“You have, but I won’t,” Gabriel spoke. “I won’t make his marriage easy for him. I will put him through a test.”

“Look Gabriel, we can’t do this. Not right now. Just let him get his mind cleared, then…”

“No Dad, you can’t. You can’t show leniency all the time. We have to be a little firm. Our ancestors made sacrifices at Octaland in order to gain respect. Today we have respect in society just because of them. This weak little boy Aaron is going to cost us our respect if he doesn’t learn valuing our family norms.”

“Okay, so tell me what makes you think he is disrespecting our family norms?”

“Hello?” Gabriel uttered getting stunned. “He married some woman out of our family. And without our consent. Isn’t that violating our family values?”

“…No, it’s not,” Shawn replied after a pause.

“Well, then I guess,” Gabriel stood up getting provoked, “you guys have no feelings, no respect for Gabriel Tribiani’s sacrifices.”

He walked away leaving his father alone.

********************

One Month Later

I woke up one morning. I saw that my wife was sitting a bit depressed at the sofa. I kept on looking at her for a while and realised that she was keeping her feelings all bottled up. I knew that she wanted to meet my family and I was avoiding this for a while.

That moment I decided that I shouldn’t be too mean and I must do what this kind woman wanted me to. If not, then I must ask her at least. So I did it. And the result was obvious. However, the consequences were unexpected.

“I’ll take you soon, next weak hopefully,” I answered the moment she requested about it.

“Great, that would be just wonderful,” she replied excitedly.

I got to admit it. I was feeling good about it, making her happy. But was I ready to do what I promised her. I don’t really think so.

It was like a countdown for me, a time bomb’s countdown. I just knew that my family wouldn’t approve of this marriage so easily but I also considered the fact that if they had to disapprove this marriage then they would have at least sent me a text message or would have made a phone call. But there was no sign of disapproval. It was just silence on their part. This silence was kind of scary but I managed to deal with it.

One day before Lindsay and I were about to leave, I asked her:

“Hey Lindsay, what if my family disapproves this marriage?”

“Oh, that wouldn’t be easy to handle. What would you do?”

“Well, let me tell you very honestly. I’d rather leave them but never you.”

She was a bit embarrassed so she didn’t respond. I however continued:

“Then, we will settle here forever.”

“Oh no Aaron, we will try and convince your family. We are not going to abandon any family.”

“What about your family?”

“They are not so choosy about marriages. They would let me marry anyone I want.”

“You never told me that…”

“You never take interest in my family or such talks.”

“Alright, let’s forget it,” I tried to stop this conversation. “I just have this load on my head which is really bothering me.”

“Oh, you mean about tomorrow?”

I was getting irritated. First of all, I couldn’t stop her from repeating ‘Oh’ all the time and secondly I didn’t want to answer all these questions, even though I was the one who started this conversation.

“Yes, it is about tomorrow,” I answered anyway.

“Oh, well, try not to think about it so much.”

“Or how about we… hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

“Oh no, please don’t think like that.”

I knew this conversation was never going to end which was why I stopped talking.

********************

Next morning, the two of us were waiting at the bus stop. The bus that we were waiting for was supposed to be taking us back to the city where I lived. The bus came within few minutes we were the only passengers at the stop.

Next hour, we were seated together on the seat inside the bus. I was very uneasy and I can’t define how much afraid I was. We were getting closer to our city with time. After another hour, we finally reached my city.

We stepped out of the bus, I carried our bags and suitcases, and then we stopped the taxi. We sat inside the vehicle and asked the driver to take us to our destination.

Meanwhile at my house, my father and my mother were having breakfast. Gabriel was reading some book that was not officially published. They heard the doorbell. Gabriel got a bit alert and was about to stand up. But my father stood up first and went to answer the door.

As he opened the door, he saw his son and his daughter in law. That’s right, me and Lindsay. At first he smiled and greeted:

“Hello Aaron, how are you? You’re finally back!”

I also hugged him. He asked me nicely:

“So, you’re finally married?”

“Yes, I am.”

I stepped inside. My father looked at my wife with kindness and shook hands with her saying:

“Hello dear, welcome to our family!”

She replied smilingly:

“Thank you!”

I walked inside carrying my bags until I met my brother who was standing right in front of me. He was looking at me, quite sternly. I asked anyway:

“Hi, how are you?”

He kept on staring at me until it became really annoying. So I said gaining a little courage:

“Alright, what’s the matter with you?”

He opened his eyes wide and pushed me with all his strength. I was about to fall. He yelled getting enraged:

“What’s the matter with me? This stupid marriage cost you your manners, didn’t it?”

I got angry on his words but I controlled my temper to prove him wrong. My father rushed in between us and held Gabriel. Gabriel resisted and spoke:

“This guy doesn’t know who he’s dealing with…”

“Look Gabriel,” my father said to him. “We are Tribianis, we are peaceful people.”

“Peaceful, yes!” he replied looking at my father, “but immoral and disgraceful, never!”

My father was left speechless.

Gabriel then pointed his finger towards me looking at my father and spoke:

“I need answers. Father I need answers to my questions from this guy. Otherwise, either he stays or I’ll stay in this family.”

My mother intervened by scolding Gabriel angrily:

“Shut up! I have had enough of your over reacting on family matters.”

