May I pen, if not annoying, that it is very much unprecedented and none did so including John Carlos, King of Spain or American President Obama or my Pakistani President Zardari or Kuwait Amir Sabah and or even British Queen Elizabeth, to name just a few.
Kuwait Television Channel 2 (English) will film us at Crowne Plaza when we check-in on 29th June, 2011 to commemorate our 26th Wedding Anniversary and the film will be aired on 2nd July.
Marriage is one of the most important days in everybody’s life- male or female and therefore, from time immemorial, knowingly or unknowingly at least some, if not all, brides and bridegrooms, had tried their best to celebrate the day in the most fascinating manner. Of course, one way or the other, some of them did succeed in their venture to get their marriage reckoned and recognized by others but mine is unprecedented in huamn history.
I’m also a human, exactly like you, he or she for that matter and therefore, quite but naturally, I had felt some extra heat when ultimately at the age of 42, decided to marry in 1985. I was Administration Manager, Epic Instruments Inc (USA Co), Kuwait when I was marrying a completely unknown compatriot named Miss Suhail Fatima in Islamabad, Pakistan. She was a Teacher, Islamabad Model College & School for Girls, Islamabad.
Truly speaking, long ago I had thought to solemnize my marriage not only a bit differently but very much exclusively too and, touch wood, I did succeed in my mission. I wished to marry on 30.6 (30th June) and hence booked Room 306, Holiday Inn, Islamabad (the then only 5 star in the city) so that the wedding date equates with the hotel room number. One can imagine how much joyous I had been to synchronize the date and the room. However, a fortnight before my departure to Pakistan, EPIC Chairman Mr. E. K Mills called me and asked that I must come back two days earlier than the original plan and I had to agree to the instructions of my employer. I phoned Holiday Inn, Islamabad explaining that now I am to marry on 28th or 29th and resultantly Room 286 or 296, whatever applicable, may kindly be booked accordingly but, very much regretfully, none of the two rooms could be booked. I explained the newly developed dilemma to Mr. EKM and requested that, under the changed situation, I be allowed to return one day before and not two days and he instantly agreed to my request.
The greatest matrimonial compromise of my life is that now I had no option but to stay in Room 306 and marry on 29th June afternoon which, after the lapse of some hours, still had some relationship between the room and the next date but 28th June and Room 306 were miles apart in any case. On the wedding day I named her Shireen (meaning sweet) though officially she was and still Suhail Fatima and popularly she is known as Shireen since then. We married on 29th June, 1985 in Islamabad and we both lived in Room 306, Holiday Inn. On the wedding day, I very solemnly promised with Shireen that till our death, each year on the wedding date, we will stay, either jointly or individually, but in Room 306, Holiday Inn wherever we are. After 6 days stay at Holiday Inn, Islamabad we flew to Lahore where my mother was staying and we both stayed in Rom 412, Hilton Hotel, Lahore till I flew back to Kuwait to resume my duty.
Let me avail this opportune to pen that in 1991, I was Business and Manpower Advisor, Pakistan Embassy, Kuwait but ever since Iraqi forces had lit fires in oil wells; I didn’t feel prudent enough to call my wife and daughter Areej (then two and half year old) to join me in the smoke polluted environment. Quite naturally, on our wedding date (29th Jun) I wished to be with my family in Islamabad and as a diplomat I had flown on discounted air ticket to Islamabad but my official diplomatic obligations did not permit me to go even for two days. I had no option but to stay here all alone by myself in Room 306, Holiday Inn, Kuwait, whereas, my wife Shireen and our daughter Areej stayed in Islamabad in Room 306, Holiday Inn, not only to commemorate our wedding anniversary but also to maintain our annual tradition.
It is very much obligatory not just customary that the wedding document is to be signed by the couple, witnesses and the official clergy man (maulvi) and this, as such, necessitated that I must buy pens for the signatories. Here again, I have slightly drifted away in a sense that I bought two new pens to be used by the official and the witnesses. I had bought two Cross 18 karat gold pens and got Iqbal-Shireen engraved on one to be used by me while Shireen-Iqbal was written on the other pen to be used by her and we both had solemnly decided that not even a single letter, what to talk of a word, will be written with these pens by me and or Shireen except to sign the wedding document.
We were in Kuwait in 1986 when we had our 1st Wedding Anniversary and I deputed Shireen to go to all the hotels and book the banquet hall she likes the best. She opted for Kuwait Marriot Hotel (ship converted into hotel) to host Wedding Anniversary reception at its Al-Mirage Hall. I must pen that Marriot GM was extra nice person who got me a nicely furnished and decorated complimentary room for us to stay on the day. I thanked the gentleman from the core of my heart, but I apologized for the simple reason that my matrimonial promise binds me and Shireen that on our wedding anniversary (29th June) we must stay only in room 306, Holiday Inn, so how we cannot stay in Marriot Hotel room. As per the tradition, we stayed in Room 306, Holiday Inn and drove from there to Marriot Hotel to host the reception and after the function we came back to Holiday Inn to sleep in our matrimonial room on the wedding day.
In 1993, my younger sister in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia wished that we should visit her and stay at her expense in Holiday Inn, Riyadh on our wedding anniversary and, honestly speaking, I liked the idea. I faxed (no email then) Holiday Inn, Riyadh to book us in Room 306 for 29th June but, as the bad luck had it, the hotel did not have room 306 and instead it suggested that we live in some other room which will be very cozy, comfortable and luxurious but how could I break my lifelong matrimonial promise.
