Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining - Hopes Should Never Die

She was the most beautiful not only in her family but also in her colony and college. Fair complexion, chiseled features and perfect figure made her the envy of not-so-equally beautiful ladies and the dream girl of every boy. Her beauty was further enhanced by her good nature and graceful attitude. She belonged to a well-to-do family that comprised of an old grandmother, a dominating father (with patriarchal ways), a silent mother and nine siblings. She was the eldest amongst the daughters.

She was in her teens and dreamt what most teenagers dream at that stage. There were so many suitors who were anxious to woo her but there was only one who managed to get some space in her heart. But even before their love story could take some romantic turn and fill her life with some beautiful moments and memories, her father cut it short in the most undesirable manner.

She was informed about her marriage that was going to take place in few weeks. All her dreams came crashing down.  Worst was the fact that the candidate selected by her father was double her age. A professor by profession, the suitor perfectly met the parameters of her father. He was educated, well-settled with a financially strong background. Well, these parameters were sufficient to please her father.

Nobody in the family liked the proposal. This was not only because of the looks that were totally in contrast with the would-be-bride but also because of the age difference. Her mother wanted to protest but that would have only made the matter worse.  Her presence in the house was most insignificant to her father. Her role in the house was only to fulfil one duty that the servants and his friends could not.

Mother kept quite even though her heart ached with grief but silence was the best weapon that she had always resorted to. Grandmother tried to talk but she too was silenced. Finally, everyone surrendered to the will of her father. She got married to the man who was not even close to what she dreamt off. That’s life, you don’t always get what you desire.

It was painful for her. But she decided to accept the reality and work towards making her present beautiful. But fate was not in her favor. Her husband turned out to be a total disappointment for her.  He was obsessed with himself and his profession. Books and only books were his life. He preferred them over all other pleasurable things present in life. So, even her presence didn’t matter to him.

This was not all. Aware of her exceptional good looks and conscious of his own shortcomings he was always suspicious about her. He did not allow her to talk to any male member, not even to her cousins. He was often rude to her. At times she was also the victim of his anger that was totally uncalled for.

She had totally lost interest in life but then motherhood changed her life. It kindled a ray of hope. She was blessed with two baby boys. She got busy in nurturing them and bringing them up. Time flew by. Young boys turned into grown-ups and soon they were busy with their own lives. In the meanwhile, someone suggested her to resume her studies. The proposal at very instance did not seem logical to her but later with the consent of her husband (which did not come easily) she started her studies. She successfully completed her post graduation and then Ph.D.

She was now a doctorate holder, this was something she had never thought of. But it happened and she was happy with it. She joined the same college where her husband worked for years.  Ironically, her joining day as a lecturer coincided with her husband’s retirement day.

Today she is one of the popular professors of her college. She is happy and content. Although sometimes past pricks her but she is grateful to God as she got a chance to prove herself and find her identity that was almost lost for years.

Retirement and age brought some positive changes in her husband. Now spending all the time at home, he has mellowed out. He craves for a wife’s love and attention. But now she is too busy for all this.  It’s not that she doesn’t care for him (after all this is what a dutiful wife does throughout her life) but the bond which a loving couple share is missing.

Time flies away and with it takes away the charms of youth. The good and pleasurable moments spent in these years turn into wonderful memories. Only if her husband realized this  earlier and had he given the lady her share of love and respect their life would have been filled with beautiful memories.

If every couple realized the significance of every moment spent together and importance of love and respect in their relation, life would be lot more beautiful and worth living.