If there is one way to meet the love of your life, no-one would ever have guessed that PUBG, a renowned online game, would ever be the place.
Not many in Fiji knew about PUBG, until more people realised it was easily accessible through the mobile phone.
Divshal Deepshika Chand, 26, of Malamala in Nadi and new husband Abhitesh Ashneel Chandra, 29 of Makoi discovered each other in the field of battle.
The game features mostly battling in war torn zones where players are equipped with various weaponry, military gear, and more. It is actually quite popular worldwide.
And you can chart to other players from around the country while playing all via a mobile phone. The game was inspired by the Japanese film Battle Royale (2000).
It was this fascination that drew Divshal and Abhitesh to sign up to play.
Divshal is the eldest sister of two and a nurse by profession.
While Abhitesh is the youngest of two siblings.
He is an electrical engineer by profession.
“We got to know each other from the PUBG mobile game in March 2020. After months of playing PUBG with other players,” Divshal said.
Over time, the two hooked up to play more games together. They lived apart and only knew each other in the game — but have never met in real life.
All the while an intimacy, some special spark became brighter than the flashing gun fires in the game.
Divshal said they finally met in August of 2020.
“We first met at the Damodar City. I was so nervous to meet him and I eagerly waited for him to arrive. When I first saw him, I ran out of thoughts and words.
“Our first lunch was nothing, but butterflies bombarding my nerves, as I pretended to act normal. We hardly spoke while having lunch at Grace Road eatery and as I kept peeping over to catch a glimpse of him – he too was peeping over my way.
“After many more months and more similar catch-ups, I’d say, he is definitely a green flag for me. He displayed all the qualities that I wanted in a partner.
Divshal said Abhitesh made her feel good and wasn’t too expressive.
“Since our first date on August 15, 2020, he made sure I was priority.
He treated me with respect, and I could see his maturity, kindness and honesty towards our relationship.
After three years, on the love train, the two decided to settle down together and make a bond for life with each other.
Their spark was now fire, ready to ignite the next stage in their relationship.
“Abhitesh made me feel that I was the one and I was going to marry this man. We both like our privacy, respect families, and we both love listening to music though sometimes we have different tastes.
Even though we are different in so many ways, he’s introvert and I’m extrovert, he’s the silent one, I’m the talkative one, he doesn’t explore, and I love to explore.
“I’m a foodie and he’s very specific when it comes to food. He’s the mature one and I’m the childish one, I spend more, and he saves more,” she quipped
“We didn’t have an expensive proposal surprise but when he proposed to me, my heart melted and my yes! It was genuine because I knew the man I was going to marry.”
Avishal said the wedding took a year to plan. And she wanted everything she had dreamt to be included.
In fact, Divshal planned everything.
“I had very stressful moments during the prep from finding the photographer, decorators, makeup artist and guests to attend.
“My biggest challenge was looking for my wedding lehenga, it took me months to look for the perfect blood red outfit which I got from Jack’s Fiji in Nausori.
“Abhitesh wedding outfit was also hard to find because he had to match with my attire, but he managed to find it at Pehenawa.”
“We had the Tilak ceremony on April 18, Telwan the 19th and Bhatwan night on the 20th.
“Decoration was done by Sabreena Shainaz Khatoon. The Telwan night dress-theme was colour. All my relatives came in their multi-coloured attires.
“The Bhatwan night was yellow with drapes, all were wearing yellow. Finally the wedding commenced on April 21, 2024, at my place, Malamala in Nadi.
She said about 400 people came to witness the PUBG love affair with a fairy tale ending — because two weeks before their big day the two were not to see each other.
“I was so nervous before entering the mandap. But then finally caught the eyes of my handsome looking husband. My husband was very nervous too. But all in all, it was the happiest day of our lives.
“Now, we enjoy every moment together, travelling, shopping for the house and funnily attending other weddings as a married couple.
My advice is to plan your wedding thoroughly, save enough money to meet your demands, weddings are costly and there’s no way around hosting a big event like this. But most of all enjoy yourself.
