It is not often these days that a college romance fructifies into wedlock. Corporate Citizen unlocks the story of love that has culminated into marriage, for we believe in the stability of a relationship and family unit. We bring to you real-life romances that got sealed in marriage
Newlyweds Prateek Maheshwari and his better half Drishti Setia Maheshwari on how common interests and shared goals go a long way in making the partnership happy, prosperous and rewarding
Though there’s time to start their own family, both love kids (with a niece)It’s yet another quiet Sunday even as corporate couple Prateek and Drishti rejuvenate their energies from a hectic week at work. Not for them an endless round of the party circuit or nightclubs, which is what you’d expect a young couple in their twenties to be doing but the serenity and simplicity of home and hearth. “We are both homebodies,” grins an unapologetic Drishti while Prateek nods in agreement. “We like to cook, watch TV, stay home and chat.”
Simply put, never underestimate the value of mutual compatibility in making it work. To think they have been married all of two months.
This story was first scripted on the campus of BIMM and BITM when both Prateek and Drishti were pursuing their MBA in marketing (batch of 2014-16). In typical fashion, this college romance started with friendship and the constant proximity from being in the same ‘river’ and interacting with each other on the corporate relations team of the college. From the outset, despite being different personalities (“I am a chatterbox, whereas he is a man of few words”) the camaraderie was natural and spontaneous. “Let me just say, we are compatible in the things we like to do and the values we share,” expresses Prateek. “For example, we are both fairly focused and ambitious in what we would like to do with our careers and lives. Not to forget, we prefer a quiet, low-key life with each other and Chinese food for company,” he smiles. “Little things add up to the big picture.”
And that’s exactly how their relationship progressed with little things. “For instance, she would help me catch up with my notes when I missed class despite being in the coveted corporate relations batch (the duo were in the corporate relations team, commonly known as “The CRT”), supposed to be the one of the finest in the college. This was because I was heavily into assorted cultural events of the college,” he says.
Gradually, both realized that they enjoyed being together. “She’s adaptable, giving and adjusting. Great qualities in all in a person,” says he. Not that there was any formal, ‘going down on the knees-will-you do me the honour of marrying me’ cake and roses moment. “Please,” avers Drishti. “That’s just too cheesy, way too filmy. That’s not our style at all.”
What actually happened was way more organic. “We both realized that we were meant to be,” she says. “And that was that.”
Luckily, the families were equally at ease with their children’s choice. “Since my parents themselves have had a love marriage, they told me quite bluntly that if I had someone, I was to tell them. So I told them about Drishti and that’s how my mom called her mom and things went forward”, he adds.
Despite the seeming cultural differences (he’s a Marwari from Lucknow, while she’s a Punjabi from Bhatinda) everything went smoothly and the duo were wed in late 2018 in a beautiful, elaborate ceremony that combined the best of both Marwari and Punjabi rituals.
“We take each day as it comes. Cooking is not an issue for I enjoy it thoroughly. Work-life balance is quite easy because week days are for work and weekends for each other”
—Drishti
In holiday mode
Wedding wows: Drishti and Prateek on their big dayAs of now, they are based in Delhi: she is employed with Vedanta as an Assistant Manager while he is with Bajaj Allianz as Senior Area Manager. Since it’s early days yet, both are admittedly getting used to the rhythm as well as responsibilities of living alone in a huge metro. And while they miss the warmth and fully laden dinner tables of their respective family homes, it’s a busy and happy time for both-personally and professionally even as they learn to work the ropes of both marriage and their careers.
What’s more, they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We take each day as it comes. Cooking is not an issue for I enjoy it thoroughly,” says Drishti. “Work-life balance is quite easy because week days are for work and weekends for each other. I am off on Saturdays and Sundays whereas he is off on Sundays. So on Saturday, I take care of my chores, which leaves me free to spend time with him on Sunday,” she says.
Quality time together consists of watching movies and trying out different food. “We are big time foodies and all our significant moments together almost always feature food,” laughs Prateek. “Like I said, we could both happily eat Chinese food every day.” (One guesses it helps big time that neither complaints of monotony!)
Of shared values and dreamsSure, the occasional fight happens but that’s not a big deal. “He is the short-tempered one; I am more conciliatory by nature, so I guess it’s fine,” says Drishti. “Either ways differences are a part and parcel of a healthy relationship as long as you don’t allow matters to escalate,” she says.
Both wish to do well professionally and are quite focused on their goals. On his part, Prateek is quite the millennial man, and fully supportive of her dreams. “In fact, it was for the sake of my career that he took a transfer to Delhi,” says Drishti.
Both enjoy children and would like some of their own, eventually. Right now, it’s time to concentrate on work. “But whenever we have a child, I am sure that with his support I will be able to manage both work and baby,” she rounds off.
For the moment, it’s all about enjoying Sunday and some TV together. And you thought it’s only the old married couples that share such bonhomie?
By Kalyani Sardesai
