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Work kept her busy. When she was moved to
the cultural division of the embassy, she found her enthusiasm levels
peaking. Anu discovered that she loved everything connected with her
work. Her appearance changed. From a dowdy, plain-looking girl she
turned into a smart self-assured young lady who commanded attention and
respect. When she met David, a visiting scholar from England, as part of
her work, she knew that there was something special in what they shared.
Even though the bonding was officious, there was a camaraderie and a
sense of comfort which was palpable to them both. That he was 18 years
older than her, a father of two teenaged children and happily divorced
did not make any difference. When he extended his stay in Delhi just to
get to know her better, both knew that they were headed in a direction,
which either of them was not averse to. They allowed their destinies to
decide as they followed the diktat of their heart.
They had a simple wedding
ceremony in a gurdwara, where David willingly wore a turban and did the
honours in pucca Indian style, much to the amusement of Anu’s
family. It had taken a lot of convincing before she could get them to
see that this is what she wanted. His age, background and past did not
matter. And if things really didn’t work out, she would come back. She
would not settle for a marriage which was a compromise. Seeing her level
of confidence, left them with no choice. Once they accepted it, they
allowed themselves to experience a sense of relief at finally seeing the
only spinster in the family get wed in the traditional Indian style. It
was difficult not to notice that the couple seemed ‘right’ for each
other. Their sense of comfort and ease was so strong that the others
felt foolish doubting their compatibility in the first place. Apart from
a joyous playfulness which defined their bonding there was a mutual
respect for each other, their sense of separateness, their views, their
backgrounds, responsibilities and ways of thinking. Inspite of the
separateness, there was an intimate togetherness which was real. No one
had any major reservations seeing Anu take the decision of going to UK.
Her embassy was willing to
transfer her to England and it seemed as if their love story would
indeed have a fairytale ending for everything was miraculously falling
in place. What took Anu completely by surprise was their first visitor.
It was David’s ex-wife, who on hearing the good news had undertaken a
two-hour bus ride to welcome the new bride in her ex-husband’s life.
She helped Anu adjust to the new environment, find her feet as she
familiarised herself with the shopping areas, running of the house,
making friends with the neighbours and warning her of things she felt
she needed to be informed about. In a most unobtrusive way, Selena
stayed for the weekend and left after giving Anu the assurance that she
was just a phone call away.
Anu knew that David and
Selena had parted amicably. They had shared 14 years of their life
together and when the time had come to acknowledge that they had little
in common, they had decided to live apart. They still were good friends
and shared every little news and happening in their life with each
other, sans bitterness and acrimony. The children were in boarding
schools and their future was a joint concern. The ability to continue
maintaining a cordial and reliable bonding went to both of them for they
had the maturity and wisdom to arrive at decisions together, call a
spade a spade and without pointless blaming, moving on with dignity.
When Anu was expecting her
baby, it was Selena who moved in with them and helped her cope with the
cold climate and the pangs of loneliness which came from not being in
her own home land. The baby came on Christmas eve with David, Selena,
his two children and Anu’s parents waiting with bated breath to
receive the little bundle of joy. Her parents did feel odd seeing
49-year-old David going bonkers over fatherhood all over again, moreso
in the company of a young son who was almost as old to be a father
himself. Yet, seeing the way the entire family stood by Anu, respecting
her and her union with David was humbling. Anu also knew that western
society laid great emphasis on honesty in relationships and to the fact
that each individual was entitled to seek his rightful place under the
sun, to think for himself and not allow that decision to be clouded by
what others had to say and think. The credit for taking their
relationship to a higher level of understanding where there was no
jealousy, threat perception, competing or getting even but only a desire
to see the other happy went to both David and Selena. They were two very
honest and brave human beings who cared for each other at a level which
transcended material, social and familial concerns. It was
person-to-person contact at its most refined best and she felt blessed
to be a part of their extended family. Though Selena after the delivery
came over only on festivals it seemed as if her blessings were always
with them.
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