HYDERABAD: Young, handsome and intelligent, M A Faiz Khan, a Paigah scion, and his beautiful begum Nida, the grand-daughter of Major General Nawab Khusru Jung , Prime Minister of Kashmir, first met in 1991 at an antique costume exhibition in the city. The families knew each other for long and this blossomed into a great family relationship
Instantly clicked
Faiz Khan, scion of the Paigah Nobility of Hyderabad, first met Nida in 1991 at an antique costume exhibition to celebrate 400 years of Hyderabad at Taj Krishna, formerly The Oberoi. “Nida was just 16 and I was eight years older to her. Both the families have known each other for long and the two instantly clicked at this meet.
And as all the traditional families believed, it was an arranged alliance,” says Faiz, who is presently working on a book The Nizams and The Paigahs of Hyderabad.
“What I admire in Nida is her calm, simple and composed attitude, and her enthusiasm to take part in things that I am interested in,” shares Faiz.
Nida on the other hand tells us, “He is a very caring person and goes out of his way to help anyone. He likes to do everything on time. He is very friendly and all his friends are very fond of him.”
Nida accompanies Faiz on all the historical trips and arranges exhibitions organised by her husband.
Strong bond
Their common interest in arts brought them closer. “As a result of this arranged alliance, we went out together a lot. This sparked a very comfortable relationship as we had common family values. This eventually developed into a very fond liking for each other. That is how we ended up getting married,” says the treasurer and the alumni of Hyderabad Public School.
Perfect sutra
It is perfectly healthy and normal for couples to fight. Some level of conflict is inevitable. “Fights have never been an issue. This is because we have had a very good understanding from the beginning. We were clear that everything should be openly discussed and sorted out,” says Nida, who was born in the Sir Afsar-Ul-Mulk family and is the grand-daughter of Major General Nawab Khusru Jung, Prime Minister of Kashmir.
Sticking together
The two of them, who have been married for 21 years, say, “We both love socialising, going out, partying and travelling. This helps us to keep the spark in our relationship.”
The royal couple have two sons — 20-year-old Faraaz and 16-year-old Kamil. “I see peace when it comes to Faraaz, and happiness when it comes to Kamil, who desires to be an actor someday,” says Faiz, an educationist, general power of attorney to H.E.H (His Exalted Highness) The Nizam and member of Awqaf Trust of the Nizam.
Faiz, who did his schooling from Hyderabad Public School always had a great interest in history and this probably was because of the family influence. “I got to see them from a very early age,” recalls Faiz.
Best thing about marriage
Marriage is a decision to be committed through ups and downs, good and bad. “Having a happy, peaceful life, with children, family values, and a great family bonding is perhaps the best thing that one would wish for in marriage,” says Faiz, who along with the late Dr Bilkiz Alladin was the first to conduct sound and light shows on history of the Deccan in Hyderabad.
Secret of success
After 21 years of marriage their love for each other is still strong, he says, “Trust, understanding, and being positive with respect for each other, are of paramount importance. Giving time to family and children can never be compromised. Family values and ethics should be passed on to the future generations as it makes you a responsible individual.”