Dowry demand is a real societal problem and could create good drama, but very often, I find its fictional portrayal unappealing. Long-term characters who are supposed to be likeable give in to the demand, even when it's in their best interest to call the police and move on ... the groom's side always holds up the wedding before the bride delivers her takedown of their manners ... then the guests clutch their pearls about missing the muhūrta, and the hero gets volunteered to rescue the jilted bride. This plot has been done to death.
So, my challenge to anyone who wants to try it is:
1. Write a dowry demand into a same-sex wedding story. Why one party would demand dowry from the other party, and the nature of the demand, is up to you.
For example, the demand could be: if my able-bodied child marries your child who uses a wheelchair, and they move into my house, you will pay for the accessibility upgrades, physiotherapy etc.
2. The character who gives in to the demand should have a good reason not to call the police.
For example, the character could be a racketeer and the dowry demand could be blackmail. Or, the character might welcome the dowry demand as an excuse to leave an unfaithful trophy spouse with nothing.
3. The character who demands dowry should be satisfied with it, and not hold up the wedding for any additional demand.
However, feel free to add a plot twist: the recipient has to hand over the dowry to a third party, or admit that it was acquired illegally ... or you reveal something that negates the value of the dowry ... or someone from the side that gave the dowry holds up the wedding with a dowry demand, and inadvertently exposes the dowry deal to everybody.
4. The spouse whose side demanded dowry is the one who speaks out against the custom.
Please make the speech as satirical as you can. For example, pointing to the dowry-giver's unfaithful trophy spouse, from whose presumptive inheritance the dowry would have detracted, as a paragon of devotion.
5. Nobody switches spouses to catch the muhūrta.
It's up to you whether the original couple gets married, or one of them finds someone new and they might get married on a later date, or two other characters jump up to seize the muhūrta.
Please, could someone take this prompt? Or suggest characters who would suit the prompt?
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