How did you meet your husband and when did the two of you decide to marry?
My husband and I have known each other since we were 10 years old. We were in the same class and my mother-in-law was our teacher. My husband’s twin brother was a very good friend of mine. We became very good friends in class 10, after which we both came to Pune to study. It was after knowing each other for almost 11 years that we decided to tie the knot.
What are the qualities in your husband that made you think, “He is the one”?
I remember watching Dil Toh Pagal Hai as a kid and being enamoured by SRK’s formula of God dropping you ‘hints’ or ‘signs’ when you meet ‘the one’. But growing up, reality hits you and makes you realise that there are no signs and despite what Mills & Boon promised, there are no perfect men.
I love my husband. I love that he is the calmest and one of the most composed persons I have ever met. His wonderful sense of humour can put me in splits even when I am in the foulest of moods. He knows what I am feeling even without me uttering a word. I love that he has so many varied interests, he is a successful professional but also a talented drummer and skilled football player. He is so supportive of my decisions and always tries his best to motivate me.
My husband is not a perfect person; we all have flaws. He can be very stubborn and his temper (however rare) is not one you wish to be on the receiving end of. But I love him for all of his qualities – good and bad. There is no perfect formula for an ideal husband. For me there is no perfect marriage; only two people who learn to love each other’s imperfections.
You won a beauty pageant despite being married. How did you manage it?
The word despite perturbs me. I won the pageant because I was married. It was, after all, Mrs India.
I think the biggest mistake we make is thinking of marriage as the end of the road. It is not. It is up to us what we make of it. If we wish, it can be a wall which marks the end of all our dreams and hopes, or if we want it can be a door which leads to a plethora of options and new beginnings. The choice is ours. If we really want to do something, we will find a way. If not, we will find an excuse and make marriage our scapegoat.
We are very quick to say that behind every successful man is a woman, but seldom say that behind every successful woman is a man. My win is as much his hard work and support as it is mine. I attribute a large chunk of it to his encouragement.
They say marriage makes women fat. But you remained fit.
We all have only one place to live in, our body, and hence we must take care of it, regardless of whether one is married or not. My brother owns a gym and most of the men in my family are in the army, so fitness is something that has been engrained in our lifestyles since we were very young. I feel the best time to start working out was yesterday, and the second best time is today. It’s never too late to start taking care of your body.
How can one be married and yet live one’s dream?
I feel that our life is an occasion we all must rise to by fulfilling our dreams. That each one of us has been born to do something special and that thing is something we all must achieve. Dreams are only dreams until we wake up and make them real. And the choice to do that is in our hands.
While writing the story of your lives, don’t let anyone else hold the pen. Every day take out time to do something for YOURSELF. Not for your husband, or children, but for yourself.
Do anything that makes you happy. Live life fearlessly and without regrets.
How can a fit body keep the romance meter high and happening in marriage?
It’s very important to take out time for each other. The “us time” is something that you must chalk out. The body achieves what the mind believes. To keep the mind fresh and rejuvenated, go for holidays together and travel to new places. New experiences always enlighten the body and soul. Being fit is an advantage and it would be great fun to work out and bond over a few push-ups.