Address: Date:

Dear brother,

I am in receipt of your letter of the 16th instant. I was so surprised to read it that for a number of days I could not decide how to send a reply to you.

You have fixed, without my previous information, much less consent, the date of my marriage for the 15th of the next month. It pains me to disagree with you, still I would request you kindly to postpone it for the present.

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I have my reasons for this postponement. Firstly, I am yet a mere boy in teens. I have not yet finished my school studies. I remember once you told me that you wanted to make me a great man and send me to England for higher studies. I wonder whether you have dropped that idea because it can’t be that you do not know that marriage would stand in the way of my education and would deal a death blow to my inspirations.

Secondly, I cannot support even myself. It is my desire that I should not many unless I am able to earn my own living. Marriage will bring many duties and responsibilities, which at present I find myself unable to shoulder.

Thirdly, as you know, early marriage is likely to spoil one’s health besides one’s future generations too. Our religious books do not allow marriage before we have attained the age of 25.

Taking all this into consideration may I hope that you would drop the proposal for the present? Kindly let me know as early as possible because on it depends my future.

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Our examinations will be over by the 7th of the next month. I will come home after that and then have a detailed talk over the matter.

I hope you will forgive me.

Yours loving brother,