One part love. Two parts work.

THE most ordinary stories about love sometimes appear extraordinary in the hands of a good creator. Bengaluru- based illustrator Alicia Souzau2019s debut book, Dearest George ( Penguin Random House) is a quirky illustrated love letter to her architect husband George Seemon. Itu2019s the little moments in the booku2014 like when Souza forces her husband to sit on a mat with her, saying, u2018 Listen! Come with me... I have to tell you something! I have to show!u2019 and begins to sing, Aladdinu2019s I can show you the world, much to his amusementu2014 that make you chuckle. Souza, who has quite a fan following on social media for her illustrations, where Seemon and their pets, doggie Charlie- Brown and guinea pig Henry- Oats, are recurring subjects, first thought of the book three years ago, when George and she had a court marriage. u201c A few months had passed, and many people, including friends and family, still didnu2019t know we were married. I wanted to make an announcement, through a bunch of illustrations, on why I didnu2019t want a wedding. It was a surprise gift for George,u201d she says in a telephone interview. The website she put the sketches up on caught on. u201c We had thousands of people writing the sweetest of notes to us.u201d When she was approached to write a book, she decided to expand on the original idea. u201c I didnu2019t tell George about it for the longest time. When he learnt about it, he was embarrassed. But it was a lot of fun. I might seem like a corny person, but thatu2019s only in the drawings. Our relationship is actually very regular.u201d Souza met Seemon 10 years ago, when they were dating other people. They started seeing each other only five years later, and got married soon after. u201c I am not an overtly- romantic guy or comfortable with PDA. In fact, I can be very awkward. Alicia, on the other hand, is warm, cuddly and expressive, especially at home,u201d shares Seemon, who runs an architectural firm. That also makes them polar opposites. u201c But over the course of being together, we found common ground and things that we could both relate to,u201d adds Souza. u201c I always thought I was a fast eater. I didnu2019t realise that George would beat me to it.u201d Souza says her biggest lesson in lover is that relationships take a lot of work.u201d Like in most marriages, she has had to negotiate Seemonu2019s excessive love for television. u201c We have very different likes, and schedules. I hate watching TV, but sometimes, I make the effort to do it with him. He doesnu2019t enjoy going out on weekends, but he makes the one- off exception.u201d Both say that giving the other space, is most important. u201c You donu2019t need to do everything together. But, whenever possible, we try and spend time,u201d says Souza. u201c You need to have trust, too. In fact, we share the same phone codes. I think once you trust someone, everything else falls into place,u201d says Seemon, adding, u201c Thereu2019s also no harm in being the first person to say sorry. I think prolonging an argument doesnu2019t help. Talking about it, is the healthiest and positive thing to do for a relationship to work. My wife is more mature in this aspect. We have barely had arguments, but, if and when we do, we have resolved it almost immediately.u201d jane. borges@ mid- day. com We have very different likes, and schedules. I hate watching TV, but sometimes, I make the effort to do it with him. He doesnu2019t enjoy going out weekends, but he makes the one- off exception Alicia Souza uses drawings and letters to explore the quirks of her married life. PICS COURTESY/ DEAREST GEORGE BY ALICIA SOUZA, PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE Alicia Souza and George Seemon