THE STORY OF MY LIFE-PART TWO.

Black & White era!

I continue with my story after a gap of a few years. A story that started in March 1967, courtesy Indian Railways, continues now even after 46 years.

There were a lot of differences between Triloki and I. To begin with even our names  belong to different eras, while one belongs to the mythological era, the other belongs to the contemporary era. I belong to Maharashtra, Triloki is from Punjab.  He is fair, I am dark. The only common thing between us was that we both excelled  in our studies. Both lived in Delhi and studied in Ranchi.  Triloki was a topper in the Engineering College and I topped my University in Political Science (hon's).

We got married after much resistance from both the families. We were so adamant that the parents had no alternative but to agree to arrange our wedding. The wedding was at South Extension part ll, where I lived. My father was a stickler for punctuality and the  baraat  actually arrived on the dot at 7 pm. The food was excellent and had all the non vegetarian dishes which everyone loved. This was different as in North Indian weddings, food is normally vegetarian, as a wedding is a religious function.

We had a civil marriage, as my family as well as Triloki are atheists. The Magistrate came home, there were no rituals, in fact I  even refused to wear the traditional red  sari, I wore blue!

46 years have gone by and yet we do not understand each other. We are still ever ready to fight, and  do not take each other for granted. The passing of years has only affected us to the extent that we both have different  coloured hair, which is now quite scant, perhaps to compensate for the thinning hair we have an expanding waistline, and so there is addition in weight, there are beautiful lines on our face, and we both do look distinguished. Time has been kind to us! We have travelled all around the world, we have shared breath taking view of the Himalayas, Alps, the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Mediteranean Sea, what else? Have seen a few wonders of the world. Seen almost every corner of our "back home" England!

We have  loved the beaches, loved the mountains, loved the forests.

Been to Ngorongoro in Tanzania, Pench in Maharashtra,  Sequoia National park in California, and so many other  forested areas in India.

Although we are so different, yet strangely we like the same kind of food, movies,  and have the same   interest in traveling .

What then could be our areas of differences?

We argue about anything and everything under the sun.

While I can talk nineteen to the dozen, Triloki is a person of very few words. I guess I make up for both of us!

In the final year of college, I had been given the title of Miss Chatter Box.

While I look after the aesthetics of my house, Triloki looks after all the nitty gritty. He is a plumber, electrician, handyman, all rolled into one.

Life has been good.

Looking back I find it hard to believe that it has actually been 46 years since I met a stranger on the Patna Ranchi Express in an unreserved compartment. They do say never trust a stranger. I agree, don't trust a stranger, because they could take over your entire life!!

The coloured era