The boy in the picture an ex-business magnet in his late forties, separated from his wife, has two left feet but has a deep voice. The girl, a divorcee, in her early thirties, who is going through a phase of indian-born-clueless-female.
So given such delicious context, it was a miracle that after 5 years 4 months and 15 days of song dedications, love notes, fights, shouting matches, near break ups; quiet, beautiful moments, fabulous lunches and dinners...we are now getting hitched. Whew! The easy part was convincing ourselves and our friends that we loved each other. The difficult part was convincing our families.
So it was with great trepidation that I went to meet S's parents in their house wearing a trustworthy silk saree and blouse, looking as if I was completely sure of what I was doing. My mom who took some convincing to come around, was with me and our nerves were stretched tight. And when I stepped inside the house and saw aunty watching us from the dining room, instead walking up to us, my fears rised. Sri had warned me that she could be moody. She was swaying between wanting her son's happiness and fear of people's reaction. (Don't we all).
Anyway she slowly shuffled in looking like million dollars in an elegant zari sari with red painted nails on her fair fair feet. One such foot was in a cast, courtesy a fall she had had a few days ago. Thanking my lucky stars for getting a topic to start on, I launched into a concerned enquiry of her foot.
And she melted. We hit off immediately. Conversation poured from all corners of the room - uncle who was sitting behind aunty, S on another side seemingly uninterested in the conversation, and the women all huddled close. Aunty's repeated question - why would you want to marry this guy, Jerry?, was amusing if it werent for the context of the meeting. Parents are generally worried for their children...even if the said child is a mature adult who has seen a lot in life. So aunty's worry was for S and me. Mostly to find out how we would both gel and if we are not making a mistake again. But they don't know a secret which seems to make things possible and make even the most impossible of circumstances to look surpassable...it is love. I am a believer.
P.S. - But then ask me if I am still one after probably a year of marriage. Fingers crossed.
Comments