Sumit Dalal and Ankita Priya's journey began in the 4th grade, when she developed a crush on him. As they navigated through school together, their friendship blossomed into a relationship in the 9th grade, marked by matching tattoos. Despite being apart for some time, they reunited in Bangalore, and eventually, their families embraced their love, culminating in a heartwarming proposal at a café. Now, as they embark on their wedding preparations, Sumit Dalal and Ankita Priya spoke to SheThePeople about how their enduring bond serves as a testament to the power of love and patience.
Here’s Sumit Dalal and Ankita Priya's Romantic Tale
"Sumit and I were in 4th grade, and I had the biggest crush on him. We went to the same school and had mutual friends, eventually leading us to be friends too. In the 9th grade, we officially started dating in 2009 and got matching tattoos. We dated for 14 years and grew up together. People often confuse us for being siblings. Before we knew it, we were away from each other, in different towns, trying to make it through.
Eventually, we got jobs in Bangalore and were together again. We returned home after COVID-19, and that’s when I started inviting Sumit to my family gatherings. They took an instant liking to him. While I’m a Rajput girl and he’s a Bengali boy, we were sceptical about our parents’ decision about our marriage. They agreed because they knew how happy he made me.
We shared some sweet memories of us meeting at Cafe Coffee Day and spending some time together, so Sumit planned the proposal there itself, since he thought it would be the best place for it. I had an idea, but wasn’t sure. When I got there, I saw our family members, and he proposed to me in their presence.
Our wedding preparations began soon after, and time flew by. Even after a relationship of 14 years, there are still some habits of your partner that you learn.
I wouldn’t ask anyone to believe in red or green flags. Meet people with an open mind and see where the story takes you."