39 years

"Do you love me?" I heard, sixty five year old Murthy aunty asking uncle. Uncle almost chocked and coughed at that. And then he replied, "Yes… I do". "If you do, let me go to my brother's house for a week," Aunty replied. I could hear the conversation through their slightly open bedroom door. I could only smile. I was staying at the Murthy residence in Chennai to attend a marriage function of a friend. Murthy uncle and aunty had been our neighbours at my parents' house. They have been close family friends for close to 30 years now.

Aunty came out after a while, muttering to herself and complaining to me. "He has grown so old and yet behaves so childish. We have spent 39 years of life together and yet some basic things have not yet changed. Even at this age I need to ask his permission to go to my own home. I am not going to any stranger's house. I am only going to my brother's place!" she said.

I nodded sympathetically at aunty, while suppressing my smile. But I was also overwhelmed. 39 years was a long long time. I have been married for 10 and I knew what a marriage was. For all the love, beauty and fun marriage is, it could be a real struggle sometimes. Marriage like any other commitment needed constant introspection and evolving. For a "young" marriage like mine, I atleast had the liberty to complain and compare with other couples every time I was faced with a conflict.

But 39 years is a longer time. It meant that uncle and aunty have been together for a far more years than the years they have been with the people who have brought them into this world. They have been each other’s friend and guide to the huge unknown maze called life. They have nurtured each other and grown in these 39 years.

Clang! Clung! I hear Uncle take food on his own noisily. I smile. I hear their bedroom door bang shut and another argument between the two of them behind the closed doors. I close my room’s door and go off to sleep. I know like all other conversations this one will get resolved too. After all I have never heard any argument between the two of them go beyond the night. Mornings were always a fresh start again.

" Kowsalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravarthathe... " I can hear the "suprabhatham" being sung on the CD player as I lazily rub my eyes. “Did you have your BP tablets?” I can hear the concern in his voice, as uncle calls out to aunty. I can hear morning coffee being lovingly placed on the coffee table in the drawing room. I shake myself awake. I lean against the drawing room window and watch the two of them.

Uncle has a newspaper in one of his hands, and a cup of coffee in the other. Aunty is enjoying the morning breeze as she is sipping the coffee sitting on the cane chair in front of uncle. They are smiling as they are talking to each other.

Love, comfort and peace was written all over their face.

"Soulmates and life-mates," I think.

I smile to myself.

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Twilight years...

“Come here.. ! Wipe the kitchen... then clean the utensils... !” She calls the maid as she is cooking the morning breakfast.

“Lakshmi... where are you... I need you to chop a few vegetables...” Priya can hear her Ma in law calling out the maid.

Priya was watching the interaction as she sat sipping the morning tea, “Why is she monitoring the maid so much. The maid can take a decision. The job that she calling for is her routine one”

“I don’t believe in over monitoring…” thinks Priya.

“Lakshmi... the baby is crying...” Priya can here the voice again...

“Priya...you need to watch over the maids...they have become very lazy...”

“Hmm… Hmm...” Priya mutters. Her expressions clearly show that she doesn’t agree with it. Before she can reply back, she hears,“You need to keep the baby’s utensils clean. And you should drink a lot of water…”

Priya frowns at that. “I know that. I can think for myself. Does she think I can’t take the right decisions? Why does she have to advise me so much? Why doesn’t she let me be?”

“Can you tell Lakshmi that she needs to work for an extra half day tomorrow? We need her help to clean up the house. She will listen to you – she tends to ignore me.” Ma tells Priya, with a voice really soft. Priya can see the silent request in her voice.

Priya’s face is curious. “Wonder why does she think the maids will listen to me better? She is the older one. They will definitely listen to her.”

Ma then sits to work on her crosswords. “Which is the only animal that lays eggs? Is it the Platypus?”

Priya goes blank in ignorance. And then Priya’s face lights up in admiration. Ma's intelligence still surprises her. Priya mumbles an “I dont know...”

And then, Priya looks a little closely. She sees a bright face. Ma’s and Pa’s had been a love marriage. She can see why. “Ma’s beauty can still flutter a few hearts,” she thinks with a smile.

She notices the prominent grey veins in Ma's hand. She remembers the umpteen stories of gratitude told to her by the relatives of how Ma in her younger days, had been host to multiple family functions. People in the family, still like to call her whenever there is a marriage or a pooja in their house. After all she knows all the rituals of the house by heart.

She has brought up her two children to become an engineer and a doctor. She has lived through life and yet managed to retain the life in her.

She is now staying with Priya and her husband, who is one of her sons. There isn’t much work to do. There is a cook and a maid. Priya takes care of the baby and of course there is Lakshmi to help. Much as she tries to help around, there is not much to do. There is nobody to guide – What with, internet taking the place that traditionally belonged to the wise and the elder.

Sudoko and Crosswords don’t occupy her completely. Priya can see her Ma in law now. She sees a lady, who is missing being in action, who is missing being the center of the universe of her family.

Priya turns back to look at the dosa batter that she is pouring in to the dosa-pan. In childish desperation and with a childlike curiosity, she asks Ma with a smile... “Damn.. ! my dosas always stick on the pan... What can I do about it...?”

Ma’s face brightens up. The gleam in her eyes is visible. “Oh! That's easy... sprinkle a little water on the pan... and then pour the batter. There you are! all set! Crisp thin dosas... !”

Priya sneaks a glance at Ma. She sees happiness written all over her face.

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