There was a complete silence, she continued:

“Aaron is as much part of this family as you are. And we all are equals. And don’t you dare try to break this family apart.”

“Mother, you are not allowed to talk in these matters,” he said to her.

“What the hell do you mean by that?”

“You know very well that women are not allowed to take part in our family dispute that has been running since decades.”

“This has nothing to do with Hector Gabriel dispute. This is our internal family matter. Here you are not allowed to impose those rules.”

“Dad, you tell her to back off,” Gabriel said looking at our father.

Our father gently took him to another room saying:

“Your brother has just arrived. Let’s give him a break. We’ll talk later on this matter.”

My mother happily looked at Lindsay and said:

“Welcome home, my daughter in law! You are a member of our family and I shall consider you like my daughter.”

I was a bit relieved. My mother and wife shook hands. I knew that my parents would be supportive and the only person who was causing the real trouble was my extremist brother Gabriel. And I had to stay away from him as much as possible.

********************

That evening, Lindsay was standing alone at my room’s balcony. I walked towards her and stood next to her. I asked her looking at the road outside:

“So what do you think?”

“Excuse me?” she got a bit confused.

“What do you think now?”

“About what?”

“Should we stay here or should we go back?”

“Oh no please, I don’t want us to go back. This is our home. Things will get better with time, I’m sure!”

“Really?”

“Yeah”

“Are you sure?” I tried to get the true answer from her.

“Well yeah, I mean sure your brother’s a little aggressive but I like your parents.”

“You haven’t really talked to them, how come you’re so sure about them?”

“Oh come on, they seemed nice and peaceful.”

“My mother might be…what you call peaceful. But my father, well he’s not. To be very accurate, within few days you’ll realize that my father is also strict about some family values.”

“Well, I’m okay with that!”

After few minutes, my mother knocked the door from behind. We turned to look at her. I asked her to come and join us. As she came closer, she said to us:

“I’m here to tell you guys that you must stay away from Gabriel as much as possible. Because I know that he’ll find some way to create mischief among us and tear this family apart.”

“I agree,” I answered. “That’s exactly what we were talking about.”

“Good, you are smart and sensible now. You have a responsibility of this marriage on yourself so you must handle it smartly.”

“I will!”

“And secondly, you must find a job. A job that pays you better.”

“Sure!”

“You know the reason why I’m disappointed with your brother and satisfied with you? It’s because he never got married and you are.”

I was a bit moved and happy for what she said. Then she spoke:

“You need to maintain this and sustain it forever.”

“Yes, I will.”

She left after a while. Now Lindsay and I were really relieved as if there was no trouble at all. But things were about to get worse quite soon.

********************

Later that night, I heard my cell phone ringing. It was my father’s call. I was a bit surprised but I answered anyway:

“Yes?”

“Aaron, hi. Here’s the deal. After few minutes I want you and your wife to come and sit with us at the guest room. And then we’ll talk, get to know each other.”

“Us? You mean you and Gabriel?”

“Yes, you see Aaron all I’m trying to do is bring you guys together. I want you two to keep your differences aside and talk like adults.”

“I have no problem with that. But I know that my brother will find out a way to make a mess out of everything.”

“He won’t I promise you. I’ll talk to him, don’t worry about that.”

“Okay then, we’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Great, I’ll see you.”

I disconnected the call.

Ten minutes later, my father and my brother were seated on separate sofas in the guest room. My wife and I were seated opposite to them on a couch. My father began the conversation:

“So, we’re glad that one of our sons is finally married and is going to extend our dynasty further.”

“Indeed,” I added.

“So Lindsay, I’d like to know about your family. Please begin with your family background.”

Here we go again. My father as usual was always bothered about history which never really mattered to me.

I however, do not remember the exact details of that conversation but I do remember that my father’s face was getting dull from whatever information he was getting from her. This was a really turning point.

My father got silent and kept his hand on his fore head as if regretting something. I now started paying attention to their words.

“Father, is it true?” Gabriel asked my father.

“What?” I asked.

“Father what I’m thinking, is it true?” he asked getting enraged.

“What’s going on?” I asked raising my voice.

“Did I say something inappropriate?” Lindsay asked.

“Father I’m asking something!” Gabriel spoke furiously hitting his hand on the table.

“Okay listen!” my father finally spoke. “Aaron you’ve made the biggest mistake of your life. And if you want to undo it then you have to divorce her right now.”

“What?” I asked getting shocked.

“Yes Aaron, you have blindly married this woman, not caring about what her family background was.”

“Where exactly are you going with this?”

“This girl Lindsay is of Hector Tribe.”

“Hector Tribe?”

“Yes, the cruel Hector was her ancestor.”

Gabriel finally spoke:

“And the only reason I’m not taking any action is because she is a woman. And according to the rules of our rivalry, we are not…”

“…I’m talking Gabriel,” my father stopped him, “Aaron, we want you to ask this woman to leave right now. And you must divorce her if you want to be a part of this family.”

I stood up getting so much under pressure. I said to my father:

“I am not going to divorce this woman. We are married and she is a part of this family now.”

My father stood up and exclaimed angrily:

“Who the hell is she compared to us? She belongs to that criminal landlord Hector’s generation. They all were evil criminals. I will not tolerate any such person under my roof.”

“I can’t believe you Dad!”

“Get her out of my house. Or Gabriel’s going to kick you both out.”

to be continued...