Television's favourite badi bahu Gehna aka Neha Marda is certainly a lucky girl.
Not only is she a household name, thanks to her realistic portrayals onscreen, the Kolkata girl happens to be married to the man of her dreams and by her own admission has the biggest supporter in her mum-in-law.
Both the ladies of the Aggarwal household are each other's pillars of support.
In fact, it was her mother-in-law who pushed Neha to make her onscreen comeback after she took a two-year hiatus to spend more time with her husband Ayushman, who resides in Patna.
Mum-in-law is my biggest supporter
The 31-year-old says that her mother-in-law understands the sacrifices a woman has to make when she gets married and therefore, wholeheartedly supports her professional and personal decisions.
'I am treated like a daughter by my in-laws. I am often out on shoots and they are in Patna but it never causes any problem. They are proud of my screen presence and nothing makes me happier than to see them happy,' the Doli Armanon Ki actor told a daily.
The actor married Patna-based businessman Ayushman Aggarwal in an arranged setup in 2012, and by her own admission was 'instantly drawn to him.'
"When I first laid eyes on him, I felt instantly drawn to him. Later we met over a couple of lunches and dinners again. I said yes to marriage after our second or third meeting only but Ayushman wanted me to visit Patna to get to know his family,' she shared.
"I was apprehensive about what his family thought of my work"
Marda also added that just as any other bahu, she was also apprehensive about her in-law's reaction to her work, but they were nothing but supportive.
"I was apprehensive and in doubt about what Ayushman and his family thought of women and especially my work. But now I know I have made the right choice.' Ayushman's family is well educated. Many of them hold degrees in business management while some have done PhD. Says Neha: 'My sis-in-law has done MBA and my husband has earned two MA degrees; I am the one who is just a graduate," shared the 31-year-old who is often addressed as bahurani by her saasuma.
Mum-in-law showers Neha with luxury gifts
Marda admits that her mum-in-law loves her so much that she even gifted her a BMW on her first wedding anniversary; followed by an Audi and a Jaguar the following years.
However, it wasn't really the material gift that mattered, it was the love and understanding that came with it.
'My mother-in-law wants me to be independent. She thinks getting married and being a housewife is not the be-and-end-all of a woman's life...She must do something creative...'At my in-laws' place, every decision is taken keeping every family member in the loop... Everyone gives their opinion and I personally like such family system, where you get a chance to speak your mind,' says the lucky girl.
While Marda shares that her in-laws shower her with gifts and make her feel like a doll in the house, she also admits that she has equal respect and love for them.
And this equal respect is perhaps the ultimate secret of a healthy relationship between the in-laws and the daughter-in-law.
In fact, these two traits can easily change any perspective and is the key to breaking the ice with the in-laws. Here's our two cents on how you can do it too!
3 ways to break the ice with the in-laws
- Be truthful: This trait goes a long way in not only breaking the ice, but also in further cementing the relationship. Your in-laws are a part of your entire life, so it's better to be who you truly are in front of them. Be honest with your ideas and thoughts and do not lead them on into believing that you're somebody else.
- Be appreciative: After all your in-laws are your spouse' parents and they deserve equal respect and appreciation as your own parents. If they have done something for you, there is no harm in appreciating their effort and letting them know you acknowledge their good deed.
- Be adjusting: Let's not deny the fact that a marriage needs a lot of work and not only between two partners, but also between two families. So either way, both parties will have to adjust for the marriage to be a success. Therefore, it's a good idea to do so and give in wherever needed.
Read: 4 things I did to befriend my mum-in-law who knows it all too well
If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the article, please share them in our Comment box below. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ and Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest from theIndusparent.com
[All images courtesy: Instagram]
