Advait Sahu and Radhika Chadha were both lost in their own thoughts as they sat across from each other at their favourite restaurant in New Delhi. They had been married for four years now. And while they loved each other deeply, they knew that their busy schedules often got in the way of their relationship. They were out on a break from work and were having a nice time together when I met them after some two years. It was a warm courtesy meeting and after their dining out, we caught up again to say Goodbyes. We exchanged more warmth as they shared some anecdotes from their life. Something about their life intrigued me to ask them to pen their life story for Baely.
Next month, they wrote back to Baely with the following narrative while on a small holiday.
As they looked at each other, memories of their wedding day flooded their minds. They both smiled, remembering how they had promised to always be there for each other, no matter what. It had been a beautiful day, filled with love and happiness. But they both knew that the journey ahead wouldn't be easy.
"Hey Radhika, do you remember our wedding day?" Advait asked, breaking the silence.
Radhika nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Of course, I do, Advait. And I must say, it hasn't been easy balancing work and our relationship. But we've made it work together as a couple, haven't we?"
"Definitely. And looking back, I can see how we've faced many challenges, but we had to literally work hard through daily life and overcome it together," Advait said, his voice filled with pride.
"I think it's important for us to reflect on these challenges from time to time and how we've overcome them. It'll give us the strength to face any future challenges that may come our way," adds a very determined Radhika.
Advait smiled, feeling grateful for his wife's resilience as they both begin revealing their story in their own words.
Challenge 1: Communication breakdowns
"The first challenge we faced was communication breakdowns," Advait began. "We were both so busy with work that we hardly had any time to talk to each other. And when we did, it was often about work or other mundane things."
Radhika nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and that's when we realized that we needed to prioritize our relationship. We built a ritual of setting aside time every day to talk to each other and catch up on each other's lives."
Radhika smiled and leaned in closer to Advait, her hand finding its way into his. "Do you remember that time when we had that big argument about my promotion? I was so upset and felt like you weren't expressing enough joy for me," she said.
Advait's face softened as he recalled the memory. "Yes, I remember. I was so caught up in my own work and ambitions that I didn't take the time to truly understand how you were feeling. I'm sorry for that," he said, squeezing her hand warmly.
Radhika nodded, “It's amazing how simple communication and expression of love, is so much an encouragement which can go a long way. And how with time when I shared my feelings with you, you changed your communication style for the better," she said.
Challenge 2: Jealousy
"Another challenge we faced as a couple was jealousy," Radhika said, her voice tinged with sadness. "We were both climbing the corporate ladder and there were times when one of us would get a promotion or recognition at work and the other would feel left behind."
Advait nodded, understanding her feelings all too well. "But we soon realized that this was a problem we had to face together. We started encouraging each other in our careers and celebrating each other's success. Big or small pay hikes, accolades at work or even an employee of the month award - we ensure we celebrated it with a dinner outing or ice cream hand-in-hand."
Radhika smiled, feeling grateful for her husband's support. "And we made a conscious effort to not let work interfere with our relationship. We knew that our careers were important, but our love was even more important."
Challenge 3: Lack of Quality Time
"Another challenge was finding quality time together," Advait said, his voice filled with regret. "We were both so busy with work and other responsibilities that we rarely had time to just be with each other."
Radhika nodded, feeling the same regret. "But we found a solution. We started a ritual of going on date nights every week and made sure that it was just the two of us, away from work and all other distractions.
It didn't have to be an extravagant evening of going to a fancy place every time, even a simple coffee was fine. The main thing was that we had quality time with each other and not about what activity were we doing.”
Advait's recalled the impact that had on their relationship. "That made a huge difference. To make sure that we were not distracted by notifications on our phones, we made sure to put our phones away and really listen and be present with each other. And this focused quality time, even if it was for 15-30 mins that we spent with each other brought us closer."
Advait's eyes sparkled as he remembered those special nights. "It's amazing how a little effort went a long way in bonding us.”
Coming to Today’s Times….
Advait shares, “We learned to prioritize our relationship and make time for each other, even when it seemed impossible. It's all about finding that balance and making the effort."
Radhika leaned her head on Advait's shoulder, a contented sigh escaping her lips. "I'm so glad we've come this far, Advait. Despite all the challenges, we've managed to maintain our love and respect for each other. And I know that no matter what comes our way, we'll face it together."
Advait wrapped his arm around Radhika's shoulder, pulling her close. "Absolutely, Radhika. Our love is the strongest force in our lives, and we'll do whatever it takes to make it work."
As they sat there, basking in each other's love, they knew that their journey was far from over. But they also knew that they were stronger together than they ever were alone. And with each passing day, their love only grew stronger. So, if you wish to inspire a few more, do share the link of the story among your circle, please.
