Half an Hour. One Spark. A Journey from the Andamans to Thiruvalla

Sherry and Caroline knew they wanted to be married in Thiruvalla, the one place which felt truly like home for both of them – a place that evoked family get-togethers with cousins, uncles and aunts, the nostalgic memories of grandmother’s cuisine and ancestral traditions that were unbroken for centuries. The irony was that neither of them had grown up in Kerala, but they found that it did not matter. Because somehow home still meant Kerala, and when they met each other, they recognised in each other how much they valued what their roots meant to them, how much of a connection they shared because of it.

Sherry, an operations lead, was born and brought up in the serene, unhurried pace of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He wanted to find the right partner and sought to find a loving and caring person, someone who was like him, God-fearing and family-orientated. Caroline was confident of finding the right match on m4marry, just as her sister had. Having been brought up in the bustling liveliness of cosmopolitan Dubai, Caroline, a talent acquisitions professional, looked for someone with her same ethos, one who was God-fearing, patient and gentle.

When Sherry sent an interest to Caroline on m4marry, liking every aspect of her profile, the only concern he had was whether she would accept his interest. But he had no need to worry. He resonated as well with her; she felt he too was family-orientated, had a great smile, and had a cute name. And they belonged to the same community, which was a huge plus for her; her traditions mattered much to her.

Sherry came to meet Caroline and her family in Dubai, and they got on so well with each other that they had to be reminded of the time when it was time for him to leave. Sherry found her as lovely as her profile when he met her in person. “The first day I saw her, I already decided in my heart that she was the one. It was easy; it already felt meant to be!” Caroline could fault nothing in Sherry but his poor taste in shirts. He was warm and genuine and had a beautiful smile and a great voice. She was proved right. He would always find time for her in spite of his tough workload. She was not working at that time, and whenever she called him, he would give her his complete attention and affection. She always felt loved and appreciated. Once when she had mentioned a craving for dream cake on a call, she was amazed when he had it delivered for her at home. Small moments that went a long way in building their relationship.

Soon after, Sherry joined  Caroline at a family gathering in Dubai. “We managed to spend a little time alone, but soon it was time to say goodbye. During those two months, both of us had moments when we wondered, “Is this really it?” But that day, as we walked away from each other, something felt missing. It was as if a part of us had stayed behind with the other. And in that moment, we both knew—we couldn’t imagine life without each other.”

For Sherry, watching Caroline interact with his family when they were buying her wedding saree was a memory he would always cherish. What he would remember was the togetherness, the love, and the laughter. Caroline was involved in every aspect of the wedding planning, from the card design to that of the venue decoration. She would screenshot her favourite sarees and make the mood board a reference to her wedding. They picked navy blue and wine red as their wedding theme colours. “The wedding was everything we wished it to be, blessed by our friends and family.”

For Sherry, tying the thali was an emotional moment, nearly a year after they met each other on m4marry. Caroline had planned every aspect of her wedding, but her best moment was when Sherry’s uncle and aunt and his cousins took to the stage with lively dancing. “For us, the wedding is a beginning, to live a life filled with love, laughter (and tears sometimes) and memories with God as our centre.”

Caroline loves Sherry for his dimples and being gentle, handsome and loving. “I love the way he cares for me, even on days when I cannot love myself.” Sherry cannot believe how much unconditional love she showers on him, something he knows is priceless; she is “radiant, loving and irreplaceable”. Sherry and Caroline have one message to all of us who are still searching for their soulmates: “Keep searching; you will find the one eventually.”