A work in progress: 17-year-old marriage of Nagi and Sannitha Reddy

When Additional Commissioner, Hyderabad of Police, Y. Nagi Reddy’s parents asked him to meet a girl for marriage, he was reluctant. He felt the whole idea of seeing a girl was archaic. But after much persuasion he met his would-be life partner Sannitha Reddy.

“I agreed to meet her. The moment she came I was struck by her smile and her mannerisms. She appeared bubbly but confident. We engaged in some conversation,” he recalls and adds, “At that very moment I decided that she was going to be my life.”

The answer was “yes” from her side as well. “It was only when he was leaving my house, I realised I was totally in love with him.

“A serene smile on his face and the way he indulged my little nephew were the deciding factors,” says Sannitha, a law graduate who gave up her practice to be with him.

The couple got married on May 28, 1998. Generally, people fall in love and then marry. But in their case they got married first and then fell in love. After 17 years, they are more in love now than when they got married.

“We still work at it. Been married for 17 years and I love every minute of it. Just like any newlyweds, we had lot of adjustment problems, slowly we learnt to understand, respect and accept each other’s point of view. Now we have agreed not to disagree,” smiles Sannitha and adds, “I am a die-hard romantic and he is a simple man. I do agree love changes but we are still in love. He is amazing.”

Nagi and Sannitha, who have a daughter, Harshyathi, say, “Ours is a case of opposites attracting each other. We are total contrasts to each other yet we compliment and complete each other.”

Sannitha says, “He does not argue, just smiles and does what he likes to do.” Nagi adds with a smile, “Sannitha can be easily emotionally blackmailed.” She confesses that he is well organised and systematic, where as she is totally disorganised, always in a hurry.

“But he is my best friend and guide. He just gives me my space and also understands my love for stray animals. Patience is his very strong point. He never runs out of it. But at the same time he is very stubborn. If he decides on something, nothing or nobody can change it.”