Stay tuned to our new posts and updates! Click to join us on WhatsApp 
& Telegram 
Channel
& Telegram Channel 
The L&C-Silhouette Basket
A hand-picked basket of cherries from the world of most talked about books and popular posts on creative literature, reviews and interviews, movies and music, critiques and retrospectives ...
to enjoy, ponder, wonder & relish!
to enjoy, ponder, wonder & relish!
College sweethearts who defied odds, distance, and family differences. Both touched by early loss, Manish and Jyotsna’s 27-year journey proves that true love conquers all challenges.
A love story by Gaurav Sahay, based on true events. An LnC Special for Valentine’s Day weekend. 💖
I first met Manish during the MBA counseling session conducted by Indraprastha University, Delhi, for admission into its various affiliated colleges. Back then, he seemed undecided about his choice of college—initially picking an institute in Rohini, even though he lived all the way in Neb Sarai, Freedom Fighter Colony. A long daily commute? Bold choice.
At first, he didn’t particularly stand out to me. But then, my father struck up a conversation with him. As they interacted, something must have clicked because, by the time his turn came to deposit the fees, he had changed his mind—opting instead for the college in the Tughlaqabad Institutional Area—the same one I had chosen. In a way, it was my father who unknowingly set the foundation of our friendship. And as fate would have it, after completing the admission formalities, we even had lunch together—the first of many meals shared over the years.
Manish hailed from Chandigarh, and what struck me most about him was his carefree attitude and unshakable character. While my mind was often clouded with insecurities, he seemed immune to such doubts. Later, I learned that he had lost his parents at the tender age of twelve—a tragedy that perhaps forged the mental toughness and resilience he carried with him.
We hit it off instantly. And, as is often the case with young men, our conversations frequently drifted toward matters of the heart. Manish, with a certain pride in his voice, shared that he was going steady with a girl named Jyotsna, whom he had met three years earlier during their undergraduate days.
They say pairs are made in heaven, but in reality, most married couples have brushed against heartbreak at some point. Not Manish and Jyotsna. Their love story was straight out of a classic Bollywood film—a first love that stood the test of time and culminated in marriage. But, of course, their journey was not without hurdles.
Despite being a convent-educated Punjabi from Chandigarh, Manish never put on airs. His speech had none of the pretentiousness one might expect; instead, his words carried the raw conviction of a rustic Punjabi—fiery, passionate, and action-driven. While others were busy overthinking and second-guessing, Manish believed in execution. He wasn’t one to get lost in endless planning—he made things happen. And more often than not, he succeeded.
Jyotsna vividly recalls their first meeting at a college fresher’s party, where a mutual friend introduced them. They developed an instant liking for each other. A few days later, their entire group of friends went out for a movie. Whether by design or destiny, Manish and Jyotsna found themselves seated next to each other—something they both secretly wished for. The movie itself, Betaabi, was forgettable, but when two hearts brim with unspoken emotions, the experience transcends the film itself. For them, those three hours of togetherness in a cinema hall mattered far more than the movie on screen.
One song from the film, sung by Suresh Wadkar, left a lasting impact on them:
Tum mere ho, bas mere hi mere ho
Main tumko mehsoos karoon, ban jao tum ehsaas
Ek duje ko dekh na paaye, aa jao itne paas
Knowing Manish, the punchline Tum mere ho, bas tum mere must have solidified his resolve—Jyotsna was the goal of his life.
That evening, unable to contain his emotions, Manish rushed to a PCO and called Jyotsna. He casually asked her opinion on the movie, as if she were a film critic—though it was evident he just needed a reason to talk to her.
Jyotsna faced a personal tragedy when she lost her dear father in August 1997. She had been very close to him, and his absence left a void in her heart. Manish’s presence in her life seemed to fill that vacuum. Manish himself was an emotional person, and that was his greatest strength. Having lost his parents at a young age, he depended on his elder brother for sustenance. He could not afford a carefree life of reckless spending; he had to act with restraint. Yet, through all the challenges, he remained deeply committed to Jyotsna and their journey together.
One fine day, Manish, out of nowhere, declared to Jyotsna, “Tomorrow, I will propose to you!” Now, I couldn’t tell if he was inspired by a Bollywood script or a politician—because instead of confessing his feelings, he practically announced a “proposal date,” as if rolling out a new government subsidy scheme in her favour!
But then, Jyotsna matched his bureaucratic approach and coolly replied, “I’ll let you know my decision on my birthday… two weeks later.” Once again, I was left baffled. One sets a date to confess, the other sets a date to respond—what is this, a court hearing? Poor Sunny Deol would have sighed in despair, “Tarikh pe tarikh, par yahan toh insaaf mil hi gaya!”
Manish had always dreamed of joining the NDA. He even cleared the written exam, but fate had other plans—his journey was cut short at the penultimate stage due to a cardiac murmur—an abnormal sound the heart makes when it beats. But maybe, just maybe, his heart was calling him elsewhere. After all, had he made it to the NDA, he might have missed out on meeting the love of his life. And then, who would have sung for her the song he played so often?
