Ironically, Krishnamurthi denied having found the right man in a television interview on Friday night, exactly a day after the wedding. ``The programme was recorded six days before we got married, and I must confess that I was in love with Doctor saab at the time,'' Krishnamurthy told Express Newsline. ``But, we had not decided on a date yet.''

That date was decided for them by Guru Shankaracharya of Kanchipuram. ``Guruji told us that we either get married within four days or the next date would be January 20,'' said Dr Subramaniam. The private affair that crystallised in September translated into an even more private, unpretentious ceremony at Bangalore. Just 25 relatives and no friends were present forthe ceremony, solemnised by priests sent by the Shankaracharya and Guru Ganapati Sachidanandan Swami. Krishnamurthy then flew to South Africa on the night of November 15, while Dr Subramanian stays back in Mumbai for some recordings before proceeding to the US. ``We will come back in January and give a reception for friends and relatives,'' promised the couple.

Two reasons why neither of them could wait: ``Love and wagging tongues,'' according to Krishnamurty, whose voice has adorned many a song in films like Mr India, 1942 A Love Story, Bombay and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. ``I was too much in love with him to wait. If we did, we would have obviously gone out on dinner dates and I would have waited at his studio for him to finish work. And scandal was the last thing I wanted affixed to my name,'' she candidly said.

But what was the first meeting like anyway? ``We knew each other, obviously. But the first special rendezvous happened when I shortlisted her for my Global Fusion album earlier this year,'' saidDr Subramanian. They met again for the musician's double album with crooner Lucky Ali. And again for a concert at Shanmukhananda Hall. Now, Krishnamurthy is looking forward to working on more projects with her hubby.

``While I had started liking him extraordinarily by June, by August, I knew that he felt the same about me,'' she revealed. ``It wasn't just his music magic, I found that over a period of time that he is the right concoction of perfectionism, hard work and melody,'' added Krishnamurthy. The exponent reciprocates the feelings, saying it was her nature that drew him to her.

``She is a wonderful person, untouched by her celebrity status. And she loves children,'' said Dr Subramanian, who has four children from his two earlier marriages. ``And both of us are very spiritual persons, drawn to same gurus,'' added the violin maestro. The beaming bride says she didn't even have the time to shop for her trousseau. The honours were, however, done on her behalf within 48 hours by her Delhi-based sisterNandita and brother-in-law Shamsher.

``Fortunately, Dr Subramaniam is a nice person and doesn't want any dowry. So we were spared the effort of buying anything else.'' The couple, though, did have time for a short honeymoon at Mahableshwar.