By Sherris Moreira-Byers
Herald Staff Writer

One enchanted evening Leanna Graney of New Wilmington and Mahendran Kuppusamy of Singapore met and eventually fell in love, but it wasn’t at a Viennese cafe with dripping candles, or on top of the Empire State Building.

Instead it was over the Internet.

The couple, who are separated by 10,000 miles, met each other in a chat room which is an online way for people to type messages to each other.

"I was in the chat room on Dec. 27, 1999, and it was pretty bad, a lot of obscene language, and I was going to leave it when I saw someone ask for some intellectual conversation," said Kuppusamy, 33, an attorney with a law firm in Singapore. "When I saw that, I grabbed for it."

And in reaching across the world through their computers, they touched hearts.

"It was really unexpected," said Kuppusamy, 33. "I was excited about meeting friends from all over the world, but I never thought I’d fall in love."

After chatting a few times online, the two decided to begin writing letters to each other via e-mail, and then downloaded instant messaging software that enabled them to write back and forth instantly. They had to arrange convenient hours to do that because of the time difference.

"There’s a 12 hour time difference between Singapore and Pennsylvania, and 13 hours when it’s Daylight Savings Time," Kuppusamy said.

Ms. Graney, an independent consultant who works as program director for the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts, said their friendship grew as they had philosophical conversations online and by telephone.

"We began downloading our conversations on disk, so that we could load them in and re-read them at anytime," she said.

After months of conversations, the couple decided to meet in person in July, choosing a neutral spot, Sedona, Ariz.

"He would come back to Pennsylvania to meet with my kids if everything went well in Arizona," Ms. Graney said. "Prior to our meeting, we really knew it was going to be a special friendship; I felt love for him, but I didn’t feel in love with him."

That all changed at the airport.

"It was a big step for me, because no one in my family had been to the U.S.," said Kuppusamy, who studied law in England. "But when I saw her there, saw her smile, I thought, ‘she is the one.’ "

Ms. Graney felt the same way, but she also thought it was important for him to come back to her home in New Wilmington after their week together in Arizona.

"Anyone can have a great time with anyone away from home, but more than anything I wanted him to see how committed to my children I was; how they are an integral part of my life," she said. "I also needed to see if I would feel comfortable with him in my day to day life."

Kuppusamy returned to Singapore after 10 days in New Wilmington but both realized that they wanted to pursue their relationship.

Among the challenges the couple faced, besides distance and high phone bills, was their cultural background.

Kuppusamy, born in Singapore and of Indian descent, is Hindu, while Ms. Graney is Christian. But neither sees their individual beliefs as a problem.

"We both have a deep respect and admiration for each other’s religious beliefs," she said. "We are studying the New Testament together, and I have visited Hindu temples with and without him."

Another visit by Kuppusamy in December strengthened the couple’s resolve to be together.

"We have decided our future will be together. When and how remains to be seen," said Ms. Graney. "But the where is decided. We will live in the United States."

She is thankful for the technology that helps somewhat to ease the pain of separation.

"We’re setting up a quick cam video so that we can video conference with each other," Ms. Graney said. The camera enables the couple to see each other and talk through a microphone.

"Because of my love for him, it’s forced me into technology that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise." she said. "And though it’s not the same as actually being together, it still gives us a way to be together."