Love that makes you go aww...

Do you have an image of the perfect couple? This is probably how it looks — Aman and Ritu are together for 22 years now and their love can make you go awww… Gardening, reading books, practicing Buddhism, sky diving, they do it all together. Rejoicing in the simplest of moments is their way of living life.

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As the journey begins

Aman: It all started on a train journey from Bangalore to Delhi. I was travelling back with my brother and sister-in-law after a short holiday. She was travelling along with her friend (senior colleague), who we discovered was my brother’s kindergarten teacher. We got talking as I helped her with luggage. She was a chatterbox. The way she walked through 5-6 coaches to the train pantry to get us soft drinks, it had me nailed. Her unique profession of helping slow learners and elders also enamoured me.

Ritu: In Feb ‘95, a long boring journey in Karnataka Express from Bangalore to Delhi became a sweet lifetime experience when I met him just like that. I was travelling back with my friend after attending a workshop. He helped me get my heavy luggage on to the train in a real filmy style.

Finding the middle ground

Aman: We became good friends as we realised we had a few common friends. When my family got to know that Ritu has always been in a boarding school, they were sceptical whether she could settle in a joint family. Well, she proved them wrong and settled beautifully with everyone. Gradually, our friendship resulted into marriage on January 23, 1998.

Ritu: Two wonderful people got us together. When my parents were approached for the match, they were worried about us being from different castes, I being a Himachali Rajput. Touchwood, everything worked out well.

Living the ‘I do’

Aman: Marriage made our bond stronger. We are blessed with two lovely children. All in all, it has been a lovely, meaningful journey.

Ritu: Well, marriage is very different from bachelorhood. In here, you actually look after each other without any expectations. There were challenges and yet there were a number of lovely moments to cherish.

Together means happiness

Aman: A friend rolled up into a life partner is great. Ritu is an easygoing person and has always been supportive of my ideas and ideologies.

Ritu: God has been very kind. Living with Aman is the most comfortable and happy state of being.

Two is company

Aman: Walks, gym, travelling, having fun, spirituality, nurturing our kids, looking after our elders, we do everything together.

Ritu: We both engage each other in mine or his individual activities. We love doing everything together… exercise, shopping, eating out, adventure; you name it!

Scope for change

Aman: She is always too particular about cleanliness… putting away things properly. In doing so she hardly sits down to rest.

Ritu: Umm… maybe his soft demeanour… actually that’s his strength, so nothing really.

The annoying bit

Aman: She is too concerned about bolting the doors of the house.

Ritu: Weak at self-help skills in daily chores… though now I think he’s making genuine efforts and improving.

Couple goals

Aman: Become fitter, look after our elders even more, play good golf together, develop our hobbies.

Ritu: All that he has said and to be able to provide the best education and emotional support and values to our children. Also, I want us to be able to make and nurture good friendships.

Wow factor!

Aman: I admire her magnanimity when it comes to her staff, friends, relatives or anybody else. She has a large heart while helping the needy and she does that without announcing to the world.

Ritu: Aman just knows how to make me laugh and the best part is he loves it. Sometimes I wonder whether I deserve such a good man as him.

How they make it work

Aman: A happy marriage is all about teamwork, respecting each other’s individuality, nurturing each other’s needs and spending time together.

Ritu: One should work towards looking after the emotional needs of each other.

For a happily ever after

Aman: Belief in each other’s goodness. Together you can handle challenges if you have the conviction that everything is surmountable.

Ritu: Never get enamoured by the lives or glamour of other people. Learn to be content.