The year was 2016. Chandni Chandran, an IAS officer today, was then only one of the thousands of aspirants who had appeared for the Civil Service Exam 2015 and were awaiting their result. To beat the stress around the time results were expected, Ms Chandran decided to take a walk with then-boyfriend, now-husband Arun Sudarsan . What followed is a hilarious story that anyone who has ever sneaked out with a boyfriend will find quite relatable. Ms Chandran took to Twitter on Tuesday to reveal the story.
"May 10, 2016. Results of Civil Service Exam 2015 was expected to be out and I was roaming with @mrarunsudarsan to not stress over it," she wrote on the microblogging platform, tagging her husband. "I didn't make it," she added.
Ms Chandran eventually cleared the UPSC exams next year and belongs to the 2017 IAS batch. She is currently posted as sub-divisional magistrate of Kanchanpur, North Tripura.
In her Twitter thread, she recalls that while she did not clear the highly-competitive exam that year, her photo did appear in a newspaper alongside pictures of UPSC toppers. "Next day newspapers were filled with pics of toppers and @timesofindia published this pic of us!" she wrote, sharing a picture that shows her walking in the rain with Mr Sudarsan. The picture, which shows the two of them sharing an umbrella, was published in a small piece about rains in the city.
"Arun called ToI and complained as we weren't married then," the IAS officer wrote. For her part, Ms Chandran took it as a sign that her photo was destined to appear in a newspaper filled with UPSC toppers. "I can happily walk towards any destination with someone holding an umbrella and looking out for me with love unbound when I take each step," she wrote.
May 10, 2016.Results of Civil Service Exam 2015 was expected to be out & I was roaming with @mrarunsudarsan to not stress over it. I didn't make it. Next day newspapers were filled with pics of toppers & @timesofindia published this pic of us! Arun called ToI & complained (1/3) pic.twitter.com/mYaemtmm5t
— Chandni Chandran (@chandni_ias) June 29, 2021
So what happened when the picture appeared in the newspaper? In the comments section, Ms Chandran explained why they had taken issue with the photo and complained to the publication.
"Nothing illegal! Just that such pics create uncomfortable conversations at home," she wrote.
Nothing illegal! Just that such pics create uncomfortable conversations at home ????
— Chandni Chandran (@chandni_ias) June 29, 2021
She also explained why she was reminded of the photograph recently and decided to tweet about it. "I made it and we got married," wrote Ms Chandran. She said she was recently reminiscing about the picture and her husband contacted the photographer, Rakesh Nair, who graciously sent them a copy.
"Can' thank you enough," she wrote, tagging the photographer in her tweet.
I made it & we got married❣️ Recently I was remnicising about this photo and @mrarunsudarsan being a darling identified and contacted the photographer.@shutterbugnair remembered the photo because of the complaint and graciously sent us the copy. Can't thank you enough????. (3/3)
— Chandni Chandran (@chandni_ias) June 29, 2021
The lovely story has gone viral on the microblogging platform, clocking in nearly 7,000 'likes' and hundreds of reactions.
"Might be one of the best pics! Such a lovely story," wrote IRS Aman Preet.
Might be one of the best pics !!!Such a lovely story .. wishing u both many sweet moments ..
— Aman Preet IRS ???????? (@IrsAman) June 29, 2021
IAS MV Rao suggested that the story deserved a movie based on it.
Now, a film has to be made..
— Dr. M V Rao, IAS (@mvraoforindia) June 30, 2021
Best Wishes to both..
Beautiful turn of life events ????????
The photographer, Rakesh Nair, also responded to the tweet.
Thank you so much for the click and wishes ☺️ can't believe you went through the trouble of finding this 5 year old photo for people who complained against it! You have a heart of gold.
— Chandni Chandran (@chandni_ias) June 29, 2021
Take a look at some of the other reactions it has garnered:
Seems like a fairy tale turned into reality.????
— Waqar Mehdi وقار वकार ওয়াকার (@Waqqu_Me) June 29, 2021
Awwww.. It's such a cute love story..
— Madhu Mitha, IFS (@IfsMadhu) June 30, 2021
Wishing u both many more such moments!
What a beautiful story. Destiny plays in different ways ????
— SHA (@shaaaleeenee) June 30, 2021
What do you think? Let us know using the comments section.
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