Love at first ad

When a doctor seeking a wife placed a small ad, he had no idea that it would lead to big love, discovers Shireena Al Nowais

Priya Kumar, 33, met Dr. Jyothish Kumar, 43, and managing director of Our International Group through a newspaper advertisement. They immediately fell in love, married and now have two sons.

Priya Kumar

He had placed an advertisement in a local Malayalam newspaper in India looking for a wife. My family answered it and we later found out that we knew his uncle.
At the time I was 21 and in my last year of college. After we answered the ad, Jyothish came to our house with his sister and brother. I remember that it was a Monday and we talked for a very long time. I remember being attracted to how open and honest he was. He talked about his career, his ambitions, his family. Three months later we were married.

Love grows

When did I start falling in love with him? I can't say I fell in love with him immediately. No, day by day, and until today, I am falling in love with him more and more.
One of the things I love most about him is his honesty and openness. He shares with me everything even though he is very busy and is involved in a lot of social activities. He always finds time for me and his children.

Family life

I spend most of my time with my children. That was our agreement from the beginning because he is very busy and someone had to be with the children. The funny thing is that even though I spend most of my time with my sons, they are more attached to him than me.

Dr Jyothish Kumar

I put an ad in the newspaper and my wife's family answered. I wasn't nervous when I went over to her family's house the first time. I am a medical doctor and pretty confident.

I wanted to go for so many reasons. When I placed the ad I put in it that I wanted a wife from far away. Priya lived 300km from where I was. I also saw her picture before I went over so I knew what she looked like.

Chit-chat

When I went over it was mostly I who did the talking. I wanted her to know as much as possible about me so that she could make up her mind as to whether she wanted to marry me or not.

I had already made up my mind and as soon as I left I informed my family and they took care of everything. The wedding was to take place in three months.

Happy time

During that time we spoke day and night on the phone. I think the Indian telecom service made a lot of money out of us. That was one of the best periods in our relationship.

I immediately began to fall in love with Priya. She was also the first girl I had gone to see. I loved her sincerity, honesty and caring nature.

She is very involved with the children and I like that because children should be moulded. My father was also a very busy businessman and it was my mother who stayed with us.

I do feel guilty that I am busy all the time. I come home at 1 am and I find her waiting for me. She understands and I took her permission before I took up my post. I consult her before I take any decisions. After lunch I discuss with her all my day's events. The other day my son came up to me asking why I don't involve him like I do with his mother.

Real relations

Our relationship is a true relationship. There is nothing artificial about it. I am a romantic person but maybe not as much as before because I have aged and we have children and work. I make sure to take my wife and children abroad every summer.

Life changes

I try to make my wife happy. I pick up things for her that I think she would like. She has sacrificed and adjusted a lot for me.

A small example: she loves Indian movies but I don't like going to the movies. I only like serious movies with meaningful content. So Priya now rarely watches Indian movies and she is not as interested in them as before.

If I could send her a written message, I'd write in it that you (Priya) are my biggest and most important asset. It is not money or anything in the world, it is you. You are my strength and you give me all the support I need.