What is love? Arthi and Sashi

“Love isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about the everyday and the ordinary; waking up happy.”

Arthi and Sashi live together in Charlotte, North Carolina. They have been together for sixteen years and together they have two children. Sashi was raised in Westchester, New York and Arthi was raised in Chennai, India. They were introduced through family members and met for their first blind date at the Park Sheridan in city of Chennai, when Sashi was there visiting family. Sashi is a doctor and Arthi runs her own art business.

I couldn’t wait to speak to Arthi and Sashi about what makes a successful relationship and see what love means to them.

Arthi recalls, “I was young and felt that I wasn’t ready to meet someone yet as I wasn’t ready to leave my family and friends, but my cousin said it’s just a dinner”. After the dinner they hit it off, they went on a few more dates that week before Sashi had to go home to New York .They then dated long distance for a year, at which point their families advised them that dating between New York and India isn’t going to work for long and that they should get married. They then got engaged and six months later they were married. Their wedding was in Chennai and their reception was in New York. After the wedding Sashi had to return to work, he was completing his residency at the time. Arthi then joined him later that month to live together for the first time.

Arthi said “Sashi was the most genuine and straightforward man, kind and loving, a true gentleman,” that’s how she knew that she wanted to marry him. For Sashi, he commented on how her personality complimented his “I really love the way that she is very different to me, she has a lot of qualities that I do not have. Arthi is very spontaneous and daring and goes for things. I am more laid back and cautious. My life with Arthi is different to anything I would have imagined; in a good way.”

Emmaleen: Can you tell us a loving story from your relationship?

Arthi: “I used to practice yoga every day at 6:30am. Each evening before bed, Sashi would fill up my water bottle ready for the next day. More recently, Sashi was instrumental in getting me to start my own art business. He pushed me and my art outside of the garage!”

What is the key to a happy relationship?

Arthi: “Patience, compromising and accepting.

Sashi: “A good sense of humor.”

What is Love?

Arthi: “Being happy with what you have.”

Sashi: “Love isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about the everyday and the ordinary, waking up happy. It’s the little things you do for each other without having to be asked; anticipating what the other person needs.”

So what is their advice to anyone looking for love?

Arthi: “Don’t force it. It will happen when you love them, everything will be okay,”

Sashi: “Letting it be. It will happen when it is supposed to happen.”

If you like this story and want to hear more, subscribe to my mailing list. If you have a love tale that you would like to share, contact me here on my website.