My father was worried about loneliness in old age, so we married a young wife 20 years younger than him. On the day of the wedding, he was so happy that he quickly took his wife to the bride’s room. Shortly after, we heard my aunt crying. We pushed the door open and ran inside. We saw my aunt lurking in the corner of the room, while my dad…

Worried about my father’s loneliness in his old age, we married a young wife 20 years younger than him. On the day of the wedding, he happily took his wife to the bride’s room. Shortly after, we heard my aunt crying. We opened the door and saw my aunt lurking in the corner of the room while my father…
My father’s name is Narayan ji, 65 years old, living in Jaipur (Rajasthan). They are strong-willed, have gone through many ups and downs, but still have an optimistic spirit. My mother died when my younger brother and I were young, and she raised us alone with all her love and sacrifice. For many years, he refused to remarry, saying that we were both enough.

But when we got married and had children, my father gradually started speaking less and started living alone. They would sit by the window for hours and look at the streets of the Pink City without saying a word. Whenever we came home, they laughed and talked out loud; But when we left, there was silence in the house.

I didn’t want my father to be alone forever, so after much deliberation, my younger brother and I decided to find someone who could be his companion and take care of him in his old age. At first, my father protested strongly and said that he had come of age and that he did not need to get married anymore. We patiently explained to them: “Not just for my father, but for us as well. We feel more secure when someone is with my father. ”

Finally, my father shook his head. After a lot of research, the family met Rekha – 20 years younger than my father, humble, honest, a kindergarten teacher in Jaipur. Rekha was never married, and said she was willing to take care of my father and be his partner.

The wedding day was very pleasant according to Hindu customs: under the mandap, my father wore a new sherwani, which looked quite young; The bride Rekha wore a beautiful cream-white saree. Both of them took rounds around the sacred fire, my father skillfully dressed them with mangalsutra and vermilion. All relatives blessed him; Everyone was surprised to see Dad shining like youth.

The party was over, and Dad happily took the bride to the wedding night so early that we burst into laughter. I joked with my younger brother:
“Look at Dad, he’s even more nervous than he was when he got married.
My younger brother patted me on the shoulder:
— “They’re almost 70 years old, but still very energetic!”

When we thought everything was going well, about an hour later, the sound of Rekha’s cries came from the room. The whole family was shocked and shocked…

“Dad! What happened?”
No one answered, just sobbing. I pushed the door open and entered.

I stopped to see the sight in front of me: Rekha was lurking in the corner of the room, her eyes were red, her arms were holding her knees tightly, her breathing was rapid. My father was sitting on the bed, his clothes were in disarray, his face full of confusion and bewilderment. The atmosphere was stifling.

I asked,
“What happened?”
Rekha’s voice trembled:
— “I… I can’t… I’m not used to it…”
My father muttered, his face red:
— “Dad… I didn’t have any bad intentions. I just… I wanted to hug him. She started crying loudly, I was confused and didn’t know what to do. ”

We helped the line calm down. My father sat there, his hands clasped, and he was trembling a little. I understood: One night was too much for the two of them—one was used to being single for so long, and the other was completely unaware of this marriage and age gap.

The next morning, when everything calmed down, I sat down to talk to my father and Rekha aunty. I said quietly,
“It takes time to meet. No one needs to do anything they aren’t ready for. From now on, you and aunt will move slowly: start with a conversation, take a morning walk in Central Park, cook together, watch TV. If you feel comfortable, hold hands, lean over each other. As far as personal matters are concerned, when you both want to, let it be natural. If need be, I’ll ask my great-uncle or a marriage counsellor to discuss further. ”

My father sighed, but his eyes moistened:
—”I didn’t expect it to be so difficult. I… I had forgotten what it was like to be with someone. ”

Rekha nodded in a low voice:
“I’m nervous, too. I don’t want to make the name Uncle feel uncomfortable. Me… Give it more time. ”

We agreed to temporarily sleep in separate rooms, maintaining a gentle range, prioritizing first our spouse, then our spouse. In the afternoon, I saw Dad and Rekha sitting on the balcony, making hot tea, chatting about the garden and kindergarten kids. There was no more whining, just low questions and a shy smile.

The marriage of a 65-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman is measured not by honeymoon, but by patience every day: respect, listening, and re-learning to walk side-by-side. And we – the kids – understand that helping Dad is not about forcing him to get married in a hurry, but about taking small steps around him so he can get out of loneliness safely and warmly.

“Dad! What happened?”
No one answered, just sobbing. I pushed the door open and entered.

I stopped to see the sight in front of me: Rekha was lurking in the corner of the room, her eyes were red, her arms were holding her knees tightly, her breathing was rapid. My father was sitting on the bed, his clothes were in disarray, his face full of confusion and bewilderment. The atmosphere was stifling.

I asked,
“What happened?”
Rekha’s voice trembled:
— “I… I can’t… I’m not used to it…”
My father muttered, his face red:
— “Dad… I didn’t have any bad intentions. I just… I wanted to hug him. She started crying loudly, I was confused and didn’t know what to do. ”

We helped the line calm down. My father sat there, his hands clasped, and he was trembling a little. I understood: One night was too much for the two of them—one was used to being single for so long, and the other was completely unaware of this marriage and age gap.

The next morning, when everything calmed down, I sat down to talk to my father and Rekha aunty. I said quietly,
“It takes time to meet. No one needs to do anything they aren’t ready for. From now on, you and aunt will move slowly: start with a conversation, take a morning walk in Central Park, cook together, watch TV. If you feel comfortable, hold hands, lean over each other. As far as personal matters are concerned, when you both want to, let it be natural. If need be, I’ll ask my great-uncle or a marriage counsellor to discuss further. ”

My father sighed, but his eyes moistened:
—”I didn’t expect it to be so difficult. I… I had forgotten what it was like to be with someone. ”

Rekha nodded in a low voice:
“I’m nervous, too. I don’t want to make the name Uncle feel uncomfortable. Me… Give it more time. ”

We agreed to temporarily sleep in separate rooms, maintaining a gentle range, prioritizing first our spouse, then our spouse. In the afternoon, I saw Dad and Rekha sitting on the balcony, making hot tea, chatting about the garden and kindergarten kids. There was no more whining, just low questions and a shy smile.

The marriage of a 65-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman is measured not by honeymoon, but by patience every day: respect, listening, and re-learning to walk side-by-side. And we – the kids – understand that helping Dad is not about forcing him to get married in a hurry, but about taking small steps around him so he can get out of loneliness safely and warmly.