He is my first and last man

Jul 10, 2009

Sangeeta Chatterjee is the proprietor of the newly opened, Swanky Shahi Darbar Restaurant at Hotel Ruch in Kampala. Her husband, Amitava Chatterjee, is an Administration manager at Service & Computer Industries Uganda Ltd.

Sangeeta Chatterjee is the proprietor of the newly opened, Swanky Shahi Darbar Restaurant at Hotel Ruch in Kampala. Her husband, Amitava Chatterjee, is an Administration manager at Service & Computer Industries Uganda Ltd.

They recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary, which coincided with their son’s 8th birthday. She is the only child of Deepti Chaudhury, a former Indian Supreme Court Senior Advocate, who resigned her job and moved to Uganda. ALEX BALIMWIKUNGU had a chat with her about living with her mother.

Was he your first man?
Yes, of course and I do promise he is the last too.

Is it true Indian couples stop making love after 15 years in marriage?
Certainly not, who says? But more than just sex, we believe in love, trust and respect for each other. True love doesn’t always require a physical relationship; it is an emotional bond which strengthens our relationship.

Do you have a special name you call him?
In our culture, we don’t call our husbands by their names. But at times, I call him “Ami.”

Does he ever cook at home?
Very rarely, he doesn’t know how to cook. He can only make tea, coffee, toast and omelette. But he is fond of the dishes I cook and appreciates them a lot.

How much dowry did you pay for him?
Well, the dowry practice is passing away among many Indians. The times when parents had to pay dowry as they married off their daughter is being discarded by most educated Indians. My husband disliked it and he did not take payment in cash or kind, before or after my marriage.

Your mum is living with you now. Would you kiss your husband in her presence?
Certainly not. It would be very embarrassing for me. In our culture, we do not kiss each other in front of elders. Kissing is an intimate form of love, which needs to be done in private.

What if the two picked up a row, whose side would you support?
I would take the side of the right person. But I don’t think it can ever happen.

When was the last time you quarrelled or fouught with your husband?
We don’t fight, but we do quarrel once in a while whenever our opinions differ. It has helped us clear our misunderstandings and paved a way for a strong and healthy relationship.

What would you do if girls made advances towards your man?
Well, I wouldn’t mind. I know my husband loves me the most and he would turn them down very politely. He can avoid any kind of unpleasant situation very cleverly.

Do you think illiterate and poor couples love better than rich and educated couples?
No. In love, it doesn’t make any difference whether you are rich or poor.

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