Thanks, Rajani!
Thanks for not saying “No”, when your father asked about me, some 46 years ago, although you did want to do so!! Who in all her senses would marry a bespectacled teacher, with a paltry salary of Rs. 280 and, being the eldest, taking all the responsibility of educating and marrying his 5 siblings? And, that too, with a prospect of staying in a three-room place in a congested locality of Pune?
Further, you were coming from a relatively richer family and you had all the chances of finding a better husband.
But the days in the 60’s were different. No girl can go against the wishes of her parents. If the parents have found the boy suitable and qualified to marry you, how dare you say No?
Some girls still did, but thank God, you didn’t utter a single word of protest.
This entire action or rather ‘inaction’ on your part made the 26th June 1963 happen to me. And my life changed for ever, for better – for me, for my parents, my brothers and sisters, for our two handsome sons, for their most talented and gorgeous wives and their sweet children.
And you also seem to have enjoyed your life wedded to me and to all of them.
I would now like to believe in rebirth. Then I will be able to ask you to be my life partner again.
Don’t say ‘No’, then. Please.
Yours still in love,
Arun
26th June 2008
