There is nothing greater than hearing a real person’s love story. For someone who has grown up believing and then disbelieving in Bollywood romance, seeing people in love in real life gives me hope for the future.
Here are five of the most beautiful love stories one can find on the internet which reignite our hope in love and romance:
1. Internet’s favourite dancing couple had to have a cute love story
“I was always a shy kid who hated dancing. Once at a wedding, a friend’s aunt dragged me to dance. I couldn’t coordinate my feet and hoped no one would notice. I was so embarrassed, I decided to enrol in dance classes in college!
The classes were great, but I’d often look at all the couples enjoying themselves and wished I had a real partner…not a random dance partner!
As fate would have it, I met my wife at a mutual friend’s party after college–who would have thought she loved dancing too! We spoke a lot, went on dinners and started getting to know each other. And a few months later, we were at a friend’s party when the song ‘Lady in Red’ started playing. That’s when we danced together for the first time, and all I could think about was how much I’d fallen for her! She’d often tell me that I made her feel special and safe when I danced with her, and she loved how I’d always open the door for her!
So a few months later, we were at a restaurant when I asked her, ‘Will you marry me?’ She said yes, and we went home and woke our parents up immediately to get their blessings. We got married 3 months later.
After marriage, we even found a shared love for travelling. We’d love to go on 10 hour drives together, without hotel bookings, not knowing where we’d land up. And of course, we’re still ‘that dancing couple’ everywhere we go. We don’t even care if we’re the only ones on the dance floor and we’re making a fool of ourselves – we love it!
We also work out together, and every Sunday, we have a family lunch and then play board games. She’s very competitive when it comes to Ludo and Acquire. Whenever I win she’ll say, ‘You’re just too smart. It’s not fair.’ And then I’ll hug her and she scrunches her face up!
But like every couple, we fight too. Usually, I stay quiet when she’s mad. And she loves that softness about me, so we end up laughing after any argument. Then she’ll say, ‘You are the best’, and that’s the only time I raise my voice at her and say, ‘No, you are the best!’ She’s the best!”
2. The elderly couple who proved ‘till death do us part’
“He had five daughters. And whenever he came home from a work trip, we’d all line up to give him a kiss. But he always kissed my mom first, because she was his ‘first love.’ Then he went on to his ‘second love,’ and his ‘third love.’
On weekends we’d all pile into the car and take these long road trips. We’d drive for hours, and the whole way he’d be singing to my mother. It was a normal thing for us, because we were used to it. But that kind of affection wasn’t normal in our culture.
We used to have these karaoke parties with our extended family, and everyone else would sing normal songs. But Papa would choose these old, romantic Bollywood songs. And he’d sing directly to Mama. She loved every second of it. She’d get dressed up for him. She’d put on her brightest red lipstick. And she’d do her hair just as he liked it—even after she got sick. The tumor was deep in her brain.
After every surgery, more and more of her would slip away. When she couldn’t walk properly anymore, she grew embarrassed of her limp. So Papa held her hand wherever they went. He’d sit next to her bed, and stroke her cheek, and recite the Quran until his lips went dry. Some nights he’d fall asleep sitting up in his chair, but then he’d wake up, and begin praying again. In her final moments, when she was slipping away, he leaned close to her and whispered: ‘You won’t be alone. I’m coming with you.’ I heard him say it. And I got so angry.
It seemed selfish to me – as if the rest of us weren’t worth living for. But all his children were grown. Most of us had our own families. And I guess he felt like there was nothing left for him. Every day he visited Mama’s grave, even though we told him not to. He applied for the plot next to her, and every few hours he’d ask if the cemetery had called. He was obsessed.
When the paperwork finally arrived – I rolled my eyes. But he got very quiet. For the next two days he barely said a word. Then on the third morning, he walked in our front door and told me he wasn’t feeling well. I bent down to help him with his shoes, but he collapsed on the floor. There wasn’t time for him to suffer. Because by the time the ambulance arrived, he was already gone.”
3. When you’re not afraid of taking chances, love finds a way to stick around
“Our love story is all about chances. It started 7 years ago. We had just broken up with our partners & met through a common friend. We started hanging out, I really enjoyed his company. We had this spot where we’d go & one day out of the blue, he asked me out. That first date we spoke about anything & everything!
But after 15 days, he broke up with me. He said ‘you’re way too good for me!’ We were from different worlds which could hinder our relationship, but I wasn’t ready to give up. I told him we were worth fighting for – finally he was convinced & decided to give this a real shot.
We went on road trips & also spent time at home. I loved being around him. I was in awe of him & loved his spontaneity because it contrasted with my need to plan. 10 months in, he said he loves me & I felt the same. I loved our dynamic–we spent a lot of time together, but still gave each other space. This was our own sanctuary.
