As you celebrate another milestone, I proudly affirm that you embody the wisdom, “Be kind, and you will never regret it.” Your kindness and achievements fill us with immense pride. Just days ago, as we marked our 34th wedding anniversary, I reflected on how much joy you have brought to our lives. Even to Vishnu. from the moment he arrived, you became his guiding light, just as you have been for us.
My Pearl in the Land of Pearls
Your philosophy of spreading laughter without harming others speaks volumes of your character. I cherish when, after spending time with underprivileged children, you said, “The world has been far kinder to me than I have been to it.” Such wisdom, my darling!
That summer morning 32 years ago, when I first held you, my life changed forever. At 8:36 AM on April 3rd, our world transformed. The moment our eyes met, I knew our bond was eternal. You were the angel who gave my life new purpose, deepening my love for Aparna. With your humor (which, of course, comes from me!) and a heart full of love (thanks to Amma), you are a perfect blend of all things wonderful.
The embrace we first shared has only grown stronger with time. Your dedication to helping the underprivileged inspires us all. You truly are a Seva Warrior.
A great moment of immense pride was when you became a mother to Anay. Though I had heard of the joy of becoming a grandparent, nothing prepared me for the life-changing moment of holding Anay for the first time.
You are strong, compassionate, and independent, and I am endlessly proud to call you mine. If you ever doubt how beautiful the world is with you in it, just look through my eyes. My only wish for you is that this year brings even greater joy and fulfillment.
Have a wonderful birthday and an incredible year ahead, my darling! And Yes! The biggest gift for any parent, is to have daughter around you and living close to you. I am an extremely fortunate and lucky father to have you as a daughter. If I God were to appear before me and grant me a wish to rewind and let me chart a different course, I would ask Him to bless me the exact journey I had so far with you. Thank you for BEING YOU.
“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” — Robert A. Heinlein
Dearest Aparna,
Happiness evident – When we went to receive our son returning to India after 2.5 years
As we celebrate 34 years of marriage, I am in awe of the incredible journey we’ve shared. These 34 revolutions around the Sun have been filled with joy, challenges, laughter, and tears, all navigated hand in hand. You have been my rock, my confidante, and the love of my life. Celebrating 34 years of marriage with you is a testament to the strength and beauty of a lifelong partnership. Is this milestone just a number for us? No way, it represents years of shared experiences, unwavering support, and a deep bond that has only grown stronger with time.
Love is not about Both Looking at each other, but both looking in same Direction
Thank you for giving me a love so profound that I cannot imagine my life without it. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and to everyone who is part of our lives. When someone asked me to pick the best moment of these 34 years – I knew they expected a different answer, but I also knew it was impossible to choose a single moment – I realized that 1,07,22,24,000 represents the countless moments of happiness we’ve shared, each one more precious than the last, that every single second with you has been a treasure.
The journey began 34 years ago when two hearts decided to embark on a life together in Dharwad on this day 34 years back and an unseasonal rain. Most of the anniversaries have been like that ever since – a surprise shower. Like in every Indian marriages, early years were filled with excitement and discovery as we navigated the newness of married life. From setting up our home to learning each other’s quirks and habits, these initial years laid the foundation for a strong and enduring relationship – it was a life lesson in action – Opposite values complement each other.
“Looking back, we realized early enough that marriage is a journey filled with love, challenges, growth, and countless memories. As in anyone’s our journey has not always been easy, but your unwavering support and calming presence have seen us through every storm. Even when the boat was rocked, you stood by us, offering reassurance and strength. Your love and dedication have been the foundation of our family, and I am forever grateful for your presence in my life.
His entry into the made family complete, just by himself. Yet another gift impossible with you
If I could go back to 31st March 1991 and relive these 34 years, I wouldn’t change a thing. I would choose you all over again, without hesitation. Your role as a mother, both to our biological and Manasik children, has been nothing short of extraordinary. You have been the silent strength, letting others speak while you listened with a heart full of love. Our journey together has been a testament to the power of love, commitment, and partnership.
