The 16th ....

 And we did it ! 16 years under the same roof and an extra 2 months of long distance courtship ...I can definitely vouch that I coudn't get a better person to live rest of my life with. We both had very different upbringing - While Sree was part of joint family growing up in a country side not far from where i was brought up in a completely nuclear and urban way. His dad was the strictest whereas my dad gave me all the freedom ( within clear boundaries) . My achan never even once hinted that girls are any less than boys, in fact he always stood by me. 

Recollecting one of the first conversations after wedding about money revealed that Sree hadn't spent much from his salary and was living on income from Share trading. Quite impressive ! but when he said we start from 0 and gave all the savings to his dad, i didn't have any complaints. We started from Rs 0 in 2004. We both have few things in common -one of them being cautious about spending money and saving for tough times. Initially we were misers but over the years have eased up lot. So much that Sree is crazy about amazon online shopping that there is a box at the doorstep every other day.

We had our own share of hardships and sweet moments in these 16 years but (my) love seems to be growing plumper with every passing year . In 2005, Sree went to London leaving me behind. Later ,i got a chance to go to US in 2005 but it was shortlived. After few days of stay, realised that I had conceived and returned to Bangalore. Tension around from family first pregnancy added to a hasty decision to come back. Sreya and Anand happened in a span of 2 years.It was very tiring - taking care of 2 little ones and IT job with no other support at home. My OCD wouldn't let me drop anything and the side effect was natural weight loss. In 2009 , the biggest shock of our life arrived in the form of Hari's sickness. An otherwise heathy 6 foot man succumbed to a possible "stroke" and never recovered .

Jaundice caught us in 2010 and even after i recovered Sree was still fighting it (Fatty liver ! ). Sree had just resigned from HCL and joined Infy . Cheeku moved from day care to montessori and then to proper school. We shifted to a bigger house closer to school in a malayalee area and Appu too joined school with his big sister. We had a stay at home nanny by that time and things began falling back to normal. The next villain (or lucky charm) in our life was H1 visa initiation for me which i had no plan for. I had almost completely made up my mind that rest of my life is going to be in India but God had a different plan. My visa was stamped and soon i got an onsite opportunity in California. Infosys initiated Sree's visa also and luckily we united in few months time. The next 5 years was simply amazing ! (Barring achan's depression , alcoholism and demise - another blog.. )

So today, we woke up in bed wishing each other 100 years of togetherness. We are in Kerala since the last 5-6 weeks, thanks to Corona online classes and WFH. After breakfast,decided to make a small trip to Kumarakom with inlaws (who i consder as my own parents ) and Appu. First stop at Thrippakkudam temple, then Kumarakom sight seeing . On the way back we had lunch@Huts and visited Sree's uncle too. Arthinkal church visit was another highlight of the day - Marvellous church of St Sebastian where i prayed for peace, health and happiness. We didn't cut cake or exchange gifts !!

We fight over small things. He doesn't give me 'enough' love and attention. I usually don't do anything without his consent or hide anything from him but this is is not the case vice versa . After Hari became sick and achan went into depression, i am totally a lonely human being .No extended family to look upto during tough times . Everything about me revolves around him and there is no life without him.

I wish ( and am certain) I leave this world with Sreettan and only with him. Plan B is a virtual sati !

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