Matters of the heart

They peer at their patients' hearts and use the longest words in science. Yet city cardiologists tell Ayesha Nair that all you need is three simple words and some age-old charm to get the love of your dreams

Dr Lall's wife, Manju, is actually three years older than him, confesses the doc with a cheeky grin. She was a colleague of his school friend and that is how they first met. "We were close friends for two years. We used to share everything. There was no romance initially. And one day, the penny dropped," says Dr Lall. Nine months later, they married. He explains his haste by saying, "I just made up my mind. The nine months do not indicate anything else!"

Love, actually: Twenty-nine years of marriage, he says, might seem like a lot, but Dr Lall feels like it has just been a few years. If anything, their feelings have only grown stronger. "We have been through so much. When I met her, I was earning Rs 475 a month and she earned Rs 2,000. I had not yet finished my studies. I was looking after the house," he says.u00a0
Stuck on you: Their three children a son and twin daughters, have brought them closer and strengthened their bond. It also helps that she works with him and they travel together. In fact, his next trip to Rome will be the first time that Manju is not accompanying him. When we ask him what struck him about Manju, he answers, "She is honest and says what she really feels." This is not a new question though, his son wanted answers to the same just a while ago.

Dr Ajit Desai,
Interventional Cardiologist at Jaslok and Nanavati hospitals
Jab they met: Dr Desai and his anesthesiologist wife, Padmini, were part of the same group while in college. They knew each other for a good two-three years before marriage could happen. However, courtship or dating did not figure in this love story. Acting on friends' suggestions, Dr Desai decided to ask Padmini to be his wife. He says, "It was a coming-of-age decision for me. I had finished studying for and I thought maybe this was the right time for me to get married. My friends suggested Padmini. I think she agreed immediately."u00a0u00a0
Love, actually:u00a0What struck Dr Desai about his wife of 26 years was her willingness to help. He says that she was frank, upright and extremely social. He does not fail to mention that she was a great badminton player as well. This made her extremely popular in college. Being part of the student body made him equally popular. A marriage of equals, we'd say.
Stuck on you: "Last year, on our 25th wedding anniversary, I spoke about the things that kept us together. Our daughter brings us closer. We hardly find time to meet each other. So we go on holidays together," he says. But what has not changed and has sustained their marriage, is a good game of badminton. Dr Desai says that they play against each other, as this is a great way to release all their frustrations on court and they don't take any home! He also cherishes her sound advice. "It's 99 per cent sound and one per cent advice, though," he laughs.u00a0u00a0

Dr Vijay Surase,
Consultant to the Governor
Jab they met:u00a0Dr Surase says, "Whatever dreamed of, I got and that too at a young age." He also married his dream girl, Dr Pallavi Surase, a microbiologist. They first met in their medical college library. Since he was her senior, she used to clarify her doubts with him and that's how they got talking. They dated for two years during which, Dr Surase says, Pallavi grew less conscious about the fact that she was dating a senior. That was the least of their problems, though. "Pallavi comes from an orthodox family and we didn't tell anyone about our marriage for six months. It was like the movie Saathiya! But now my in-laws are happy and consult me before making decisions," he says.
Love, actually:u00a0Dr Surase's father is a spiritual leader and he taught his son how to keep his cool. Dr Surase passed this on to his wife. "We don't have arguments, but discussions about family matters." Dr Surase says he always wants to see his wife happy. "If she wants a gold ring, I give her a diamond ring. If she wants one dress, I buy her four."u00a0u00a0
Stuck on you: Dr Surase says that his wife of 12 years has made many sacrifices for him and their family. "She used to work in the ICU of Bombay Hospital. Our daughter was small and we felt she needed more attention. So my wife shifted to microbiology," says Dr Surase. He claims that they don't need Valentine's Day to celebrate their love. The time they spend together every Sunday is enough.

Dr Rajesh Rajani,
Consulting cardiologist attached to Hinduja Hospital
Jab they met: Dr Rajani was on a three-week holiday from Australia when his mother suggested he get married. He met his wife of 14 years, Simirat, for the first time, three days before they were to marry. They made up for it over the one-year that she spent with him in Australia.
Love, actually: By admission, Dr Rajani is not romantic. He admits, though, that while they were in Australia, he used to bring Simirat flowers and take her for weekend getaways. His job leaves them with little time now. This Valentine's Day, he renewed that lost romantic flavour by, "sending her a bouquet and having a nice meal at home."
Stuck on you: Their children have demanding schedules and this leaves them with little time for each other. Dr Rajani says, "I just meet her in the night and go off in the morning. So we take holidays." This is his mantra for a great marriage.u00a0

ayesha.nair@mid-day.com

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