How it began: Before Faisal and Jaya met in real life he had seen her photograph in a newspaper and told his friend jokingly, "I would like to marry her." Not surprisingly they met after a few days under the Afzal Hossain banner. Says Jaya, "Faisal was very late and kept everyone waiting for him. As soon as he entered he just waved to the crew and went to say his prayers." Adds Faisal "Soon after that I noticed Jaya among the crowd. I was not the kind of person who would woo and chase a girl.

Within 20 days when she was still calling me 'bhaiya' I told her that I wanted to marry her and if she picked up the phone the following day I'll conveniently take that to be a yes." And she did receive my call.

Once again Faisal did not waste time; he went to Jaya's house and told her family he wanted to marry her within the next five days. That was on May 9 and on May 14, 1998 they were married.

What Jaya loves about Faisal: He is filled with genuine goodness and generosity. His outlook towards life is very positive, he is comfortable anywhere and can make a boring place come to life. He is also one of the best dressers I have seen in my life.

What Faisal loves about Jaya: In our family we have 41 cousins. Amongst them 39 married within the family. The reason I went for an outsider was because I wanted a well-educated girl who is articulate and has a refined taste. I found those in Jaya. That she is beautiful was an added advantage. She is a person who loves loving. We share a common passion and hence our lifestyles are more or less similar. Though she is an introvert she has adjusted perfectly with all my friends and family which is very important to me.

Jaya on Faisal's family and friends: I love his family. I absolutely adore his father and we have a 'tui tokari' relation. I also get along famously with his cousins and friends. You won't believe it but starting from our first date to any vacation, family-gathering or function, his two best friends Kamal and Adel bhai are always with us. I absolutely love them and think that our family life is incomplete without them.

Faisal on Jaya's family and friends: Jaya's family is very easy going. There have been times when I called up my mother-in-law at 1:00 am and told her I'm coming to pick her up to go for a biriyani treat in old Dhaka. She has no problems and hops along with me. I also adore Jaya's siblings.

What Jaya dislikes about Faisal: One of the things that really put me off about him is his time management. He can never say no to anyone and wants to make everyone happy at the same time. And invariably he is always late for all of them. If he could he would be in five different places at the same time.

What I dislike about Jaya: She misunderstands me at times and becomes angry. She is also very lazy.

Who compromises first: As Faisal puts it, "Any couple will have their small fights and we are no exception. Chips in Jaya, "Faisal never says sorry first. I am the one who will always come out straight and say sorry. He may be feeling bad and will act like a child, stay close to me, say funny things, but that sorry won't come out until I have said it."

Life after marriage for Jaya: Frankly, I love being married. It was Faisal who inspired me to take upon more work and my professional life actually took off due to his inspiration. I have had so much fun in the past few years. When I was single I wasn't allowed to be that outgoing.

Life after marriage for Faisal: Most of my other friends are still unmarried; I look at them and feel lucky that I have found my life partner. I know if she had said no then, most probably I would have still remained single, looking for the right girl. I have never regretted my decisions and she has never put pressure on me to change my ways.

by Mahmuda Afroz