SURAT: ‘Everybody sees the cloud, but not many can spot the rainbow behind it,’ goes a saying. While positivity needs courage, the word positive itself has been much maligned now, first by the dreaded HIV and then the global pandemic.
At a time when ‘be positive’ has almost become a cuss word, not many, like Bhuvan Jignesh, 26, and Nisha, 23, (all names changed) two HIV positive youngsters would trade their optimism for anything less.
Born with the virus two decades ago, the duo had lost all hopes in life after being diagnosed with HIV infection at a very young age. However, with the support of family and friends they wanted to say yest to life than give in to the shadows of fear. Their relentless and efficacious efforts to progress in life yielded in finding beautiful soulmates too to share the beautiful journey ahead.
“Love and hope can defeat anything. If we can live happily with HIV we will take control of Covid-19 as well,” the joyous couple told TOI. Bhuvan and Nisha got married on October 25 during unlock 5 after a brief online affair.
“HIV positive status was a shocker not only for me but the family too as no one was aware about their health status. HIV was congenital for me. I was in college then, but I didn’t let the news envelope me, but decided to fight it,” said Bhuvan, an accountant.
Nisha was in school when she too was tested for HIV after her father tested positive of the virus. “I lost both parents at a young age, but didn’t lose my vision for a better life. I studied well and earned a degree to create my own rainbow,” said the graduate in social work.
The duo registered in a marriage bureau for HIV positive people and found each other online in 2019. They friendship gradually bloomed into an affair and finally decided to marry in March 2020. But the Covid-19 enforced lockdown delayed their plans.
“We were desperately waiting for the lockdown to be lifted and organised the marriage with all family and friends in Uttarakhand at the first available opportunity,” the couple said. On World AIDS Day while the newlyweds get busy managing online match-making fair for HIV positive people, secretary of GSNP+ Daksha Patel said, “They are our messengers to other HIV positive people. In tough times of Covid-19 people like them show us the way.”