Valentines Day special: Celeb couple Jeeva and Aparna share their secrets for a blissful home and work life

TV anchor couple Jeeva Joseph and Aparna Thomas, who have been married six years and host couple reality show Mr & Mrs, definitely set couple goals through their fun, lively social media feed. The duo believe that being together is more about communication, understanding, consideration and mutual respect. In their pandemic days, when couples sometimes struggle with having to spend all day together, Jeeva and former air hostess Aparna tell us how working together and sharing personal and professional space strengthen their relationship. How did the partners in life turn to a working partnership, as well? Jeeva: We met through work. I was an anchor on a television show and Aparna joined as a video jockey. We used to travel together for a show named Paattuvandi and grew comfortable with each other. Aparna: We told our parents. The initial plan was to get engaged and marry after two years. But when the families met, the plan changed and we got married. It is said that love changes shape before and after marriage.Jeeva: Could be, but we got married soon after we fell in love and started building our life afresh. Even the long-distance relationship worked for us.Aparna: After one year of being together following the wedding, from 2016 to early 2020 we were away from each other. I was working for an airline and based in Doha. We had a strong bond, so things never went wrong. How was it to be together during lockdown? Jeeva: Aparna returned to Kochi in February 2020, just before lockdown, and in three months, we compensated for the lost times. Aparna: We had nothing to do other than looking at each other, and we loved it. How did you become social media influencers?Jeeva: It just happened. Photographer Jikson is a good friend and he came to our house on our fifth wedding anniversary and suggested a photoshoot. Aparna: It was an impromptu one. Our friend styled our wardrobe and the shoot was at home. The pictures really went viral and that was the start. Jeeva: Also, Aparna used to travel a lot as part of her work, and had a lot of good visuals, which we thought we could use when she quit her job.Aparna: Post lockdown, we felt we should do it quickly as everyone is becoming quite dependent on digital contents. How do you define your personal and mutual spaces in your relationship?Jeeva: We respect each other’s personal space, but at the same time, I enjoy having Aparna involved in my decisions and life.Aparna: It's all about communicating properly to each other. From the beginning we have learnt to say ‘no’ in our relationship. So, there is no 'doing it for him or her'. It comes from understanding. What adjustments or compromises do you make? Jeeva: I don't know if there are any compromises, but one thing that we adjust is time. We have our own schedules but when we know that we need to be together for something, we make sure to be there. Aparna: Jeeva drops me off to wherever I need to go. So, at times he will have to call off a get together with friends for that. Same in my case too. Time is what we give to each other. What is the one thing you love in your partner?Jeeva: I think emotionally. Aparna is very practical. So, her timely guidance helps me to excel in whatever I do. Aparna: He is very positive and motivating. He is dependable and empowers others. He never holds grudges. Does this all mean that you never fight? Jeeva: We fight like every other couple. But we don't share it on social media (laughs). There are many who are being influenced by our social media posts and videos. So, we believe it's a responsibility to be positive. We make sure not to have a gloomy face. People message us even when we do not stand together in a group photo. Aparna: We have seen many couples fight over small things. Compared to them, I would proudly say we live a very beautiful life. I think the ‘secret’ is honest communication.