O jaana, na jaana, yeh dil tera deewana…
This Salman Khan classic always reminds me of Mere Sapno Ki Rani, where the hero is wooing his beloved from a moving car. Manish didn’t have a car back then, but honestly, when your heart is racing, who needs a vehicle? Zor chalta nahi, kya karoon… and just like that, their meetings started acquiring the unmistakable hue of love.
Jyotsna even confided in her mother about Manish. Her mother, being the pragmatic woman she was, didn’t object but advised her not to rush—love should be evaluated with time, not just emotions. Manish, however, wasn’t as lucky. His elder brother, though financially supporting his education, had little patience for his romantic aspirations. “I’m your brother, not your father,” he would remind him sternly, often delivering sermons on responsibility instead of love. Manish deeply felt the absence of his parents, but Jyotsna was slowly filling that void.
To support himself and fund those unforgettable dates, Manish briefly worked at Citi Bank. Because let’s be honest, love is sweet, but it doesn’t pay the bills!
During our post-graduation days, Manish was the toughest among us. Unlike the rest of us, he had no safety net to fall back on. He often studied at my place—my parents were fond of him, especially my father, who admired his street-smart resilience. Manish didn’t always have the means to buy books, yet with borrowed ones, he often outperformed us all.
What set him apart was his fearlessness in expression. While we hesitated around our crushes, Manish had no such reservations. I’ll never forget the day one of our friends was secretly smitten with a girl. As we sat debating whether he should make a move, Manish casually stood up, walked over to her, and said,
“Kya kami hai hamare ladke mein?”
Our friend turned beet red, and we collapsed in laughter right there in the canteen! But that was Manish—bold, unapologetic, and always direct.
Meanwhile, Jyotsna pursued her B.Ed., as she was a teacher at heart long before she became one. Her clarity of thought, confident speech, and ability to reach even the last person in a room always stood out. And so, while one carved his own path against all odds, the other gracefully stepped into her calling.
After completing his MBA, Manish finally landed a job at Nestle India Limited—an FMCG giant and a dream come true for him. He was posted in Jodhpur, and while I was also in the company but at a different location, I kept hearing tales of Manish’s heroics in the Rajasthan zone. Targets? Smashed. Sales? Skyrocketing. In no time, he was emerging as a rising star.
But success comes at a price. The distance between Delhi and Jodhpur started to carve an emptiness in their hearts. Back then, there were no video calls, no WhatsApp—PCO booths were their only lifeline in the scorching desert heat. Not that the heat or the weather could ever get to Manish, but missing Jyotsna? That was a different battle altogether.
To make things harder, a major chunk of his salary went to his brother for business expansion. Meanwhile, Jyotsna, too, was growing emotional. I heard that Reshma’s haunting melody Lambi judai often played in the background, making their pain even more unbearable.
Lambi judai
Chaar dinon ka pyaar ho rabba
Badi lambi judai, lambi judai
Ek to sajan mere paas nahin re
Duje milan di koi aas nahin re -2
Uspe yeh sawan aaya -2
Aag lagaayi, hay lambi judai
Every couple, whether before or after marriage, faces distances due to careers and postings. But while married couples navigate it with the security of commitment, pre-marriage long-distance often breaks relationships. Not Manish and Jyotsna, though. They were cut from a different cloth. In fact, this temporary separation only made their bond stronger.
It wasn’t a love story of four days—it had been six years since they first met. And while Jyotsna, in her solitude, felt “Ek toh sajan mere paas nahi re”, Manish, though no Jackie Shroff, was never the kind to sit back and wait.So, he did what any true lover would—he quit his job after a year, found a new one in Delhi, and reunited with his beloved. Was it the best career move? Probably not. But when the heart calls, who cares about corporate trajectories?
Finally, in November 2005, after years of love, longing, and commitment, Manish and Jyotsna tied the knot. Somewhere along the way, Jyotsna confessed that she saw a shade of Salman Khan in Manish. While he might have displayed a few of Salman’s traits, in my opinion, he was closer to Ajay Devgan of the ’90s—wheatish complexion, an intense gaze, and a mind constantly ticking with plans to secure his future and become self-made as quickly as possible.
Their wedding wasn’t without its hurdles. Though both hailed from Punjabi families, there was still a subtle divide—Manish was a Punjabi from Punjab, whereas Jyotsna was a Multani Punjabi. However, cultural nuances weren’t enough to shake them. Manish, unwavering as ever, embodied Ajay Devgn’s iconic one-liner—”Aisa hi hoon main.”
