Happy Beginning

It was May 2016, I moved from Bangalore to Mumbai. We were moving things to our new flat that I came across a pleasing face. Rekha or as I lovingly call her Rekha Di, my neighbour, lived in the opposite flat. A pretty lady in her mid-fifties, she was beautiful with a fresh face, gradually getting old with time, her grey hair pulled back in a neatly tied bun. Rekha radiated a natural beauty while maturing with grace. She had an accomplished and satisfied look.

Later we would always smile at each other, whenever we cross our ways. She was a kind and loving lady. Being in a new place, I would always go to her for any help & as her nature is, she would always willingly help me. She had a daughter, doing C.A. internship and son in his teens. But I had never seen her husband, so one day while we were conversing, I gathered my guts to ask her about her husband. She smilingly said, he passed away many years ago, while the kids were very young. I could see the sadness in her ever-joyful eyes.

“It must have been very difficult to manage all alone”, I said.

“Yes, indeed very difficult. My son was just a year old. But somehow with God’s grace I managed it. Now I just want to see my children settle in their life”.

Life sometimes is very ruthless, I thought. Behind that pleasant smile, were the hidden tears that she couldn’t disclose to anyone, the loneliness that she went through for years. Over the years, she had learned to be strong or rather portray to be strong in front of her children and society. We would often chat over many things especially food. She loved cooking and cooking tips and learning new recipes was a daily topic of discussion.

Two years passed, with my routine getting busier and busier, I could hardly meet her these days. Lately, I met her in the market, she looked like a newly wedded bride, wearing Sindoor and mangalsutra with a bright face and pleasant smile, a gajra in her neatly tied bun. Though surprised by her makeover, I could sense the happiness behind her smile, the spark in her eyes said it all.

“I got married”, She said. “What? When? With Whom?”, I exclaimed out of joy, unable to withhold my inquisitiveness. “He is from Pune, a businessman”, she said. I got more curious, where did you meet him? She replied bashfully,” My daughter found a match for me on a matrimonial site. She fixed up our meeting and when we felt we are compatible for each other and our families were also ready for it, she got us married. I am happy, not only have got an ideal life partner, but my children have got a father too. I would be shortly moving to Pune”.

Its been 2 months, Rekha di moved to Pune with her children in her husband’s house. Embracing her new life only to start a “HAPPY BEGINNING”- The beginning of a new journey!!!