Falling in Love over Small Things

This is the love story of my parents- Vandana and Charudatt Pradhan. Their’s was an ‘arranged marriage’. And yes it was destined :) 

My father was almost twenty nine and was an Architect. He and his friend Milind would study together at Milind’s aunt Viju aatya’s place. Viju aatya was my Surekha Mavshi’s (my maternal aunt) sister-in-law! 

Yeah these relations sound quite topsy turvy but it happened to be a small world. 

A world that brought my mum and dad together ! 

Viju aatya liked my father and suggested him as a suitor to my mavshi for my mum who was a twenty four year old Banker. 

The two families met and had a typical ‘chaha and pohe’ program.  

Young Vandu and Charu sat ten feet away from each other and did not even get to speak a word ! It obviously was love at first sight for my dad as he liked her and said a yes! My mum asked for sometime to reply and suggested that they must meet again. 

My mum says, “Instead of looking for answers of why should I say a yes to this man I started looking for reasons to say a no. I didn’t find any. And I had liked him too. He seemed nice and said a yes!” 

It was that plain and simple! No romantic gestures, no chasing the girl around, no love letters (initially). 

On their first date after the two had said a yes and before the they could get engaged the two went to Marine Drive. They got into a double decker bus and sat on the top on the first seat enjoying the wind while my mum says, “Was dealing with the butterflies in my tummy.” On the katta of the Marine Drive overlooking the sea watching the sunset together they spoke quite a lot for the first time. 

The two later stopped over at Sion’s Vrindavan hotel for a cup of coffee before they could bid a goodbye. It was here that my father held my mum’s hand over the table. Vandu’s heart skipped a beat. That was the most romantic gesture happened to both of them :) 

The name Vrindavan also holds a special place in both their hearts as that was the first restaurant and that was also the name of the building they both shifted into after their marriage- those little signs had started showing up :) 

Soon the two got engaged and got married a year later. My father wanted to have a home of his own and my mum admired and respected this decision so had waited for a year. 

Vandu almost went alone on her honeymoon!!! 

My parents were in waiting for their first class AC compartment also they had already secured a confirmation in another class. As there was still some time for the train to depart my father got off at the station to cancel their waiting seats. 

The train started to pull away from the station. Vandu was all alone on the seat wondering where her husband was. She started looking around but my dad was nowhere to be seen. My dad was with the TC on the platform when he saw the train moving away taking his new wife and leaving him behind! 

What he did next was no less than what a hero would do. He ran along the train and jumped into a bogie. And just as my mum thought she would be the first wife to go alone on her honeymoon my dad appeared sweating profusely walking the whole train till he found my mum! 

Yesterday on 8th May my parents celebrated their twenty sixth wedding anniversary! And they are as happy as always. Over the years I have seen them squabble like kids over small things. But even then their love for each other hasn’t diminished a bit. Its growing with every passing year. 

They find love in small things that they do for each other.

No they cannot dance or hold hands or even pose together for a photo with their arms around each other in public. They are that shy! 

But i see their love when my mum fusses over my dad’s pain in his leg, when my dad asks my mum which shirt should he wear, when my mum makes the food a bit spicy for my dad even though she doesn’t like spicy food.  

Love is when my dad cooks some night’s simple dinner because he knows his wife would be exhausted after work. When my mum makes my father’s favourite vegetable even though that means getting up at five in the morning before she leaves the house at seven thirty for her work. 

Love is when my father fills all those water bottles and keeps them ready in the morning before she leaves so she stays hydrated at work. Love is when they take off time every morning to enjoy their first cup of the day before they head separate ways. Love is when my dad keeps a small piece  of chocolate for my mum even though its one cube. Love is when they both remind each other of their respective medicines and take them together before they doze off. 

This is love too! Love needn’t be loud and vocal. Love needn’t be a grand and heroic gesture.  Love isn’t saying ‘I Love You’ everyday. 

Love is in small things that make one’s life beautiful. And when that happens that’s love :) 

Love, 

Amruta.