Chhayan didi and Sailesh dai ko 25th Anniversary

Jhul kinchha hai Chhayyan bastu anusara...
Sailesh nai ho Chhayyan ko eutai sansara... :)
(and vice versa)

With that annoying wordplay, let me say a few things about our full-famous, all rounder, thakali, aussie-star Didi-Bhinaju(dai) couple:

When I first met Sailesh dai, it was in Kwako (I had met Chhayyan didi a lot earlier). I used to go to Kwako often during my holidays, before I went to Budhanilkantha school. I have lots of memories about Kwako. And I vividly remember the first time I met Sailesh dai. I remember him being very tall, handsome and good with jokes. He had done something with my cheeks (pinched?) but I am fuzzy on that part.

I thought he was only Chhayan didi's close friend, because I was that young and naive- it was that long time ago. It was beyond me to imagine them later to have been (or already had become!) partners for life. I just remembered then that there is one more person who is giving me attention- we used to crave for attention then! If I had known that they were going to get married, I might have felt jealousy, for I was quite close to Chhayyan didi while growing up!

After that, my memory kind of fades about the developing story about this couple. Maybe that's around when I started my boarding school, and I got overwhelmed with my own preoccupation. But I remember tidbits here and there.

Fast forward to another memory Anumamu and Muma engrossed over the the wedding details of the said couple. During the conversation, I had been dismissed to the background, with the grownups busy with obviously more important things to discuss. I was listening into the conversation though, and I could hear what was going on. When they were going over the dates, Anumamu fell silent for a while, and then she suddenly turned towards me and said in a scolding voice, 'yo Chhayyan ko biya ma pani kasto thyakkai timro SLC exam paareko ta!'. I felt a jolt in my heart- 'no, it can't be during my SLC exams! That means that I am going to be missing out all the fun parts? How can they be so inconsiderate?!' On one hand, I had been heartbroken that I wouldn't be able to enjoy my sister's wedding! On the other hand, I am getting a scolding for no fault on my part!

Later on, I realized that Anumamu had given me that stern dialog to preempt my complaints, something we do very commonly in Nepal. To contain a crisis, so to speak! And I have to say, she had been efficient about it- I did keep quiet, except maybe letting out a few grumblings- I even managed to meekly ask if the dates could be changed once, but I already knew deep down, that the dates had already been sealed with finality.

So I wasn't able to experience the wedding process, only glimpses of it. But I did go over the 4x6" pictures from the wedding- the most memorable one being Rabina and Mili wearing matching black pantsuit (and white blouse?) and grinning widely, and Chhayyan didi in red sari and Sailesh dai in double breasted suit.

We still remember being around the eldest couple- it felt like we were almost adults ourselves. Sailesh dai falling asleep while driving his bike, cracking jokes and challenging us with his riddles, and him knowing almost everybody in Kathmandu and having such a large circle of friends. Their first treat to all the fuchha-fuchhis to The Bakery Cafe in Jawalakhel, etc., and to a Nepali movie (Prem Pinda?) in Ashok Hall.

And fast forward to the time when I was home on a short break from US, and I had visited Chhayyan didi in Satdobado when Shreya was- what, 4 years old? She was so small- impossible to imagine how tall she would be later on! Shreya growing slowly but surely, and getting more and more talkative and confident, and taking over the role of testing us with quizzes and riddles.

In summary, it seems we have come such a long way since the time I first saw Sailesh dai, which marked the beginning of a beautiful relationship between the two, of which Shreya is an amazing product! There have been a lot of ups and downs, but I shall always look up to Chhayyan didi & Sailesh dai; they were first married couple who were close to me, and I feel grateful of having spent such a long part of my life with them! 25 years is such a long time, but I'm glad that I still cherish many fond memories of them together!