It is not often these days that a college romance fructifies into a 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
Entrepreneurs Jignesh and Priya Karia on the journey of their marriage and the inspiration behind their unique venture, TRNA India, a never-before platform for desi soccer lovers
A typical day sees Jignesh Karia (40) keep long hours at work, all the better to bring together local soccer lovers as well as like-minded partners to take his dream venture TRNA India, an ambitious platform to select, recruit, train and expose potential soccer players to the unique challenges as well as conditions, posed by the much loved but relatively new (to Indians) sport. ‘‘ What’s more, I want to ensure even girls come into the loop,’’ he expresses. Great ideas, certainly, but demanding as they can be.
Amidst the rough and tumble of his crazy schedule, there is plenty of travel and stress, but it helps that he is anchored by his better half, Priya, who as co-founder is definitely invested in the dream. ‘‘Entrepreneurship is both wonderful and rewarding. But it also requires a great amount of persistence and courage. You have to visualise what you want, and stay invested in the dream, even through rough patches. And when your life partner shares the same goals, the journey becomes fun,’’ he says.
The Karias would know all about shared dreams, given their long years of friendship that predates their marriage of 16 years.
Theirs wasn’t quite a campus romance, even though they go back to the same college. ‘‘Honestly,’’ says Priya (40), ‘‘One look at his friends, and I didn’t quite feel like he and I would have anything in common,’’ she says of their years at Pune’s BMCC College.
But like they say, it is never okay to judge a book by its cover. The duo then had an opportunity to know each other better at the Rotaract Club which required them to interact with each other, particularly on various social projects.
‘‘To my surprise, we could talk easily and fluently. He was compassionate and full of ideas, not to mention, talented. A far cry from the brusque persona he loved to portray. There was much to share. And before we knew it, the friendship went from one level to another,’’ she says.
But the two of them did come from different sociocultural backgrounds: She’s a Maratha, he a Gujarati, and ever the practical one, she did wonder where they were headed. ‘‘So one fine day, I told him we ought to stop meeting,’’ she says.
However, as it turned out, he did have marriage on his mind. His only condition: they would stay with his parents post-marriage. ‘‘A family person myself, I saw nothing wrong with this mindset. In fact, marriage should be about building ever more relations, not cutting them off. Things progressed smoothly enough. My dad was already impressed with Jignesh, his personality and his education. (He’s a B.Com-MBA.) My in-laws too accepted me with open arms,’’ she says.
With the blessings of both sets of parents, the duo was duly wed in 2002 amidst traditional celebrations.
The Karias spending family time togetherOne would have thought that the differing backgrounds would entail plenty of issues, especially from Priya’s end, but she nixes the very notion. ‘‘Honestly speaking, adjustment wasn’t tough at all, because my in-laws made it very easy for me. There were few restrictions, and enough encouragement to follow my fashion designing orders post my M.Com,’’ she says.
Not knowing how to cook wasn’t a big deal either because her mom-in-law taught her the many delicious secrets of Gujarati cuisine. ‘‘Plus, his dad treated me like a daughter. Each time he came from work, he would want me in front of him, “she recollects fondly.
On his part, Jignesh is appreciative of her positivity and openness of mind. ‘‘Whatever the situation, she makes the most of it, and is always optimistic and hopeful. She is also warm and accepting of people,’’ he says. ‘‘This is indeed a great quality, because marriage, at the end of the day, is about two families, not just two individuals. When you love someone, you also need to cherish and nurture their family,’’ he expresses.
“Marriage, at the end of the day, is about two families, not just two individuals. When you love someone, you also need to cherish and nurture their family”
—Jignesh Karia
In due course, the Karias were blessed with a boy, Daiwik, now 14. A keen soccer player with a huge appetite to learn and grow further, it is Daiwik’s passion for the sport that has urged the Karias to explore the possibilities of soccer and helped sow the seeds of TRNA India, which is all set to complete its first anniversary. ‘‘If ever a sport has the potential to rival cricket for sheer popularity, it is soccer. Having a player son myself woke me up to the need of building a platform from the grassroots, that is inclusive and not exclusive in its outlook. From taking them to camps and training programmess to helping organise scholarships to parental support, TRNA does it all,’’ he says.
At the root of it, is the desire to see Daiwik emerge as an all-rounder, not just as an academically- inclined kid. ‘‘ He plays, he studies, he is even a child model with several assignments to his credit. But whatever he takes up, it ought to be his choice. Our priority as parents, though is to give him a happy, supportive home and the right values,’’ says Priya. ‘‘At no point, though, do we want to pressurise him. After all, childhood comes but once,’’ chips in Jignesh.
Life at the moment is both hectic and happy. A good hand at both admin and accounts, Priya, as co-founder, is the proverbial fixed wheel that acts as the perfect foil to the other, moving wheel. However, the Karias make it a point to take short trips and meals together by way of quality time. ‘‘Each marriage is different, and the points of adjustment vary as well,’’ says Jignesh. ‘‘The important thing is to step back when your partner is upset. I would urge men especially to consider compromise and conciliation as it’s not just the woman’s domain,’’ he rounds off.
By Kalyani Sardesai
