JISS SHAHENSHAH KE SAATH SAIRA BANU JAISI BEGUM HO , USSE KOI AUR SHAKTI KI ZAROORAT MAHSOOS NAHI HO SAKTI

I have been very privileged to be allowed to be a part of the modern day myth of Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu - Ali Peter John

I was 16 years old and had just lost my mother and had to concentrate on my SSC exams when I was told by my neighbour ,Mr Larry about the marriage of Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu and I don't know why I forgot all my sadness about losing my mother and the tension of my exams .

I spent time in looking at their marriage photograph which was carried on the front page of every newspaper in every language .

I remember how the entire country talked only about how Dilip Kumar married Saira who was 22 years younger than him and had worked in several films with heroes like Shammi Kapoor , Rajendra Kumar , Dharmendra Biswajeet and Manoj Kumar.

I could never imagine that I would know the couple quite well and be welcomed by both Dilip Sahab and Sairaji with the kind of kindness I found difficult to believe .

This association or call it friendship kept growing fonder and when the couple proved to me that I was welcome at all their events like Eid , their birthdays and their wedding anniversaries , I felt at home even when I walked in without any appointment.

I have been witness to more than 40 years of the couple's life and I have no doubts in saying that it is the most lovable husband and wife team in spite of the difference in their age and in spite of all the trials their 60 year old long marriage has faced from time to time .

I have seen how they have cared for each other , which is something that is rarely heard of in the times we are living in.

But , the time since Yusuf Sahab has been ill , I have seen Sairaji dedicating her life to her Sahab totally . Life is now nothing for Sairaji , but the life of her Sahab .

I have heard of Florence Nightingale , I have seen , some of the best nurses caring for their patients , but I have frankly not seen a wife literally breathing and feeling for her royal patient . Sairaji is as good and as big as many other stars , but when she is taking care of her Sahab , she is the ideal wife who the poet William Wordsworth said should be one who can " warm console and command "

Sairaji had earlier shown how good and caring she was when she personally looked after her grandmother , Shamshad Begum ( not the playback singer) , her mother , Naseem Banu , her sister in law Raahat and her brother Sultan .

And only during the first wave of Covid19, she showed how forgiving and helpful she could be to her Sahab's brothers Ehsaan and Aslam who unfortunately died , a bitter fact Sahab still doesn't know about .

For years , life for Sairaji has been the life she lived for her Sahab. She looks after all his needs , physical and mental .

If I say that she treats her husband like a little child , I don't think I will be wrong. Look at some of the videos showing her celebrating her Sahab's birthdays , you will know what I am saying and why .

Show me a wife of her time or today , doing what she is doing for her Sahab and I will give you that piece of heaven which may belong to me .

Sairaji is not only taking care of her Sahab's health, but also about dealing with property matters involving her Sahab , the trust she is in charge of and the media .

The doctors and the staff in hospital and at home can not stop from admiring her physical , mental and inner strength to deal with a delicate situation in which she is.

Her great efforts became all the more greater when one realises how some of the closest friends and admirers of the couple have gone " missing" ever since they have come to know that Dilip Sahab finds it difficult to recognise people , which is a part of his ailment .

But , I know that Sairaji will not give up her battle whatever happens . Her courage was seen at its very best when her Sahab was admitted to the Hinduja Hospital .

She had to look after her Sahab , she had to be with the doctors and in addition , she had to deal with the false rumours that were consistently making the rounds.

And not once did she show any signs of weakening or crumbling or breaking down . And I can only say , what a woman and what a wife and what a nurse .

AURAT KO JAB MUQAABLO KA SAAMNA KARNA PADTA HAI , WOH KOI BHI ROOP DHAARAN KAR SAKTI HAI . AURAT KA MATLAB HI HOUSLA AUR HIMMAT HAI . AUR AGAR KOI ASSAL ROOP DEKHNA CHAHATA HAI , TOH WOH AADMI HO YA AURAT, USSE SAIRAJI KO EK BAAR ZAROOR DEKHNA CHAAYIYE. USKA AURATON PAR NAAZ HOGA AUR PHIR KABHI WOH AURAT KO AADMI SE KUM SANAJNE KI HIMMAT NAHI KAR SAKTA