Love is not always about grand romantic gestures and sweeping declarations; sometimes, it’s about small acts of love and kindness. For Shubhra and Gautam, it was the little things that made a big difference.
Shubhra was interested in meeting someone from a cultural background similar to her own. On Aisle, she instantly gravitated towards Preferences, a feature that allowed her to find exactly who she wanted. That person turned out to be Gautam. “He was so genuine and not at all over-the-top. He liked to travel, he was a dog lover — and best of all, he was a non-smoker. That was so important to me!” Gautam claims he was pretty impressed when he first saw Shubhra’s profile too. “Just the way she described herself… I was so intrigued. She’s an excellent dancer and singer. It’s safe to say I was ‘clean-bowled’ when I first saw the videos of her performances.”
The couple soon began talking over the phone. “He was in Jaipur and I was in Dehradun,” said Shubhra. “Gautam was keen to meet, but I kept refusing because I had torn a ligament and didn’t want to limp around on our first date!”
As fate would have it, the two instantly connected over their love of hiking, F.R.I.E.N.D.S, and cheeky banter. “I remember in December one day he said to me — It would be far easier for him to drive down to Dehradun than to go and find a Christmas tree in Jaipur! I then challenged him to come and meet me. The next morning, I got a call that he was driving to Dehradun!”
“When we first met, we hugged each other for a minute or two like we had known each other forever. It was so comfortable. I’ve never felt so relaxed,” reminisces Gautam.
Subtle gestures of love for each other brought the couple closer, Shubhra says. “When we would walk together, Gautam would gently move me to the side away from traffic. When he would get up for a glass of water, he’d bring a glass for me too. It might not seem like much, but these small things really create security in a relationship.”
“When we finally decided to tell our parents, he set up a secret camera to record his parents’ reaction. They were ecstatic! As for my parents, I told them very simply, ‘I’m bringing another son for you.’ The two families got along like long-lost friends”, according to Gautam. “Her parents were so warm and welcoming. I knew that our families would gel very well together.”
Shubhra recounts their whirlwind romance: “It was the shortest courtship I’ve ever had, but things work out when they are meant to. We belonged with each other; the timeline was irrelevant.” “It was pretty cool that we ended up together, I’m so thankful she liked me back!” says Gautam, “Shubhra is the most emotionally intelligent person I’ve met in a long time.”
The couple is now engaged and set to tie the knot this year. “Our advice? When you’re out to look for a partner, go with an open mind and set aside your judgements. You should be careful, of course; at the same time, it’s important to give something new a chance. If it’s meant to be, everything will fall in place.”
Thanks for the little nuggets of wisdom, Shubhra and Gautam — we hope they’ll lead to something big for our readers! Wishing you all the happiness in the world for your life together!
