Relationships !

Its been a long and short , super fast and snaily slow , introspective and paint the town red , 15 days .
So many new feelings , emotions , reversals , fast forwards ..... realisations ..... acceptances !!
So many new ideas , inputs , discoveries .............. from outside .... and ........ within .
Like the chugging of the train on rails ....... sometimes slow and sometimes fast .
After a snail moving , slow , long , first week of may , bag's packed and ready to leave .....
cosily tucked into my 3rd a/c coach in the " west coast express " i sit .........
Watching the world go by , like a picture post card in motion ...... smiling ...... thoughtful !
People get in ..... get out , at different stations ...... so much like life ?????
stations of happiness , sadness , euphoria , contentment , trust , deceit ...........
In and out of my thoughts , the train rocks me to sleep , the rock and roll on rails .........
Fond memories of a pleasent journey ......
Mangalore it is ! red tiles , coconut palms , winding roads ......... and inbound family !
All , happy to be together again , a wedding in the family ......... after 15 yrs .
After blessings in plenty , during the "roce " ( a function on the previous day of the wedding , bride dressed in her mothers wedding saree , and anointed with coconut milk and oil , and blessed by the whole family, amid songs about her childhood , a mixture of tears and smiles ).
The couple took their vows , till death do we part !
The bride beauitiful and serene , the groom handsome and regal !
I sit next to mom ......in Bijai church ..... built a hundred years back ... this is where she and dad said "i do " in 1951 .
After 56 years of togetherness in 2006 , he departed .... saying " I did " .
We sit together .......... A generation apart .
For them it was " till death do we part "
For me it was " Part or you will die " everyday , ever moment . " i too did ".
The only constant in time ....... Change !
An hour of ceremonies and two signatures later , two are joined for life , saying " i do " .
17 yrs of marriage , 2 children and 3 years of seperation later , i wait for a signature to say " I Don't " .
A system that considered me adult enough at 18 to say " i do " ,
Doesen't consider me adult enough at 40 to say " i Don't " ........ ironical ....... yet true !
The melody of the final hymn , brings me back to track .....
The happiness of the moment , brings a beauitiful smile back ......
It hardly matters to the scenery outside , as to which train is passing by ...... but .....
It surely matters to the passenger inside to look out with eyes open wide .............
In this destination called life , its the journey that matters ...........
Doesen't matter if one gets off at the first stop or last ..... May it be an eventful ride !
In a fairytale movie setting , strings of music reverberating ..... we danced away the night !!!