Married people have lesser time to let loose, but that doesn’t make them boring. They are just as fun, come packed with a sense of adventure and a brimming bucket list that they are dying to tick off. But who has the time to plan? This was the inspiration behind Rhea Raghavan and Siddharth Mukherjee’s Couple of Us, an exclusive community for the mister and the missus. This young couple from Bengaluru curates an eclectic mix of experiences and out-of-the-box activities to do with other like-minded couples just like themselves. Singletons stay out, because this one is for the married folk and by invite only!
With people in cities working harder than ever, they have little time for much else, let alone plan or discover new things. “Couples are no different. Planning an evening out, together or even with friends has become harder and is most often the usual dinner or movie,” says Rhea, an international communication strategist by profession. They weren’t alone in their dilemma and thus, Couple of Us was born. “We’re in-tune with the city’s vibe and with an urban married couple’s lifestyle, because we are them! Our inspiration comes from the conversations we have with couples, with innovative partners and pop-culture,” adds Rhea. “Our hope is that couples take that time out from their schedules and break out of the norm and come join us from time to time to discover something new about the city, about themselves or even about each other,” says Siddharth, an engineer, avid photographer and now, cofounder of the platform.
Being army kids, both Rhea and Siddharth have constantly traveled and had a chance to meet new people, revel in fresh cultures and get people to join in for their golgappa Diwali parties, cycling and photography field trips. As a couple, they hop on to catch theatre and live performances in the city or are trying out new dishes in the kitchen and are having their friends over to sample them. That’s one of the many reasons why this platform clicks under their expert social tutelage.
From cookouts and repurposing sessions to sporty picnics and elaborate food tasting sessions – the couple is buzzing with ideas after their most recent, four-course Awadhi food cookout session and a live escape hunt challenge. “Up next are some fun DIY repurposing sessions, beer brewing and tasting, perhaps even some art in the park and some dancing!” they say, keeping the group intimate and casual to include not more than eight couples at a time. Over time, they hope to build these membership-based, invite only communities across cities so urban couples have someone to unwind and discover things with. After all, it’s what they believe – When there’s so much to discover together, there’s so much of each other you discover.
