November 18. This day was the most special for late musician Balabhaskar and Lakshmi. The coming month this year, Balabhaskar and Lakshmi would have celebrated their 18 years of togetherness but fate had other plans.
Balabhaskar, fondly called as Balu, met Lakshmi in University College, Thiruvananthapuram, in 2000. A mutual friend, Joy, introduced them. "Hi," said Balu and walked away. A little later, he came back and said, "I have seen you in the classes," and Lakshmi smiled. This paved way for a regular meet up which blossomed into friendship and later love though initially it was a one-sided story.
Bala proposed Lakshmi on the third day of meet to which she rejected. Confessing that her answer won't change his feelings, he kept proposing her. Soon, as she realised that Balu was serious about the relationship, they decided to seal their love with marriage.
When they disclosed about their relationship to their respective families, Balu and Lakshmi witnessed strong opposition from both sides. The families cited that both were young and Bala had no job. As Balu was scared to lose her, they decided to marry first and then complete studies.
So, without informing their parents, they registered their marriage on November 18, 2000 at Thiruvananthapuram, in the presence of a few friends with the support of their tuition teacher Vijay Mohan. It was the college that was witness to the most cherished wedding. While no one from the family attended the close-knit affair, it was their batch mates who turned it into their memorable day of a lifetime.
After marriage, they finished their studies and Balabhaskar came to be regarded as a rising musician back then. Soon, his stage performances and concerts in and outside Kerala drew a wide fan following.
Their only daughter, Thejaswini Bala was born on May 14, 2016 after 16 years of long wait. And soon, both the families happily accepted their relationship and were proud of their kids.
Destiny was different for them as Balabhaskar and his family met with an accident late last month. He died on Tuesday after a cardiac arrest while daughter was killed as soon as their car rammed a tree.
Currently, Lakshmi and the driver are recovering in hospital.
Balabhaskar, 40, and family were returning from a visit to a temple in Thrissur after thanksgiving prayers for their daughter.
