This is Kelly.
She fell in love with
Harjot.
Harjot: But it was a good pick up line,
Kelly: I would describe it as love at first sight.
We were already discussing marriage by like
the second … Harjot: Second, yeah second date we were …
Their love carried them down the aisle
in less than two months of meeting.
[Celebration]
But their fast track wedding
wasn't met with the support they'd hoped for.
Kelly: So in terms of his family,
I didn't know it was going to be so hard.
And moving back to Harjot’s home country
has brought additional problems to the surface.
Can the couple overcome the judgment
caused by their cross cultural match?
Harjot: Huge drama going on over here.
Kelly: Babe what happened?
Kelly: He likes to say we met in a gym
but that's a total lie, we met on an app,
called plenty of fish.
Thank you,
Shukriya.
Kelly: I would describe it
as love at first sight.
Yes. I mean,
we were already discussing marriage by like,
the what? The second?
Harjot: Second date we were.
Kelly: We met October 2nd 2018.
We married by November 27th
2018.
Harjot: You’re my my edgy American girl.
Kelly: Yeah?
With less than two months between meeting,
and tying the knot.
These lovebirds never had a doubt
about what direction
their relationship was headed in.
But what they hadn't predicted,
was where their relationship
would lead them physically.
Harjot: I was born in a small town of India
called Saharanpur.
Kelly: So we came to India because
he was working from home in USA
for India,
and they told him if he didn't come back to India
that, "you will lose your job."
It was quite a culture shock
coming here at first but you get used to it.
Even like going in a tuk tuk for the first time
was insane or seeing cows walk down the street.
It’s a little bit crazy,
but it’s where my babe’s from.
Arriving back in Hajat’s home country,
Kelly was surprised by the reaction
their interracial relationship, would be met with
by those around them.
Kelly: People stare all the time,
especially if I'm wearing shorts.
I guess it's the short hair
and the tattoos and kind of the edgy look,
it's totally different.
Harjot: I'm very conscious where I have to take her,
we like openly,
show our affection to each other in public.
With some members of the public
being more vocal than others.
Harjot: Huge drama going on over here.
Kelly: Babe what happened?
What happened?
Harjot: He was talking ****.
Kelly: About what, me?
Harjot: Yeah like, “Oh, she's like showing off,"
"her body.”
I was like, “she's just wearing [inaudible].”
Kelly: I'm dressed.
Harjot: Yeah. And he said,
“This is our land who gave you permission?”
I was like, “I'm from this city.”
Kelly: There you go. That's the kind of judgment you face
even when your body is fully clothed.
Harjot: You’re showing off her body over here,
so it's like …
disgrace for our culture,
that she's just displaying
her body in public and I was like,
“how is she displaying her body in public?”
In addition to the judgment,
the couple face in their day to day lives,
they've had further issues to contend with.
When members of Harjot’s family
disapproved of their match.
Kelly: In terms of his family
and marrying him.
No, I didn't know it was going to be
so hard.
So,
breaking the news that he just came to visit
USA and then all of a sudden,
he's marrying a white chick
within, you know,
a month or two of meeting her.
was quite the shocker.
Harjot: I think we're going to be here
five or six more months.
We're just waiting for my green card.
Kelly: Just adapting to an entire
other lifestyle.
I love it but ...
I definitely
miss home.
Harjot’s mom she's really sweet.
She came to our wedding in USA,
she brought me a saree,
she brought me jewelry
she brought me this bracelet.
So she's really sweet.
I would say the biggest thing
for us is language barrier.
She doesn't know English
and I don't really know Hindi.
While Harjot’s mom is slowly coming around to the match,
relations with his dad aren't quite as easy.
Kelly: Are you ready
to meet papa?
Harjot: I’m a bit scared.
Are you excited?
Harjot: No, I'm more scared than you.
Today Harjot and Kelly,
are going to visit his parents
to try and work through some of their disapproval.
Harjot: When I spoke to my dad
like, I can see his main concern was,
“Okay, she is not Indian.”
And he is from a generation
where stereotype
is inbuilt.
So
he had that fear
that this woman won't be a
family person.
And that's why I think
he's more objected
towards this marriage.
Kelly: I'm so anxious.
Harjot: Yeah I know that.
All is going to be fine. Don't worry.
It's been 10-11 months
there's a bit of improvements.
So ...
maybe this time it will go well.
All is not lost yet,
but I will keep trying
to make a peace with my dad.
Kelly: So
how is papa feeling
about us these days?
Kelly: Where is he?
Harjot: He has gone to Chacha’s house in Roorkee.
Kelly: Why?
Harjot: I don’t know
maybe just want to avoid it.
Kelly: So he's trying to avoid me,
or us?
Harjot: And we especially came here too just to meet him.
Kelly: That's awkward.
Harjot: Yeah.
Kelly: I don't feel good about this all now.
I really wish that
papa would have been here today but ...
you know, we're making baby steps
going forward. And ...
yeah, I think we're on the way to reconciliation.
Harjot: Starting a family it will bring us
together I think after
me and Kelly having a kid,
I think my dad will be
supportive too.
Kelly: I’m scared to be pregnant,
and be a mom, it’s scary.
You look like an Indian prince.
Although the couple's still have work to do,
their relationship with their in laws
is improving day by day.
Kelly: You got this for me? Thank you.
She said she would come to USA
to help us take care of our kid
and that she would
convince Papa to come eventually too. So ...
I'm feeling better.
And no matter what hurdles life may throw at them.
They've never doubted their choice
of life partner.
Kelly: I love him to death.
He's really loyal.
He's crazy fun like me like we'll go to any country
to any place any event,
do anything together so,
we really fit each other's personality.
Harjot: Yeah? You are my wife yeah?
If I say I love you.
Kelly: I love you.
Harjot: I need you to accept it.
That we are together now.