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 The three, Balarama, Krishna and Sudhama (also called Sridhama or Kuchela) studied together under Guru Sandipani. Sudhama was afraid of Balarama, but loved Krishna. This love turned to a flawless single-minded devotion later, despite the fact that he was stricken with dire poverty. 
The three marriages
All the three married in due course. Krishna married Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambhavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Satya, Bhadra and Lakshmana and 16,000 others! Balarama married Revathi and Sudhama married Kshutkshaama (name given in Srimad Bhagavatam, which means 'the one emaciated due to self-enforced starvation'. She is also popularly called Susheela. Sudhama called her Kalyani, the most auspicious one).
The wife's suggestion
Sudhama was derisively called Kuchela by all as he was always wearing clothes in tatters. His only concern in life was selfless love for his friend and classmate in gurukulavasa, Sri Krishna. His wife, however, could not endure such poverty for long. She made bold to suggest to her husband that he should approach Sri Krishna for meaningful assistance.
Sudhama's problem
Sudhama was quite amenable to his wife's suggestion, for this gave him an opportunity to meet his dear friend again. However, there was a problem. When anyone visited a ruler or a rich man, or an old man, or an infant, or the sick and infirm, tradition enjoined that some gift must be presented to them, atleast a lime fruit. Even now, this practice is in vogue. But Kuchela had nothing, absolutely nothing.
Kshutkshaama's solution
His wife managed somehow to prepare four handfulls of fried puffed rice, tied it carefully in a bundle and gave it to her husband. Overjoyed, Sudhama set out for Dwaraka on foot and after easy travelling, thanks to the Lord, found himself there soon.
Unique Privilege
He had easy passage into Rukmini's palace. On seeing his friend from a distance, Sri Krishna jumped up and ran to meet him and then embraced him heartily, to the astonishment of all concerned. Here was the Lord rushing to meet a poor brahmin - probably the poorest in the land - and embracing him so lovingly, certainly a rare and unique privilege on any count.
Holy water tradition
Krishna received his friend most warmly, guided him to his own seat, made him sit there comfortably and, then together with Rukmini, washed his weary feet and sprinkled the water on his own and Rukmini's head. A Brahmin guest was treated as a God in those days. Aditi Devo Bhava - let the guest be a God unto you -
Taittiriyopanishad.
Who is this bag of skin and bones?
The people watching all this were bewildered and rendered speechless. "Who is this emaciated, skin-and-bones brahmin, to whom the Lord is paying such obeisance and giving respect, affection and love, to this unbelievable extent?" - this was their wonder. Rukmini was also fanning the brahmin with an ornate fan made of peacock feathers. Krishna started reminiscing about those happy old times at Sandipani ashram...
(to continue)
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