VALENTINE’S DAY : Purti, Who Fell In Love At 13, Waited A Decade For Her Valentine To Commit To Her
Love’s labour is not lost for some fortunate souls. Meet the lucky couple Purti Shah, 36, an architect and Ashish Shah, 46, professor of finance who is to celebrate their 17 – years of marriage on this Valentine’s Day. Purti was just 13 when Ashish, 23 first entered her life like a reel life hero rescuing her from a group of pranksters harassing her during a late night outing during Navaratri festival.
“And I fell in love at the first sight,” says Purti, cuddling their five-year-old daughter Rujuta who too enjoys listening to their parent’s love story. “We instantly befriended each other, forgetting the age difference,” recalls Ashish. “We often chatted for long over phone, paid visits to each other’s families and goteachother little gifts. However, I never thought I would marry her.”
On one Valentine’s Day, Ashish got Purti a gift– a pair of sterling silver earrings and she demanded that
Ashish put them in her ears himself to commit to a relationship. “And he denied. I too denied accepting the
gift then. I left wearing earrings from that day,” says Purti.
Their interactions decreased and they were seldom in touch since a decade passed. Ashish, who had just finished his MBA then, was busy meeting and seeing girls to decide on a life partner. He met about 50 women but did not feel like committing to any of them. “I longed to talk to Purti and suddenly I realized that I was in love with none other but her,” says Ashish.
A decade after having rejected her, Ashish gathered courage to back to Purti and propose to her. “When he proposed, I demanded that I would accept the proposal only if he gets methesame pair ofearrings back.” says Purti. She also asked him to check the pockets of the blue checkered shirt that Ashish wore a decade before while he rejectedher proposal.Ashishhopelessly fumbled the pockets of that shirt which was lying unused in a corner of his cupboard. “I was amazedtofindthat pair of earrings from the shirt. I rushed to Purti’s place and proposed her, which she accepted gracefully.”
They married on Valentine’s Day the same year which was 1995. Purti flaunts that pair of earrings on each Valentine’sDay as a symbol of their love and commitment for eachother.
