Almost in every family, discussions on trifling matters take place. But the art lies in handling it with perfect understanding so that it creates love. Our family was not an exception. Almost every day some issue would crop up inadvertently, and get transformed into an ego issue between my parents.

I still remember an incident, which revealed how much my father loved my mother. Once, we were enjoying our dinner on the table. The khan saman (cook) had placed the plates on the table, and we started eating with mild music in our attendance.

All of a sudden my father got up saying one of the vegetables served was not as tasty as the other ones and that there was a general deterioration in the food quality. He suggested that either the khan saman had to be changed or the vegetable itself.

My mother was displeased with this allegation and declared that nothing will be changed and if he (my father), who had been eating this very vegetable prepared by the same khan saman, did not relish it now, it was better that he dine elsewhere.

Upon this, my father jumped up from the table, grabbed two sheets of paper and told her: “you never accept your mistake. I have observed this a few years since our marriage. You have argued on small issues and make them big. Time has come to resolve the misunderstanding between us. Here is the paper. Let’s make a list of everything we don’t like about each other.”

Both of them got busy writing complaints about each other. But, while my mother started writing, dad only glared at her most of the time. Every time mom stopped, dad would start writing again. This perplexed me.

Finally they finished and gave each other their lists. “Give mine back,” Mom pleaded when she glanced at his sheet. All down the page, Dad had only written: “I love you, I love you.”

I still fail to fathom the love that my father had for my mother and how they enjoyed the fun of bringing silly issues to the fore for discussions.