It's fascinating how our paths aligned in high school, even though Arun and I didn't really connect until we were about 15 and 16 years old. Cue Shilpa, Arun's cousin and the master matchmaker, swooped in to introduce us at a baby’s first birthday party. As fate would have it, we found ourselves seated opposite one another at the same table. In those initial moments, Arun seemed quite timid but yet as the evening unfolded he gradually began to open up. Unexpectedly, he pulls this move, smooth as can be, sliding my ring off one finger and onto my ring finger. Weird right? But hey, I rolled with it. The night rolled on with awkward chats and laughs. I decided to break the ice by going in for a hug to convey a friendly 'nice to meet you.' Classic move, right? Wrong. Arun? He goes for a high five! Little did I know, that unexpected encounter was just the beginning of something way more interesting. Buckle up, because that's when my whole world decided to take a wild turn to lead me straight to my future husband!

To know a little about our journey to marriage, you have to know who we were before we met. Back in the day, I was a shy teen, more committed to LeBron James than any girl that walked by. Enter Priya, the social butterfly– very outgoing, and friends with nearly everyone you could think of...


Now, when I first laid eyes on Priya, I thought, Shes gorgeous, but talking to her? Impossible. Fast forward a year later, destiny decided to play its cards at a baby’s birthday party. Priya was there, and let me tell you, it felt like we were in a low-budget Bollywood film. Cue the slow-mo wind, her hair doing a perfect dance routine, and me standing there like a deer in headlights.


Being the shy guy that I was, I couldnt fathom approaching her without embarrassing myself. But did that stop me? Of course not! Liquid courage became my sidekick and turned me from shy kid to a walking cringe-fest.


So, I decided to try a pick up line, telling her that her name, Priya, meant beautiful (spoiler: it did not). And for reasons still unknown to me, I thought stealing a ring off her finger and placing it on her ring finger was a genius move.


Surprisingly, my master plan of making a fool of myself worked like a charm. Who knew that a combination of awkwardness and questionable pick-up lines would lead to the grand finale – marriage? So that’s how I, fueled by LeBron love and misguided confidence, turned a cringe-worthy encounter into a lifetime partnership. Moral of the story: sometimes, being a fool is the key to unlocking true love.

Fast forward almost 11 years later, Arun learned there’s more to life than Lebron James and videogames. Priya learned to embrace life in the present and that she no longer needs to shop for clothes since she has Arun's wardrobe to raid. Through thick and thin, we faced numerous battles together, but when the day came to a close, one thing remained constant: we always had each other. From navigating the halls of high school to the whirlwind of undergraduate and graduate school, we've been each other's constant companions through every step of the way. Together, we've not only grown side by side but also flourished individually, each milestone shaping us in ways that complement our growth as a couple.We're incredibly excited about embarking on this wonderful journey called marriage. Your prayers and well-wishes mean the world to us, so please keep us in your thoughts as we step into this new chapter of our lives together!