LOVER’S DAY SPECIAL

Today is Valentine’s day.  Every media, viz., Television, Radio and print, plan special features for this day.  I too planned to post about love on my blog yesterday night and thought I would do it tonight.  Between yesterday and today, my mind changed.  (The blog I intended to post is ready and I would post it at a later date) I have decided on a different content.

A famous filmmaker died yesterday (don’t worry this is not an obituary) and I am sad to learn that his partner for the last two decades was not allowed to attend his funeral by his legal wife and her associates (don’t get excited; I am not going to discuss extramarital affairs).  I don’t blame the wife or her sympathizers, but the man himself, who has spoken so much about love on celluloid for failing to ensure that his partner gets the dignity and support after his demise. Let alone celebrities, how many commoners ensure that their spouses/partners live a dignified and comfortable life after them.  Not many.  This thought is the stimulus for this post.

Much before I was born, a rich man known to my parents got his daughter married.  The groom made false claims about his education and employment at the time of marriage and against tradition, came to live with his in-laws.  The in-laws were surprised and thought that the new couple would move out, once they settle down and were very happy to have the daughter and son-in-law with them.  He was soon exposed and the bride’s parents were very depressed and suggested that the couple gets separated legally, but the daughter did not agree to their suggestion and decided to continue to live with him.

This lady in reference is the most dignified lady I have ever known.  Though she continued to live close to her parents, she ensured that her husband got his privacy and respect.  Though he was unemployed at the time of their wedding, soon after she started work, he too started working and together they lived a happy life.  They were a lovely couple, always seen together.  They were never seen arguing, fighting or complaining.

Sadly after a few years, the lady fell seriously sick and when she came to know that her days were numbered, she acted promptly.  She had inherited some property from her parents and the couple also had acquired some assets.  She not only willed some assets and money in her husband’s name, but also registered it, anticipating trouble from her family.  She knew that, her family members would not treat him well, after her demise as their opinion about him was not so good.  As she anticipated, all her relatives disowned him and he was accused of forcibly getting the property transferred to him. 

Years passed and he is living in an old age home and even after several years, misses her terribly.