Like every happy bride in the world, Sonali Mukherjee is glowing, giggling when anyone mentions the brand new suffix to her name, Tewary.

Sonali, Jharkhand's most famous acid attack victim, who has survived despite her scars, significant vision loss and a host of medical problems that followed in the wake of the 2003 brutality, has now finally found her fairytale.

Her groom, Chitranjan Tewary, whom she married at a Bokaro court on Wednesday, has the looks to be a Prince Charming. But, calling him Prince Sincerity will be more apt.

Handsome, around 6ft tall and an electrical engineer with Bhushan Energy Limited (BEL) at Meramandali in Dhenkanal, Odisha, 29-year-old Chitranjan is a good catch.

But, instead of the typical "fair, pretty" girls, he fell in love with Sonali's inner beauty.

He knew Sonali's story from media reports and from her television appearances. But, it was six months ago, when the 29-year-old managed to get her contact number.

When he called her up, his initial pity quickly turned to enchantment.

Sonali, now 30, speaks beautiful Hindi and English. She is also bright and articulate. Chitranjan discovered he was calling her up virtually every day. Impulsively, he also sent all of his salary to her bank account for her treatment.

In short, he was a man in love.

At first, Sonali did not know what to make of it. But, she was impressed by his shy sincerity. Then, four months ago, Chitranjan asked her to meet him. It wasn't a normal date, as the venue was Jagannath temple, Puri. It was clear his intentions were serious.

Sonali told her parents about this young man. Her parents took her to Puri where she met Chitranjan. After two days, Chitranjan popped the question.

Sonali took a day's time to talk it over with Chitranajan. "I wanted him to understand what he was getting into," Sonali said.

But, Chitranjan was adamant. "He kept telling me he was impressed with my inner beauty," Sonali said.

Seeing their daughter happy after years, her parents agreed. A few family members grumbled. Some were angry. Nevertheless, Chitranjan, during the puja at Jagannath temple, introduced Sonali as Sonali Mukherjee Tewary.

She laughed again. "So, it a Gandharwa vivah (love marriage) with Jagannathji's blessings four months ago. The civil marriage happened on April 15 and the social marriage will take place on May 15," she said.

They kept the court marriage a secret till they signed papers on Wednesday afternoon as Chitranajan's father has been strongly opposed to this union.

But, on Thursday, talking exclusively to The Telegraph at Adarsh Nagar Colony, the rented house where Sonali lives with her parents and younger brother, the groom said: "I feel relieved and relaxed."

"Pray for me and my husband who dared to marry me knowing about my medical problems and looks," Sonali whispered.

"Sonali's pain made me cry. So, when my proposal made her smile, I felt blessed. If she needs, I won't hesitate to quit my job to become her eyes and limbs," her husband promised.

Chitranjan did his schooling from Shiksha Niketan High School, Telco, in Jamshedpur. He obtained a diploma in engineering from Krupajal Engineering College Bhubaneswar and a BTech from Kalinga Institute of Technology in the same city before starting to work.

Even as a teenager, he had decided to marry a girl who had suffered, Chitranjan said. "I believe in Indian values. But, our society is male-dominated. There's male chauvinism. Women don't get enough respect," he said.

He knows all about Sonali since that fateful attack. Her family moved to Bokaro, made countless appeals for her treatment to the government, plastic surgeons and NGOs. Years went by. Sonali became something of a national role model when she appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati with actress and former Miss Universe Lara Dutta, Amitabh Bachchan praising her "immense courage" on national television.

Last year, she got a government job in the welfare department, Bokaro collectorate. Her medical problems remain. The stares and shudders of many remain. But, Sonali also knows she commands respect now.

Honeymoon plans? Both blushed. "After the social marriage," said Sonali. "Where we go depends on her," Chitranjan said.