I was 22, had just finished my education and was in to my father’s business and a candidate for marriage. One fine day, I with my family was going to the house of another family to see their girl who too was a candidate for marriage. It was just my second instance of seeing a girl. I was feeling calm and composed as I had already experienced this ritual once before. This time it was through a common friend that we were going to see this girl.

We reached the destination and after conversing with the girl’s family for a little while, as usual like in the Hindi movie style, the girl aged 20 came out with the tray of snacks and tea and then the usual questionnaire from my family members followed and then after some time we were left alone to converse with each other. I asked her about her educational qualifications and she replied aptly and I came to know that she was a beautician. She just looked a very simple girl to me. She was short in height, just 5 feet tall and me a 6 feet tall swanky guy, but what initially bowled me over was her innocent looking face and the twinkle in her eyes and yes she was beautiful too. Subsequently what happened was funny. The girl, then started the round of questioning and I blushed a little (Don’t laugh friends, blushing is not the sole property of the ladies) She said it was for the first time that she was seeing a boy and then asked me do you smoke or drink? I said no, I am not that type and she felt very happy with my answer. Then she asked about my education, my nature and my hobbies and I gave all the answers accordingly. It seemed like we immediately clicked with each other. We finished the short conversation and thereafter both families discussed for a while and then dispersed. We had to give an answer to our common friend in a day or two and also the girl’s family needed the time for their decision.

While returning back my mom asked me about my opinion and I said yes mom I like her. She said son, but she is very short in height and I replied but mom I really like her and then comically told her aren’t Amitabh and Jaya married with each other? And if they in spite of the height difference married then why can not I and this girl marry? My mom laughed and said oh, is that so? My son, so you really like her, then we will call her family in the morning and convey our readiness for the relation.

The next day my Father called the common friend and gave the approval from our side, on which he exclaimed great, the girl’s family just called before your call and has given their approval for your boy and thus it just happened that we got bonded in a beautiful and sacred relation of marriage.

Today after over 18 years of blissful marriage there is no looking back for us. Still we are very much in love with each other and get along like a house on fire. She is my sincere soul-mate. The romance and camaraderie is still very much on between this Amitabh and Jaya Jodi and to add to it, God has gifted us with two beautiful daughters and they both in the height factor resemble me.

Not a single day in our lives has it happened that we have not spoken with each other. Difference of opinions do happen like it happens with every normal couples, but we manage it nicely and she always is the less egoistic one who always pampers me for reconciliation and I even with a stern face immediately fall for her innocence even today and then it’s a happy ending every time.

Friends, today is her birthday and I would like to dedicate a lovely song for her here: -

“Tum Se Hi Din Hota Hai,

Surmayi Shaam Aati Hai,

Tumse Hi, Tumse Hi,

Har Ghadi Saas Aati Hai, Zindagi Kehlaati Hai,

Tumse Hi, Tumse Hi.