"No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century." -Mark TwainKuwait City:
A. Veronica Fernandes and his beloved wife Fatima celebrated their 28th Wedding Anniversary, Thursday evening - 20th September 2007 with a modest get-together in Kuwait City. The party was attended by close friends and colleagues of the couple.
As per information, it was at the Holy Family Cathedral, Kuwait City that Veronica and Fatima were married in 1979 on the same day and date(Thursday, 20th September). Their marriage was solemnized by Fr. Fulgencio, a resident Carmelite priest from Margao, Goa.
Anthony Veronica and Fatima were friends in Goa for a long time before being married. It was during the 1970 Mando Festival at Cine National Panjim, Bab Veronica as a young student of St. Xaviers College – Goa came in contact with Fatima while she was performing as one of the lead singers for Congottchim Lharam, a first prize winning group of Fausto Andrade. Since then they had become very close till they tied the knot in 1979 at the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony in Kuwait.
Veronica and Fatima were a very popular pair in Goa during those days. It was Fatima’s beauty and Veronica’s celebrity status as one of the top sportsmen of Goa that made them popular. Both were highly dignified and much appreciated in their respective localities with a highest degree of admiration. 
Fatima comes from Calangute while Veronica from Candolim. They have two children. Their son Ashton Savio works in Kuwait while daughter Aveshah Antonia is doing her final year of Law. Both the children spent their early childhood in Kuwait. 
Like their father both the children are very good sportspersons. Ashton plays in the Kuwait-Indian football games conducted by the expatriates.
A year back he was awarded Man of the Tournament Award during the South Asian Football Tournament for expatriates and also won the top scorer of the Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) season, while daughter Aveshah has represented Goa University in soccer and other disciplines as well.
I need not highlight the achievements of Bab Veronica further but I can say only one thing that there are perhaps few among the expatriate Goans who have done more than what Veronica has done for the cause of Konkani. And his contribution in the promotion of Goan causes is perhaps second to none.
A writer in his own right, there is perhaps no one among Goans in Kuwait who can out-beat Veronica in his writing. He is also one of the most knowledgeable Goans worldwide specially on subjects such as tiatros, politics, football, etc. He is the only Goan in Kuwait who does not require ‘care of’ locating him. His name itself details his identity.
After cutting the ceremonial cake, Veronica and Fatima took the floor followed by the others. Later, Veronica and Fatima rendered their most favorite song ‘Sacrament Zoddlo’ accompanied by Rosary, and Dennis Gonsalves on the keyboards. The blessed couple recollected their feelings of 28 years back in their song. 
Rosary Ferns highlighted the achievement of Bab Veronica and his unique contribution for the cause of the community. Bab Veronica and Fatima sang another beautiful, traditional Mando ‘Bhangaracho Vistid’ accompanied by Rosary Ferns with Dulpods to a thunderous applause from the gathering that included renowned Tiatrists – all the three Mendes Brothers with their wives, popular actor Sylvester Vaz and his wife Irene, etc. 
Earlier, Veronica explained the meaning of Mando and Dulpod while Rosary Ferns sang his latest composition ‘Mog’ on a minus track. 
The penultimate item was the speech of A. Veronica in which he described the beauty of his wedded life with a lovely and attractive wife whose ‘beautiful looks,’ he said, ‘still mesmerized his eyes and beautified his heart (Mhoje ghorkarnichi suropai, mhojem kalliz suropaien bhorta).’ Veronica further added that it was Fatima who is more responsible for keeping their ‘marriage sacrament’ stronger. He further went on to say, “though 28 years have passed, yet it looks only 28 minutes for our marriage.”
Fatima proposed a vote of thanks.
Musical score for the songs was provided by Dennis while DJ Wanted provided lively music. Jannet Franco-e-Fernandes bridesmaid at the wedding of Veronica and Fatima in 1979 and 'still standing by the couple', recited a thanksgiving prayer before dinner.
