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Vani Sreekanta

Last Updated 17 May 2009, 16:15 IST

The first thing that you notice about Arati and Darius Sunawala is how much they laugh together. In this case, a couple that laughs together stays together it seems.
   A good story ought to have a good beginning. This one does. “We met at a play audition and I saw this cute, bubble of a girl,” says Darius.

    Almost as if he’s still the 21-year-old boy he was then, he confesses that Arati was only 17 at that time. So he did what Romeos would have refused to do. He waited asking Arati out only on the eve of her 18th birthday. “For that one year, we were just people who kept bumping into each other due to mutual friends. Towards the end of that year we were cast in a play together - Legends of the Fall. That's when we got really close and started going to Casa Picola for dates,” adds Arati with a laugh.

    Talking about their relationship Arati says, “I know a lot of people who have these dramatic relationships like those in the Bold and the Beautiful. But we were always clear about how we feel and how important our relationship is to us. I think right from the beginning it was a very conscious decision to keep small things aside.”

“It’s a very peaceful relationship,” Darius pitches in. What is obvious, even to the most casual observer, is that friendship is integral in their relationship. “We are lucky. Spending time together is fun. We spent three months together in Europe in countries where no one spoke English. So that meant that we had only each other to talk to. I don't think there was a single day when I wished someone else had come along,” says Arati.
If it takes two to tango and artists are the cause for artistic differences, then how do these two highly vocal, creative people resolve conflict? “There are very few artistic differences between us. I mean artistically, aesthetically our tastes are very similar. There is so little creative difference. Only creative input,” says Darius casually casting aside the ‘angsty artistic couple’ stereotype.

Talking about their hobbies, Darius says, ‘‘Arati is always reading something deeply philosophical and I’m invariably reading something deeply frivolous. She loves books that make her think and cry while I love books that make me laugh.”

He adds, “We both love watching plays and acting in them. Obviously, we love movies too. I’m not mentioning dance and radio because those hobbies are the ones we do for a living.’’

 To say that they support each other would perhaps be a case of stating the obvious. But they use phrases like “for us”, “we think”, “we do”, “our idea”.
And since the concept of the self seems intrinsically entwined with that of being one half of a couple, they take each other’s profession rather personally.

“When it comes to my dance performances or shows, he's totally running around being involved in it. If the dancers can't come to me, they go to Darius and ask him about what he thought of their performance,” says Arati about Darius’ involvement.

And he takes over saying, “Half my ideas come from Arati. Her contribution to my radio knowledge is tremendous. She did all my content research for the first few radio shows.”
The couple has been together for eight years now and the trick, it seems, is in making sure little things are done to keep the marriage fresh.

Darius declares that Arati is fabulous at giving gifts. She once went around town armed with a camera asking everybody, from friends and family to school teachers about Darius and made a short film using the footage.

Darius, on the other hand, is apparently great with surprises sometimes, posing as a gargoyle around the house and patiently waiting for Arati to trip with fear and at other times taking her for a meal to her favourite restaurant.

What about their food preferences? ‘‘We’re actually quite moody about food. We get all sorts of cravings through out the day. From chaat (the best in the world on Wheeler Road) to continental (the most consistently great meals at Sunny’s) to thick and juicy steaks at the Only Place to our favourite Konkan cuisine from Mangalore Pearl, we eat it all,’’ they say in one voice.

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(Published 17 May 2009, 16:15 IST)

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