The Vows I Never Planned to Make

Before the pandemic, Bulu had no plans to marry. An earlier relationship had ended, but his love-and the emotional distress that followed-remained.Then a proposal arrived. Under pressure from his family, he faced a wedding within seven days. He and Chandini had not spoken over the telephone before their marriage. On 7 July 2020, at his maternal uncle’s home in Barunipala, Odisha, they became husband and wife.But becoming a husband did not mean he was ready to leave his past behind.In The Vows I Never Planned to Make, S. R. Jena offers a reflective personal narrative about heartbreak, family expectations, an unexpected marriage, and the difficulty of giving love while still carrying an earlier attachment. Writing through the name Bulu, he examines his own uncertainty and emotional distance while acknowledging the limits of his perspective on the people around him.The story reaches into the family life he shares today with his wife and daughter, allowing a difficult beginning and a valued present to exist together.An intimate reflection on a life that unfolded beyond its original plans, this book invites readers to consider what people bring into marriage-and what it takes to understand the life that follows.