He never forgave me for asking if he was a good pilot, that
first encounter.
He claimed he stood on his toes to get picked for the
Republic Day parade, so we could get to know each other in Delhi.
While out on our first cup of coffee with a friend of his,
he borrowed money from her to see us through the rest of the day.
He was quick to confirm and was relieved to be told I did
not expect flowers during courtship.
He courted me in my Dad’s car on some days; on other
occasions it was his Yezdi “ABU”.
He looked sideways at me with that calm expression when I
warned him I would make life hell for him.
Of the forty odd days he was in Delhi on temporary duty, he stayed away only on two days, for reasons of maintenance, he said.
He spent a major chunk of those familiarization days, keeping
my Dad company over drinks.
He was prompt in allaying any misconceptions my friends may have
had over the ‘Top Gun’ quotient of his profession.
As I climbed the steps tentatively with my friend Sadhana,
he stood looking down from the landing above. He had a henna orange blob on one
palm and was holding out a book, “The Little Prince”.
He led my 'Baraat', dancing into our wedding venue.
I found a tea cup stain on my picture when we first moved in
together. He explained it by saying he had kept it under his table top cover for daily reference.
During our first month as a couple, I was a regular recipient
of chocolate bars.
On way out to the first temporary duty, he rushed back in
with a shrub rose, picked off the bush by the road.
He made a last minute dash from work, driving a long way to
get me my birthday cake.
There were several cards, tucked away in nooks, waiting to
be discovered during the day.
He called my bluff during my first royal sulk and packed me
off to my parental home.
He saved me from the consequences of my social ineptness
more than once.
He handed me a single red rose through the rail bogey window
as I transited through Delhi once.
He did not recognize me on the Ahmedabad railway station
where he had come carrying a bunch of lilies to pick me up.
He ensured I made it to my University exams on time, going to
Amritsar to get my admit card and mark lists.
It’s been twenty five years since. When I turn and look, it
is these memories that blink like beacons on our couple road map. A lot more
followed, there were zings, tings and blings but most of it had to do with life taking over!
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