SHREYA(italics) . . . . . . . . . . . . SAMEER(bold)

Do you believe in chances?

In things that are miraculous?

I've always thought coincidences

Were God's way of remaining anonymous

It's quite the coincidence isn't it

That we were both in Melbourne at that time

She missed her train (and my presentation)

But we ended up in the same Uber that night

A large ballroom and glittering gowns

He looked quite dashing in that suit

It took a while for me to ask her to dance

But I couldn't help it she looked so cute

Dinner the next night never happened

I waited for hours, then left with friends

I didn't get her message in time

And for 16 months that was the end

But then one day her Facebook story

About being in neurosurgery came my way

Scrubbed up and smiling with confidence

I took a chance and messaged her - "Hey"

I was surprised to see the message "So awesome"

And soon we started a conversation

It wasn't long before we were messaging daily

Two hearts connecting over an ocean

Getting closer and closer over messages

But still so far away in person

I tried to come see her

First Wellington, then Dunedin

But the timing was always uncertain

I kept waiting for him to book the flights

But three times he changed his mind

So I signed up for a conference

Where I knew he would be

I knew it was finally our time

And so our story landed back in Wellington

I didn't know what to say

I had given up hope

Went to climb Mt Victoria alone

When running back towards me, she came

I thought he had forgotten about me

So I decided to go to the BYO with my friends

But at the last moment I saw his message

"What are you doing tonight?"

And back towards him under the stars, I ran

That night we walked along the waterfront

Talking about anything and everything for hours

We had Lucky Burger and ginger hot chocolates

Making the most of this time that was ours

But time carried on as it always does

And we had to return back to the marae

For me I had realised she was the one

I had thought that again this would be goodbye

I messaged her from the airport

I was so happy and surprised to hear from him

The next day I booked my flights to Dunedin

That news gave me the biggest grin

I had it all planned out perfectly

Timed it for sunrise at Roy's peak

But she was moving away for work

So I knew I had to speak

I still wasn't sure what we were

I was waiting for an explanation

Then at 3am one morning he asked me

"Would you like to do a joint application?"

So I asked without actually asking

But I hoped she would understand my riddle

I was ready to follow her anywhere

But she said "I'll meet you in the middle"

Our first date was in Wanaka and Queenstown

I showed him my favourite Dunedin spots

Then she came to visit me in Tauranga

And we ended up in lockdown for a month

As soon as university finished

We were together at last

We drove up the length of the country

The time of long distance had finally passed

We settled down in Palmerston North

What could be better than this?

Building a home together

Creating our own little haven of bliss

Before I knew it a year had passed

We were now halves of each other's lives

So I decided to make it official

I decided it was finally time...

We went back to Wellington for our anniversary

Reminiscing of the times that had been

Then on top of Mount Victoria

He got down on one knee

I was so nervous that day

All I wanted was for her to say yes

And now there is a wedding

Married life awaits us next!!