25

 On the cusp of 25 years of married life all I can think of is some songs that express better than what I could ever write. I will however try to recount this amazing journey that leads into the silvery jubilee. Meghna and me come from Maheshwari Marwadi families. There were people that knew both families that felt we would make a good couple. Families talked and we were supposed to meet each other on a March morning if I recall well. The month before I had come to terms with the circumstances that said I would not be able to create memories for a life time with a wonderful girl I knew and had dated for over two years. I wish her the very best wherever she is today; we lost contact unfortunately. I think she and Meghna could have been good friends. The march morning was the day after Holi. I was coloured for sure. We met at home and after the pleasantries, we got a chance to speak with each other. I don’t remember this but Meghna always reminds me that I lead her to the other room and waited for her to sit before sitting myself; it’s one of the things that she says helped her decide (thank you to my school and teachers for teaching me good manners). 

Well longer story short the same evening Meghna told her parents that she would like to get married to me. I was at a pub when I got the news. Rest assured the regulars at the pub got me to foot their bills. I gladly paid. We had a long courtship for almost 10 months and I have never felt that Meghna and me had an arranged marriage due to the long courtship. We got married at a temple with about 20 people from my side of the family and something similar from hers. It was unheard of for a Marwadi wedding to have less than 50 people in total. 2 receptions followed in Pune and Hyderabad after which we had a month long honeymoon in Ooty and Kodaikanal. A year and a bit later we had Ishan and four later Simonne. 

We argue and disagree on a lot of things and agree on almost the same amount. She shows me a point of view that I probably didn’t think of and I do the same. More importantly she stands behind any decision I make even if she feels that my decision could have been better, and I do the same. We talk in the evening every day before sleeping and argue too, and at times go to bed angry but the next day allows us to talk again and the anger is dissipated.  We have in this journey become a bit possessive about each other (there are times when the kids wonder about our actions and statements). 

Elvis Costello got the words absolutely bang on in his song “She”. I couldn’t have said anything better. 

C