Despite belonging to the same country, Athira and Sikandar came from strikingly different cultures. Athira, hailing from the verdant landscapes of Kerala, and Sikandar, rooted in the vibrant culture of Punjab, serendipitously crossed paths in Canada where they had gone to pursue higher education. Sparks flew between the two and they soon decided to get married. However, the road to convincing their families to accept their relationship was rocky. Prejudices and stereotypes about each other's cultures placed barriers on their love, forcing them to put a hold on the idea of marriage.
However, Athira and Sikandar's love persevered above it all. The couple got married recently, fusing together the beauty of both their cultures. They had a traditional Kerala wedding at the Guruvayoor Temple as well as a classic Punjabi ceremony at Sri Muktsar Sahib. The blend of two worlds proved once again that despite opposing ways of life, love wins in the end. Hear their story from Athira.
Athira, Sikandar's Story
Growing up in Kerala, I always had big dreams. After completing my BBA, I decided to pursue further studies in Canada. I shifted to Canada in 2021 for my education. Little did I know that my journey would take an unexpected turn. I had always been determined not to marry until I was around 28 or 29. But as they say, fate had different plans for me.
It was there that I met Sikandar In 2022, through mutual friends. Despite being an introvert, I found myself drawn to him, and before long, we were spending most of our time together and fell deeply in love.
Me, coming from a traditional South Indian family, and him being a Punjabi, when I introduced my family to him, they were totally against it. Things got even more complicated when we talked to Sikandar's family. They didn't approve of me either. They criticised everything from the way I dressed in Western clothes to assumptions about my complexion. It felt like I was caught in the middle, facing backlash from both Sikandar's family and my own. They held certain stereotypes about South Indians, which hurt deeply.
All this stress and pressure caused me to sink into depression and anxiety. It got so bad that I started losing my hair. But through it all, Sikandar remained my rock, supporting me through the toughest times.
As a girl, I felt an added pressure to prove myself capable of adapting to a different culture and handling whatever challenges came our way. The doubts and criticisms from both sides only intensified this pressure. Sikandar's family questioned whether I could adjust to their Punjabi culture, citing stereotypes about South Indians. They doubted if I could fit in and feared that my upbringing would clash with their way of life.
But through it all, Sikandar stood by my side. Even when it seemed like everyone else was against us, he never wavered in his commitment to our relationship. Even though our families and friends didn't agree with us, we stuck together. We had tough talks, faced criticism, and finally decided to follow our hearts. In 2024, we got married.
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