Maa goes on grumbling as she frets about the house, picking up things and leaving order behind.
It's the morning everyday in my house. Maa grumbles at Daddy, Daddy grumbles at Maa.
It's always been this way. Mom and Dad were never the usual couple. No romance, no gifts, no i-love-yous, nothing. Hell, the simple mere idea of my parents being in love is revolting!
Two crazed-out super-ambitious eminent doctors of the town, my parents consider 'expressed love' as the most outrageous excuse for an emotion. Maa laughs at all my romantic notions, and Daddy vilely threatens to murder any guy who dare get too close to his daughter.
But I know they love each other. I watch them express it every moment.
When Maa lays out Daddy's clothes for him before he returns home, or makes sure his food is never cold. When Daddy massages Maa's aching head in one of her many migraines. When they sit together in the hospital for a cup of tea in between rounds of the O.R.
Maa has always been Daddy's strength, through thick or thin. Everytime the man of the house broke down when the world became too hard, Maa got into his shoes and made sure he had her steel-strong support everytime. Times were tough, the family in crisis, Mumma and Daddy stuck together, making sure no one grew weak. When consequences were against Daddy, Maa would never hesitate in uttering an expletive or two, at the people who'd messed up his life. Never mind the ideal Bhartiya naari. I watch them work together, struggling to keep their patients alive, and they almost always succeed. Sometimes, Daddy brings in a little gift for her, always the gentleman. Maa's a bit of a nut. She sent Daddy a "Happy Birthday" on Valentine's Day when I forced her to wish him. And then shrugged, blushed and said, "Kya farak padta hai? Wish toh kar diya na!"
They jab at each other, mock each other, tease and joke around as if they're newly married. Sometimes, they make me sit down and lecture me about something or the other. Sometimes, they tell me and my sister that we are the most precious treasures they own.
Mumma and Daddy have been through the hardest struggles of life, side by side. They've climbed the ladder of success, matching their steps, one at a time. I've never believed in arranged marriage. Never understood the logic behind being tied down to some one you've never known before. But sometimes, when I look at these two nutcracks, I understand, that it never made a difference. It was a match made in heaven, and it keeps me hopeful, that I might have MY special someone out there too. That when I'm their age, I can be just as happy.
*touchwood*
Happy Anniversary Mumma and Daddy! Love you guys! :) <3
