Should Lakshmi have tried to make her marriage work the second time around? Why or why not?
Created: 03/27/20
Replies: 16
Join Date: 10/15/10
Posts: 3442
Join Date: 06/19/12
Posts: 407
Had she been the same 17-year-old she was when she left, that might have worked. But by the time her ex became a reasonably human being, I think she was much too independent and used to operating on her own to return to a relationship with a more traditional Indian guy like Hari (even if he had gotten past beating women). Jay Kumar, on the other hand, offered some possibilities.
Join Date: 01/22/18
Posts: 187
Join Date: 06/05/18
Posts: 245
I don't think she should have tried to make the marriage work. While her husband had changed somewhat, there were still issues with him. Most of all she didn't respect or love him. She had come too far on her own to go back.
Join Date: 04/21/11
Posts: 264
Join Date: 08/30/14
Posts: 265
No, I don’t think Lakshmi should have tried to make her marriage work a second time. Lakshmi had matured and was more confident by the time she met up again with Hari. She was more aware of what she wanted in her life and was in a better position to pursue her goals without depending on a man she didn’t love.
Join Date: 03/14/19
Posts: 208
Lakshmi has built a good life for herself. I am not so sure her husband is a changed man or that he would be if she went back to him or allowed him to live with her and Radha. He would still feel he is her ruler.
Join Date: 02/06/17
Posts: 438
Lakshmi begged her parents not to force her to marry in the first place. Her mother-in-law realized that her son was not good husband material. Lakshmi left the only life she knew with nothing but the knowledge her MIL shared with her. She was not the same person when they "found" each other again. I think that Lakshmi worked so hard to improve her life and find success that she did not have time to resolve her feelings or truly move forward with regard to her relationship with Hari. I based then on her reaction when Lakshmi realized Hari was in Jaipur- -it was obvious that she did not trust him and was still very angry- -maybe afraid of him. So angry and afraid that she made it clear to Hari that she planned to divorce him- -she WAS NOT going back!
Once Hari came to Jaipur he began to understand that he needed to live his life differently and behave in a way that honored his mother. I didn't feel like he was pushing Lakshmi to reunite with him. I think as part of his self-discovery, he realized that he had treated her horribly, and the best thing he could do to prove he was genuine in his desire to change was be respectful of Lakshmi. I see two people who rose above their beginnings, invested in themselves, and through their own growth chose to give back to others. I think they can be friends/colleagues who support one another as they heal others and continue to heal themselves.
Join Date: 02/07/18
Posts: 49
I don't feel that Lakshmi should have tried to make her marriage work for a second time around. She had changed and become much stronger and independent and had developed into a stronger woman. Her husband had undergone his own changes, but the servitude that would have been required in the marriage situation would have not allowed Lakshmi to progress and grow towards her own individual happiness. Somethings once lost are gone forever...Lakshmi's marriage was lost for good reason.
Join Date: 12/22/11
Posts: 138
No, I do not think that Lakshmi should have tried to make her marriage work the second time.
Her husband was abusive to her, too much time had passed since she first left.
And yes, because he did a good deed by bringing her sister to Lakshmi - does that mean that he was a good person for Lakshmi.
Join Date: 01/23/15
Posts: 225
Join Date: 04/15/12
Posts: 146
No I don't think so. There was so much pain she endured that I think it would be impossible to move on with him. She needs a partner now like Kumar who values her and the knowledge she has to help and empower other women
Join Date: 04/14/20
Posts: 110
Join Date: 03/16/14
Posts: 16
No, she was smart not to relent and believe that anything would be different the second time around. She had made great strides in her life and though her husband seemed to have changed, he probably would have become resentful of her work and freedom, thereby becoming frustrated and resorted to the violence he had shown her in the past.
Join Date: 04/17/19
Posts: 32
Join Date: 01/05/20
Posts: 6
No! She did not love him and he was awful to her. Why go back to someone you never loved just because?! She left to have a better life, which did happened. It was nice he brought her sister to her but that was for his own benefit.
Join Date: 08/12/16
Posts: 233
At one time in the story, I thought that might be a possibility. It seemed like Hari had made some changes in his life and had become a better person that what he once was, but I dont think you can ever go back. They had both changed as they became older and though they may have both become more mature and changed for the better, I dont think Lakshmi could have ever forgotten the way he had treated her in her life before, and I don't think he could have ever forgotten that she had not wanted his children when they were married. It was time for both of them to move forward.
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