Tuesday, September 5, 2000
By Linda Bock
Telegram & Gazette Staff
Worcester. MA 01608
That was the day Srinivasan Venkataraman fell hopelessly in love over the Internet with his new bride, Annie S. Vasan, who lives halfway around the world.
"We fell in love the third day," Mr. Venkataraman said. "I remember."
Mrs. Vasan said she sent Mr. Venkataraman a photo of herself by e-mail in January, and knew it was love when his letter bounced right back.
"I got him," she said as she smiled up at him yesterday afternoon.
The couple met over the Internet, conducted a seven-month long-distance courtship and engagement -- she lives in Brunei and he in Worcester -- and became husband and wife in City Hall last Friday.
After two weeks of getting to know each other in person, she is leaving to go back to Brunei tomorrow. Mrs. Vasan must return to finish her teaching contract, and she will rejoin her husband in January.
"We came to know each other very well over the Internet. We wrote hundreds of letters and cards, and also talked a couple of hours every single day," he said.
The first time they laid eyes on each other was at Logan Airport in Boston two weeks ago. He said he was too nervous to drive, so he parked his car in Framingham and took the Logan Express bus to meet her at the airport. She told him she would be wearing a purple sari.
"I saw this purple angel coming out of the tunnel," he said and added, "I had been waiting and waiting and waiting."
The couple said it was the place they shared their first touch, their first kiss and their first hug.
Their long-distance romance came about for the couple after they both registered on A1IndianMatrimonials.com. Both of them were born in India. Mr. Venkataraman, 48, has lived in Worcester for 11 months, and is a software consultant for General Technologies Inc., 44 Portland St. Mrs. Vasan has taught high school level biology and science courses for 20 years in Brunei, in independent sultanate on the north coast of the island of Borneo in southeast Asia.
Their love story is full of coincidences.
The first probably being their shared connection. He was a widower, his first wife of 20 years died on June 26 last year; and she was a widow, her first husband died of health problems in 1997. He has two sons still living with his brother-in-law in India, and she has a 22-year-old daughter.
The second coincidence for the couple is Mrs. Vasan's daughter also married two days before her mother in New York City, to someone she had never met in person during the engagement. Mrs. Vasan said the marriage was a traditional arranged marriage. But it was her daughter who gave her the courage to take a chance on her mother's more modern long-distance romance.
"Mommy, forget about society," she told me. "I want you to have a great life with someone you love."
Soon after, the couple became engaged at Mrs. Vasan's suggestion. They originally had planned a spring church wedding in Brunei, but Mr. Venkataraman said he was unable to get the time off work.
Mrs. Vasan is a Roman Catholic and Mr. Venkataraman is a Hindu. She has been attending Mass at St. Paul's Cathedral every day since arriving in Worcester, and Mr. Venkataraman attended his first Catholic service Sunday. They appreciate that the Internet has given them a freedom they may not have experienced in India because of the real problems of being in different religions and in different castes.
"We honestly know we will have a lot of things to adjust to, especially our different religions," Mrs. Vasan said. "We're both more than willing to adjust to each other's expectations."
For instance, she was very pleased that he agreed to cut his long hair the day before the wedding ceremony.
Despite being half a world apart before getting to know each other in person, there were just a few surprises.
"She was far more beautiful in person, much more beautiful than her photo," Mr. Venkataraman said.
Mrs. Vasan said she was surprised to find that her new husband has two dimples to go with his wonderful smile. She also was surprised to find out he smokes four or five cigarettes a day.
Another coincidence for the charmed couple is that they found they had friends in common. George Joseph and Teresa Sebastian of Worcester know Mr. Venkataraman through business in Worcester. The couple also had lived in Brunei for about 15 years. Ms. Sebastian was a colleague of Mrs. Vasan, and said her friend was courageous in pursuing the unique romance.
"They are truly kindred spirits," Ms. Sebastian said.
They helped celebrate at their small wedding reception at Chef of India, and entertained the couple last night.
"The way this happened, it's the most amazing thing I've seen. We're so happy for them," Mr. Joseph said.
© 2000 Worcester Telegram & Gazette
