Chance meeting leads to 50 years of marriage

AFTER meeting by chance at a family wedding in 1969, Krishna and Selvarani Indian defied family expectations and secretly dated for six years before tying the knot.

- MONISKA GOVENDER

Now celebrating their golden anniversary, the Phoenix couple shared their journey of love, challenges and the secrets to a successful 50-year marriage.

Krishna, 78, and Selvarani, 72, celebrated their wedding anniversary on April 6.

They are still in love, like when they first met in 1969.

"It was a chance meeting when my Krishna's brother was invited to my sister's wedding. He brought Krishna with him. That was when we met for the first time. It was love at first sight. I was 15 and he was 21. But our families didn't know much about how we felt about each other at that time," said Selvarani.

She said they "dated" secretly for six years before getting married.

"We had a lot of drama before our marriage. My family had suitors lined up for me to get married. But I kept stalling because I wasn't ready. In the meantime, it was because I had already met the love of my life.

"I moved to Durban from Mandeni to work at SA Clothing and I lived with my sister. Krishna and I wrote letters to each other, and when we had money, we made telephone calls," she said.

Soon thereafter, they started meeting without anyone knowing. Krishna was from Stanger and worked at a printing press.