ensures

Given another chance to live my life over again, I only wish I would find Aparna sooner, so that I could live with her even longer. Hey Kali! Happy Anniversary to us!

Dearest Aparna, When I tell you you mean a lot I don’t say it out of habit. I say it to remind you that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. As some wise man said, Love is not gazing into each other’s eyes but both looking out in the same direction – I have to agree that defines what we both are to each other.

As we enter into the 25th year of this amazing journey of togetherness, I can’t but help feeling that it just happened yesterday. 24 years flew past as if it were a mere 24 hours. I hope you recall my promise that day, “Feels great to have found a special person whom I wanted to annoy rest of my life” – You laughed it away then, and now for every moment of 24 years that went past, you realized that I was dead serious 😛

When we keep hearing marriages and relationships breaking down, we always wondered if that is an option at all in the world. Where a year of wedded bliss is considered a humongous achievement, four over a score seem century to many. And reasons for that travels and rests squarely at your door. While many congratulate me on our anniversary, they always credit you Aparna (rightly so) for it.

Why you? As the saying goes MEN ULTIMATELY fall in love with those women who bring out their best qualities and yeah you did that commendably indeed, for me to think beyond you. With the benefit of hindsight, I took a great call considering the grit and determination you displayed, the shoulder of support you lent that made this journey looks so easy. Being of extremely opposite nature where I sometime suspected your inability to express as sign of detachment, and on the other extreme, me a motor mouth and overtly expressing types – We just went on to prove that Opposites Attract.

And the biggest gift – the two lovelies that we begot. What better blessings could anyone imaginably ask for? Jewels that Divya and Vishnu are, adorn the crown of our lives. I have to agree and be thankful to the Divine that took after their mother. Those bed time stories – even when you weren’t keeping very well – the values that you instilled in them, constant bugging and egging them towards perfection; I am sure I would have failed miserably on all the counts there. Thanks for being a great Mother too.

Ever grateful to Pujya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar whose blessings made every mountain that we encountered looked like a grain of sand. Thank you Dearest Gurudev for giving us the strength and wisdom to look beyond the obvious and ensuring a smooth sailing even on the roughest seas. Jai Gurudev!!!

Finally! You have come a long long way from the cook who asked if Pressure Cooking rice needs water. Foodies that you are surrounded with acknowledge that today you give Sanjeev Kapoor a run for his money.

Thanks for being you, Grateful for being in our lives. May we travel in this blissful journey for eternity.

Loads of Love to the one who defined Love by her deed.