THIRUVALLA: 62-year-old Radhakrishna Kurup was dressed suave and elegant much like 60-year-old Mallikakumari. It would rather not suit the puritanical thinking of our times, but the two were dressed up well to get married for the second time in their life. However, interestingly, It is Kurup’s daughter who spearheaded the alliance and worked all ways to ensure her father's return to old happy ways.

The wedding was held at Thiru Erankavu Bhagavathi Temple, Kavumbhagom on Friday. Radhakrishna Kurup has been running a stationery shop near the Erankavu temple for three decades. A year and a half ago, Kurup's wife died of a heart attack. Mallikakumari's husband died five years ago.

Mallika had no children so she was living a solitary life for all this long. Radhakrishnan Kurup has three children named Rashmi, Renju, and Ranjith. Both daughters are married. Son Ranjith is studying at a hostel in Kollam. Kurup was drawn into an abyss of desolateness after the death of his wife one year back. Kurup’s younger daughter Renju came to visit him just two months ago and shockingly discovered her father's newfound despair-afflicted life. Renju had to return back abroad the next week so she wasted no time looking for a perfect match, and that ended in this auspicious event.

Mallikakumari’s biodata reached Kurup's family through a matrimony website. Things went plain sailing after Mallika’s relatives gave consent for the marriage. In the presence of almost 50 relatives, Radhakrishna Kurup tied the wedding pendant around Mallika's neck, thus making the wedding official. Both of them are sure about leading a serene life through mutual support.