Page 137 - A Life Well-Lived Is a Beautiful Memory

“And the years shall run like rabbits,
For in my arms I hold

The Flower of the Ages,
3
And the first love of the world. ”

Five and a half years in Baltimore as students flew by, and reality awaited us in Bangkok.

Gone were the exam worries and A-chasing days. Now, career success and raising our son have
become our focus. I landed a 20-plus year finance career, while Bhanu embarked on a stable,
40-year academic journey. I climbed the corporate ladder, job-hopping and often working late,
while Bhanu nurtured our son’s love for art, music, and literature. He was a kind, ever-present

father, fetching food for our adult son even in his later years when his health waned.
Even loving couples disagree, and our contrasting temperaments ignited occasional sparks. I,
short-fused and impatient, peppered my speech with sailor-worthy curses, while Bhanu remained
the epitome of calm, resorting to a Charlie Brown-like “Good grief!” He also embraced the golden

rule of marriage, letting “the missus win” to maintain peace.
Our days whirled with meetings, deadlines, and professional challenges – annual targets
for me, and research papers for him. We gave each other plenty of space to excel in our worlds
– his lecture halls, my spreadsheets, and meeting room battlefields. Busy as we were, we carved

time for shared joys: movie marathons, cartoon binges, and meticulously planned pranks. We
were partners, cheerleaders, and comic relief. “What’s up Doc?” our daily greeting, epitomized
our shared love of mischief. Bhanu saw himself as a bumbling Charlie Brown navigating Lucy’s
emotional landmines.

Bhanu’s quiet brilliance housed a heart as vast as a village. He would share coffee with
the sleepy night guard, and chat with restaurant staff like old friends, remembering their names
and families. Gentle and kind, he never swore, rarely raised his voice, and apologies, laced with
tenderness, followed any disagreements. Always generous, he often donated to the least fortunate.

As a supportive and kind professor who spent extra hours explaining his lessons to his students,
Bhanu attracted female admirers, which he handled with unwavering integrity. We jokingly teased
each other about the gifts he received. Once I remarked, “With all these shirts, I don’t need to
shop for you!”

Two decades later, I mellowed, while Bhanu’s career boomed. International meetings,
published articles, co-authored books, and his well-respected work made him an esteemed
economics professor. Life seemed perfect— until fate dealt us a hammer blow!

5 from As I Walked Out One Evening, W.H. Auden

Bhanupong Nidhiprabha 137