Marriages ARE made in heaven!

Long, long ago, about half a century back- a little girl – S , she was just a toddler then, was the apple of the eye of everyone around her- she was fussed over by her parents, the servants, and there was another person at home whom she referred to as Big brother.

After a few years, Big Brother got married to a girl. The alliance was suggested by S’s parents.
Years passed, the girl S, grew up, got married. Soon, S had a baby daughter who was born not in a hospital but at home, as it used to be in those days. At the time of delivery, S was attended by a nurse/mid wife, S’s mother and Big brother’s wife who was also a distant relative and very close to the family!

In due course, S and family got relocated to a place far away from her home, but whenever they came down for vacations, they remembered to visit Big Brother and family. On one such occasion, S’s daughter A, who was maybe 5 or 6 years old, went over to Big Brothers home. There she met two boys-brothers and another girl-a cousin- all of them were older than her. They invited her to join a game of –house-house in the back yard. A was fascinated to see that they were playing with real vessels, albeit worn out ones, using leaves, mud, pebbles, a little bit of pulses and cereals. They even kept these vessels on fire, which they lighted on bits of twigs and paper. She had not yet learnt to light a matchstick! They had a great time that day, tho one of the vessels got blackened like soot. The boys also challenged the little girl to jump from the high wall in the compound which she did. Her little feet pained a lot but she kept a brave front.
Many, many years, passed- A came down to join college. She and her parents visited Big Brothers home. A met one of the boys with whom she had played long ago, but she did not know which one of the brothers he was- The boy was now a man and he showed them around the town and helped them to go shopping.

A joined college, she stayed in the hostel, and she ran into both the brothers now and then when she visited her local guardians home.

Few more years passed, A finished graduation, her grandmother was busy scanning horoscopes for her. Many were scrutinized, but none matched. A was supposed to be kept in the dark about such developments, but she had an aunt- her uncle’s wife who was more of a friend who would loyally update A about all goings on. A was getting worried about what kind of a person she would ultimately be chained to, but she knew she could do nothing much about it.

And one day, her aunt informed her that the latest horoscope being scrutinized was that of – V- the elder son of Big Brother! Big brother himself had suggested the alliance to her uncle and everyone was only too happy to consider the proposal. A was shocked, she had seen V several times during her college days, had also made small, formal conversations a few times, but that was about it! She had never thought of such a possibility. But as the matter sinked in, A was happy about the proposal, and she prayed that the horoscopes would match. And match it did!
It has been 15 years now, that we have been playing real time House- House and it has been a great life- with all the ups as well as downs! Tell me friends which other girl entered the world with her future mother- in –law in attendance?? And Vallyamma still reminds us of her vessel that we blackened many years ago!

Thank You God for Everything.