“I didn’t take you for a Joey Tribbiani person.”

“I’m not; I actually like Chandler more.”

That was our first conversation, sparked by a reference to a WhatsApp status Madiha hasn’t changed since 2016.

We met in class a few days later. Madiha, anxious about new faces in a new environment, and Faahim, more concerned about unwanted socializing, plotting to bail on the mixer event for the day (and yes, he did bail, and no, Madiha has never forgiven him for it).

That was Day 1. Even then, we knew we’d be close—two polar opposites who just happened to enjoy each other’s company.

This led to a thousand different side quests: Shake Shack indulgences, carefully curated comic book reading lists, arcade trips, movie escapes, and endless conversations in random places.

We really did enjoy each other’s company.

A year later, we graduated, and a whole new chapter awaited. Faahim left for India, and Madiha kick-started her career in Dubai.

Even though our lives seemed to be branching out in different directions, the conversations never ended.

During one such conversation in 2018, amidst Madiha’s claims of being the prettiest girl at Faahim’s very hypothetical wedding at the time, he asked her an important question:

“Do you think we have a chance?”

Perhaps, we had always known the answer to this question. Because we were polar opposites from different worlds, who had found joy in simply being together. He was her rock, and she was his anchor.

Now, here we are, years (and a thousand more side quests) later, celebrating our love for each other.

This November, at Faahim’s very real wedding, Madiha will undoubtedly be the prettiest girl there.

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