Therese and Sarto Almeida, a couple that seemingly may not have much in common, reveal their story and the key to a successful long term relationship
Therese Almeida: Our story is not one of pure romance orknights in shining armour, as much as a tale of companionship and the wondersthat conversation can do for a relationship…
Sarto Almeida: ..well there is romance in a way. I canclearly recall my time in Ahmedabad, working as an upcoming architect. It wasthere that I first saw Therese, at a new year’s dance, and absolutely HAD todance with her.
TA: (Quips) So of course, he had things rigged to be atagged dance, so that he could step in.
SA: I did not have it rigged…well maybe I did…
TA: The only reason we happened to chance upon each otherwas because I was home for a break from Ajmer, where I was studying at thetime. As fate would have it, I eventually moved back home to Ahmedabad. Fromthen on, we would run into each other either at bookshops or parties of commonfriends.
SA: Well, the chemistry was clearly more obvious to myfriends than it was to me (laughs). Iwas constantly being egged on to ‘get together’ with Therese. I did not see thelogic as she was a reasonably staunch catholic, and I felt my views did notagree with those of the church and therefore might have created an issue. Buton a picnic of sorts, under a mango tree, with posture that would put SeanConnery in his hey days to shame, I proposed.
TA: He was very kind, and told me to think over it andexplained to me the hiccups we would encounter, and on a train journey fromAhmedabad to Bombay, where we were travelling with friends, we discussed itfurther, and I accepted.
SA: We got to Bombay, and Habiba, a friend of mine, slavedover the arrangements at her apartment in Colaba, as it had to be, ‘justperfect’…
TA: ..and perfect it was. Just a few friends, with excellentfloral arrangement on Habiba’s part and us exchanging vows…
SA: ..with Habiba’s Tibetan rings no less. (Sighs) I hadforgotten to buy any.
TA: From there, we proceeded to Kemps Corner and HotelShalimar, where Jose, a friend of ours, was performing with his band. Thoughinitially skeptical, he eventually believed us.
SA: And then ensued a party like no other.
TA: Shortly after, we returned to Ahmedabad to explainthings to my parents and ‘face the music’ (we had already softened the blow viatelegram).
SA: The dust eventually settled though, and that led toseveral things happening, including our eventual move to Goa, which culminatedin Therese’s starting up Manovikas, one of Goa’s finest schools.
TA: While it sounds like we have not faced issues over theyears, this is not true. Having mentioned Manovikas points out that if one wasto ask what these problems were, I think it might well be said, that they weredifferences of opinion in terms of our respective professions.
SA: This is true. Personally, I cannot think of squabblesper-se. We have had four children together. Raised them (quite well, I wouldlike to believe), and have never had domestic strife over the years, but a lotof it comes down to Therese’s excellent organisational skill.
TA: While that is a very kind thing to say, the mostimportant thing, as I have always maintained, is to always have interests incommon. We have endured because of that, as never has a day gone by, when wewake up, look at each other, and not have something interesting to talk about.
Therese Almeida was one of the founders and the formerheadmistress of Manovikas English Medium School in Gogol, while her husband Sartois a renowned architect. More importantly, they are a couple that is extremelyqualified at exemplifying the perfect relationship
