"Till death do us part" is a traditional Christian marriage vow. Archaic enough, its original "Till death us do part" is even more archaic but a couple making the vow know for sure that they have expressed the sincerest desire to spend lives together until death does part them. But even death proves powerless before true love at times. Don and Maxine Simpson aged 90 and 87 respectively were married for 62 years before dying four hours apart on adjoining beds. In the final hours they held each other's hands for comfort and when Maxine's body was taken out of the room for burial, Simpson's soul followed. Even in death they are not parted. The loving husband leaves his body to get reunited with his companion for 62 years. Love thus triumphs over death.
It is, however, not the only instance where husband and wife have breathed their last together. Another couple Donald Dix and Rosemary, his wife for 56 years from Cardiff, capital of Wales, died almost at the same time. When her collapsed husband was taken in an ambulance on receiving a call at 999 from her, the man died on way to hospital. Mrs Dix who stayed at home to inform her daughters of the bad news was also found dead with the receiver still in her hand. The timing of their death, doctors then confirmed, was within a minute.
Such deaths do defy reason and science. All such deaths, not just the two incidents mentioned here, have one thing common -the couples have a history of long and steady marriage life well above 50 years and beyond. Another common element is their chance meeting somewhere and invariably it is 'love at first sight'. The flame that was lit more than half a century ago continues to burn undiminished.
So, one thing is clear that in an era of live-together and changing partners like shirts and pants, these are stories of a different time and different genre. It is not easy to remain so steadfastly faithful to each other for so long a time. Youthful passion and emotion prove fickle and at one time or other the flow ebbs or overflows with encouragement from attractions or temptations of a different kind. How easily bored couples get at each other's company when the chemistry that brought two hearts together is missing! There are exceptions, though. Some endeavour to add new meaning to life every day to unlock the mystery of a happy conjugal life. The diaspora couple who came all the way from the United States of America to have a boat ride on Kaptai Lake were found dead locked in an embrace following the sinking of their boat on account of an unexpected localised storm.    Â
When an Oscar-winning film diva married eight times, twice one man, it says something about the paradigm shift in man and woman relationship. Asked why she married so often, the famed actress replied, "I don't know, honey. It sure beats the hell out of me". Polygamy happens in mind and the mind has taken a 180 degree u-turn. This is however not a poor commentary on all love birds who take pains to keep the flame burning for each other even if they did not have the opportunity to unite together in life formally. In the "Shesher Kabita", Rabindranath has immortalised the angst of love through separation. In real life too people go through similar experiences without others' knowledge.  Â
Love does triumph over death
Neil Ray | Published: August 11, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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