Saeed Jaffrey’s letter about leaving his first wife Madhur Jaffrey shows you don’t change people you love rather you love them as they are.
Have you or your spouse ever tried to change each other?
If yes, then you must read this heart-touching note written by the famous actor Sayed Jaffrey. He talks about how his relentless nagging and desire to change his wife left him sad and lonely in his life.
I was 19 when I was married to Mehrunima who was 17.
As I grew up, I was very fascinated by the british culture in colonial India. I learnt to speak English fluently, wear suits with grace, and developed impeccable etiquettes.
But Mehrunima grew up to be my complete opposite – homely, a typical housewife.
All my advices and admonishments couldn’t change her basic personality – an obedient wife, a doting mother and a good homemaker.
But she was not what I wanted.
More I tried to change her, more we drifted apart. Gradually she metamorphosed from a cheerful affectionate young girl into a quiet insecure woman. Meanwhile I started getting attracted to a co-actor of mine who was all what I wanted in my wife.
After 10 years of marriage, l divorced Mehrunima, left my home and married my co- actor.
I had ensured financial security of Mehrunima and my kids . For about 6-7 months everything went well. Then I started realising, my new wife was not caring and affectionate. She was only concerned about her beauty, her ambitions, her wants and desires.
Sometimes I missed Mehrunima’s caring touch and concern for my welfare.
Life moved on. I and my new wife were 2 persons living in a house, not one soul living in a home. I never went back to find out what happened to Mehrunima and my kids. After about 6 -7 years of my second marriage, I came across an article on a Madhur Jaffrey, an upcoming famous chef who had recently launched a book of her own recipes.
The moment I looked at the picture of the smart elegant lady, I was stunned. It was Mehrunima.
But how could it be??? She had remarried and changed her maiden name too.
I was shooting abroad at that time. She lived in US now. I caught the next flight to US. I inquired about her where abouts and went to meet her. She refused to see me. My daughter who was 14, and son who was 12, told her they wanted to talk to me one last time. Her new husband was by her side. He was also my children’s legal father now.
To this date, I cannot forget what my children told me.
They told me that their new father knows the meaning of true love. He Broke Da Cage of Negativity. He accepted Mehrunima as she was and never tried to change her into what he himself was, because he loves her more than he loves himself. He let her evolve at her own pace and never tried to force his wishes on her. He accepted and enjoyed her person as it was. And she has bloomed into a confident loving affectionate self reliant lady today under her second husband’s selfless love and acceptance.
Where as I was full of selfishness, demands and unacceptance of her persona had crushed her and then in my selfishness had discarded her. Creating a Cage of Negativity.
The Greatest learning of my life-
You don’t change people you love, you love them as they are….
~ Sayyed Jaffrey
Also Read: Why Indian Husbands Are Faithful Followers Of Their Wives
Sayyed’s letter is not just heart-touching, but also gives a strong and beautiful message for all of us to learn from!
At I For Her, we believe that in a relationship it is important to give each other space and accept every individual as he/she is. This builds a strong marriage and helps both wife and husband achieve their true potential.