Prem has a way to find people in the most unexpected places, and for some, that place is the street. The journey brings new experiences, cultures and sometimes, a lifetime partner.
As Valentine’s Day approach is about to be, we talked to five couples who found each other while searching for the world. Some began as strangers, crossing the road to a foreign city or a remote mountain trail. Others built their bonds on shared experiences, transforming a simple journey together at the beginning of a lifetime.
‘My soul revealed in the hills’
The story of Akanka Madan and Manu Bhardwaj in Delhi began in 2022 during a group visit to Ladakh. Akanancha was traveling with his best friend, while Manu, a videographer, was traveling a single trip to capture the landscape of Ladakh. “I am a dye-hard fan of films like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), so perhaps I find my soul in the mountains,” she tells us.
As the journey moved forward, they often used to go on a quiet trail walk and tied on local cuisine. “That was the man I found, at once,” she says. When he traveled throughout India, his visit to Tungnath, Uttarakhand remains the most fundamental. , “Akanka said. Both of them got married in November of the same year.
Criminal change
The love story of Priyanka Chelni and Gaurang Singh began in 2017 at a railway station in Lucknow. They were waiting for the same train for Delhi and interacted to pass time. Gaurang later reached Priyanka on Facebook and asked for her number.
Priyanka says, “She made her first visit to Ladakh in 2018 and got married in 2021.”
Lost and found in Thailand (love)
Sinola Rodrix of South Goa had never imagined his birthday journey in Thailand in August 2022, which would change his life. During a visit to the Wat Trade Temple in Bangkok, she met Praudhavi, born in Hyderabad, who was stranded after the cancellation of Canada’s bound flight. His lively conversation gave rise to two exchanging numbers before going to his own way.
“The energy of the pudding was magnetic, and I was ready for his attractive discussions,” Sinola says. The brief meeting left a permanent impact, which is growing in a strong relationship despite the physical distance between them. Nearly two years later, the chances encounter changed forever as the two tied the knot in April 2024.
From high peaks to ‘secret’ bike trip
Mumbai-based Kiran Gupta first met Sanjay Sharma of Gorakhpur (UP) in 2014, while the highest peak of Maharashtra, on a trek in Kalsubai and he participated in a manner after exchange of LinkedIn profiles. He joined again after years, when Kiran came to the post of Sanjay about his work and journey.
“In 2017, we agreed to meet as friends and finished talking for hours,” she tells us. This led to a secret bike journey for Ran of Kach in Gujarat in 2018. The couple got married in December next year.
Music, Mountains and Meghalaya
Rucha Gaterakar first met her husband and partner Mumbiakar Prayag Parekh, after a break-up, after booking tickets at the NH7 Ceaqui Music Festival in Shillong (Meghalaya). When his journey fellow became ill, he reached a college junior, which was also going on the festival.
Rucha shared, “He told me three friends, including Prayag, who were living in Gurugram at that time, will join him.” In booking, Rucha got coted with prayer due to a mix-up and tied the music. A few weeks later, he decided to give long distance shots. The pair got married in December 2023 and settled in Panaji, Goa.
