Episode 98: The Glittering Trap — When a Family Sinks into Debt for Destination Weddings
Series: Broken by Burden: Financial Survival Strategies for the Troubled Mind
Date: 12-11-2025
🎭 A Wedding Meant to Dazzle, Not to Last
Characters (Revisited):
- Vikram Mehta (52): The father who spends beyond his means to “keep up appearances.”
- Neha Mehta (47): The mother, torn between pride and regret.
- Aarushi (24): The daughter, who values simplicity but gets dragged into her parents’ dream.
- Rajiv Khanna: The friend who pushes Vikram to splurge.
- Tanvi: The cousin obsessed with social media glory.
- Anil (Aarushi’s husband): A simple, understanding man, who later becomes a voice of reason.
🌳 The Wedding That Stole Their Peace
The wedding was a grand spectacle — a 3-day Goa destination affair with beachside mandaps, drones flying overhead, and endless reels posted by cousins like Tanvi.
But behind the lights, Vikram knew the truth: ₹38 lakh debt, and zero savings.
💔 Three Years Later — The Pregnancy
Time passed. Aarushi and Anil settled into their life, while Vikram and Neha continued paying ₹65,000 EMI every month.
Then, Aarushi shared the news:
Aarushi (on video call): “Papa, I’m pregnant. We’re so happy!”
Neha (excited but hiding tears): “That’s wonderful, beta! God bless you both.”
The in-laws, naturally, started expecting Vikram and Neha to contribute to the baby shower, hospital expenses, and gifts — after all, they were the “big-spending Mehtas” of the wedding.
🗣 Conversations of Guilt and Pressure
That night, Vikram sighed as he looked at the EMI slip.
Vikram: “We’re still paying for the wedding. How will we manage the baby expenses?”
Neha (softly): “We can’t let Aarushi feel we can’t support her. She must not feel embarrassed at her in-laws’ place.”
Vikram (bitterly): “All this show-off… for what? We’ve built an image we can’t maintain.”
❤️ Aarushi and Anil’s Kindness
But Aarushi and Anil, sensing their parents’ struggles, decided to handle the situation differently.
Aarushi (calling Neha): “Maa, don’t buy anything for the baby. Anil and I will manage. You’ve done enough.”
Neha (with a lump in her throat): “Beta, parents always want to give… but sometimes, we give too much.”
Anil (calmly): “Uncle, Aunty, your love is all we need. Not gifts. Please don’t burden yourself anymore.”
This maturity humbled Vikram and Neha — but also left them with a strange emptiness.
They realized that in chasing grandeur, they had sacrificed their own dignity and security.
⚠️ The Emotional Reflection
One evening, Vikram admitted:
Vikram (to Neha): “I don’t feel proud looking back at that wedding. Instead of joy, I feel we’re still paying for our ego.”
Neha (tearfully): “I thought I was giving Aarushi a dream. But maybe, I gave her guilt instead.”
💡 What This Story Teaches Us
- Big weddings create false expectations for years.
- Parents should focus on long-term security over short-term show-off.
- True joy comes from meaningful relationships, not lavish displays.
- Children value love and support far more than costly gestures.
🌱 Where They Are Now
By Aarushi’s second trimester, Vikram and Neha started a strict saving plan, cutting down all luxuries. They vowed never to repeat the mistake of spending beyond their means.
Vikram once told Anil over tea:
“You taught me something, beta — a marriage or a child isn’t about the money spent but the love shared.”
Episode 99: The Bachelor Mirage — When Endless Pleasure Leaves Nothing Behind
In the next episode, a lifelong bachelor spends his youth on whisky, foreign trips, and fleeting pleasures, believing he has no future burdens. But as retirement approaches, he finds himself without savings, true friends, or purpose — until an unexpected act of kindness changes everything.
Disclaimer:
This story is a work of fiction, inspired by real-life financial challenges faced by families in society. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The content is intended for awareness and reflection only and is not financial or legal advice. Readers are encouraged to make responsible financial decisions and consult qualified experts for guidance.
Finance World 
Leave a comment