Avid viewers of new home-reno reality series House Rules NZ have fallen for the charms of Nikita and Sherwen Manik, who have been married for 10 years and constantly take the mickey out of each other.
It’s clear that despite the ribbing, their love runs deep, but life hasn’t always been so light-hearted. For the past five years, this endearing Auckland couple has faced an uphill battle as they fought to have a family of their own.
Several miscarriages, a difficult labour and many life challenges were thrown their way, though their fun-loving nature got them through.
When asked how they met, Nikita, 34, makes it clear it definitely wasn’t love at first sight. “I’ve known Sherwen for years,” she explains. “He’s good friends with my brother, but for some reason, I just didn’t like him.”
Hoppy memories! Sherwen and Nikita cried every day they were away from their kids Aria and Jaden. “We’ve never been away from them before.”
Financial advisor Sherwen, 36, nods in agreement. “The feeling was mutual. Nikita has a very standoff-ish vibe.”
Rolling her eyes, Nikita continues, “He thought he was God’s gift to women, but fast-forward 10 years to my brother’s wedding and… Let’s just say there was alcohol involved!”
Sherwen jumps in to add that Nikita friended him on Facebook the very next day. “No, you messaged me!” Nikita cries.
Either way, they somehow made it two dates in before Sherwen confessed he had no desire to have kids. Nikita says, “I wasn’t sure if I should waste my time. I nearly called it quits.”
But just after a month, Sherwen dropped the “L word” and, two years later, he proposed.
He tells us, “I was scared of having kids, purely because of the standards my parents set – what they did for us in coming to New Zealand from South Africa and starting from zero. I always worried about whether I could be that selfless for my own children. I wanted to find my feet first.”
It turns out he just needed to find the right person. Sadly, it would take two years and many miscarriages before that would happen for Nikita and Sherwen.
“We went through some fertility treatments, to no avail,” says Nikita, who works as a nurse. “It was a horrible journey. You need to have gone through three years of infertility to be put on a waitlist for IVF, but because I would fall pregnant and then miscarry, that counts as a pregnancy. It felt like we were constantly chasing our tails.”
Miraculously, two years into the process, Nikita stayed pregnant with Aria, now four.
“It just happened on its own, which was such a relief,” smiles Nikita. “We were so happy to have Aria, but after the pain it took to get there, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be ready to go through that again.”
Welcome home, baby! The couple have handed over the keys for the TV reno.
But a couple of years later, just a month after Nikita went off the contraceptive pill, Jaden, who’s now one, was conceived.
Sherwen laughs, “It came as a surprise to me – she forgot to tell me she’d gone off the Pill!”
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Towards the end of the pregnancy, Nikita became unwell and ended up in hospital with pneumonia.
At the same time, they were presented with an offer on their house. They accepted, not realising the settlement date was in just three weeks’ time, and found themselves having to pack up their home in the same week Nikita was released from hospital.
At 37 weeks pregnant, Nikita began having complications with Jaden and was told she could be induced at any time. They quickly put everything in a storage locker and moved in with Nikita’s parents. Four days later, she had to be induced.
“We were super-excited and then it didn’t happen for a week,” Nikita tells.
“They tried all the methods and nothing happened. Five days later, they said, ‘We’re going to do a Caesarean.'”
Luckily, Jaden arrived safe and sound, and the family of four stayed with Nikita’s parents for three months before finding the house that we’re seeing get renovated on House Rules. The hardest part of the reality show has been being separated from Aria and Jaden during filming.
“We cried every day,” says Nikita. “We’ve never been away from them before. But it helped knowing they were with their grandparents.”
Never ones to take the easy road, Nikita smiles, “We always like to take the scenic route. Nothing is ever straightforward.”
House Rules screens 7.30pm Sunday to Tuesday on Three.
