Chandigarh: Javeria Khanum, from Pakistan, crossed the Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar on December 5 to fulfil her love story, awaiting completion in Kolkata. Khanum is poised to wed Sameer Khan, a resident of Kolkata, in January.
Karachi resident Javeria Khanum crossed over to the Indian side from Attari in Amritsar district, receiving a warm welcome from her fiance Sameer Khan and some members of his family, accompanied by the lively beats of ‘dhol.’
Khanum’s visa was rejected twice, and grappling with delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Khanum has finally been issued a 45-day visa.
The couple, in a brief interaction with reporters at Attari, said they are set to get married in January next year.
“I have been granted a 45-day visa. I am very happy to be here. Just on arrival, I am already getting so much love here. In the first week of January the marriage will be solemnised,” she said.
She made two attempts to obtain a visa, and luck was on her side on the third attempt. “It is a happy ending and a happy beginning,” she said, expressing her happiness at being able to travel to India to get married.
“Everyone back home was very happy. I can’t believe I have got the visa after five years,” she added.
Describing how the couple connected, Khan explained that he expressed a desire to marry Khanum after coming across her photo on his mother’s phone.
“This started in May 2018. I had come home from Germany where I was studying. I saw her photo on my mother’s phone and expressed my interest. I told my mother that I want to get married to Javeria,” he said.
Detailing their initial connection, Khan shared that he conveyed his intention to marry Khanum upon discovering her photo on his mother’s phone.
“This started in May 2018. I had come home from Germany where I was studying. I saw her photo on my mother’s phone and expressed my interest. I told my mother that I want to get married to Javeria,” he said.
Earlier the visa faced two rejections, and the Covid pandemic intervened during this period, Khan explained, expressing gratitude to the Indian Government for the granted visa.
“My mother is very happy now that we will be getting married in January next year,” he said.
Khan said his friends from his time in Germany – from Africa, Spain, the United States and other countries – will attend his wedding.