Swimmingly & Successfully Yours

Corporates turned swimming trainer and facilitator, Karishma Sadarangani Shah is supported and motivated by her significant half and best friend, Vveral Shah, to pursue her life-long dream: that of coaching local swimming talent and helping it reach its optimum potential. While Vveral runs his own business of industrial consumables, the young couple and parents of two boys believe that marriage is all about compatibility, shared dreams and miles of smiles. This is their story, and this is how they tell it

Looking at Karishma and Vveral about 12 years ago, one would never have believed that the duo would give up their well-paying and successful profiles at HSBC, Mumbai, to pursue self-employment and entrepreneurship. Nor did they seem likely candidates for a marriage: she was after all two years older than him, his senior at work and a Sindhi far removed from his own Gujarati roots.

And yet, Karishma insists it’s not so much a case of opposites attracting as two like-minded people with similar values and dreams discovering that their happiness lay with each other. Both are by nature, adventurous and outgoing; neither would they hesitate to colour outside the lines if they think it will enhance the picture.

“He’s calm and very patient. Much like my dad. What’s more, he’s a very secure and mature man who was unfazed by a wife who was senior to him, age-wise or professionally,” she smiles. “In fact, he’s always been the one to motivate me to aim for higher things and follow my heart.”

As far as Vveral was concerned though, it was love at first sight. The dynamic, focused and hardworking Karishma was very much the woman of his dreams, and as he told his late mom: it had to be Karishma or no one.

Even so, the parents were far from pleased. She’s a Sindhi girl born and brought up in Pune, while Vveral is a Mumbai-based Gujarati boy through and through. “Considering he had been this very well-behaved child all through, his mom and dad just couldn’t believe that he would be the one taking such a strong and adamant stand on who he wanted to marry,” smiles Karishma. “But from the outset, we knew were meant to be and went all out to convince both sets of parents that we knew what we were doing.”

Easier said than done, though. Both parents had doubts, reservations and questions. “His mom especially needed reassuring that I would look after her boy. Luckily, I managed to convince her that I would,” she says.

And so, with the blessings of both sets of families, the duo wed in 2009 in an elaborate ceremony with both Sindhi and Gujarati rituals.

"I am a firm stickler for discipline and pushing the envelope. I belong to the school of thought that says: the more you sacrifice, the more you achieve. While, Vveral has a far more relaxed and fun approach to parenting"

-Karishma

Awesome foursome: Karishma and Vveral with their boys

From strength to strength

A year into the nuptials, Karishma began to entertain serious thoughts about returning to her very first love: swimming. A national-level swimmer and outstanding athlete who had represented India on several international fora, she says she always wanted to give back to the sport that has given her so much. “Honestly, my dream was to become an Olympian. And while that wasn’t to be, considering that 20 years ago, there was little encouragement for sports people outside the hallowed portals of cricket, I thought why not do my best for youngsters?”

Once again, family and friends were aghast. Who on earth gave up her role as Assistant Vice President at HSBC to become a swim coach? And what about the loss of security and with that a regular, high-paying income?

“But I knew that Karishma would be outstanding at whatever she did. Plus, like her, even I wanted to work for myself. No matter how well-paying a job, the satisfaction of working for oneself is something else,” he says.

And so, the duo returned to Pune. After all, this was the city that knew and recognised Karishma for the swim champ that she was. Parents were happy to entrust their kids to her care as well were hotels like The Hyatt, Pune to extend the best possible swimming instructor to the guests. “Pretty soon, whatever few doubts I had, were laid to rest. To my joy, I discovered I was an effective teacher as well and thoroughly enjoyed coaching people,” says Karishma.

That marked the beginnings of Karishma Aquatic Academy.

An AUSTSWIM certified teacher, Karishma shares her skills, expertise and love of the water with everyone she can. Her students range from kids as young as six months old (yes, she is trained to handle the babies!) to senior citizens. To up the ante some more, she has managed to train Vveral as a facilitator as well. “I knew that if at all there was someone I could trust around the kids it would be him. Not only is he completely reliable but has a perfectly patient and kind temperament with children. This is hugely important in a teacher,” she says. “Most importantly, it gives me immense satisfaction that I am able to impart a valuable life skill to people, something that could make the difference between life and death at a crucial point.”

Both Vveral and Karishma would like to thank Karishma’s parents for supporting them with their tough schedules as well as for guidance through thick and thin.

Considering it’s been 14 years of marriage, what according to both, are the cornerstones of a relationship? “I would say loyalty, trust and compatibility,” expresses Karishma while Vveral would add “understanding” to the equation. “If you try to understand and respect the other person’s viewpoint, things become that much smoother,” he says.

THE MANTRAS OF A MARRIAGE

• Respecting and supporting dreams
• Camaraderie
• Celebrating differences
• Open channels of communication

Bringing up the boys

Life is hectic and busy even as the duo handle their swim schedules (that could range up to seven hours a day in the water in the summer months) with their little boys-Arhaan (7) and Miraan (2). While Vveral is a completely hands-on papa with the children, they’ve roped in a nanny to keep everything running smoothly.

Quality time for this busy little family consists of eating a meal together or playing a board game at the end of the day. “Honestly, we are not in the phase for date nights and coffee nights out.

We’ve had that ‘us’ time in the early years; now it’s about the boys and their needs,” says Karishma briskly. “One has to be realistic enough to accept a change in priorities with time.”

That said, both enjoy taking a long, leisurely lap in the pool after they’re done for the day or chatting to each other after the boys are in tucked into bed. “This is the time we cherish together,” they say.

As is the case in most homes, both Vveral and Karishma handle the children differently. “I am the tough one, while he’s the easy going one,” she laughs. “I am a firm stickler for discipline and pushing the envelope, in fact, I belong to the school of thought that says: the more you sacrifice, the more you achieve. On the other hand, Vveral has a far more relaxed and fun approach to parenting. The idea, at the end of the day, is to work out a fine balance,” she rounds off.