When a Japanese woman was bowled over by a Pune youth’s ‘poha’-making skill Suraj and Marin’s love story took shape and blossomed in Poland in 2022.:-The Indian Express

 

Suraj Sawale (31), son of Seema Sawale, former standing committee chairperson and corporator of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, tied the knot on January 31 with Marin Shoko Shinji Maurayama, who hails from Tokyo, at a traditional wedding ceremony in Pimpri. (Express Photo)

Last month, when a wedding took place in Pimpri-Chinchwad, it became not just the talk of the industrial city but also drew the attention of Indians and foreigners from different parts of the world. The wedding had all the trappings of a traditional Indian “shaadi”, which went down well with the foreigners who did not mind attending the wedding in desi finery, some in shining sarees, and even broke into a jig to popular Bollywood songs.

Suraj Sawale (31), son of Seema Sawale, former standing committee chairperson and corporator of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, tied the knot on January 31 with Marin Shoko Shinji Maurayama, who hails from Tokyo, at a traditional wedding ceremony in Pimpri.

The “beautiful bahu”, as the guests described her, was obviously the cynosure of all eyes. Dressed in a traditional kimono, Marin wore a wig (katsura) and a white tsunokakushi, a wide headdress that covered her hair, and, of course, a big smile on her face. Not to be left behind in any way, Suraj, dressed in his best, too shone bright in what guests described as the “Prince charming”. The marriage was solemnised with Buddhists rituals, an integral part of Japanese marriage culture.

Citizens, social activists, civic and government officials as well as retired ones, politicians of all hues were present in big numbers.

Suraj and Marin’s love story took shape and blossomed in Poland in 2022. Suraj, who passed his Class 10 from St Xavier’s school in Nagpur — his maternal grandparent’s place — did his bachelors in electrical engineering from Raysoni College. “I then went to Poland for post-graduation in renewable engineering… After my post-graduation, I got a job with a solar company in Poland,” he said. Marin, on the other hand, secured a bachelor’s degree in performing arts and had been to Germany to do her post-graduation. While performing as a ballerina in Germany, an opera house owner offered her a job in Poland.

As Marin too landed in Poland, it wasn’t too long before they bumped into each other. “I think it was at a common friend’s birthday that we met… Actually, we didn’t meet and talk, I saw her and instantly fell in love…,” recalls Suraj. “She looked stunningly beautiful… I couldn’t take my eyes off her,” he added.

Marin, on the other hand, said she was conscious of the fact that Suraj was constantly looking at her. “By nature I am a shy person. I get scared talking to strangers, especially to men. I did not say anything nor did I try to talk to Suraj,” Marin says, with a chuckle. And equally reticent was Suraj. “I too didn’t try to talk to her. I thought she was so beautiful, but why would she talk to me?”

But as luck would have it, they again met at another common friend’s birthday party. “This time, I told the common friend, Chloe, about my fondness for Marin. At the same party, I met another of my close friends, Ahmed, whose birthday was two days later. I told him to somehow invite Marin for his birthday party,” he said.

Marin chips in, “When Ahmed approached me through Chloe, I thought I didn’t know him, why is he inviting me? Anyways, I went to the party.”

At the party when Marin, who is an artist, was busy drawing, Suraj went up to her and praised her. Marin says Suraj’s appreciation sort of melted her heart. “I felt very nice when he appreciated my art,” she said. And this turned out to be the turning point as their friendship took off from here. They started texting and calling up each other.

The biggest turning point came in their relationship when Marin was hungry after they met one morning. What impressed Marin was Suraj’s culinary skill, especially the way he made “poha”, the favourite Maharashtrian breakfast delicacy. “When I ate the ‘poha’, it tasted so good. I was very impressed with Suraj,” says Marin. Suraj says as he was living alone for 6-7 years in Poland, he had taken to cooking. “My mother taught me a few dishes,” he adds.

“But what I liked most about him is that he is a funny guy, he makes me laugh… the outward appearance of a person is not important. People lose their good looks as they age. What is important is to have a good heart, be loyal and be compassionate towards others. Suraj ticked all the boxes,” says Marin.

Suraj’s mother then landed in Poland. However, Marin did not meet her, but Suraj told her about Marin. She advised him to get Marin to India to see whether she can blend with India culture. Marin then came to India and stayed with the family. “I used to think how I would talk to people here, my mother-in-law and other in-laws. Then I was amased to find everyone comfortable speaking in English. And I liked Indian culture and hospitality,” she says.

Suraj’s mother Seema says, “I had no objection to my son marrying a Japanese. Indian and Japanese culture are almost similar. My only concern was how well Marin would accept and adopt our ways of life and our culture. When she came to stay with us for 15 days, I could see she was the right woman for my son. Marin is an ideal daughter in law and we are all proud of her,” she says.