Bliss

August 28, 1965

“They have arrived, be prepared!” My father announced.

My family welcomed them and I was waiting inside to be called out for meeting his family. They had come to see me for marriage. I was very nervous since theirs was the first family who had come to see me. I did not know how it was going to be. Will they like me? What if they don’t like me? Suddenly my mother came over and put a full stop to my unending questions. She took me to the guest room. I wished them a hello and they granted me a seat. They asked me about my hobbies and aspirations. While interacting, his family confessed a truth about the bridegroom; that he in an accident got his right hand cut off up to his elbow when he was just fifteen. But the accident didn’t deter his spirits and he had learnt writing with his left hand thereafter and now he was a professor in one of the most prestigious institutes of our country.

My family was left in a dilemma. My mother, to be specific, was completely against the marriage; claiming that I deserved to live a happy married life, not to struggle with someone else’s disability. My father left it for me to decide since he was a social worker and therefore he had a soft corner for him.

And as for myself; the moment I heard about his struggle and his determination to stand for himself, I fell in love with that self-made man. I made up my mind and soul to marry him. Those were the days when the Indo-Pak war was going on in our country and I had heard of stories of girls stepping forward to marry the soldiers who had been injured in the war. Taking those girls as an inspiration, I considered my case to be better, since the man I was to marry was a braver man, he did not lose his confidence, and he kept his dreams alive.


I informed my family about my decision. My father was very happy to hear it but he was the only one who supported me. He promised me that he will make this marriage take place, and he will convince my family.

25th February 1966

I got married to him. When I saw him I could see from his face that he was feeling that I was forced to marry him. That was the moment when I decided that I will never let him feel that again. I married him by my own choice and I was not at all repenting my decision. I felt like being blessed to have married him. I decided I will give him so much love that he will forget all the grievances he had from life even though he never showed it. I was and I am devoted to him. He never showed that in some way or the other it was a life-time sorrow for him, but I could see it from his eyes. I knew that I can’t change it but I also knew what I could do with it. The only way to keep him happy and positive was to give him so much love that he will not have enough time to think about all that. I took over all the responsibilities of home, I learnt driving car. I wanted him to do only the thing he loved to do and that was his profession.

15th August 1967

The happiest day of our lives. When our son took birth. We spent our most blissful days during his childhood. Whenever I saw my husband playing around with our son, I used to have the most beautiful feeling I had ever felt, and my love for both of them used to grow more and more. Years passed by and my little baby grew up.

We were living happily when something happened, something tragic. My husband got a sudden attack of paralysis. His complete left side of the body stopped working, he could not even speak properly, and he could not do anything himself. My son was sixteen years old that time. Those were the toughest days of my life but I had my hopes alive that he will recover. What I worried the most was about my son as I could see that he was depressed seeing his father’s condition. I was completely busy with my husband feeding him, and taking him for physical trainings, medications, reviews, regular checkups etceteras; I hardly spared any time with my son during the most crucial days of his life. I observed a remarkable change in my son in those days. He was an average student before but his father’s suffering inspired him to work hard. I used to see him studying all through the night and spending most of his time with himself, being lost in his books.

It took over three years for my husband to recover and in the mean time my son got through the entrance exam of IIT and brought a pride that was immeasurable in our hearts. He completed his courses of studies and presently he is at a key-post at IBM in America.

My son invented a device with the help of which his father could type on computer with just his right elbow. My husband never gave up, he kept on pursuing his passion for teaching using power point presentations; he even wrote a book for the management students which turned out to be included as a course book for the students doing management. He is an inspiration and I must tell you it was his influence which kept my hope and courage alive.

He always says “Take life as it comes, one should never escape” and I can tell from my experience that- “When something wrong happens with you, it is the sign of something good coming your way.”

You see sometimes faith is all what counts in love.


P.S. Another real life story of my Aunt. I admire her a lot.

It Was Love

27th Jan, 2005 (My and my boyfriend’s 3rd anniversary)
"It has been 3 years since we are together, honey. I just want to tell you that I love you and I wish to spend each and every moment of my life with you." I said.

"I love you too baby. I know we will be always together, so don't worry my love." Rohan said.

"I hope so. Well, let’s do something to make this day special..." I said.

Interrupting me, he said “Come on; tell me what you are thinking right now."

"Well you know what; I can do anything for you." I said.

"Can you? Okay, leave what you can; just tell me what you have done for me till now?" He inquired.

"Do I really need to answer it?" I asked.

"Yes, you need to. After all I should be aware about your sacrifices." He said.

