A rich passionate computer engineer Sudha falls in love with a shy yet bright introvert, Narayana and we cannot help but appreciate their love all through these years. Their story inspires us into believing in a world where there’s honesty, trust, and patience, where love is pure and unconditional and doesn’t easily break at any cost. What else there is to find out more, read it below.
Sudha Murthy met Narayana back in Pune through a common friend, Prasanna. After which Narayana proposed a dinner for Sudha and her friends. Since Sudha being the only girl in her group, was unwilling to come but he comforted her and asked to meet him at 7:30 PM at Green Fields hotel on Main Road, Pune.
They met more often and remained friends when he finally asked her hand in marriage. He said “I am 5’4″ tall. I come from a lower-middle-class family. I can never become rich. You are beautiful, bright, intelligent and you can get anyone you want. But will you marry me?” Sudha put a lot of thought in this regard and finally convinced her parents to meet Narayana Murthy.
Narayana’s first impression in front of Sudha’s parents didn’t go as planned. Narayana was late by two hours for their first meeting, and had put on a bright red shirt! Her father intrigued to know Narayana asked what his ambition was. He wasn’t quite pleased with his wish to open an orphanage and join the communist party. He didn’t want his daughter to get married to a poor unambitious man. But Sudha’s mother liked Narayana for his simplicity and intelligence, said he belongs to a good family in Karnataka. Torn between fatherly obligation and love for Narayana, she kept supporting him financially and emotionally. For three years, they went to movies and dinners and their love grew stronger. Sudha always paid his share on the condition that Narayana would return her someday when he is no longer broke. Sudha possessed a diary where she would keep a record of his debts but Narayana didn’t repay her back . Frustrated, Sudha tore the dairy on the night of their wedding. He owed her a bit more than 4000 rupees.
In the late 1970s, Murthy left his job as a research assistant to start his own software company. In 1977, Murthy became the General Manager at Patni computers in Bombay. Now that Murthy had a stable job ,Sudha’s father finally agreed to give her hand in marriage. The wedding took place on 10th February 1978 at Murthy’s house in Bangalore. Both families contributed equally to the wedding budget. It was around 800rupees and only the family members were present at the ceremony.
In 1981, their lives took a big turn when Sudha made Narayana realize his dreams. He decided that he wants to engineer quality software. They both were living a comfortable life in Bombay but Sudha took the risk of fulfilling his passion. She took care of the finances and handed him her whole life saving of 10,000 rupees without a thought. She quit Telco where she previously worked before and shifted to Pune and then to Bangalore with her husband in 1983. Both of them were equally dedicated to set up Infosys but one had to step down to take care of the household. That is when Sudha retired and became a housewife.
Sudha and Narayana’s love story reminds us of the true meaning of a relationship where one must not only love but also sacrifice unconditionally for each other. Even today, Murthy says “I stepped on your career to make mine. You are responsible for my success.”
An excerpt from Sudha Murthy’s book says,
“Murthy and I are two opposites that complement each other. Murthy is sensitive and romantic in his own way. He always gifts me books addressed ‘From Me to You. Or ‘To the person, I most admire, etc. We both love books. I am an extrovert and he is an introvert. I love watching movies and listening to classical music. Murthy loves listening to English classical music. I go out for movies with my students and secretary every other week.”
