Wedding Party
Aparna Bhattacharyya
Maid of Honor
All the Eras: From Friends to Forever Sisters Part 1: The day my life got a whole lot girlier Ankita and I met when she was 8 and I was 10. Sitting in her apartment in Toronto while she played make-believe, my first thought was, “Who is this girl and why should I talk to her?” This soon evolved into “Yay, we can be weird together,” which pretty much sums up the next 27 years. While she was into miniskirts, makeup, and rom-coms, and personality tests, I was more interested in video games, sports, and collecting weird pets. Despite those differences, our shared love of hypothetical scenarios, food, and science— and a mutual aversion to socializing and being “typical” young adults cemented our sisterhood. Part 2: Enter the CMB match aka Nadeem Couch potato-ing in a trio as per usual, Ankita handed her phone to Jo and me due to swiping fatigue. As the person whose response was a reflexive “ew” to every guy she would ever show me, I decided to give him a chance (you’re welcome Nadeem). It takes a brave man to join our trio, but Nadeem braved the madness. I’m happy to officially share my sister with him—mostly because he’s the only person I trust to cherish her as I much as I do.
Mathieu Seyfrid
Best Man
Nadeem and I started to chat in the lunch break room of the institute we were both working at after a dozen times of just saying hi out of politeness in the corridor. He later invited me to his shared-house summer party which I didn’t expect. It was a cool time. Cool guy. Wait, actually AWESOME guy! And that was the opening act of a crazy few (too few) years laughing, debating, on colourful rides through pubs, woods and monuments, on bikes, planes and boats. Now I'm counting the months separating us from August and getting to know Ankita IRL!
Joanna Choi
Maid of Honor
I met Ankita during her "med school era". We met on the first day of med school orientation and instantly bonded over the fact that we were both Canadian! Because of her friendly and kind personality, we quickly became close friends. We would always be hanging out at her apartment, chatting away and watching TV late into the night (and of course, some studying too), and so after a year, we naturally decided to become roommates. For the rest of med school, we were pretty much inseparable and were even given the nickname Jokita! We like to try different restaurants and cocktail bars together and are travel buddies to countries all over the world. Although we are no longer roommates, I live just down the street from Ankita and Nadeem and so I get to hang out with the couple all the time!
Nejib Chekir
Best Man
It started with Nadeem and a simple ask Recall and recount out first encounter I really thought it would be an easy task But my memory had a plan to alter All it knows is Mathieu is somewhat involved Asking Nadeem for help got swiftly dissolved "I want to hear your side of the story!" My will is to succeed but all is blurry! Mathieu surely has a better memory! A bicycle ride in twenty-twenty? He agrees he likely put us in contact Perhaps a camping trip but all is abstract Shame picks up on us, is it twenty-eighteen? Would a quick email search make me redeem? December thirteen two thousand eighteen Is the first email I got from Nadeem A normal house party at an old friend That Mathieu recommended to attend Is this it? So many possibilities Maybe one of Nadeem's famous parties All you have to know about this simple ask The friendship between Nadeem and I will last Despite my goodwill my quest got terminated My faltering memory is not overrated
Anirudha Rathnam
Bridesmaid
Hi, I'm Anirudha and I'm also part of Ankita's "Med School Era". I guess it was one with multiple albums! I met Ankita during the first week of medical school while my parents were helping me move into the university apartments. Ankita and her parents were taking a walk around midtown Detroit while I was loading a moving bin outside. Her dad walked up to me and made introductions, saying he thought we would get along - he was right! We've remained good friends ever since. Throughout med school we bonded over our passion for the street medicine movement. Even though we've since moved to different states since then, we still make time and visit each other and Ankita has been to each of the 4 states I have moved to! I'm looking forward to being a part of her and Nadeem's next big adventure.
Ana Mora
Groomswoman
I met Nadeem in 10th grade. During high school we went on a lot of random adventures in our hometown and hung out a bunch at school - I think we were basically inseparable until University. Some highlights include playing in the jungle gym at the local elementary schools at night, starting a mass group sing along with strangers of "O, Canada" in downtown Vancouver, the many times we went for free birthday burgers at Red Robin's and the many times he got not so free burgers at the A&W I worked at. He remains one of the very few people I still keep in touch with after all these years, and one of my oldest friends. I had the honor of having Nadeem be part of my own wedding party and am honored to now be a part of his. I am so incredibly happy that Nadeem has found his forever person in Ankita - who happens to be so cool, kind and AWESOME!!
Nicole Keane
Bridesmaid
Welcome to Ankita’s Attending Era I moved to Philly and met my fellow bridesmaid Amanda Albrecht while completing a Point-of-Care Ultrasound fellowship at UPenn. When I told her I planned to start a position at Temple, she said, "you have got to meet Ankita." Without that introduction I don’t think I would’ve made the "friend cut" but thankfully I did! Ever since, we’ve been celebrating our professional goals, and of course, the occasional bitch fest. We also spend our time exploring Philly’s Foodie scene, an occasional game night that must include pandemic and of course, Ankita’s mistress… the Eagles, GO BIRDS! [Thankfully Nadeem loves her in spite of this addiction]
Alvin Chien
Groomsman
I, Alvin, am Nadeem's friend from his time at UBC, and a part of the Macaroni Mops group, a group of friends named after an explicit lyric from Cardi B. The demure and shy one of the group, he spends his time learning and taking photographs. Nadeem, Alvin, and the rest of the group meet every Monday to contemplate complex topics like if breast milk is vegan, or to make a fruit tier list. They also spend their time watching anime together, including a Singaporean show they both love.
Amanda Albrecht
Bridesmaid
Ankita and I met during orientation for our residency. On the mural arts trolley tour, I sat next to her when I realized she was Canadian—mostly because, growing up in Buffalo, I’ve basically been paying Toronto taxes my whole life anyway. We survived residency the only way you can: by clinging to each other through miserable night shifts and hitting every restaurant in the city the moment we were off the clock. When Ankita brought Nadeem over for dinner for the first time, I was happy she had found her person. I am excited to be celebrating with the couple!
Arash Samiei
Groomsman
I met Nadeem in UBC during our undergrad years as a member of the “Science Ladha gang,” as we bonded over our midterms and the random adventures that our group went on. After he moved to Toronto and then Philadelphia, despite many kilometers in between us, I knew that he would always be there if I messaged him about an annoying colleague, question about dating, a lame joke, or anything in between. Whenever we end up in the same city, I could rely on him to be down for a good time out in town. Over the years Nadeem has become one of my closest and most dependable friends.
Millicent "Bobo" Chatterjee
Bestest Dog of Honour
I am basically the glue keeping these hoomans together. Yes, I'm progressive; I allow my staff one night off per year. Please send all gifts directly to my crate.