It was way back in 1988 that I first set foot in Vijayawada to start my college. It was a small unknown town for me. As I settled down there, my friend from college, Ashok, started taking me home. That is where I first met his parents. I couldn’t have met two people who were more different and yet at the heart of it had the same principles, a large heart and a willingness to help anyone.
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| Happily driving to the venue together on the morning of Dec 27th |
I remember sitting up till 2 am when his dad (uncle) finally came home and rolled his cigar. I had never met anyone like that nor even heard of anyone like that. Someone who came home that late and still had the energy and enthusiasm to roll their own cigar. He ran a private school where we would often go. He told us, later in life, how he had to run it with an iron hand as parents always had a set of complaints.
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| At the beautiful venue |
In contrast Ashok’s mom (aunty) was a school teacher with a strong sense of schedule and purpose. I remember at lunch one afternoon, when Ashok tried to get me to try fish. He said it was very well made and that I would definitely like it. I kept saying no, as a vegetarian. He ultimately put a piece on my plate. And then his mother interfered and didn’t raise her voice or anything. Yet her quiet demeanor and words were enough for him to back off and take it off of my plate again.
The strength of character of both uncle and aunty stood out. They were two very different personalities and probably had very different outlooks to life. And yet their strength of character and sense of purpose is something that really struck me and stood out. It left such a lasting impression that I feel I had an extra set of parents. They were there behind the scenes whenever I needed without even asking.
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| One of the first at the venue to get the event started |
Later in life, as I grew older and moved away from Vijayawada our paths crossed less frequently. And yet whenever I met them, which was at least twice a year, our bond only seemed to get stronger. I would draw on their sense of fairness, strong presence to help build my own personality.
When they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, with their extended family and friends, I had to be there. I wasn't feeling too well to drive and another close friend, Rajsekhar, who understood the depth of our relationship with uncle and aunty, gave me his car and driver, to be there with them on such a momentous occasion. Who among us has an opportunity to celebrate not just 60 years of love but 60 years of life so well lived together. A true honor to be there with all of them on the 27th of December.
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| With uncle and aunty at the event |
