Love grows sweeter with age

This morning I was on the bus to work. An old couple got into the bus few stops later.  With the walking stick on his right hand, the woman’s hand clutched to his left hand, firmly, yet so gently, the man led the woman to the priority seat in the bus. He helped her sit and then sat next to her. I couldn’t help watch the couple.  My guess is they were in their late 70s. The best part was once they were comfortably seated, the woman gently placed her hand on the man’s forearm and the man looked into the woman’s eyes and they exchanged a smile. The two of them looked so good together. The couple just travelled silently gazing outside the window. Any time the bus jerked, the man would just look into woman’s eye and ask her in silence if she was ok. In return the lady would just nod her head in approval. Shortly, they arrived at their destination.  Once again, with the walking stick on his right hand, woman’s hand clutched to his left hand, firmly, yet so gently, the man helped the woman alight from the bus and together they started walking towards the grocery shop. The bus moved on. I stretched my neck and kept looking as the old couple walked hand in hand until they were out of sight.

Lost in their own sweet world, the couple displayed timeless generous love and a lifetime of togetherness.

The old couple reminded me of a hindi poem that I read ages ago. I am sorry I can only remember the poem and not the name of the person who wrote it. It goes like this:



Aye mere pyaarey humraahi

Badi door se hum tum dono

Sung chalein hain path par aisey

Gaadi ke do pahiye jaise.

Kahi path ko paaya samthal

Kahi kahi par oobad khaabad

Anugrah prabhu ka itna tha

Ki gaadi chalti rahi baraabar

Kabhi hansi thi, kilkaari thi

Kabhi dard peeda bhari thi

Kabhi Kabhi they bheed jhameley

Kabhi Moun tha, Kabhi lachaari thi.

Rukey nahi path par phir bhi humtum

Liye aastha mann mein hurdum

Pagh drudhthar hotey jaatey hain

Path par jo badhthey jaatey hain

Ithna hai vishwaas priye ki

Baadal yeh bhi hat jaayega

Safar bohat lamba hai lekin

Sung tumharey kat jaayega.

Isnt love a symbol of eternity that grows sweeter with age? It bestows resilience upon mature couples that sees them through all ups and downs, highs and lows, good and bad times and provides strength to keep marching hand in hand.