I was reading the morning newspaper when my wife peeped over
the top trying to get my attention.
‘Do you remember the Jones?’
‘Nope, who are they?’
‘We attended their elder son’s wedding a few years ago, can’t
you remember anything?’
‘Aah ok. What about them now?’
‘Their second son is getting married and we got an
invitation. We must attend considering their disappointment with the elder
son.’
‘Why, what happened?’
‘He got divorced?’
‘How come? I thought it was a love marriage.’
‘Well not only his, but two other weddings we attended the
same year ended in divorce.’
I put down the newspaper, my mind whirring like a machine,
‘Why don’t they inform the same people who took the trouble of attending their
wedding about their separation too. After all we prayed and wished them well,
we should be informed that our prayers and wishes went unanswered.’
My wife gave me a withering look, ‘Now don’t come up with
another so-called brilliant idea of yours.’
I watched her strut off, but my mind was now spinning like a
top. We make such an effort to attend a wedding, spend money, sacrifice
valuable time and when things don’t work out between the couple, we don’t even
get a ‘Sorry’ card.
Every couple who separates within five years should follow a
certain etiquette. For the last time they should again walk down the aisle
together, lawyers from both sides to be present and in the presence of all,
they should sign the divorce papers, return the gifts they received and walk
away separately, marking the end of their marriage as well as announcing to the
world about their single status.
Of course returning the gifts is a little far-fetched, but a
sorry to each guest about things not working out should be mandatory. And of
course both should foot the cost of the ‘Divorce Invitation.’
And how do we benefit? Oh we get a free meal this time
without paying anything for it! Yeahhhhhhh!
I wonder how many couples would have the courage to do this.
Usually a divorce is a painful and stressful experience, and can result in
couples going through depression or even contemplating suicide.
Why not treat this concept as a strategy to give courage and
moral support to the separated couple with a touch of humour, which could also
ensure that divorced couples actually don’t end up hating each other.
It makes little sense for couples who had vowed to love each
other for eternity, to suddenly end up as enemies for a lifetime.
Food for Thought!
