My friend Bob-decided to take a wife. He wrote several women, and used his Vacation time to go and meet them. He Chose Malti...and brought her back with him. He said he considered himself married-then. The ceramonies (3) were just a formality. Malti's sister-concerned, called me and we planned the first wedding-at the Court House. I was Maid of Honor- and therefore became the local parents of both Bob & Malti. When things came up, both of them brought them to me and we talked, seperately. 

For Malti's wedding gift- our friends chipped in and bought her an "American Wardrobe", which Bob was thrilled about. He said he wanted to Americanize his wife.  As Lopa mentioned-she never wore them. She chose to be herself.

Her first job- much, much below her capibilities-and former training, because of opportunity, , was teaching at Southside Jr. Hi. There was a lot of adjustment- and as one of the 1st couples in Albany Ga, getting excepted was not easy, but her sweet nature won out

Albany had just gone through the Marches with turmoil, arrest, strife, &  M.L. King & our own King family,  when this couple married, and the predjudice was just as bad on them. I faught their battles willingly  at every turn. When Malti had Lopa, the nurse was talking down to her- and loudly like she could not hear or understand.  I took her out into the hall and excpained that Malti had taught English in India, and that she worked at Fordham Univ. as a Nuclear Phy. before moving to Albany. She went back in with a better attitude. Malti's dress was another affront to some, but over the years, she was joined by other teachers, then other occupations started to have East Indian People working there, especially in the Medican field, and it became easier, more excepted...to be "different". The South was slow to change, and we came through the worst of it.

They bought a cute little house in Putney and Malti loved it. Then her husband surprised her by buying a motel, and moving the family there. There were a good many struggling years, for the future plans he had for all, but together the four of them brought it about.

Through the years, we were always there for each other. I enjoyed many a meal in their home, and Bob enjoyed my fried chicken.I always loved her puffy bread!  I learned to cook preferred vegetables for Malti. Me made all the kids parties and shared the big occasions...and the small.

As Godparent to the kids, I was a privilidged guest at anything they had.

The kids were both coming home one Christmas about several years ago, and Malti did not feel good, but she refused to go to the Dr., and prepared for the kids, the first thing on her mind. It turned out she was sicker than she thought, and wound up with a life threatening hospital visit, for quite a while. When she came to, her life had changed. She was the bravest person about it all, that I have ever known. The world travels stopped and Bob became full time person for her care. The person who took care of her family and others, now was confined to a wheelchair, and dependant. I am sure it was a hard pill to swallow, but Malti went through the rest of her life of pain and struggle in a better frame of mind than most. She was a trooper! I loved her dearly, and miss all we had. Her Friend-Gerry.

My friend Bob-decided to take a wife. He put adds in newspapers in several large cities, and wrote several women who answered, and used his Vacation time to go and meet them. All this was very new and very strange to me. Facinating, of course!!  He kept my husband and I up on the results of these letters and each of his trips. He was a regular visitor at our home.  He had decided it was time, as he had finished his college, got a good job, and paid back what he owed for his schooling.

I was facinated by his many stories, of his life, so different, yet the same, from mine. He told me of the animals and people living in the same building. He came from a large, very poor family.

Bob quickly Chose Malti when he met her.....and brought her back with him! He said he considered himself married-then. The ceramonies (3) were just a formality. Malti's sister-concerned, called me and we planned the first wedding-at the Court House. I was Maid of Honor- and therefore became the local parents of both Bob & Malti. When things came up, both of them brought them to me and we talked, seperately. Shortly after that they went on Vacation to the Temple and married the second time, the first Indian Wedding of two. They then went to India and married the 3rd time. And so this very, very married couple started their new life together.

For Malti's wedding gift- our friends chipped in and bought her an "American Wardrobe", which Bob was thrilled about. He said he wanted to Americanize his wife.  I promised to "give lessons", and he was happy.  As Lopa mentioned-she never wore them. She chose to be herself.

Bob told me at the time, that they never would have married in India. That Malti was a much higher cast than he was. This impressed him, as well as her brain! But I think he liked her looks even better!

