A Decade of Love: Saroj and Jyoti | Nepali Love Story
Saroj Rijal adjusted his glasses as he walked into the bustling hall of Bigyan Pathsala College in Pokhara. The orientation program was in full swing, with students chatting excitedly, making new friends. He wasn’t good at this. Socializing wasn’t his strength. He preferred books and computers over conversations. But then, he saw her—Jyoti Sharma.
She was everything he wasn’t. Charming, extroverted, and full of life. With her long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders and an easy smile that could light up the room, she seemed to be at ease with everyone. Their eyes met briefly, but before he could look away, she grinned at him—a simple, friendly gesture. Saroj felt his heartbeat quicken, but he quickly returned his gaze to the ground, pretending to adjust his backpack.
Their real connection, however, began a few months later during a college-organized trek to Ghorepani Poon Hill. Saroj, an experienced trekker, moved effortlessly through the trails, while Jyoti, full of enthusiasm but lacking stamina, lagged behind.
“Ugh, why did I think this was a good idea?” she groaned, resting on a rock, trying to catch her breath.
Saroj hesitated for a moment before offering his hand. “Here, let me help.”
Jyoti looked up at him and smiled. “A gentleman, huh? I like that.”
His ears turned red, and he focused on helping her rather than replying. The next few hours were filled with laughter, shared snacks, and Saroj silently marveling at how easily Jyoti spoke about her dreams and ambitions. As they reached the top, the sunset painted the sky in hues of orange and purple. Standing side by side, they watched the view in silence, both lost in thought.
“This is beautiful,” Jyoti whispered.
Saroj nodded. But he wasn’t looking at the sunset. He was looking at her.
After that trek, they exchanged phone numbers and connected on social media. Over time, their chats became longer, their conversations deeper. Friendship turned into something more, something unspoken yet understood.
Their Class 12 farewell program was an emotional evening. After the event, Jyoti pulled Saroj behind the stage, still in her cultural dress, her hands trembling slightly.
“I have something for you,” she said mischievously before leaning in and kissing him. It was brief but enough to leave Saroj speechless.
Jyoti laughed at his stunned expression. “You’re so cute when you’re flustered,” she teased, capturing the moment with a selfie.
But life had its way of testing love. After college, they moved to different cities—Jyoti staying in Pokhara to pursue Chartered Accountancy and Saroj heading to Kathmandu for Computer Engineering. Long-distance wasn’t easy. Calls became less frequent, and career pressures piled up. They fought. Saroj, ever the introvert, struggled to express his emotions, while Jyoti, ever passionate, felt like he was slipping away.
Six months after moving in together in Kathmandu, their relationship hit a breaking point. Jealousy, unspoken expectations, and the weight of their careers drove them apart. Their breakup was a storm of shouting, silent tears, and doors closing a little too hard. They moved on—or at least, they tried to.
For 1.5 years, they lived separate lives. Saroj immersed himself in work, climbing the corporate ladder at Microsoft. Jyoti buried herself in her studies, achieving her dream of becoming a CA. But neither truly moved on.
Then, fate intervened.
An NGO program in Kathmandu, focused on Finance and Tech, brought them together again. The moment Saroj saw Jyoti across the room, it was as if the past years melted away. Her eyes, wide with surprise and emotion, mirrored his own. Neither could speak. Then, Jyoti took a deep breath and smiled, her eyes glistening.
“Hey, stranger.”
They talked all night, revisiting old memories, laughing at their stupidity, and finally, acknowledging what they had both known all along—they had never stopped loving each other. Within a week, Saroj made the bold decision to leave Microsoft for a job in Kathmandu, choosing love over corporate success. They moved back in together, this time with stronger communication and an unspoken promise that they wouldn’t let go again.
Six months later, they told their parents. To their surprise, their families were overjoyed. With stable careers and maturity on their side, there were no more obstacles.
Their wedding was grand, a blend of Newari and Brahmin traditions, filled with colors, rituals, and laughter. Their college friends, shocked and delighted, cheered the loudest.
“You two were meant to be,” one of their old classmates declared.
As Saroj watched Jyoti laugh, dressed in a stunning red bridal saree, he realized how much they had been through, how much they had grown, yet how some things—like the way his heart raced for her—never changed.
And as they took their vows, promising a lifetime together, Saroj knew one thing for certain: some love stories are written in the stars, but theirs was carved in the mountains, tested by time, and made unbreakable by love.