In laws out laws!!
I think it was Reader’s Digest which used to have this feature where some interesting and amusing anecdotes were recounted bringing a smile on most of our faces. As bachelors, these features only strengthened our resolve to stay the course and not get tied down literally(!). Oh those days and of course nights of gay abandon when we were the lord and masters of our royal abodes. Anyway … This is not the occasion to lament my loss of bachelorhood but to celebrate …. Yes it is time for Sir Cliff Richard ……”Congratulations and celebrations…….” After all it is the Golden Jubilee celebrations of my in laws who actually should be Outlaws because they have not lived up to the stereotyped image of the wily scheming in laws, that we have seen in umpteen number of Bollywood movies. Hence the “sobriquet ” : in laws who have not lived up to the traditional image of in laws.
Actually it all started in a very unconventional manner, the parents decided that we should be a couple, no that was quite routine just that both the set of parents have been friends and colleagues for almost two decades. So uncle and aunt of yesterday transformed into father and mother in law, not the usual strangers assuming this mantle on the nupital night.
The only thing out of the ordinary was I was the odd one out, as the rest of them had been neighbours, friends, colleagues, class mates etc etc…… I was missing in action having been bundled out to Dehradun as a young lad all of eleven.
Getting back to the golden Jubilee couple….. Well we have been blessed and the almighty had been extremely kind to us that the set of parents who are my in laws have been no different from my own parents……. Whether it was affection or support the fountain was always over flowing in fact our misdemeanours were simply ignored for us to realise on our own. Ma in law has been pampering us no end by feeding us with delicacies and always showering her love and affection. A homemaker par excellence she has held the extended family together and has instilled the right values in her daughters who have gone on strive for this perfection in their own ways in their respective families.
There are a number of sterling qualities of Pa in law, an all rounder who has been a career educationist spent his life time teaching zoology not content he went ahead and wrote quite a few text books which were quite popular as there weren’t many authors who wrote quality science text books in Hindi. He has been actively involved in working with a NGO EKLAVYA which has been rendering yeoman service in the tribal areas of the state by teaching science in a unique non formal manner utilising the tools and ancillaries which can easily be created by kids on their own. I can go on about his accomplishments in the field of education but he is endowed with a multi dimensional personality so apart from his chosen field he is an ornithologist “bird watcher” for the uninitiated and that explains his phenomenal patience. He is equally adept at outdoor activities having indulged in Tennis and Badminton in his younger days. In the later years he trekked a little attempting the Narmada parikrama too. A naturopathy enthusiast he even converted me getting me to try out the regimen for a week. As a parent, a sibling, a son he has donned each of these roles to perfection.
Always a professor at heart he is most comfortable explaining things in a myriad number of ways till the student has no choice left but to concede the game set and match…….
Together they are a formidable combination the old man is still young at heart and his youthful looks only add to the charm, his better half an ageless beauty……….as a couple they are the epitome of grace and role model for the youngsters…. May these golden years turn to diamond and onto platinum…….. Amen!
I think it was Reader’s Digest which used to have this feature where some interesting and amusing anecdotes were recounted bringing a smile on most of our faces. As bachelors, these features only strengthened our resolve to stay the course and not get tied down literally(!). Oh those days and of course nights of gay abandon when we were the lord and masters of our royal abodes. Anyway … This is not the occasion to lament my loss of bachelorhood but to celebrate …. Yes it is time for Sir Cliff Richard ……”Congratulations and celebrations…….” After all it is the Golden Jubilee celebrations of my in laws who actually should be Outlaws because they have not lived up to the stereotyped image of the wily scheming in laws, that we have seen in umpteen number of Bollywood movies. Hence the “sobriquet ” : in laws who have not lived up to the traditional image of in laws.
Actually it all started in a very unconventional manner, the parents decided that we should be a couple, no that was quite routine just that both the set of parents have been friends and colleagues for almost two decades. So uncle and aunt of yesterday transformed into father and mother in law, not the usual strangers assuming this mantle on the nupital night.
The only thing out of the ordinary was I was the odd one out, as the rest of them had been neighbours, friends, colleagues, class mates etc etc…… I was missing in action having been bundled out to Dehradun as a young lad all of eleven.
Getting back to the golden Jubilee couple….. Well we have been blessed and the almighty had been extremely kind to us that the set of parents who are my in laws have been no different from my own parents……. Whether it was affection or support the fountain was always over flowing in fact our misdemeanours were simply ignored for us to realise on our own. Ma in law has been pampering us no end by feeding us with delicacies and always showering her love and affection. A homemaker par excellence she has held the extended family together and has instilled the right values in her daughters who have gone on strive for this perfection in their own ways in their respective families.
There are a number of sterling qualities of Pa in law, an all rounder who has been a career educationist spent his life time teaching zoology not content he went ahead and wrote quite a few text books which were quite popular as there weren’t many authors who wrote quality science text books in Hindi. He has been actively involved in working with a NGO EKLAVYA which has been rendering yeoman service in the tribal areas of the state by teaching science in a unique non formal manner utilising the tools and ancillaries which can easily be created by kids on their own. I can go on about his accomplishments in the field of education but he is endowed with a multi dimensional personality so apart from his chosen field he is an ornithologist “bird watcher” for the uninitiated and that explains his phenomenal patience. He is equally adept at outdoor activities having indulged in Tennis and Badminton in his younger days. In the later years he trekked a little attempting the Narmada parikrama too. A naturopathy enthusiast he even converted me getting me to try out the regimen for a week. As a parent, a sibling, a son he has donned each of these roles to perfection.
Always a professor at heart he is most comfortable explaining things in a myriad number of ways till the student has no choice left but to concede the game set and match…….
Together they are a formidable combination the old man is still young at heart and his youthful looks only add to the charm, his better half an ageless beauty……….as a couple they are the epitome of grace and role model for the youngsters…. May these golden years turn to diamond and onto platinum…….. Amen!
Original Comments:
Ananya (2017-08-12):
🙂 the two of you are pretty close to the perfection too! Runs in the family I guess..
Surbhi (2017-08-14):
Fabulous read…the expression is reflective of your heartfelt sentiments.