Yes, 3 decades to be precise and so what. With a Pilot like Aparna, it is has been such a delightful flight. Thank you dear one for 30 years of tolerating me with a smile (make it 37 years if we add the years after we met for the 1^st time and thank God again, 7 years did not change your mind despite me). I claim the privilege to have met someone at 16 and continued to go on and on forever and here we are batt(l)ing at 30 not out.

Looking back, there are so many things I could talk about. Was it love at first sight (yes, maybe), Did it ever occur that marriage is where we were headed? (I don’t want to answer, I don’t want any injury on 31^st March revealing the truth) When did we know we are meant for each other (no idea, and it does not matter – WE ARE TOGETHER AND THAT IS WHAT MATTERS) and here we are. What an amazing Journey it has been and I am sure it shall be for years to come.

When someone asked me if looking into each other’s eyes is Love, I shared a piece I wrote earlier (25^th Anniversary) You can read that here Thanks I am Not-a-Philosopher

As I said then and I say that still “ Real love is not looking at each other but looking together in same direction”

And for those young ones who wonder, it has not always been “Flying” – only time flew. We also had our share of challenges which was easily navigated (easily may be exaggeration but it was made to look so easy). That is why I consider myself so lucky. That calming, comforting and reassuring shoulders next to you matters a lot. That is why I always tell people around me, I don’t celebrate Wedding Anniversaries or Birthday, We all Celebrate Her! She is the one who ensures that none of us feel even at the lowest moment that the glass is even half empty (in reality it may be stone dry). That is what she means to my (and all others’ lives)

And the biggest gift to the family was the two gems of our lives – so carefully nurtured and values instilled, it takes a big thing to be a mother to growing up children and a husband to a demanding husband. She fit the role to the T, while she kept the household going in all respects.

So here it is from all of us, Happy Wedding Anniversary Aparna. You are amazing indeed. Thanks for being you.

I was told by a friend that 30th wedding Anniversary is called the Pearl Anniversary (now you know the significance of the title of this piece). BTW! With a Pearl around, Pearl anniversary should be the name every year. I am sure everyone who knows her would agree with this.

I said this before and I repeat same lines – I have nothing else to add, year after year and after each birthday and wedding anniversary, except to say that it has only got better, like the wine. It has been an amazing journey for me with her presence. As they say in Mechanical Engineering, a perfect fit. People ask me how does it work, the relationship that kept blossoming, the love that multiplied, family and no of extended family getting larger and larger, yet what clicks and where do you find the time to nurture the relationship. My honest answer was “I don’t know! It is her and all credits to her”  For no rhyme or reason, it is simply working well and Thank Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji of the Art of Living and also the Divine who chose to shower infinite blessings on me, by bringing her into my life.

Though Bachelor Boy by Cliff Richards was the rage those days, thank God, I chose to fall in love with this number by Lionel Richie “Always and Forever” (I saved this for today knowing for sure that we will get here and Word! WE GOT HERE INDEED)