U Me Aur Hum

"Oh, how we danced on the night we were wed,
We vowed our true love though a word wasn't said
The world was in bloom, there were stars in the skies,
Except for the few that were there in your eyes.
The night seemed to fade into blossoming dawn,
The sun shone anew but the dance lingered on.
Could we but relive that sweet moment sublime,
We'd find that our love is unaltered by time."

- Lyrics to "The Anniversary Waltz," composed by Dublin/Frankl

The first time Ajay saw Pia, she served him drinks. She affected him more than the alcohol, and he found true love. He was a leading psychiatrist, but she messed up his mind.

The first time Pia saw Ajay, he had too much to drink. She watched him make a fool of himself, and was relieved when he passed out. She was a woman who followed her heart, but despite his claims of true love, she had made up her mind.

Thus began the story of Ajay and Pia.

A love story, that begins at sea. Ajay is on a cruise with his friends - Nikhil and Reena, unhappily married, and Vicky and Natasha, happily unmarried. Ajay is having a wonderful time dealing with martial strife, lots of bad language and huge hangovers, when he finds Pia, and time stands still. After a disastrous first meeting, Ajay tries everything to woo her. He wants her, by hook, crook or even her little private notebook. She's not an easy catch at all, but finally, by sheer perseverance, he dances his way into her heart.

Ajay and Pia develop a strong and special bond. In each other, they find an anchor. But the tide goes against them. Weighted down by lies and deceit, their boat is rocked, and their relationship drowns.

But even oceans cannot keep true love apart. Against better sense, Ajay waits for Pia. In Pia's case, better case prevails, and she comes back to him. With no doubt in their minds about the way they feel for each other, they rush into marriage, despite the advice and failing relationships of their friends.

Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry. And Ajay-Pia, love each other dearly, and their marriage flourishes, setting an example for their friends.

But no marriages can be complete without problems, and Ajay and Pia have also have to face hurdles, some of which seem insurmountable. We are taught in school how to do sums, how to read and write, and how to conduct scientific experiments. But what do we really know about the greatest social experiment of all, namely our ability to keep the love alive in our marriage, especially in the face of crises?

But even as things get much worse, and sometimes unsolvable, Ajay and Pia don't give up. They realize that marriage is not a ritual or an end. It is a long, intricate, intimate dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense of balance and your choice of partner. And Ajay and Pia are used to dancing together.

So they battle all odds, and dance, and sometimes they fall. But every time they fall, they fall in love. And that's what a successful marriage requires. Falling in love many times, always with the same person.

This is the special love story of Ajay and Pia. There may be no monuments dedicated to them and perhaps their names will soon be forgotten. But in one respect they succeed as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: They've loved each other with all their heart and soul; and in life and marriage, that has always been enough.