Classmates To Soulmates: Ria And Jaymin Empowered Each Other Through Decades

You look at some couples and immediately sigh positively, "They are meant to be." Ria and Jaymin have been in each other's lives for almost two decades. The duo who first met each other as toddlers grew to become a couple that has been sailing through life's best and worse years together - as classmates, friends and now, as life partners.

Ria and Jaymin's story is one such once-in-a-lifetime kind of narrative that shows how mutual respect and indomitable friendship are the laying foundation of a strong relationship and an empowering marriage.

Ria And Jaymin: Journey of Togetherness

“After waiting for 14 long years, the day we had dreamed of finally arrived. We had known each other since preschool, but it wasn't until we were in 9th grade that we started dating.

For all these years, we kept our relationship a secret from my family. However, as the years went by, and I began to receive marriage proposals, that was when my uncle and aunt decided to convince my parents. My father listened carefully to what they had to say, but his response was measured. He simply said, ‘I'll think about it.’ Those words filled us with hope, but we were uncertain about what my father's decision would be, and there wasn't much we could do besides wait and see.

As the weeks turned into months and my father still hadn't met Jaymin or his family, we started to lose hope, and Jaymin began to lose his patience. Being from a well-known family, people around him constantly questioned why he was waiting for someone who was not from his caste. They couldn't understand why he was willing to wait so long for someone from a different community. It was a tough time for his family, but they stayed together and supported each other. His parents always reassured him that if it was meant to be, she would come, whether it was today or tomorrow. We were in class 10th, when Jaymin told his family about us, and they accepted me wholeheartedly.

Finally, after four months of waiting, my father met his family. It was a nerve-wracking experience, but we were both filled with hope and anticipation. And to our joy and relief, my father welcomed Jaymin with open arms, which brought us one step closer to being together.

A few months later, we took the next big step in our relationship and got engaged. Finally, on December 11th, our special day arrived, and as we stood at the altar, exchanging vows, I was struck by a profound realisation - our love story was truly destined to be.”

As narrated by Ria to Akshay Bhavkar, Team SheThePeople

Suggested reading: Married On Their Babies’ Birthday, Meet The Couple Who Made A Family Based On Love