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Love story: 'We hadn't spoken for four years!'

We invited readers to share stories of how they met their spouses and interesting anecdotes about their wedding day. Ejaj Khairatkar shares his account of how he met his wife Shaista and after almost six years of not seeing her, finally married her!

Our love story started in year 2000. That time I was in 10th Standard only

She is daughter of my dad's friend Mr Sharif Mujawar.

When I was in 10th Standard I met her dad 1st time at our shop in Solapur.

Every Sunday I use go with my dad to our shop and Mujawar uncle also use to come there and he used to speak about his family and that time heard the name 'Shaista' and felt for that name.

Whenever I use heard her name I used to imagine her face in my dreams. Two years passed but we never met each other.

In year 2002 I passed my junior college from Science (during this two yr they shifted to Pune from Solapur). I still remember it was August 2002, when I went to Pune for Admission with my dad and we went to Mujawar uncle's house.

I was little bit excited as I was supposed to see the girl whose name I was listing since two years.

We reached their house around 11 am. My dad went inside first I was just removing my shoes and I was faced towards ground. When I saw up, I saw a girl peeping from the door. As soon she saw me she ran inside in fraction of second.

Afterwards she came to the hall and sat on sofa next to me. That was the first time I saw her and I was just feeling like (something that I cant explain).

That day evening we all came back to Solapur.

While coming back we were seated in front of each other in train and during that journey something was sparking in between us. She used to look at me and simile and I use to do the same thing. We spoke to each other that time.

Next day there was function in my house and in evening I was eagerly waiting for her to come, they all came at 9.30 in evening and were there till 12.00. During this period we both used to look at each other. That time I was decided that she would be my wife.

But tragedy starts now

That was the last time we met each other because after that she went to Pune next day and I took admission for engineering in Kolhapur.

Meanwhile Shaista and my younger sister ( both were of same age) became best friend and every time I used to get update about her from my sister (she was knowing that I like her) and her dad (whenever I used to come to back to Solapur in vacation).

Four years was passed (2002 to 2006) we did not speak with each other neither we meet each other. Only I was having update about her that she is Pune and doing here graduation.

By that time I was not remembering here face whenever I tried to remember her I used to see a glimpse of her. But there was something that I always felt that she is the only girl who will be my wife.

One fine day (in 2008) a SMS came to me I saw it was my sister's message

She worte: "Bhaiya mere pass Shaista ka number hai".

I ask her to forward to me. After four years I was having her number with me. Now 1st I was hesitating to call her because I was not knowing if she remember me or not, but with lots of guts I called up .after few rings there was male voice "Hello", I fumbled and I said "Hello Amol hai kya". Then I got reply that it is wrong number as there is no one Amol there (It was her brother Samir who took the call).

Again next day at 1.30 during lunch time I called once again .after few rings there was female voice "Hello"
Then I greet them as "Assalam Allekum" I got reply as "Walekum Assalam" then I ask for Mujawar uncle (as they were knowing me very well) then I got replied as "Papa to ghar per nahi hai ,aap kaun hai".

Now I though after four years gap she might now be remembering me so I gave my introduction as " Mai unke dost Ismail (my dad) ka bada beta Ejaj bolraha hoon" (because she was knowing my dad very well).

She immediately recognised me and we spoke for few minutes then (how are you, long time not meet and all that stuf).

This was the first time after four years I spoke with her now I was just finding some reason to call her again, but within two day there was riot in Mumbai (when Raj Thackeray was going to be arrested in Kalyan) and she called me up and was enquiring about my safety as news was flashing all over that Mumbai Band and all that that day I asked her whether it will be ok if I called up her any time and she said yes.

Now we became friends first and used to give missed calls to each other and also used to send friendship messages.

One day I just sent here some romantic msg and got romantic message in reply and that time I got confirmed that even she likes me.

I was having my updated photo on Orkut. I gave her my e-mail ID and password so that she could see me (that time she was not having here updated photo on net). She saw me first.

During that period few marriage proposal came for me and I was called to Solapur to see the girl. I resisted first to see the girl but Mother is Mother

She was feeling proud that I was getting proposal... we went to see girl as I was not having any interest I just went with them for sake of my Mom she herself rejected her now while coming back my dad said "I have one girl in mind if you want I will talk to her family" I was thinking of Shaista

And I casually replied who is she

My Dad repied : Shaista as soon as I heard her name I jumped on seat and I told every thing to my dad that I love her since long time (Even when my dad saw her first time when she was kid that time he decided to make her his daughter-in-law).

Now my dad ask me to meet her first because I had seen her six years ago back and then ask me to give my decision.

Next day I came back to Mumbai and that weekend I decided to come to Pune to meet her.

During that period we both were knowing that we are liking each other, but never proposed to each other.

On Saturday I came to Pune to meet my younger brother Shahruk (he was working in Pune that time).

From Pune I called up to Mujawar uncle's cell and said that I am in Pune came to meet my brother (I was sure that he will ask me to come home to meet them and same happened) Uncle asked me to come to home for lunch.

Next day (Sunday) I went for lunch and we meet first time after long long time I saw Shaista almost after six years and she was looking more beautiful and I said to myself that I want to spend my life with her

That evening I called up my dad and said that I want to marry her and next day morning I called up her and proposed for marriage, she replied me that she will marry to me if her family agree for that.

That was not a big deal for me because I was knowing somewhere that her father also wanted me to his son-in-law and will not say no for our marriage.

Now it was time that my father was to play an important role of asking for her hand for me. Somehow that was got delayed by another two weeks.

One fine afternoon she called me up and said that: "Apne abu ko bolo mere papa se baat kar, mere liye dusra rista aaya hai."

Immediately I called my dad and ask him to talk to her father as she got some marriage proposal from someone's family.

My dad then immediately called her dad and ask for her hand for me.

Mujawar uncle was very happy as he always wanted me to be his son in law! Every one wanted to us to be Husband and wife and no one was knowing each other feeling .

So in this dramatically we got married on June 2, 2009 and now after one year of our marriage we have our sweet little angel Aliza with us.

Share your romantic experiences with us! Write in to getahead@rediff.co.in (subject line: 'My love story') along with a photograph of you and your spouse if possible and we'll publish the best entries right here!

Just make sure you include the following information:

Where and how you met your partner

When you shared your feelings for each other

An interesting incident from your wedding