I was in 3rd year of engineering when my parents decided to look out for a girl with whom they would marry me by the time I am done with my engineering.
In my life I have always believed that whatever happens in your life happens for good. So I went with the flow without giving much thought over it as long as they would let me complete my studies. I had never imagined they would find someone within months and I would get engaged. Basically my wife’s family insisted to have the engagement done and we can get married at right time.
So I was engaged by the time I was in my 2nd semester of 3rd year. Only few of my friends knew about it. To my friends' surprise and everyone who knew me, I had not seen my wife till the day I got engaged.
Everything went well. We got married after I completed my studies and the real fun started.
I lived in urban city and she came from village. There wasn’t any cultural difference as such but my family had mismatch in expectations and my journey of balancing my wife’s expectations (which are very very minimalistic till date) and my family’s expectations (which was a joint family) started.
First 5 years were terrible. However we were very clear with our thoughts that we can sacrifice 10% of our married life’s time for 90% of our togetherness and we survived.
Both of us helped each other to be a better person.
I made her goals as mine and empowered her with my support in every possible way.
She made my home as her and made it a heaven for both of us.
I didn’t want her to change for me or anyone else but for herself.
Again one of my beliefs is that if you respect your better half for what he/she is and help him/her (not advice) in achieving what he/she wants, you have earned a friend for life and he/she will understand you in every situation of your life.
Now we are married for 14 years and would remain so till one of us waits for the other one in afterlife. We have 2 kids and 3 other kids of my brothers in family so in all 5 kids.
Probably my 10% of investment during my initial married life are paying off now with much higher returns.
This is us on our 14th anniversary.
