO NOT TELL MOM! I want to tell her in person so you and when i am absoultly sure that I am. Rina I am so worried about it. What if I have a girl? Sure my husband's family is rich but will they let me keep it or will they make me have an aboration? I am so scarred! Gulab is happy now and has been letting me slack off on my chores. But she is not telling anybody until she is sure. Rina write back immediatly I'm so worried!
Love your sister,
Neela