A Toast

It calls for a celebration when a couple scores a quarter of a century. Though I would try and make my presence felt today by quoting a few lines about them, the fact is that no one beyond the couple really know the value of their journey together. It does sound strange to me but still I would address them as a 'couple' today rather than parents coz it is that day of their life which is exlusive to them and no mother.. father.. daughter can take their share in this..

25 years.. though not so long.. but is still a long time.. To keep together in all the ups and down of life and nurture a bond so strong as that we 3 share today is quite a task..

Although they would love to disagree but to me their's is the most beautiful relationship in all those that i have ever witnessed. They may be different people..they are different people but they fill in for each other's lacunas so well that it is comendable. It is this that makes them so perfect for each other. They may not be the best individuals around..but they make the perfect couple together.

This celebration would be incomplete without a 25th wedding anniversary toast being raised to the eternal couple.. I love you Ma and Pa. And this is for you, for my parents.. Cheers..!!!

And this is not it.... Cake and confetti follows.

"Forever in Love"

Scene 1 : May 2008, UB City Bangalore.
Its a beautiful evening: ladies standing tall in high heels with flowing dresses, men smartly dressed in their crisp shirts, a shade of green splurged on this canvas by the numerous trees planted spaciously in this little open area of UB City in Bangalore. There are neatly erected rows of chairs with the bold demarcation between the sitting areas for the elite group and the young budding professionals. On our left Black Dog has lavishly displayed its golden coloured whisky, a glass of which is complementary with the ticket, along with unlimited yummy snacks. And to top it all the weather couldnt have been more perfect with the cool breeze blowing setting us all in a mood to listen to the best symphonies we ever might have heard.

And then sharp at 8, the focus light which all this while wasnt sure where to focus knew exactly what to do. A beautiful man he is (err.. man.. umm beautiful.... YES..). All these years I was so madly in love with his tunes but today I fell in love with the man himself. Never seen someone so humble and sexy. There is something about these aged Americans. Its like their charm grows with their age. He looked sexy in a plain white shirt carrying a soprano saxophone and sporting those curly locks which only he can carry. Yes I spent an evening watching Kenny G perform live in front of me.

Scene 2 : March 2003, PICT Girls Hostel, Pune.
Its 11 pm. Me and my roomie are under our sheets trying to force ourselves to sleep. Her bed is right next to the window (the massive window-it stretched across the biggest wall in the room and faced the front of the college campus). And Kenny G's Breathless' old tattered tape is playing on a borrowed cassette player. It had just rained and the smell was fresh in the air. Cool breeze and full moon peeking through the window into our rooms had just kind of set an atmosphere. We start with our usual bed time talks and invariably like every other day our conversation deviates and lands at what is being played and how we cannot get sleep if we dont listen to it every night (atleast me).

And I remember how I then became an ardent fan of his music, of his tunes. And it is today after so many years that I have listened to him again and I still feel that peace, that calm possessing me as it did then and if it wasnt for my friend I would have gone off to sleep at UB City on that chair.