Boy meets girl, they go on a date, get to know each other and then the happily ever after begins with marriage —  a common scenario now. But there were days when this was unimaginable. Here are four couples who got married according to the tradition then, some got to see one another only on the day of their wedding, and some few days before the wedding was finalised. However it happened, love came their way after marriage. Now it has remained intact for decades making these couples

Mesmerised by beauty

Om Mani Sharma, 74 and Bhawani Devi Sharma, 64

Together for 42 years

Theatre actor Om Mani Sharma never thought of getting married till he saw Bhawani Devi Sharma in Kabiraj Kosh Nath Devkota’s home in Dhobidhara. He was mesmerised by her beauty at first sight.

“I turned red when I saw her,” smiles Om Mani, who was 30-year-old then. He didn’t have the courage to express his love. In such a scenario how could 18-year-old Bhawani Devi have any feelings for him?

Kabiraj, Bhawani Devi’s uncle (fupaju), mediated to bring this couple together and they tied the knot on February 18, 1972.

“I went to his village after marriage and India visit leaving the city and my family here,” shares Bhawani Devi. Life was how it was for others. “We didn’t converse with one another in loud voice because of the sociocultural context (back then husband and wife talking to each other in front of everyone was seen as inappropriate). We basically whispered,” reveals Bhawani Devi.

She stayed in her new home for three years and Om Mani had to return to Kathmandu resuming work. This was the time he was away from her, so he would look at his wife’s photo. “There were no phones then. But this long distance relationship made the bond much tighter,” emphasises Om Mani.

Memorable moment: The couple went to India after their marriage, which was during malamaas (every three years a particular month is believed to cause bad luck to newly-weds). As per Hindu tradition, the newly-married couples are not allowed to stay together during malamaas. Hell didn’t break loose, but they were scolded for disregarding the rituals.

Annoyed when...: Om Mani gets angry when Bhawani Devi doesn’t check clothes’ pockets while washing them. Bhawani Devi is upset when Om Mani can’t give time to the family, even on Saturdays.

Defining love: For Om Mani, love that emanates within one’s soul and mind will be everlasting. There is no need for one to tear his/her heart to show one’s love for the other, he states.

And Bhawani Devi believes “to make life beautiful and filled with love one needs to be water if the other is a ball of fire. Compromises are essential from both sides for love to last long”.

Tale of an ordinary coupleGovinda Upadhayay 76 and Bhuwaneswori Upadhayay, 67

Together for: 45 years

Govinda Upadhayay, retired civil servant and Bhuwaneswori Upadhayay are not famous like the other mentioned couples. Yet, love is same for all and their love story is equally interesting. A resident of Koteshwor, Govinda didn’t see his life partner until their engagement. Sad that she was about to leave her family members, Bhuwaneshwori started crying on the day of their engagement. Rather than consoling his bride-to-be Govinda scolded her. He told her that he would throw her off the bridge of Manahara River (in Bhaktapur) if she didn’t stop crying. Bhuwaneswori immediately stopped crying.

Soon after their wedding they started falling in love though.

Memorable moment: “It was a wonderful moment to watch movie Badal in a theatre hall in Bhaktapur. The experience

can’t be expressed in words,” smiles Bhuwaneshwori.

Annoyed when...: Govinda doesn’t like her talkative nature. “Sometimes she speaks too much. Rather than arguing with her I keep mum,” Govinda shares.

For Bhuwaneshwori, “there is no need for a serious issue for a couple to argue on”.

Defining love: “It is a strong attachment with someone,” explains Govinda. However, for Bhuwaneshwori love is selfish.

“We love each other for our vested interest. After all I have to get help from him and he too has to do the same.”