Little did Jean Carlos (28) know when he arrived at the shores of Mumbai a little more than two years ago, that 15,000 km away from home he would find love. The Colombian, with a strong ancestry in the circus industry and 16 years of experience, was only looking for greener pastures. And five years ago, spurred on by her sister, when Debki Gautam, 23, travelled to India from Nepal, she was just one among the many Nepalese performers in Rambo Circus.
On Monday, the huge canvas of Rambo Circus, fettered with balloons and bright lights, revelled to a new show as it bore witness to their solemn bond. Dressed in intricate marriage wear, the duo exchanged vows and rings according to Christian custom under the very tent they perform their acts. Despite the cultural barriers, the two can’t seem to look beyond love. “He loves me a lot and that’s all that matters,” said Debki.
For Carlos, it seems like a prayer fulfilled. “She takes care of me and my health. She had no trace of materialism in her. I would always pray to Jesus to give me a good wife. My prayers are granted,” said Carlos.
Though the cultural and linguistic gap is vast, the two are making efforts to communicate with each other. A man of many tongues, Carlos is fluent in Mandarin, Portuguese, Italian, Tagalog, and Mexican among others. So he is picking up Nepali and Hindi pretty quick. On the other hand, Debki has also learnt some basic Spanish.
However, it was not all so smooth. The couple had to face resistance initially as the girl’s conservative male relatives, especially her brother, cast doubt over the seriousness of the relationship. “They were right to have doubts. There is a perception among Indians that in our country frivolous relations are favoured. But after a period I managed to win their trust,” said Carlos.
A day after the marriage, both returned to their circus artistry for the 3 p.m. show of Rambo Circus pitched in suburban Andheri. They will soon depart for a honeymoon in Goa.
