Worn with Love, Not Just Tradition

Someone once asked, “What’s the oldest thing you’re wearing today?” Without missing a beat, I smiled and replied, “Other than my behaviour? My mangalsutra.”

Yes, my slightly old-fashioned comebacks come free with the package—but my mangalsutra? That’s where the magic lies.

It’s not just a necklace. It’s a timeline wrapped in black and gold beads, strung with the weight of vows, quirks, compromises, and laughter that only two people who’ve chosen to live under the same roof for years could understand. It’s the elegant proof of a daily romance where grocery lists replace love letters and “Did you eat?” becomes a love language.

Every bead? A story. The one from the day we fought over who left the geyser on. The one from the silent treatment that ended with a shared plate of biryani. The one from the night he stayed up just to check if I reached home safely. It doesn’t sparkle like a diamond, but it holds together a universe.

As Oscar Wilde might’ve said if he were married in India: “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance—but loving another every day is a full-blown sitcom.”

In a world obsessed with fast fashion and faster relationships, my mangalsutra is an antique that never goes out of style. It matches with every dress, every emotion, and every phase of me—be it ‘new bride’, ‘tired mom’, or ‘career juggler’.

So yes, it may be the oldest thing I wear, but it’s also the wisest.

And here’s a thought to ponder: “What you wear around your neck may not change the world—but if it reminds you why you smile every day, then maybe, just maybe, it already has.”