And though he wanted to Americanize her, he also wanted his Culture in his marriage. That was a hard balance for him, and Malti. Again, she just quietly chose to be herself. She was a woman's libber in the days before there was that phrase. (I see "touches" of this in Lopa!!!)

Her first job- much, much below her capibilities-and former training, because of opportunity, , was teaching at Southside Jr. Hi. There was a lot of adjustment- and as one of the 1st East Indian couples in Albany Ga, getting excepted was not easy, but her sweet nature won out

Albany had just gone through the Marches with turmoil, arrest, strife, &  M.L. King & our own King family,  when this couple married, and the prejudice HIGH and just as bad on them. I faught their battles willingly  at every turn, by speaking out.

When Malti had Lopa, the nurse was talking down to her- and loudly like she could not hear or understand.  I took her out into the hall and excpained that Malti had taught English in India, and that she worked at Fordham Univ. as a Nuclear Phy. before moving to Albany. She went back in with a better attitude. Malti's dress was another affront to some, but over the years, she was joined by other teachers, then other occupations started to have East Indian People working there, especially in the Medical field, and it became easier, more excepted...to be "different". The South was slow to change, and we came through the worst of it together.

They bought a cute little house in Putney and Malti loved it. Then her husband surprised her by buying a motel, and moving the family there. There were a good many struggling years, for the future plans he had for all, but together the four of them brought it about.

Through the years, we were always there for each other. I enjoyed many a meal in their home, and Bob enjoyed my fried chicken.I always loved her puffy bread! (Not so much the hot stuff!)   I learned to cook preferred vegetables for Malti. We  each made all the kids parties and shared the big occasions...and the small.When I joined this group, there was only one other "pale face", and one other African American, among us. (Wives of two of the teachers Bob taught with at Albany State.) They, and their friends were always excepting of us. Malti taught me about her belief's and how they welcomed anyone into their home, as a culture. We grew in our different ways, together.

As Godparent to the kids, I was a privilidged guest at anything they had. Positions I took without knowing the full meaning in this different culture....of what I was taking on. And in later years I had Foreign Exchange Students from many countries, and grew more in my knowledge and acceptance of things "different". So knowing this couple and living our lives together, has been a wonderful life experience to me, and one I needed to change the ingraned things we are taught in another culture-that are wrong.

Bob and I first met- in a group meeting for different cultures & religions, at the "Little Library" in Albany, Ga. We studied religion, ESP, Astrology, the paranormal, and many other things, with Ruby Williams as our leader. A very quiet, well spoken African American, among others of several nationalities and cultures. Something that was neither excepted or common in South Ga. We went each week, and normally each of us took a turn talking about a favorite subject...Meditation, Astronomy, the 7 levels, Edgar Cayce, and many subjects. Marion King, Slater's wife, was also one of our group, who went through so much in Albany during the Civil RIghts movement. We were a close knit group who met once a week. The Library was funded by a lady in New York. A really wonderful experience. From there we formed an Edgar Cayce group, which went to each others home each week. Bob & Malti lived in thier first little apt. on Magnolia at that time. One night my wedding ring was passed around (The study of Phycometry-the study of vibrations off objects)  for whatever anyone got off it, and Bob told me I was born in a two room shack with large animals outside.  I called my Mother the next day and ask her. I did not even know about the animals. Or how many rooms the tenant shack I was born in had. So he did not get it from me.My Mother was not a believer-until then, in a lot we knew at the time. Bob was very gifted. Malti did not seem surprised. She said it was the normal culture of her people.

The kids were both coming home one Christmas about several years ago, and Malti did not feel good, but she refused to go to the Dr., and prepared for the kids, the first thing on her mind. It turned out she was sicker than she thought, and wound up with a life threatening hospital visit, for quite a while. When she came to, her life had changed. She was the bravest person about it all, that I have ever known. The world travels stopped and Bob became full time person for her care. The person who took care of her family and others, now was confined to a wheelchair, and dependant. I am sure it was a hard pill to swallow, but Malti went through the rest of her life of pain and struggle in a better frame of mind than most. She was a trooper! I loved her dearly, and miss all we had. Her Friend-Gerry.