and all that is gone and all that's to come and everything under the sun is in tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon

In the middle of an illness, a sealing and a conference, Rajan got engaged. To Isha. A studio was set up at the venue for photograph portfolios to get done. It was fun to watch and tease the just-met-a-month-back couple as they got themselves clicked. Their joy, excitement and enthusiasm was obvious in spite of being veiled by consciousness and discretion. Through the evening they played to each others expectations while using each opportunity to guess the limit. To test and know what was acceptable and what was not. Stretching the joke and hoping the other doesn't take offence.

And then in the same studio, Rajan's maternal grand parents, Mr & Mrs Jain decided to get photographed. The joy, excitement and enthusiasm here was derived from pride- pride which comes from being together. Pride which showed through their eyes and their body language as they stood tall before the camera. The discretion still existed. But the boundaries were well known and accepted. There was comfort and there was security. And it wasn't at the cost of anything else.

Both these couples, were not reluctant to celebrate their special someone's. To congratulate themselves on being most fortunate. Touchwood.

In the midst of the action, I was quite under the weather, physically and otherwise. Met Ruchika for lunch. And she gave me clear, unclouded perspective and advice. And she did so, so subtly and discretely that I actually bought into it. And now it feels like Christmas!