When you’re dealing with a divorce while simultaneously raising your children, finding love can often take a back seat. For both Tara Pondicherry and Rajiv Srivatsa, the world of online dating was a galaxy far, far away.
“There was a lot of inertia to get back into the dating scene. What would the men be like, would I be accepted as a single mom, what would the experience be of going on dates again! All these questions engulfed my mind,” begins Tara as I ask her about her initial thoughts. If my experiences at 26 can haunt me for the rest of my life, I begin to wonder where exactly these two started off.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the people I met, it was a decent world after all,” assures Tara before adding her secret ingredient to the mix: “It’s also because I believed in keeping an open mind about the whole experience.” Of course, how else, right?
Navigating the choppy waters
“I got divorced at 31. It was a loveless marriage and I’d given it five years for my daughter, Aiyana. When I realised we wanted different things, I ended it. And after the divorce, I focused only on myself and Aiyana. But I missed having a partner—the affection and the feeling of coming home,” says Tara when asked about where their love story began.
“Before Rajiv, I went on a few dates but there was no spark. When I came across his profile and read the lame joke on his bio, I actually laughed,” adds the 32-year-old. “He too had gone through a divorce recently and had a nine-year-old daughter Rhea,” she informs.
Telling the world
Introducing friends, family and especially the kids to a potential partner is naturally a daunting task. Listening to Tara giggle about the first few days, I immediately ask about how they navigated telling the world about their new-found relationship.
“The first week of our dating was most memorable with everyday dates of dancing, karaoke, the movies, romantic dinner dates—it was truly magical. We told our respective friends about a month later because we were very excited about each other. We introduced our kids in two months, and considering the little munchkins are of the same age, they were happy to make a new friend. We maintained that we were friends and it was a cute journey to see how they gradually figured out we were more than friends! They would whisper and giggle if they noticed us holding hands etc. It was indeed a memorable journey for all of us,” answers Tara on behalf of the couple.
So what is the secret ingredient we missed?
Tara and Rajiv’s enthusiasm, love for Coldplay and chick-flicks is definitely a morale booster. Listening to the couple reminisce about their journey only fills me with a hope I have not encountered before. So where do these guys get their mojo?
“I’m a strong believer of positive manifestation—you do attract what you truly want in life. Life is beautiful when you take that giant leap of faith irrespective of how many times you’re pulled back down. I do not believe in excuses, I believe in change and progress and there is nobody and nothing in this world that can stop you from creating the life you want,” signs off Rajiv. Looks like love is always worth fighting for!
