Jab they met

For them,it was sheer co-incidence that they married on February 14 and the lucky charm of number 14 has been maintained as their daughter was born on November 14 and son on April 14.

The couple is as special as their wedding date as they try and make every moment of life special by different gestures. “While the world celebrates it with red and pink,we make sure that we wear blue on most of the days,” says Avinash Mahajan,adding,”I make sure to buy gifts especially with a heart shape in it- be it a pendant,ring or for that matter,a cake.”

Endorsing the statement is Varsha Mahajan,who adds,”I expect two gifts (one wedding anniversary and one for Valentine’s Day) and thankfully I have never been disappointed.”

Uma and Yasodhan Jatar
Sharing the delight are Yasodhan Jatar and Uma Jatar,who also married on the special day. “Ours was not a coincidence. The date was falling on February 15 and we changed it to Feb 14 just to make it more special. Moreover it was a Sunday so the proposed date was approved by the family and the pundits as well,” smiles Yasodhan Jatar,who works at Maharashtra Chambers of Commerce.

Married in 1988,the Jatar couple feels that Valentine’s Day was though not common in 80’s,yet people knew about it. “With Valentine’s Day acquiring greater acceptance and popularity,newer ways of celebrating are available and we are using it.”

About gifts,Uma Jatar says,”Perfume,it seems,is a tradition,because I have been getting it right from my first anniversary till date.”

Music was what clicked between them. “I was not ready for marriage but when I learned that he too likes music I said yes. And after we had a talk with each other,all doubts were gone. Planning the date of our marriage proved that arrange marriage could be as romantic as love marriage,” says Uma Jatar,adding,”Many think that ours is a love marriage,partially because of the chemistry between us and partially because we are from the same college but different batches.”

Jatars plan their second honeymoon abroad on their 25th anniversary and hope that their son too goes their way and marries on a Valentine’s Day. Uma is an excellent violin player,while Yasodhan Jatar plays tabla.

Manini and Yogesh Gurjar
“Jab we met,it was not the train’s air-conditioned compartment,but the not-so-luxurious seats of Asiad bus,and in the backdrop of the scenic beauty of Pune-Mumbai highway,Yogesh initiated the conversation in the most common and typical style– maine aapko pehle kahin dekha hai (I have seen you somewhere),” recalls Manini Gurjar,who celebrates her 23rd marriage anniversary today.

They call it destiny that they met each other and the acquaintance turned into love that culminated into a marriage after some perusal of the family. “It was God’s will that we met and exchanged phone numbers in the first meeting itself. Otherwise girls would usually refrain from people who use that cliché (maine aapko pehle kahin dekha hai),” adds Manini Gurjar.

“Though it’s a love marriage,we never planned it on Valentine’s Day,it’s more of a co-incidence. We realised it later that it was Valentine’s Day,” says Yogesh Gurjar,who designs artificial hearts. Manini Gurjar has always worked hard to get her gift. “Simple and cliché things,it seems,is against his nature. Getting a gift for me is both a surprise and a reward as it comes through a list of clues and pointers,thorough letters and messages only to find it under the bed or in the car or any other unimaginable places. But its fun and I enjoy every bit of it,” says Manini.

About his plans for his 25th anniversary,Yogesh Gurjar says,”A world tour matched with a romantic drive in a vintage car is an apt idea.”