HYDERABAD: She was never meant to meet him and he was never meant to meet her but their family’s master plan made these two love birds come together. It wasn’t very difficult for them to fall in love. Her charm and his simplicity just created the spark between them! He is a passionate actor and has his goals set. She takes care of their tiny tots at home and is also an entrepreneur. This is the story of Aarti and Dev, totally romantic and absolutely filmy. In a tete tale with these love birds, we explored a whole new world of love.
What were you feeling in the days leading up to the wedding?
Dev: It was very exciting as I was moving from bachelorhood to married life and it was a major transition for me.
Aarti: Yes, extremely exciting as it was like a fairy tale romance coming true for me. Falling in love, courtship days, a spot of resistance on the domestic front as my mother was very hesitant initially, then a beautiful, extravagant engagement followed by our fusion-styled wedding. Everything was just as I had dreamt of since I was a little girl, so I was very euphoric and heady during the phase leading upto our wedding.
If you could store up only one hour’s worth of memory of your marriage in your mind, what would it be?
Dev: I still remember my South-Indian bride walking up to the mandap exquisitely draped in a golden saree with her hair braided in mogra flowers, holding the auspicious coconut. It was a vision for me, a true blessing which I can still picture vividly.
Aarti: I feel every moment of our wedding ceremony was sacred, special and unforgettable for me. Dev and I had planned our wedding and all the events very meticulously so the Aryasamaj ceremony which could be easily understood by all our cosmopolitan, multi-lingual, global bunch of family and friends was very beautiful. It was the fusion of two cultures for us where Dev wore his Sikh pagdi and kurta and I wore a typical Kanjeevaram saree with mogra adorning my hair. We had the nadaswaram playing in the background, the Dholwala welcoming the Baraat, bridal party did a Parsi style entry with the ceremonial Ses, etc. So it was a delightful cultural potpourri.
What were you most excited about?
Dev: About fulfilling my Mother’s dream to see me married and to start a new chapter in life which would be a turning point for my family.
Aarti: New beginnings, having a whole new family and a completely new position in life as wife, daughter-in law, sister-in law etc.
How did you two first meet and start dating?
Dev: We met because we were destined to meet (Laughs). We met through Aarti’s family who were and are my biggest support system in Mumbai.
Aarti: We had heard about each other through my family and when we met, it was the proverbial “love at first sight”.
What is your favorite thing about each other?
Dev: Her positivity, her ability to laugh through everything in life and her unconditional support towards me and our family.
Aarti: The D in Dev is all about his dreams and determination to convert them into reality and for me that has been the most endearing quality about him. Few people in this world dare to dream and those who have it in them to live those dreams are winners. Dev is very rooted and traditional as a person which is something I love about him.
When did you first know you were in love?
Dev: I saw the sparkle in her eyes and knew I was in love with her and that sparkle continues to make my world brighter. That is true love for me.
Aarti: Almost like instant coffee, we hit it off like a house on fire when we first met. Opposites attract and we are completely different from each other.
How do you overcome fights and or disagreements?
Dev: We don’t like dissension and cat fights. We just move on if we don’t agree on something.
Aarti: We have huge discussions on everything and of course, respect our differences in opinion. We don’t nurture any hard feelings.
How do you keep yourselves in love?
Dev: You can’t make anyone fall in love with you, it has to be an innate feeling. When you understand and care for your partner, you nurture that love.
Aarti: Love grows in different ways in your relationship as you evolve from dating to getting married to being parents and to be career professionals. For me, love is being connected to one another, in all the hustle and bustle of life and how we take time out to be that heady couple we started out as.
What is one of the most adventurous things you’ve ever done together?
Dev: My wife insisting on riding a horse while wearing a mini-skirt (Laughs). And then wanting to drive a racing car in her mini-skirt .
What’s the best thing about being married?
Dev: The comfort level, the respect and friendship we share in our marriage is very special.
Aarti: The feeling of being married to my best buddy with whom I can share everything and where we both have no fears from each other is what keeps us ticking.
What’s the hardest thing about being married?
Dev: Our little imps (laughs). They keep us on our toes all the time.
A - every relationship needs to be lovingly nourished with love, understanding, respect and empathy. There is nothing hard about being married.
Whose marriage do you most consider to be a model marriage?
Dev: My mother has always been the greatest role model in my life and I always draw inspiration from her.
Aarti: My parents of course. They’ve always inspired me with their pluri-cultural marriage which created a bedrock for my childhood and growing years despite being from two different backgrounds. Their love and mutual respect for each other taught my brother and me to imbibe the same in our lives.
With so many marriages falling apart around us today, what steps can you take to ensure that you stay close as a couple, emotionally and spiritually?
Dev: The family that prays together, stays together. We are a very spiritual family and that keeps us grounded.
Aarti: True, we are quite spiritual and that helps us bond better. Also, we try to make the most of every moment of togetherness, whether it’s our meals at home, our Friday evening movie dates, our beach time with the kids, road trips and holidays – every moment is special for us.