Silver Bliss

Roopa was ecstatic today and wanted to surprise her husband with a unique gift. She went down memory lane holding her sepia-tinted wedding album. It was her silver anniversary and she decided to gift him a billet-doux which would exude her endearing love for him. Something which she had never done in her twenty -five years of marriage. So she took out her scented writing pad and was ready to bleed emotions on paper. The letter was a deluge of emotions. It read-

My dear soulmate,

Hearty congratulations on completion of twenty-five years of togetherness. It has been a relationship full of hitches and glitches which one thought would never see the light of the day. But in the words of Nicholas Sparks"I finally understood what true love meant...love meant that you care for another person 's happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be."

I feel the number twenty-five is just a number as distance has kept us apart most of our life. I can say Geographical miles and the official files kept us apart. The strife in our life could have pulled us apart. But true to the adage"Distance makes the heart fonder" and in our case love stronger. stood for us.

But as it is said"Sometimes you have to be apart from people you love. But that doesn't make your love any less. Sometimes you love them more."

I feel "Love is like the wind you can't see it but you can feel it."

Let me go down memory lane, I was on tenterhooks about tying the knot with a complete stranger. I was quite skeptical whether we would be a happily married couple as you were a total stranger and I was given no time to get to know you before we tied the knot.

Being a die-hard romantic my idea of marriage was wooing, dating and then trying the knot. I had always imagined my knight would be coming on a white steed, wooing me and taking me to some beautiful wonderland on his steed.

These were only dreams and a figment of my imagination which had no place in reality.

The first time we met both of us were ill at ease, you were naive in the art of speaking. We only exchanged some pleasantries.

But the nerd in you came forth when you spoke about the educational policies of the country. That question and answer session sealed our fate. We never had the love at first sight experience, which I feel is more like a connotation than reality.

There was no ado in our marriage. A month after our betrothal we were hitched. Our marriage lacked wooing, meeting, dating there was direct hitching.

We fitted the lyrics of Frank Sinatra's song "Strangers in the night.". We were poles apart in our thinking and upbringing. You were born and brought up in a metro, while I was the simple small town girl.You lacked the gift of the gab while I yakked nineteen to a dozen.You a recluse and me a social lass.Your favorite pass time involved watching action flicks or a game.of solitaire while I was the typical bibliophile.

But in the lines of Nicholas Sparks

" We fell in love, despite our differences, and once we did, something rare and beautiful was created. For me, love like that has only happened once, and that's why every minute we spent together has been seared in my memory. I'll never forget a single moment of it."

We may be like chalk and cheese but they say opposites attract and that holds good for us. There has been no PDA in our relationship which may be considered a yardstick to measure love. But our relationship has stood the test of time and braved all odds of life. It is not an instant noodle relationship but rock solid love.

It is said, "The beauty of marriage is not always seen from the beginning but rather as love grows and develops over time."

We had our share of yearning and cursing while we stayed apart but our maturity made us bounce back.

As they say"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more,

That plants a fire in our hearts

And brings peace to our minds

And that's what you've given me

That's what I'd hoped to give you forever."

Though you are taciturn yet your actions speak for you.

Illness and depression at times made me hit rock bottom but you gave me the moral support and helped me to get back on my feet. I would say I rose like the Phoenix from the ashes.

You have been standing by my side like the Rock of Gibraltar supporting me during thick and thin.

You set my fears to rest when you gave me the wings to fly and make my dreams of becoming a writer a reality. Romance in real life is quite different from reel life.

You may not have serenaded me by singing love songs or take me for long drives and candlelight dinners but you are my perfect knight.

It is said, "No relationship is all sunshine, but two people can share one umbrella and survive the storm together."The vicissitudes in life have taught us the ways to meander through these storms together with elan.

Pat Boon's "Writing love letters in the sand" or Jim Reeves" Roses are red" maybe just played on my mind and I had hoped for such a romantic person to serenade me with soft, soulful numbers.

Life has never held a dull moment we are always looking out for something new. Cherishing each other's company is our favorite past time.

I have understood that "Real love isn't just a euphoric, spontaneous feeling-it's a deliberate choice, a plan to love each other for better and worse, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health"

True Love is rare, and it's the only thing that gives life real meaning... The taste of love becomes sweet when hearts like ours meet.

I have always felt that love was only a word which existed in my mind till you came in my life and gave it a meaning...

Finally, I can say proudly that life has brought us this far your balding pate and my silvery mane is a testimony to it.

The things you have done for me to help me, support me and make me happy. You are all I need, I love you forever.

I can only quote Nicholas Sparks "You are the answer to every prayer I've offered. You are a song, a dream, a whisper and I don't know how could have I lived without you for as long as I live."

I learned that marriage wasn't just fun and romance but teamwork. One spends the whole life learning about each other.

You are like a rainbow -you have so many colors and shades. I always admire you, nature created such a beautiful human being full of humility and empathy.

Living with you has changed my perception of life, My personality has undergone a tremendous change. From anxious to calm, meek to confident and from drab to glam.

As my favorite author, Louisa .M.Alcott has said: "Love is a great beautiful" and that has made a great transformation in me.

We started life on a zilch bank balance but your hard work and honesty have helped you rise and live a good life. Today I feel proud to be your better half.

I had always fancied myself to be a la Scarlett O'' Hara the protagonist from Gone With The Wind novel whose whirlwind romance with the handsome Rhett Butler has been an important part of English literature. I too had imagined being wooed by the likes of Rhett Butler and having the feel of a whirlwind romance. The courtship and whirlwind romance may have been missing from our relationship but in Elizabeth Gilbert's words'people think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you change your life.''

I have understood what true love is it starts as a feeling and now I find myself yearning for you every day. Being deeply in love with someone gives you strength, and when you love someone deeply it gives a person courage. Our love is like vintage wine which is ripening day by day and reaching great heights.

I recall the time I entered your home as a new bride I was naive to the art of cooking and you being a gourmet yearned for good food. Your patience and encouragement helped me learn the culinary art. Even when my culinary experiments failed you praised me and ate the food without any criticism.

Relationships get stronger when both are willing to understand mistakes and forgive each other.

I would like to thank you for the wonderful respectful children we have. As it is said"The most important thing a father can do for his children, is to love their mother'. You have done that and your presence in their lives has motivated them to become good human beings.

It can be said"When two people are meant for each other, no time is too long, no distance is too far, no one can ever tear them apart.'

Thanks for being a part of my life

Your better half

Roopa(Your loving Rupi)