STORY 17 :Darshinee & Vinaye Jul 05 2023

When Darshinee was five years old, her life took a horrific turn: her father had an accident at work and lost his right arm. Following this, he had to stop working, and the family faced financial difficulties as he was the breadwinner. Darshinee was the youngest child, with an age gap of 11 years between her sisters and herself. Her parents were unable to offer her the nurturing care she deserved, and it was mostly her sisters who looked after her. The tragedy created an emotional distance between her father and her, as he could no longer shower her with love as he wished. Since there were no boys in the family to take over the responsibility from their father, Darshinee's mother and sisters found themselves grappling with an overwhelming sense of vulnerability.

Darshinee learned to shoulder responsibilities from an early age, and her journey was fraught with ceaseless challenges. She found strength in her deep devotion to Lord Shiva and faithfully attended the prayers every Monday to gather the courage for the trials that awaited her throughout the week. This was until an encounter in the unlikeliest of circumstances would alter the course of her life. One day, Darshinee was late driving to work after attending her Monday morning prayer session. Nevertheless, when she arrived at Ebène, near Ecole Hotelière, she courteously gave way to a 4x4 vehicle. As the 4x4 drove ahead, Darshinee noticed the driver stealing fleeting glances at her in his rearview mirror. Some way ahead, the 4x4 allowed Darshinee to move alongside him, and, to her surprise, the driver turned his head towards her and gave her a smile. After that, they each went their separate ways.

As the 4x4 vehicle drove away, Darshinee noticed a sign on the van advertising the services that the man offered through his company. Being used to handling different tasks at home, Darshinee thought she might need this guy's help and mentally noted his contact information. Later that evening, Darshinee did something she rarely did before. She searched for the man on Facebook and sent him a message, expressing her interest in his services and asking for more details as she might need his assistance in the future.

Earlier that day, Vinaye was returning from a meeting when a woman gave him priority at Ebene. As he drove past her, he was pleasantly surprised to see that she was an attractive lady. He found himself glancing at her throughout the rest of the trip. However, he didn't expect to ever meet her again. That's why he couldn't believe his luck when he received a message from her later that day. He started chatting with her, doing whatever it took to keep the conversation going. To his surprise, he learned that a link already existed between them: the lady was none other than his own niece's school teacher.

From then on, Vinaye racked his brain to find an excuse to meet Darshinee. In the meantime, they chatted daily, and he found himself growing fond of her. One day, during their conversation, Darshinee mentioned that she had a toothache. Vinaye immediately seized the opportunity and offered to bring her some medicine at school. When Vinaye finally met Darshinee on that day, he thought she looked amazing in the long blue skirt she was wearing. From that point forward, no matter where his work took him, Vinaye organized his schedule to come and meet Darshinee during lunchtime. He made sure to spend a few minutes talking to her, even if only for 5-10 minutes, before returning to work. At that time, Darshinee was going through a dark phase in her life and was on the brink of depression. Vinaye's presence provided a much-needed distraction from her worries. Whenever he was with her, it felt like her issues disappeared, as if the dark clouds in her life were being lifted by the sunshine.

Unlike Darshinee, Vinaye had a pleasant childhood. He was pampered and had everything he desired: toys, new clothes, outings with the family, and plenty of love and affection. He was blessed with the kind of life any child would have wanted, and it bestowed upon him a sense of security and contentment. As he grew accustomed to talking with Darshinee, he realized that, in contrast to his own upbringing, Darshinee's path had been laden with challenges that tested her from a tender age. Nevertheless, he felt a connection with her that resonated deeply within him. He quickly grew to appreciate her honesty and reliability, and enjoyed being there to support her whenever she needed him. Slowly, he began developing feelings for her. However, Darshinee came from a conservative family. Her parents held more traditional views, and she knew they would prefer an arranged marriage for her. She told Vinaye that if he wanted to be in her life, he would have to approach her parents formally and ask for her hand. Once again, luck was on Vinaye's side. His uncle happened to live near Darshinee's place and knew her mother. He got him to speak to Darshinee's parents and make arrangements for an official meeting between the families.

When Vinaye finally met Darshinee's parents, he already knew how important they were to her. In the words of Stephen Covey, when someone is important to you, what is important to them also becomes important to you. On that day, Vinaye promised Darshinee's parents that he wasn't just coming to their house to be a son-in-law but to be a son in their family.

Since that day, Vinaye has remained steadfast in his commitment. Whenever Darshinee calls him regarding any issue, he makes it a priority to be there not only for her but for her family as well. Having grown up facing challenges without a son, they finally feel like they have found in Vinaye the missing piece that completed their family portrait. This, to Darshinee, is the best gift she could have given her parents. Darshinee grew up without much love and affection, and she needed someone dedicated who would love her not just in words but who would go the extra mile to make her feel valued, recognized, and truly loved. Over time, the power of love to heal and nurture brought about a transformation in her life and in her relationship with her own family. She no longer isolates herself in her room at home, seeking solace in her own thoughts and is more involved with everyone with a new sense of belonging. Instead of dining alone, she sits with them, and they have dinner together. In fact, Vinaye and Darshinee feel equally at home in each other's houses and are comfortable dining with each other's families.

The love that bloomed between Vinaye and Darshinee radiated outward, touching the lives of those around them. Since Vinaye's mother met Darshinee, she, in turn, grew to like her a lot and treated her like the daughter she never had. They developed a close relationship. Vinaye's mother often confided in Darshinee, sharing things she didn't even tell Vinaye. She was eager to see them married and started accompanying them on their wedding shopping.
As the couple joyfully prepared for their impending union, fate dealt a devastating blow to Vinaye's life. His mother was diagnosed with cancer, leaving Vinaye shattered. The family did everything they could to seek the best possible treatment for Vinaye's mother, and even brought medicines for her from France. For the first time, Vinaye was emotionally down. He faced the most agonizing days of his life. In those moments, Darshinee became a pillar of support for Vinaye, his brother, and his father, helping to hold them together through the difficult times. Whenever Vinaye couldn't accompany his mother for her chemotherapy, Darshinee was there to take his place. She accompanied her future mum-in-law to every appointment and treatment for two years. Sadly, despite the treatment and the efforts made by everyone, Vinaye's mother passed away. On the day she left, Darshinee was there beside her, shielding the family and protecting them as best she could.

This tragedy that befell their lives strengthened the bond between Darshinee and Vinaye. Thanks to her support, Vinaye was able to overcome his grief over time. They found love and companionship in each other, filling the voids in their lives and bringing each other a sense of peace. As a matter of fact, Darshinee's favourite moment of the day is watching the sunset at the beach. It gives her a feeling of peace at the end of the day's efforts. Through her, Vinaye has also come to enjoy watching the sunset, reminding them of the serenity they have found in each other's presence. They are two life companions who met on the road, and this road led them to their moment of togetherness at the beach, their haven from the storms of life.

Darshinee was only five when tragedy struck her family. As a child, having the love she deserved snatched away from her, she probably felt guilty and unworthy of being loved. That was until Vinaye came into her life and made her feel loved when she thought she could never be loved. Darshinee grew up without anyone she could rely on. The only person she was close to was her grandmother. When she bought her car, she would drive around with her and take her anywhere she needed to go. Just before her grandmother passed away, she left Darshinee a ring with her initials V.B. engraved on it. Two months later, a chance encounter brought Vinaye into Darshinee's life. In a twist of fate, Vinaye's initials also happen to be V.B., as if the universe conspired to bring together two souls destined to find love and solace in each other.

Vinaye and Darshinee will continue their journey by getting married in November this year, embracing the path of their shared destiny.