Seany had completed her Engineering in 2003 from CUSAT. We used to talk about her college, her friends, life at the college, the future plans after the college and so on. One evening as we were discussing about the future, she mentioned about Vimal, a college mate who was very helpful to the student community and to her. She also mentioned about Nycil, Vimal's sister who used to see her during Nycil's visits to the University and the friendship she had developed with the Vimal's family. After discussing with Thankamony, we met Vimal at Cochin on a bright sunny morning. Vimal was very handsome, self-assured, intellectual, daring, humorous, optimistic, industrious and brimming with hope about the future. He had set his own goal and agenda. He was planning to go to the United States for higher education. We were very much impressed by the young man and had decided to meet his parents on the following day. Mathuchan and Santhamma had come down from their home at Kozhikode, and we met them at Cochin. We found them very modest people, humble, extremely religious, and full of pride in their children. Vimal's brother Rajesh and family, his sister Nycil and family were residing in the United States. We could relate with them at ease and discussed about the future of our children. After lengthy discussions, we had agreed that it would be a suitable alliance if Vimal and Seany could get married. We were very happy about the proposal and the decision we had made for the future of our children. Seany was delighted when we informed her of our agreement and decision. In the Fall of 2005, Vimal got admitted to the North Eastern University in Boston, to pursue his master's degree in Computer Technology and moved to the States. While he was pursuing his degree, Vimal was employed in an IT firm at Boston. So, he was balancing simultaneously the job and the studies. Seany got a job in an IT company at Nairobi, and moved with us to Kenya. Sherry was a freshman at Macalester. Things looked bright, so Thankamony, me, and Vimal's parents, in consultation with our children had decided that it is time, for the wedding of Seany with Vimal.

The betrothal was fixed for 31st December 2005 at Lourdes Forane Church, Thiruvananthapuram. Betrothal is an agreement of a man and a woman to marry. The ceremony of betrothal consisted in the acceptance before witnesses of the terms of the marriage as contracted for. Planning for a wedding to its minute details is very tricky and emotional. We had decided to shop clothes and gold ornaments at Cochin. Vimal's family was there, so were some ladies from our families. Sherry had flown in from the States to be a part of everything. Seany would look at me with the dress they had chosen, because she knew that the expressions on my face will show the right dress. I loved every piece of her selection, the maroon color lacha for the betrothal, and the off-white saree for the wedding, the gold chains, the bangles and the rings. On the new year eve, we all gathered at the church for the betrothal. It was a solemn ceremony officiated by the Vicar of the church along with four other priests. At the end of the solemn oath, the priest took the two ends of his stole and in the form of a cross placed them over the clasped hands of the couple, and sprinkled them with holy water in the form of a cross. Archbishop Powathil, came to the church from Changanasserry for a private visit. When he heard about the betrothal, he sent for Seany and Vimal. After the betrothal, we all went to meet him in the Vicar's office. He blessed Seany and Vimal. God had sent his representative to bless them, my mind whispered.

The day was 4th January 2006. It was the wedding day of Seany and Vimal at Nithya Sahaya Matha Church, Kozhikode. When I walked down the aisle with my daughter, many emotional thoughts gushed to my mind. That sweet baby lying in the cradle with her milky smile, the little girl who ran after me crying from the kindergarten when I dropped her on the first day, the young girl I drove to the school, the teenager who went to the University to become an Engineer…... how many phases she had gone through in front of my eyes? Time has no beginning nor end. It flows consuming everything, leaving memories for us to cherish. I looked at her. Under the veil, I saw the most beautiful young woman radiating charm and joy, and was very proud of the girl I raised to the woman she had become. She was standing closer to Vimal in front of the altar holding their hands together as the priest pronounced them, husband and wife. She had married the right partner. I knew that Vimal will support and encourage her in everything and anything she wants to do. They shall walk together. They will be blessed with children.

The next day Seany got a special gift from Vimal's employer. She was offered a job at the same firm at Boston. With the departure of Sherry, Seany, and Vimal to the States, a great void had fallen our life. Our priorities had diminished. But still we have miles to go. Thankamony and I visited the States in 2006. Sherry had arranged accommodation for us in the Alumni house at Macalester as he was doing a part time job there. The day we had arrived, Mary Kay, the manager of the house had hoisted the Indian National flag in front of the house to honor us. The flag was flying for one week till we left the Alumni house. This is the way Macalester honor the parents of foreign students.

It was in mid of 2007 that Vimal had called us and informed that we are going to become grandparents. That was the greatest news I ever had in my life. Being promoted from a father to a grandfather brings mixed emotions. We could only hug our daughter through the phone. Our thoughts and prayers had filled with Seany. On 21st February we got the joy of our life. A granddaughter was born. The greatest blessing in this world is to see the children of your own children. They called her Sneha (Love). After an impatient waiting and preparation, we visited her in July and Sneha was baptized in August. The first gaze into Sneha's eyes and touching her finger brought a magical bonding between three generations. Love filled my heart and tears started pouring from eyes. Seany is blessed with two more children, Alvin born on 16th November 2010 and Priya born on 31st January 2012.