"But, god forbid, you call that a marriage." This woman has a simple question for the PM...
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00:00Dear Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji, Namaskara.
00:04I know that we don't have a lot in common.
00:07I mean, we're probably about as different as two people can be.
00:11Gender, generation,
00:13naan maathodu baashe anamik ashton narthagala, maybe.
00:16Need maathodu baashe anthu nanak ashton narthagala.
00:20And I guess that's really the beauty in unity and diversity, right?
00:25Maybe the unity part is that we can actually sit down and listen to each other.
00:29This is actually this thing that I wanted to understand.
00:32This question that I wanted to ask you.
00:34What is marriage to you, sir?
00:37Is it gender roles and expectations?
00:40Two children and obligations?
00:42Or is it holding on to traditions?
00:44These ancient traditions just shrouded in mystery.
00:48Don't question it. Don't change it.
00:50Just let it be.
00:51I mean, it's worked so far.
00:53Why change it now?
00:55Well, because half my friends have left this country.
00:59Our country, your country.
01:02And I'm just looking for another way how.
01:05How can I make calls and wedding preparations
01:10in the language that I've spoken my entire life?
01:13How can I maybe look at this person who I love so endlessly
01:18and call them my wife?
01:20How can I go to the house that I've lived in for the past 20 years
01:26with my partner's hand held in mine and not so much fear?
01:30A couple of rings, a little bit of celebration,
01:33a touch of pomp without permanent foreign relocation.
01:38To me, you know, marriage is cooking dinner
01:41and making sure that there's always enough for two.
01:45It's giving up the last spoon of ice cream.
01:48Not all the time, but just a few.
01:51When it's late after work, I go to pick them up.
01:54When I make tea, I always give them the bigger cup.
01:59But, you know, God forbid that you call that a marriage.
02:03It's making sure the geezer is on
02:06because I don't want them to have to wait.
02:08It's liking all their favourite songs,
02:11even the ones that I used to hate.
02:13It's folding up their clothes
02:15or doing any chores early that they loathe.
02:18But, you know, God forbid you call that a marriage.
02:22It's learning words in a language that I'm unfamiliar with
02:26just so that, you know, maybe when I speak,
02:29it makes them smile a bit.
02:30It's reminding them to drink water.
02:33It's reaching for all the dabbas on the top shelf
02:36because my partner is just a little bit short of.
02:39But, you know, God forbid that you call that a marriage.
02:44Once again, I must ask you, sir, what is marriage to you?
02:49Because it definitely can't be kindness, love and care.
02:57Because then you take one look at us
03:00and see that we're not treated fair.