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This Months Issue
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The silence of love
A deaf couple from different cultures find a partner in each other They say love is blind. In Sharol Sandiya Ram and Mitieli Kalou’s case, it’s also silent. Sharol, better known as Subashni, and Mitieli are both profound deaf. But they looked past their cultural differences and disability and into each other’s heart. On November 3, 2007 Mitieli and Subashni walked down the aisle of a packed St Peters Anglican Church in Lautoka and exchanged vows. Both sides of the family were at the wedding to give their blessings and a bus load of deaf friends came from Suva and around the west. Subashni has worked at Lautoka-based FRIEND (Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprise ‘N’ Development) since 2004 making greeting cards. Mitieli also used to work there alongside Subashni. Speaking through sign language interpreter, Mala, Subashni told Mai Life she began praying for a partner in 2005. On Valentine’s Day that year she dreamt that she would meet her partner soon. In October 2005, after some time of working on cards together love began to blossom between Mitieli and Subashni. “We both knew each other before but our love started at FRIEND,” she says through Mala. The couple dated for over a year. Mitieli’s family had no objections to their relationship, but Subashni, 32, the eldest in her family of three siblings, had to convince her mother. Her mother took some time to come around but she eventually did after Subashni’s brother, Roneel, spoke to her to let the couple marry. Today, her mother has accepted Mitieli – who does odd jobs – and he is living at home with Subashni’s family. The young couple hope to start a family of their own this year, “but one kid is enough” says Subashni. 
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