Skip to main content

The rings that completed a story

 


The Rings That Completed a Story



At a recent wedding, something quietly extraordinary unfolded.


The celebration itself was vibrant, rooted in a community’s unique customs and aesthetics. For an outsider, the colours, rituals, and expressions of joy might have felt unfamiliar. It is easy, in such moments, to observe differences first — clothing, language, style — and unconsciously measure them against one’s own comfort zone.


But beneath the visible layers of culture and celebration, a deeper story emerged.


Before the bride stepped into her own marriage, she fulfilled a promise she had made as a child. Years ago, she had learned that her parents never had a proper ring ceremony when they were married. There had been no exchange of rings, no symbolic moment to seal their union. As a young girl, she noticed that absence and quietly decided to change it one day.


She began saving small amounts of money — coins set aside from allowances, modest sums preserved over time. What may have seemed insignificant in isolation accumulated into something meaningful. On the occasion of her wedding, she organised a ring ceremony for her parents and gifted them two gold rings, completing a ritual that life had once overlooked.


The gesture was not grand in scale, but it was profound in intention.


In a world where weddings often become displays of wealth, status, and spectacle, this act redirected attention to something essential: values. Money, in itself, is neutral. It acquires meaning through its use. When it becomes a tool to honour sacrifice, to acknowledge struggle, and to restore dignity, it transcends transaction and becomes gratitude.


It is also a reminder of how quickly appearances mislead. People are often assessed by their silence, their reserve, their difference from what feels familiar. Yet beneath quiet exteriors may reside stories of resilience, loss, discipline, and deep emotional intelligence.


The wedding did not merely unite two individuals. It revealed the power of a child’s memory, the discipline of long-term intention, and the beauty of giving back before moving forward.


In the end, what lingers is not the décor or the attire, but the image of two parents receiving the rings they never had — and a daughter proving that love is not measured by display, but by devotion.


Sometimes, the most meaningful ceremonies are the ones that heal the past.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Reflections on life and loss

 Reflections on Life and Loss: Beyond the Periphery by Nidhi Guglani  Lately, I find myself thinking deeply about life and death. Two very different prayer meetings I attended have left a lasting impression on me, shaping the way I view both ends of the human experience. The first was for my friend’s father—an old man, almost 80, who had lived a full and meaningful life. He had his family around him—children and grandchildren who loved him dearly. He lived life on his own terms, with a quiet kind of kindness that never made others feel indebted or overwhelmed. That in itself is such a rare trait. Though his final days saw him as a mere shadow of the man he once was, his daughter chose not to let that image define him. Instead, she celebrated his life—his strength, his love, and his gentleness. It was deeply touching. There was a calmness in that celebration, a sense of peace in knowing that he had completed the circle of life. The second meeting, though, was shattering. It was...

From the teacher’s desk

  The Joy of a Teacher’s Heart If I’ve even touched one heart as a teacher… If I’ve ever helped a student grow in confidence, or contributed in some small way to their love for language, I feel the purpose of my being a teacher is fulfilled. Today, the Class 10 results were announced, and my phone was flooded with calls and messages—from students who reached out just to say thank you. And honestly, I felt elated. Humbled. Overjoyed. Words, for once, seemed too small to capture what I felt. There is a special kind of happiness that a teacher experiences—one that surpasses even personal success. When we see our students succeed, reach new heights, or simply remember us years later, it’s a joy that’s hard to describe. It’s like watching a seed you once planted bloom into something beautiful—on its own, but with a memory of your care. Today, I felt that. A child I taught in Class 8, now in Class 10, called me—just to thank me. I’m not even teaching him anymore. But he ...

War’s lessons in Loss and the Illusion of Power

  The Unending Cycle: War’s Lessons in Loss and the Illusion of Power By Nidhi Guglani In the history of humankind, war has never truly ended. Battles cease, treaties are signed, but the cycle of conflict—driven by power, pride, and self-interest—resumes in new forms. The real cost, however, is paid not in territory gained or lost, but in shattered lives, displaced people, and the deep scars etched into the collective consciousness of nations. War teaches us harsh lessons: about loss, about ambition, and about the fragility of everything we hold dear. Despite the devastation it leaves behind, war often offers no real gain. At best, it provides the illusion of victory; at worst, it breaks both sides in body and spirit. Even after the final gunfire falls silent, the politics of accusation and retaliation continue. Ceasefires may be declared, but the air remains heavy with unresolved bitterness. Behind the curtain of diplomacy, powerful interests quietly prepare for the next confronta...