What does it take to make a marriage work? For people who want a partner with a similar perspective and passion, marrying someone from the same profession or someone whom they have known for a long time is the answer. There are several instances of such couples in the city.
MLA J. Geetha Reddy married her batchmate, Dr Ramachandra Reddy. Then there are several bureaucrat couples like IPS Akun Sabharwal and IAS Smita Sabharwal, both holding key posts in the Telangana State Government; IPS Shikha Goel, Inspector General of Police (CISF) and Vijay Kumar, Deputy Director, Ministry of Home Affairs; IPS Swati Lakra, Additional Commissioner of Police, Crimes & SIT and IAS Benhur Ekka, Secretary SC Welfare Department.
Couples who work together find the relationship easier to maintain. Doctors Hari Prasad and Suma Kantipudi met at Gandhi Medical College as classmates. “Sharing a professional background can strengthen the marriage,” says Dr Hari Prasad.
Pratik, director Pokarna Fabrics, met Pallavi in 2006 at Lancaster University and got married in 2013. “As they say, ‘Marry a devil you know, rather than an angel you don’t know!’ If you have found someone who has studied with you, knows you’re crazy and agrees to deal with it on a regular basis in a legal relationship — you take that option,” says Pallavi.
Anurag and Manasa were schoolmates who got reconnected via Orkut and married in 2010. Anurag, VP and global head of talent at Innova Solutions says, “We did our schooling from Jubilee Hills Public School but we didn’t keep in touch after that.” Recalls Manasa, “We went our separate ways, I was in Chicago and he was working in Hyderabad. Marrying a schoolmate will never go wrong.”
As IPS Akun Sabharwal, who is married his batchmate IAS Smita Sabharwal, rightly says, “Marrying someone you know is always the best option. Even if they are from a different field. Marriage is about understanding and getting to know the other person.”
Samarth Bajaj, a leading young entrepreneur who married his long time girlfriend Shasha, says, “We always knew of each other because she was friends with my sister and I was friends with her brother. We dated for long before I popped the question. Marrying someone you’ve known for a while is the best thing ever because you’re used to the person and their habits.”
Couples like Dr Lokesh Lingapp, Paediatric Neurologists and Dr Sirisha share a mutual goal and many interests. They met during their postgraduate training. Though they are from different religions, Dr Lokesh says, “For some, marrying a classmate works out well as they can set up things together and understand the demands of the profession without any explanation.”
Aditi and Avinash are school friends who got married — while Aditi is a doctor in New York City, Avinash works with Amazon. “We are on friendly terms. Our relationship is more of a cool give and take,” they admit.
