Lessons Learnt Late in Life (2) – The MBA Couple Upstairs

They were a sweet and friendly couple, usually minding their own business – Rajan from the South and Rajini from the North of India.

Both met like the stars of the movie 2 States – at an IIM (Indian Institute of Management)! We had the pleasure of getting invited to their baby’s birthday parties at the party hall in our lovely society. Life went on.

Enter the parents of both Rajan and Rajini. Poles apart – North and South Indians you see. The moms came down to talk to me often, but separately. Said Rajini’s mom to me, “Oh, I cannot bear to taste their laddoos,” and one day, ominously, “I told Rajini not to quit her job.” Oh? I started wondering why, since Rajni was so content in her role as a mother and as a homemaker…

I also came to know that there was a dispute about some ceremony for Baby, between the two sets of grandparents.

Time flew and I got busy with my own life as a wife, mom and a manager in a conglomerate. One day we saw Rajan alone in the car park. He looked crestfallen. He said Rajini had gone to her parents’ house, “Since a relative is sick and she will stay there for a while.” My instincts told me they had separated.

But why? 

Did the two seemingly intelligent IIM educated couple buckle under their parents’ interference?

Hope I was wrong and they are back – a lovely couple they were. 

What did I learn here – much later, our parents can intervene or interfere with the best intention, but it is up to us to decide what’s best for our relationship!

Question for you – What could the couple have done better?