Anirban Simlai is married twice -- first to the hotel and then to Ananya Simlai who went on to become a banker. Both being the only child to their respective parents, they were extremely pampered and grew up to be independent minded. While Anirban was a small town boy of West Bengal aspiring to become a doctor, Ananya grew up in Calcutta nurturing every possible dream and ambition.
While they were going on with their lives, the universe planned their meeting in a hotel (The Park, Kolkata) where Anirban was the night club manager. It was one of the most sought-after night clubs in Calcutta and Ananya had joined as an intern in guest relations after her Intermediate.
“A guy kept staring at me. I kept looking down because every time I looked up, I would notice his eyes. My colleague mistook that he was interested in her. But later, he clarified and asked me out. We’ve been together ever since. The minute we began to talk, we realised we had quite a lot in common. And as years passed, we learned that the number of things we have in common is just too many,” says Ananya.
Mixed feelings
Anirban was absolutely cool and Ananya felt as if she was attending a close one’s marriage. When only a month was left for the marriage, the love birds were forbidden to meet each other by the families till the day of marriage.
This stricture urged the two to meet up every single day on the sly. “That added to all the fun, suspense and dilemma of getting caught,” she recalls, beaming.
Both were equally excited to step into a new life with each other. “I was impatiently waiting for the day. The marriage date was mutually decided by the respective parents for the following year,” says Anirban.
Wedding memories
Sharing one such memory Anirban says, “I was waiting to see my sweetheart and kept sending small chits through younger cousins and one such chit fell in the hands of my grandfather,” he laughs.
Inspiring each other
Ananya and Anirban have managed to inspire each other to stay strong against whatever obstacles come their way. Their chemistry is so pure and true. Talking about the favourite thing about each other, Ananya says, “Ample scope of individuality and freedom that Anirban gives.”
“Ananya’s smile is a killer. She is my friend, philosopher and lover at the same time,” he adds.
Ever the romantic, Anirban says his heart was set on Ananya from the very beginning, “I knew I wanted to marry her. It was love at first sight,” he asserts.
They have been married for 17 years now. “Love is the only thing that keep us going, nothing less and definitely nothing more to keep us bonded as usual,” says Ananya.
As the saying goes, the couple that never has conflicts does not exist. In the case of Anirban and Ananya one keeps quiet and the other one vents out. “Anirban never dwells on my sharp words, instead prefers to forget and move on,” says Ananya.
Sharing a life
The couple, who have two children – Agniv (10) and Aahir (7), says the best thing about being married is to to be able to share the best and the worst part of life. Through the years, they have kept each other interesting and interested.
“I am blessed. My married life has been a bed of roses apart from a few mismatch of expectations,” says Ananya and adds, “And I have learned is love is beyond everything.”