The old man did not even bother to look or reply but instead started mumbling. "These kids nowadays!! They have made this marraige a joke. You get drunk, make out and get married. Next day you want ho have a divorce. No ethics!! No values!!! Is marriage a joke?? Look at us! married for 36 years." He cleaned his gla.s.ses with his tie and then wore it again.
Rose and Rhehan heard the man"s mumblings and looked at each other in surprise.
"Ahem! Sir! These are our legal papers of the marraige being registered and some photographs."
"Hmm! Alright sit!" The magistrate finally looked at the two of them. Rhehan pulled out a chair for Rose and then sat on the other chair himself.
"You two! Your pictures are every where on magazines and newspapers. Holding hands and kissing and hugging each other." The magistrate frowned looking at the two.
"Hah! Sir the media follows us, everywhere!" Rhehan smiled awkwardly.
"Hmm! So how many days since you have been married?" The magistrate opened the file looking at the photographs.
"Sir around 10 days!" Rhehan replied.
"Then why did you not come earlier to me for annulment?! Usually people do it very next day, if they are unsure!!" The old man looked at them from the edge of his spectacles.
"Umm...Sir we thought, we can give it a try! But then we are not able to do it!!" Rhehan replied again awkwardly.
"Not able to do it?! Really, not able to do it!? In 10 days you kids decide that you are not able to do it!!?" The magistrate glared at them, banging his head on the table.
He then started glancing at the photographs in front of him one by one. "Hmmm! Alright. I am going to ask you a few questions. You answer it truthfully."
"Yes sir!" The both spoke in unison.
"Ohk! My Number one question to you both is that- Is it that either spouse was already married to someone else at the time of the marriage in question?" The magistrate asked, looking at them.
"No! Not at all." They both frowned and answered.
"Hmm! Is it that, either spouse was too young to be married, or too young without required court or parental consent?" The magistrate eyed the two carefully.
"No sir!! Nothing like that also!" Rhehan spoke up and Rose nodded in confirmation.
"Very well! Then..... Is it something like either spouse was mentally incompetent at the time of the marriage? Any problem or anything mentally?!!
"No offcourse not sir!" Rose snapped back, as if stating the obvious!
"Alright!!! Were any of you forced to have alcohol and then sign on the papers? Or was it a mutual idea to get married? Oh! I see, there were rings too! So it was pretty much planned!! You must be a little in your senses!" The magistrate spoke, looking at another picture, where they both are exchanging rings.
"No! Sir there was no forcing of any sorts!! It was a mutual decision!" Rhehan pursed his lips.
"Alright!! Not even this!! Is it that either spouse was physically incapable to be married like typically, chronically unable to have s.e.xual intercourse at the time of the marriage?" The magistrate looked at Rhehan mainly.
"No way!!! Nothing like that!!" Rhehan immediately blasted.
"Yeah! Exactly! Nothing like that at all!!" Rose confirmed.
"Sigh!!! Then is it that your marriage is prohibited by law due to the relations.h.i.+p between the parties. This is the "prohibited degree of consanguinity", or blood relations.h.i.+p between the parties. The most common legal relations.h.i.+p is 2nd cousins; the legality of such relations.h.i.+p between 1st cousins varies around the world." Magistrate looked at them, narrowing his eyes.
"Heck No!!! We are not 1st or even 2nd cousins at all!" Rose blurted immediately, in surprise!