STORY 15 :Hanshika & Sanjeet Jul 05 2023

Our dreams are the wings that lift us up and enable us to reach for the stars. Both Hanshika and Sanjeet had the same dream in their hearts, but they did not know it until they met. Even though they both lived in Mahebourg, their paths never crossed. In fact, they went to the same school and saw each other, but they never truly connected.
Sanjeet lived with his parents in an extended family in a yard where they lacked privacy. His father did aluminium work, but he was not always able to operate due to constant complaints from the neighbours. He could not do otherwise because he depended on it for his living, and the whole family had to suffer from this situation in silence. Sanjeet's mother worked from 7 a.m. till late in the evening at a chicken factory. Sanjeet would try to assist her in the kitchen to prepare dinner for the family. Initially, he wasn't serious about his studies, but when he reached college, his mother encouraged him to work hard so that he could one day do well and move away to his own place, away from their current circumstances.

Hanshika also dreamed of having a house of her own. Her father is a general worker and worked tirelessly to be able to build his house where he lived with his children. However, their financial situation remained precarious, and he constantly struggled to pay for their studies. Like Sanjeet, she never experienced tranquillity in her neighbourhood and dreamed of a safe haven far away.

For both Hanshika and Sanjeet, owning their own house symbolized social progress and peace of mind. Their parents couldn't afford to purchase a new home and had to endure harsh living conditions because they had invested in their children's education.

After leaving college, Sanjeet was keen for a job in the police force, but he suffered a disappointment by being rejected at the entrance test. Eventually, he secured a temporary job in the lounge at the airport, unaware that this would be the first step towards his destiny. Around the same time, Hanshika was undergoing training placements in several companies at the airport. She had the opportunity to witness the arrival of high-profile personalities such as ministers, delegates, actors, and actresses in the lounge. Both Sanjeet and Hanshika enjoyed the atmosphere at the airport that had an aspirational feel, and elevated their dreams to new heights.

It was while working at the airport that Sanjeet got to meet Hanshika during one of her placements. One day, Sanjeet happened to tease Hanshika, and she went away in tears. This affected Sanjeet a lot and made him wonder about his feelings for her. This got him to take more notice of her. Sometime later, when Hanshika moved to another company, Sanjeet felt compelled to reach out to her and inquire about her well-being. Eventually, they ran into each other at a wedding. Hanshika noticed Sanjeet stealing glances at her, but he would quickly look away when she caught him. She found that he looked really elegant and handsome in traditional attire. Later that evening, Sanjeet offered to drop Hanshika home, and they chatted on the way. For the first time, they got the chance to share their dream of someday building their own house. This dream brought them together and cemented a connection between them.

On September 14, 2017, after spending time together during an outing with friends, Sanjeet called Hanshika and asked to meet her. They arranged to meet at the airport compound, where they had both previously worked. That day, Sanjeet told Hanshika that he loved her. Even though she also had feelings for him, Hanshika told him that her parents expected her to complete her studies first. Since they lived in the same locality, it would not be possible for them to meet in secret. She, therefore, asked him to talk to her parents if he was serious. Without hesitation, Sanjeet told her he was ready to do anything to be with her. To prove his sincerity, Sanjeet brought Hanshika to his home and introduced her to his mother just one week after proposing to her. Sanjeet later gathered his courage and approached Hanshika's parents and told them he wanted to marry their daughter. However, her parents did not approve of his request as Hanshika was still completing her tertiary exams. The other issue was that Sanjeet was then unemployed. They did not have anything against him; they just wanted the best for their daughter.
This situation put pressure on Sanjeet to find a job as soon as possible. He once more applied to join the police force but once again faced rejection. Despite the setbacks, Hanshika did not give up on Sanjeet. She understood his dreams and believed in him. Meanwhile, she was also going through a phase of unemployment after completing her studies. Sanjeet encouraged her to pursue a diploma in airport operations and hospitality management, which would open doors for her to work at the airport in the future. She took his advice and, just as she was about to finish her diploma, she landed a job as a Passenger Relations Officer at Airports of Mauritius. She was thrilled about this new opportunity but felt sorry for Sanjeet, who was still unemployed despite his efforts. As a result, their engagement couldn't be finalized, and it was a challenging time for Sanjeet. In desperation, he kept applying to become a police officer and was rejected five times. In the meantime, as he wasn't working, he assisted his father in his job. It was a truly a difficult phase in his life, and Hanshika did her best to support him and boost his morale.

Since Hanshika was now working, the pressure from the family intensified, and it came to a matter of days for Sanjeet to find a job or risk losing her. Just as he was about to lose all hope, he finally secured a job at Mauritius Duty Free Paradise. It was a moment of great joy for both Sanjeet and Hanshika. Working at the airport had always been their dream, and they couldn't believe that they would once again be employed in the same compound.
They could finally start planning their engagement for which they had waited so long. However, one week later, the country went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, the engagement ceremony had to be postponed as the lockdown made it challenging to bring their families together. The successive obstacles on their journey towards their dream were incredibly frustrating. The lockdown was extended several times until finally, in the mid of 2021, after a long wait of four years since he first proposed to Hanshika, Sanjeet was finally engaged to her in a sober ceremony between the two families.

Now that both Sanjeet and Hanshika were working, they were able to secure a loan to purchase a plot of land in Mahebourg, where they are currently building their childhood dream home. They are fond of the Mahebourg locality because of its market and proximity to the seaside. They are constructing a spacious house to accommodate their entire family, as their previous living spaces were limited, and they were never able to welcome relatives to their house. While they are now finally moving forward in their life, they want to include their families in their progress. They are grateful to their parents for their unwavering support and wish to provide them with a comfortable and enjoyable time in their later years. However, due to the delays in finding employment and finalizing their plans, the prices of construction materials have increased. Fortunately, their parents, appreciative of their efforts, have stepped in to assist them in covering some of the costs and completing the roof of their new house. They can't wait to put the finishing touch to their home, where new memories will be made, and happiness will reside.

Sanjeet and Hanshika will unite in holy matrimony in November 2023, with their dream house standing as a testament to their unwavering commitment and shared aspirations.