No marriage is without its challenges, and ours is no exception. There were times when life tested your resolve, but each challenge only served to strengthen your bond. Whether it was navigating financial difficulties, health issues, or personal disagreements, we faced each obstacle together, never allowing anyone (yes, no one!!!) to crowd the relationship emerging stronger and more united. It was never always easy, but we made it work, together. You may not always see the glass as half full, but you have a unique way of making everyone around you believe in the impossible. For us, it has been a combination of love, respect, communication, and compromise. We have learned to appreciate each other’s strengths and accept each other’s flaws. We grew together, adapting to the changes that life brings and always finding new ways to support and uplift each other.
Our children, Divya and Vishnu, are the greatest testament to our love. They have grown into remarkable individuals, embodying the values and love we have nurtured in our family. Divya’s kindness and Vishnu’s strength are reflections of your unwavering dedication as a mother. Watching them grow and succeed has been one of the greatest joys of our lives, and I am grateful every day for the family we have built together.
The Quads – in thick and think of life
As we celebrate 34 years of marriage, it is also a time to look ahead to the future. There are still many adventures to be had, dreams to be pursued, and memories to be made. The journey is far from over, and with you by my side, I can face whatever the future holds with confidence and joy. What an incredible 41 years it has been since we first met, and 34 years as my beloved co-passenger in life. I am eternally grateful for you, my irreplaceable “better half.” Here’s to many more years of love, laughter, and togetherness.
Here is a the song as a tribute to you that was discovered a while ago and but bookmarked as a tribute to be posted today
As you got a year older and as we age and our hair get grey, it is stock take time – It is 20454 days, Yes! a cool 20.5K days that the rising sun has seen you and 14,593 days since we met. And even cooler 12,173 days since we decided to travel our lives together.
What a Journey it has been! Obviously amazing with a fellow traveler like you the journey has to be exciting. As you celebrate your 56th birthday, I am reminded of all the beautiful moments we’ve shared and the many more to come.
Rock Solid behind all of us whom you touched
You were not just my wife, or not just mother to wonderful children (both biological and manasik) but everyone’s best friend, confidante, and partner in every sense of the word. Your laughter (that rare one) is our favorite sound, and your smile can brighten even the gloomiest of days (even on days other than you birthdays).
I happened to see a Record breaking Gulab Jamun on the web. Here is the pic and could not but help recollect a Birthday that we ventured to make one ourselves.
Do you remember the time you decided to make Gulab Jamun for the first time on one of the birthdays (was it your 25th one?) We were so confident that we didn’t need a recipe or any guidance from anyone. The dough was mixed and you rolled it into a ball that was the final size of normal Gulab Jamuns that we see in the shops. We ended up with a Football sized Jamun instead of the TT ball sized ones. I will never forget the amount we laughed but nevertheless ended up eating half fried, half sugar syrup soaked Jamun. That day, we learned that making any eatable is indeed a rocket science and not just a wish. In any case, the fun and the memories it created was priceless and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
PS: Our Jamun would have broken even this world record for sure. We never knew such a record is possible because we were working very hard to finish whatever we made and it took whole of the birthday
Jokes apart, as we celebrate your 56th birthday, I want to thank you for being the amazing woman that you always were. Your love and support have made me a better person, face and overcome what we thought were unsurmountable challenges and I am eternally grateful to the Divine for every moment we’ve shared.
Lovely Relationship – An Architectural Wonder
Thank you for being supportive in everything that I set out to do, some very risky ones too. You made sure that I had a standing in the society, at work and whatever successes I have in my life, I owe it in big measure to you and our children. Making a mark in the society (outside our workspace or family) in this dog eat dog world is never easy for anyone, but then I am not just another “anyone” – I had you as a pillar of strength. How lucky I should consider myself to be. Thanks for being you!
I have said this to many and probably not to you – I thank God for creating you for me & for who you have been and who you are for all of us, ‘An Angel of our World’.
Happiest birthday and wish you many many more to come. As always here is a song that I specially dedicate to the wonderful companion who was born today, just for US! Happy Birthday mere Humsafar!
