The North-South Love Saga

Fanah Ho Sabhi Dooriyaan

Long-distance relationships were not without their challenges. Vardaan and I had our fair share of differences and disagreements, but we always managed to reconcile in the end. After two years of living in PGS and hostels, I was finally able to move into my own rented place—a single room in a 2BHK flat. I was absolutely ecstatic!

During Diwali of 2015, Vardaan's mother discovered our relationship. She confronted Vardaan, and he had no choice but to confess. To my surprise and delight, she readily accepted me! Thanks to Riya, she already knew me and embraced me into her family with open arms. Although she had some reservations about Vardaan's father and the extended family, her love for me was all that mattered.

She shared something with me that still resonates to this day: "It's not just about beauty; it's about the goodness of character." With those words, all my fears about being dark-skinned and middle-class vanished into thin air. And it wasn't just Vardaan's mother—everyone in his family welcomed me wholeheartedly. His maasi, Lovely Aunty, looked at a picture of me and called me beautiful. I also had the pleasure of meeting Vardaan's cousins, Shalu Didi and Pupul, who made me feel right at home. Their blessings meant the world to me.

Once I settled into my own place, Vardaan's mother even traveled to Bangalore to meet me. Riya had an AFCAT interview, so both of them stayed with me for a couple of days. I was overjoyed! I made an effort to show my best self but also remained true to who I am. The fact that she accepted me for who I am meant everything to me. During that visit, I asked her, "Can I call you 'maa aunty'?" She jokingly replied, "Wait until you get married at least." It still brings a smile to my face. Today, I call her "maa."

I shared my anxieties and fears with Vardaan's mother. I confided in her about my parents and their disapproval. A year or so later, both maa and hauma (hajurmummy)* visited my parents' house to speak with them in person. They reassured my parents that they would accept and embrace me as their daughter. I was overwhelmed with joy! This reassurance gave me immense strength to keep moving forward.

Vardaan and I had endured numerous challenges during those two years. During the Chennai floods of 2016, his house was inundated, his belongings were ruined, and he had no means to procure food. As part of a business continuity plan, his office sent him to Bangalore. Since no buses were operating, he hitched a ride on a lorry to reach Bangalore. I couldn't reach him on his phone, and I was consumed by worry. When I finally saw him in such a distressed state, my heart ached for him. He stayed in Bangalore for a month, and having him close by, even for that brief period, felt incredibly beautiful and magical.

Vardaan had aspirations of joining the army, and I wanted to do something to motivate him. Although not religious, I was spiritual and believed in the power of the law of attraction. I took up a vrat** to circumambulate a peepal tree every Saturday for as long as possible. Without fail, I completed this ritual for two years, with my deepest wish being for Vardaan to be transferred to Bangalore so that we could finally be together. And then, after those two years, I received the best news ever—he was being permanently transferred to Bangalore. Our time had finally come!

*Maasi means aunt, and hajurmummy refers to his grandmother.

**In Hinduism, performing a vrat is a way to fulfill one's wishes. It involves making a commitment to endure physical or mental hardships as a form of sacrifice in exchange for desired outcomes. It may seem strange, but love can inspire us to do unusual things, I suppose!