It was no surprise that Hindi-Punjabi music often filled their world. One of their favorites was from Kachche Dhaage—a song that perfectly encapsulated their journey:
Hum pyaar se chale
Jaana hai pyaar tak
Dariya me dub ke
Dariya ke paar tak
Ye haal haal kaisa
Ye saal saal
Ik ik pal lamba
Ik saal jaisa
Dil dena he penda hai
Gam lena he pena hai
While Ghalib famously said, “Yeh ishq nahi aasan, ek aag ka dariya hai, doob ke jaana hai”, for them, love wasn’t just about drowning—it was about swimming across every tide—financial, emotional, and circumstantial—until they reached the shore of togetherness. “Dariya mein doob ke, dariya ke paar take…”
Today, Manish and Jyotsna are not just together—they are thriving.
They were blessed with a daughter, Ria, who topped her school in Class X (undoubtedly, the teacher in Jyotsna ensured her discipline and focus). Their son, Riyansh, is preparing for his Class X boards, ready to follow in his sister’s footsteps.
Their dream of owning a house came true in 2007, and since then, there has been no looking back. Today, they own a beautiful home in a posh area of Delhi, a symbol of the life they built together. Manish, now a top executive in a multinational company, and Jyotsna, a force to be reckoned with in her school, have come a long way.
Yet, despite all the success, one thing remains unchanged—the way they look at each other. At every friends’ reunion, we marvel at their love. Even after 27 years, they still gaze at each other with the innocence of a 17-year-old boy and girl—willing to do anything to stay together. Through every joy and crisis, they stood by each other, proving time and again that true love endures.
If there were ever a theme song for their journey, it would be:
Jab koi baat bigad jaye,
jab koi mushkil pad jaye
Tum denaa saath meraa, o, humnavaaz
Naa koi hai, naa koi thaa,
zindagi mein tumhaare sivaa
Tum denaa saath meraa, o, humnavaaz
Ho chandni jab tak raat, detaa hai har koi saath,
Tum magar andheron mein, naa chhodna mera haath
Vafaadari ki vo rasamein nihayenge hum to kasame,
Ek bhi saans zindagi ki, jab tak ho apane bas mein
The lyrics strike a deep chord, especially for Manish—a boy who lost his parents early and yearned for love and a sense of belonging. Jyotsna, having recently lost her father in 1997, crossed paths with Manish when both were at their most vulnerable. Theirs was more than just a love story; bound by an unspoken understanding that transcended words.
In Vastu Shastra and Feng Shui, a pair of swans symbolizes love, grace, and harmony—often depicted with their necks entwined in the shape of a heart. Manish and Jyotsna are those swans. They breathed in sync, swore by each other’s name, and became each other’s anchor. A life partner who stands by you through happiness, struggles, and storms is the greatest strength one can have. And if ever there was proof that pairs are made in heaven, it is Manish and Jyotsna.
May their love continue to thrive, just like —“Ek bhi saans zindagi ki, jab tak ho apne bas mein…”
More Must Read in LnC Stories
When Grief Blooms Into Love: A Journey of Healing Hearts
Gaurav Sahay is a Delhite largely though with substantial exposure to urban and quasi rural Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. He has a Masters in Business Administration and a law degree from Delhi University. He is a banker by profession but has interests on a range of subjects, including astrology, homeopathy and sports. He is passionate about films, in particular Hindi. His understanding however is not populist but critical and at times transcending. He writes in English and Hindi with equal command. His essay on Guide is ample evidence of the writer and critic within him.
All Posts of Gaurav Sahay
All Posts of Gaurav Sahay
Hope you enjoyed reading...
... we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and supporting our creative, informative and analytical posts than ever before. And yes, we are firmly set on the path we chose when we started... our twin magazines Learning and Creativity and Silhouette Magazine (LnC-Silhouette) will be accessible to all, across the world.
We are editorially independent, not funded, supported or influenced by investors or agencies. We try to keep our content easily readable in an undisturbed interface, not swamped by advertisements and pop-ups. Our mission is to provide a platform you can call your own creative outlet and everyone from renowned authors and critics to budding bloggers, artists, teen writers and kids love to build their own space here and share with the world.
When readers like you contribute, big or small, it goes directly into funding our initiative. Your support helps us to keep striving towards making our content better. And yes, we need to build on this year after year. Support LnC-Silhouette with a little amount - and it only takes a minute. Thank you
Got a poem, story, musing or painting you would like to share with the world? Send your creative writings and expressions to editor@learningandcreativity.com
Learning and Creativity publishes articles, stories, poems, reviews, and other literary works, artworks, photographs and other publishable material contributed by writers, artists and photographers as a friendly gesture. The opinions shared by the writers, artists and photographers are their personal opinion and does not reflect the opinion of Learning and Creativity- emagazine. Images used in the posts (not including those from Learning and Creativity's own photo archives) have been procured from the contributors themselves, public forums, social networking sites, publicity releases, free photo sites such as Pixabay, Pexels, Morguefile, etc and Wikimedia Creative Commons. Please inform us if any of the images used here are copyrighted, we will pull those images down.
One thought on “Symphony of Soulmates”
Leave a Reply
Today’s Motivation
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” -Thomas Merton
Thanks Shivangie for the appreciation. I am glad you liked it.