Mr Raghu was a decent man in his sixties and respected by the society. Most part of the respect came because he brought his son up single-handedly after his wife became a victim to cancer and his son Ansh was a successful scientist in ISR(Indian Scientific Research office) now. His wife's dream and his dream were now fulfilled. His tiny chest of 36 inches was now full of pride. His wife had been a beautiful lady in her days of glory and she was definitely taller than him and very beautiful. And he himself had been a small man with a humble demeanor. Standing at only 5 feet 4 inches above the ground he had been a handsome man but definitely not the macho type.
It must have been a mystery to people how he could manage to bait such a beautiful girl with his puny body. He used to answer simply by saying that love is not blind but it can see beyond physical appearance. What he implied by that nobody could guess. But they were happy for him.
Although he was a humble and friendly man he always had a height inferiority complex. He never expressed it but he had it. And when a beautiful son was born to him he was concerned that he too might grow up to be small man. But as his son rose from Raghu's feet seeking his blessings he felt proud looking at that 5 feet 10 inches tall, well-built body. His son had inherited everything good from him and his wife.
Now the final desire of his late wife had to be fulfilled--- GETTING THEIR SON MARRIED TO A WORTHY GIRL.
Raghu had asked Ansh about this matter and Ansh had simply said "Papa... I was so busy making a career that I didn't want to have any relationship. so if you want to see me married then you better start contacting our relatives because I'm not capable of that. I hardly have any female friends!"
So Raghu took it upon himself to find a suitable match for his son. And she had to be as good as his son! His son was a brilliant scientist and a well built man. That called for the need of a bride who is beautiful and at the same time with a good character.
5 months later he got his son married to a girl, the most beautiful he had ever seen- prettier than his wife, with tradition and culture intact, and with a voice as sweet as "koel". She didn't have a college degree but had the opinion that education is important. She was not good with the subjects she took and by the time she realized that she was already 20. So she was an intelligent drop-out. What else could Raghu ask for his son! This was like a perfect match!
The night of the marriage Raghu slept a peaceful sleep. All his earthly duties were done. Now his only wish was to spend a peaceful life with his small family and hoped to live long enough to cradle his grandchildren. And now the rest of the story begins.
***
His relationship with his daughter in law had become that of a friend that you respect. You can share everything yet you abide by the traditional rules and maintain your boundaries. In that way it had become his favorite way to pass time - gossiping with his daughter in law, Stuti. And when she was busy with the house chores and needed undivided attention lest she put sugar instead of salt he dug his head into the latest science magazines. Being an electronics engineer himself he was fascinated by modern and novel gadgets.
His day started at 9 AM. He used to wake up early but after retirement he had allowed himself a couple of hours of longer sleep. After waking up he used to head downstairs eagerly for his morning meal and his chat with his daughter in law. He enjoyed every moment of it, and looked forward to every opportunity to talk to her. That's probably because he had been a lonely man for so long with not a soul to interact. In her he saw a new opportunity to socialize and she reminded him of his wife in a way. Calm and composed with a sweet voice. He patted his own back thinking he had made the right choice for his son.
The turning point in their life was being written and the day that it all changed was 9th August.