No age-limit on love

84-year-old Aslam weds 76-year-old Bano with their children’s blessing.

BHOWANA:

An 84-year-old man married a 76-year-old woman near Bhowana on Wednesday. Raksa Lakki resident Aslam, 84, and his seven children took a barat to the house of Bano Begum, 76. The bride’s seven children gave her away at the wedding and the entire village celebrated the occasion.

“This is a very happy occasion, especially because the children of both partners support the marriage,” said Maulvi Abdul Khalid, adding “usually in such cases the families create a lot of animosity.” Residents of the area said that they wished the couple well. “It is wonderful to see two people finding happiness at the twilight of their life,” said Aslam’s neighbour Hafeez.

Aslam said that his first wife had passed away twenty years ago and that he had known Bano all his life. “She is a distant relative and she was also widowed for over a decade,” he said.

Aslam said he proposed to Bano a few months ago after seeking permission from her children. “I was glad when both our families blessed the match and encouraged us to get married,” Bano said.  Aslam’s son Qazim said that he was happy for his father and that all his siblings were making an effort to welcome their new stepmother.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2011.