Mahendran and Deepa were strangers when they met at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in the southern Indian city of Chennai in 2020.
But over months, they got to know each other better and fell in love.
Now the couple is happily married, marking the first wedding between patients at the 228-year-old mental health facility.
The ceremony, which took place in October at a temple inside the institute, was attended by ministers and legislators from the state of Tamil Nadu.
Dr. Poorna Chandrika, director of the IMH, says it was like a “family marriage” for them.
“This was his decision and we are very happy.”
Jayakumar Sudandhirapandiyan video for BBC Tamil