But no love story can be complete without its set of twists & turns. In 2014, I was in office & got a call – he was having a heart attack. He was pronounced dead in the hospital – I saw him shut his eyes, a part of me was dying too. I prayed while they tried to revive him & I still count my lucky stars that they were able to get him back to me!
I stayed with him through recovery & he says it made him fall in love with me all over again. But he started focusing more on work. Because of that our relationship took a hit. I started to lose faith & because he couldn’t give me enough time & decided to take a solo trip to Europe. I even broke up with him then, but he kept track of me & this time–he convinced me not to give up on us. He asked for one more chance & I gave it to him!
Now 7 years later–we’re happily married. It was about the chances that we gave each other. Everyone either says ‘give it a second chance’ or ‘third time’s a charm’ but for us, it’s not about the number of shots you get–it’s about how badly you want to make it work. That work is on you, the faith is on you–the power is with you. So if you really want it, you just cannot give up. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be standing here, looking adorable & able to share our story with you.”
4. No one dreams of a second marriage, but when it comes it has its own meaning and importance
“I was married to the love of my life, an army man who I had two beautiful children with. I used to be a journalist and travelled with him to the places he was posted and later took up teaching as a profession once my children were born. In 2000, he passed away from a brain haemorrhage and life as I knew it came to a stand still. I didn’t think I would ever love again and I was okay with that – my world narrowed down to my kids and I was happy. In 2004, my mother surfaced the idea of a re-marriage and asked me to meet someone she had in mind. I took my time and decided to meet him, if nothing to get a friend out of the situation, but when I did meet him he was so kind, compassionate and caring that I couldn’t help but meeting him multiple times. He had lost his wife to cancer and had three children, so we were both in the same situation – our conversations lasted for hours, because someone else was finally going through the same thing. I realised that after everything, I could still feel, and I felt for him – I fell in love again.
We got married 12 years ago and initially it took some getting used to. His children didn’t fully accept me and would call me ‘masi’ and my children called him ‘uncle’. Slowly, as time went by I started becoming their friend and an incident I’ll never forget is on the day of his daughter’s wedding. Her mother-in-law asked her to start calling her ‘mom’ instead of aunty and she immediately turned back, looked at me and said, ‘you’ve been a mother to me for so many years and I’ve called you aunty – please, can I call you mom?” and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my life – we had finally accepted each other.
These past 12 years have been beautiful – we’ve traveled the world together and watched our family grown. We’ve also made our own customs and traditions – every year on his wife’s and my husband’s birthday we cut a cake and on both their death anniversaries we go to the temple to pay our respects.
As a family our love has grown over 13 years with our 5 children and 3 grandchildren…we’re all going away to Lonavala this weekend…it’s going to be absolute madness! As for the two of us – we continue to be best friends and each other’s secret keepers. We also continue to date; in fact, we’re on one right now – he has a very romantic night planned ahead… I can’t wait to see what it is!”
5. When you’re madly in love, not even parents can stop you from being together
“We met when we were 19 because our sister’s were friends. As a group we used to hang out, until after college, we both got jobs near Churchgate, so we began traveling together.
After a few months, out of the blue he asked me out. I was taken aback & I instinctively said no. I travelled with him because we were friends & I didn’t want anything more. You should’ve seen his face – he was so upset, but he didn’t give up. We continued to travel together & he’d make plans to go out.
Over time, I began to notice how much of an effort he made. He treated me with respect & made me feel special–before I knew it I was in love, so when he asked me out again – I said ‘yes’ before he even finished his sentence! He got me chocolates & a rose – I couldn’t stop blushing!
Then, my uncle saw us together once & told my parents. I told them I wanted to marry him someday. My mom was against the idea of a love marriage & stopped me from taking anything forward. I had to stop meeting him – I was heartbroken.
Kumar even tried to self harm – he was emotionally broken. When I found out, I couldn’t take it & we decided to elope. We got married at a temple, our friends helped us make arrangements. We had such mixed emotions, we were ecstatic, but heartbroken to do it without our parents.
The next day our friends broke the news at home. His mom was thrilled, my dad agreed & after a lot of convincing, so did my mom.
Still, when I went to his home for the first time & both our families were present – it was tense. But as I was doing the Grahpravesh, Kumar’s dog jumped on me – I screamed & jumped on the sofa. Everyone burst out laughing – it was the perfect icebreaker!
That’s how our life has been since – full of laughter & guess what? Kumar is my parent’s favorite! As for us, we’re still as much in love. We have a daughter who keeps us on our toes, but our dates haven’t stopped! I still remember our first Valentine’s day after marriage, he bought me a diamond ring – he’d been saving for it & he still does these things. Roses, dinners & little getaways. I honestly don’t know what to say anymore except that I’m so happy we fought for it… for us, because he’s simply the best… better than anyone else.”
Lead: Instagram/Humans Of Bombay
