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Journalism of Courage
When and why did you move to Delhi?
I moved to Delhi last month from Guwahati, Assam. I have run away from home because I fell in love with my employer’s daughter and married her. She’s 18 years old, I’m 25. We eloped and here we are.
How did you plan your move?
I didn’t plan falling in love with her in the first place. My employer came to the radio cab company I was working for in Guwahati and offered me a job to drive his car. I met his daughter when I drove her to school, sometimes to her tuitions, and we would talk. I liked her but I never thought she would look at me that way.
So how did the romance come about?
One day, over six months ago, she asked me if I was married or if I had a girlfriend. I said no. Then she asked me if I wanted somebody special. Of course, I did, I told her, who doesn’t? But I’m a driver and women usually don’t like the nature of the job, the timings; they say drivers smoke and drink, but I don’t do anything. I told her that and she said that she’d find me a girlfriend; she had a friend in mind. I wanted to tell her then, forget about your friend, tell me about yourself!
And then?
She didn’t say anything for a week or so. I didn’t ask her because I didn’t want any lafda with my boss. But one evening, she called me to tell me that she liked me and had feelings for me. I told her, me too. We waited till she finished her exams. We got married in a temple. She said her family would not accept me so it was best to elope. She has a friend in Gurgaon. He helped me get a job here.
Do you like Delhi?
My wife and I haven’t seen too much of the city. But I like it already, we are free here. I feel scared but every day I feel lighter. We’ll go back when I make some money and buy my own cab. For now, I love how big this city is — and my heart feels bigger because I am here with the girl I love.
City Seekers: A series on migrants in urban India.