It was 2000 when Shireen and Areej were going to France and other European countries during summer holidays and Areej wished to fly immediately after closure of her school in last week May but she complained that each year I am to stay back till 29th June which means she cannot fly out earlier. I agreed with Areej and allowed them to go earlier provided they stay in Holiday Inn, Paris on 29th June to upkeep the tradition. Luckily Fabrice Grasso, Reservations Manager, Holiday Inn La Villette, Paris had sent me email on 15th May, 2000 confirming availability of Room 306 for 29th June to be occupied by Shireen and Areej if they wish but Shireen convinced Areej that she should not insist leaving me alone so that we three stay together on 29th and we were together. Shireen and Areej flew out to Paris on 3rd July.
How pleased I am to mention that on our 20th Wedding Anniversary (29 Jun 05), Mr. Hani Kafafi, GM, Crowne Plaza, Kuwait, at his own, had very kindly arranged an exclusive interview with me and Shireen on the day. CP’s Guest Relations Manager along with photographer came to our room and asked different questions to complete the interview. CP had sent the interview text coupled with the photo taken in our room to all the local dailies of Kuwait which very prominently flashed the same in their newspapers.
Awfully traumatized and shocked I was, but for none of my fault. On 9th April, 2008 I had sent email to Mr. Hani Kafafi, GM, Crowne Plaza, Kuwait requesting him to kindly reserve hotel Room 306 for me for 29th June to commemorate my 23rd Wedding Anniversary. Same day Ms. Rodela Bantayan, Reservations Manager, Crowne Plaza sent me the good news confirming that the room has been booked. But very much unluckily on 8th May, the same lady from CP sent me another email saying that due to refurbishment of the room, regretfully the room will not be available to me. She had however sent my request to its sister organization Holiday Inn, Salmiya to book its Room 306 for me for the day. On 13th May, Ms. Nette, Reservations Manager, Holiday Inn, Salmiya emailed me happily confirming that its Room 306 has been booked for me for 29th June but, honestly speaking, I am not at all happy to live elsewhere other than my original matrimonial room of Crowne Plaza. In sheer desperation, on 13th May, I hurriedly met Mr. Anwar Jawad Bukhamseen, local partner and sponsor of CP at one of his National Assembly election tents and explained that the room may kindly be rebooked for me and he very kindly called Mr. Atif, Director Human Resources of CP to look me after. Mr. Atif was too nice and sympathetic to me and realized as to how touchy I am on the issue. He promised to use his official influence and try to get me back the room, provided, I give in writing that I am accepting the room even if there is some noise or disturbance around and or the room is short on some facilities & comforts. I have sent him the undertaking stating that I, at my own free will, accepting the room to live in on the day under all odd conditions. I am too very pleased to pen that eventually I succeeded in my efforts and on Thursday 5th instant CP has confirmed the availability of the room and hence on Sunday 29th June, 2008, I and Shireen stayed in Room 306, Crowne Plaza to commemorate our 23rd Wedding Anniversary.
It was 2009 when I was staying for 24th time consecutively staying in Room 306, Crowne Plaza, Kuwait to commemorate our 24th wedding anniversary. Many thanks indeed for CP hospitality because the hotel management not only welcomed us at the hotel lobby with flowers but also had sent an interviewer with photographer to record our feelings. The hotel has given us our photo taken in the room in a specially prepared folder as a compliment from Mr. Hani Kafafi, General Manager, Crowne Plaza saying ‘Dear Mr and Mrs Iqbal Zaidi! We look forward to having you on your Silver Wedding Anniversary’.
Last year (2010), it was our Silver Wedding Anniversary so on 29th June, Al-Jazeera International TV network and Rai Al-Aam local TV network came to the hotel and my hotel room, took photo of some of our documents, interviewed both us and made films which they aired on their channels on 30th Jun and 1st Jul respectively. I have both CDs with me. Al Jazeera had received so tremendous response from viewers in Europe, Africa, Asia and Arab world showing great interest in what they listened and viewed and asked Jazeera for more details etc. They called me to their office and explained to me that in response to the viewers, they are to prepare a special report on it and hence they will put some hard questions to me to answer. They asked, God forbid, if Shireen dies then what I will do on 29th June and my answer was to be in the same room though with tears remembering all those years when we were together.
Mr. Hani Kafafi, General Manager gifted a commemorative plaque and two bath robes embroidered with our names. Hotel has placed two giant size notices in the lobby with a message pad for people to express their feelings and write comments for our happiest remembrance. Similar message pad was placed in our room as well where many well wishers including 7 ambassadors and a member from royal ruling family of Al-Sabah greeted us in our hotel room and wrote their valuable remarks. One Kuwaiti minister has sent flower basket to our room. One Kuwaiti advisor to Amir of Kuwait has sent greetings from overseas through his mobile. One Kuwaiti ambassador sent greetings from abroad. 5 Ambassadors greeted on telephone and 3 of them sent greeting messages on my mobile. I had very pleasant surprise at the time when checked out on 30th since Mr. Hani had instructed the counter staff that my total bills should be treated as complimentary.
I was staying with H. E. Nasser Bareh Al-Enezi, Kuwaiti Ambassador in Jakarta, Indonesia upon his personal invitation to attend Kuwait Golden Jubilee celebrations in February, 2011 and there A ONE TV network-the most popular in the country interviewed me live on 30th June, 2011 about my this unique matrimonial promise and after the program, A ONE TV gave me token cash and CD as well and asked me to contact them as and when I visit Jakarta next time.
Am I mistaken to construe that it could be an entry for Guinness World Records?
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With my honest and solemn prayers
Sincere Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Pakistani in Kuwait
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