"Well, the fact is sacrifices are not meant to be flaunted, if you can't see what I have done for you then there is no point in talking about them and making you realize." I said in an annoyed tone.

"If that is the fact, then I am sorry I cannot see it girl and by the way if you are talking about sacrificing your virginity for me then that does not make a big deal of sacrifice as I can get anyone do that just for a little amount of money." He said in a serious tone.

I was completely out of words at that moment; I did not know how to react. I was shocked, devastated, shattered or any other word you use for the same feeling. I did not even count it as one of my sacrifices. I realized he could never understand me, my feelings. Understanding was not an issue. Respect was what I required. I would have chosen dying rather than being compared to a prostitute.

It was 2:00 a.m. The fight worsened to the worst it could possibly go and I was left behind with my eyes stained with tears. He left the place in a huff as though I had hurt his sacred feelings. I was alone, all alone. I needed someone, someone to comfort me, someone to assure me that everything will turn out to be alright. Consciously, I knew who was that 'someone', he was my best friend. I called him straight away without caring about his sleep or how he was; I just burst into tears in front of him. He was perplexed with my abrupt outburst. Crying, complaining, condemning about the things I was going through, I took over his sleep. He knew what I needed; he comforted me with his heartfelt words and maturity.

Aryan, my best friend since the last eleven years, always supported me without experiencing even an inch of annoyance; he was the one I could always count on, someone I knew who would always be there for me whether it was early morning or half past midnight, someone who could let his universe to be sold for my one simple smile.

Friendship and love are two different essentials of life but this was not the same in my case. I always got everything from Aryan a soul can need for emotional stability let it be love, support, concern, trust, or feeling of security. Though he loved me and I knew it, but it was not the same case with me. I was in love with Rohan, my boyfriend.

Rohan, I could do anything for him, for his happiness, he meant everything to me. When he was in front me, I could not see anybody else. When he was not there, I could not think of anyone else. He was 'the man' I used to dream of. Someone I could die for. Someone I could not see in pain. I wanted to spend my whole life with him, I wanted to take him to a place where he has never been, a place only my heart can describe. Each and every moment spent with him, good or bad, I treasure. Yes, he gave me the happiest days of my life as well as the worst days of my life.


But lately our relationship started struggling. Everyday I had a fight with him on very petty issues, assuring me in some way that we were not meant to be together anymore -that we had lost that spark.

Aryan used to assure me that things will be alright between me and Rohan every time it went wrong.

Feb 2005, one of our daily talks:
Me: "I don't know, there is no spark anymore."
Aryan: "What do you mean? You both were crazy about each other."
Me: "I know, but lately I feel like I love him, but I am not in love with him. What do you think I should do?"
Aryan: "What does this even mean? How can you love him, but still not be in love with him?"
Me: "I don't know why but I feel like he is my mate but we are not made for each other. I know it does not make any sense to say such thing about him after having 3 year long relationship, but I can’t help it, this is the way I feel."
Aryan: "Wait a minute...It totally makes sense. Sometimes it's the physical attraction and initial chemistry that causes the relationship to grow, but as the relationship evolves, you begin to realize that maybe there aren't as many things that connect you as you initially thought, thus, the romantic attraction begins to wane, but in that time, you've grown to love the person. Loving someone and being in love with someone are two totally different things. I can understand it."
Me: "You’re right. The thing that hurts me is that it took me so long to realize that we are not made for each other."
Aryan: "Yes you should have realized it earlier.”
Me: "But I suppose it's hard to figure out when you do love the person and want the best for them. As for now, I know that the spark has completely vanished. And yes, I tried to work on it. But when it's not there, it's not there.”
Aryan: “Don't worry its just a phase you will overcome it after all he is the one you wanted to spend your life with, you should give some time to him as well as to yourself."
Me: “There is something that’s stopping me to be with him; something is convincing me that someone somewhere is waiting for me holding open gates of happiness. Now I am not hoping that things will get better rather I want to get over it. Nowadays I get annoyed with all those things which used to lure me earlier; I am struggling to overcome my depression.”

“You know what Aryan, you have healed my soul but you left it incomplete. I have realized it now. I want to take that last step to complete your incomplete work.”
Aryan: “I am confused Saumya, I cannot understand what you are talking about.”
Me: “Aryan, I am in love with you.”

P.S. I am the happiest person in the whole world. I am married to Aryan, the person I am in love with. And now I know it was love not friendship. The difference between him and Rohan is that I fell in love with Rohan but I uplifted in love with Aryan since Aryan’s love always made me rise.

P.S. Its a real life story of a friend of mine. Thanks to Harsh for editing my work.