Deepak
Our honeymoon was not a quiet event. She invited all her relatives to go with us, and they did not disappoint her. It would have been a great honeymoon, if only one important person had come along — I did not make it.
Neelam
Can you believe it? He opted out.
Deepak
A production manager at a leather garment factory, I learnt at the eleventh hour that I had to oversee the making of a new design. I did not want to spoil the party, and I encouraged the group to go ahead.
Neelam
We are both devoted to work. I put my heart and soul into Chic Baby, a kids' boutique, I ran at Cison's complex. Proliferation of malls wiped out small boutiques. Eight years ago, mine folded up for the same reason.
Deepak
Work used to eat into our family time; but now, it keeps us together for almost the entire day.
Neelam
When he suggested that we start a catering service, I squealed in protest. We did not know the ABC of catering. But, he prevailed upon me and we started ‘The Café’. The only common factor between my new business and the old one was kids. We started with providing daily catering services for schools.
Deepak
In those early years, we faced one big problem — the problem of plenty.
Neelam
We made food in quantities that were much greater than what was required. The excess food was given away to an orphanage nearby. We told ourselves that we did not lose anything, and only gained people's blessings.
Deepak
When we switched to corporate catering, the challenges increased.
Neelam
While I oversee the cooking, he handles marketing. Oh yes, he takes up the complaints. The slightest trouble stresses me out, but I deal with stress before it overwhelms me. He does not know how to cope with stress, because nothing affects his equanimity.
As told to PRINCE FREDERICK
