When I first met Gursimar back in 2016, it was through my older sister, Jessica. At the time, Gursimar and I were both in relationships, which honestly made it easier to be just friends- genuinely just friends. We eventually made a friend group that formed naturally, and for a few years we spent almost every weekend together. We even went to the same university, UNT (go Eagles!), so life kept us crossing paths in the easiest, most effortless ways. But as life does, it got busy. Then the infamous COVID-19 era hit, changing everyone’s world, and we slowly started to lose touch. Still, we never fully disappeared from each other’s lives. Fast forward to 2021. We had both gone through heartbreak and our own chapters of personal growth. Even during all that time apart, we stayed connected through social media; still cheering for each other from the sidelines throughout all of our side-quests. When the world finally began to open up again, a friend of mine reached out to Gursimar, and suddenly the idea of getting the old friend group back together felt exciting. The moment we saw each other again, it was like no time had passed. We’ve always had a great time together, and it hit both of us on how short life is and how important good friends really are. That’s also when Gursimar learned that I was single, and had been for a while, and let’s just say he wasted absolutely no time making his intentions clear to me! From day one, it was apparent that he had one thing on his mind: me. At first, I only saw him as a friend. But little by little, I started to wonder what it would be like to be more than that. As time went on, he showed me not only his good intentions, but the incredible heart behind those intentions. Surely enough I realized I couldn’t ignore what I was feeling any longer. So, I said yes to going on a date with him, and as cliché as it sounds, the rest truly was history. With each passing day, I got to know him in new ways, learning things about him that I somehow never noticed in all our years of friendship. When I officially met his family, everything made sense. The kindness, the integrity, the warmth; he came from a line of genuine, loving people, and it showed in everything he did and everyone he'd meet. I was not looking for a relationship at the time, but saying no to the best thing that had ever happened to me started to become impossible. After months of talking and going on dates, we made our relationship official in August 2022. Very quickly, we both knew this was end-game and we got engaged in May 2024. Every day since, I fall more in love with him. I had never met a more kind-hearted, genuine, and charismatic guy in my life; and I truly feel so humbled that God chose me to be his wife. I am constantly reminded that I made the right, and best, decision. It has become so clear to me that every good and perfect gift comes from above, and that is exactly how I see Gursimar.

I met Ashley in 2016, but technically, I met her sister first. I pulled up to my boy’s place and met Jessica, and we hit it off instantly- like we’d been best friends in another life. At one point she literally said, “If you like me, you’ll love my sisters.” Challenge accepted. I had a house party the very next week and told her to bring them through. That’s when I met Ashley- and overnight, we became homies. No awkwardness, no trying too hard… just easy friendship. We were into the same music, the same stupid jokes, the same memes, and honestly just the same mission: have fun with our newfound friend group. And I’m going to be real… I always told people she was my favorite Jalal. (Sorry to everyone else, but they knew.) But then life did its thing. People grew, people moved, Covid hit, and our friend group went through the natural shuffle. We weren’t as close for a few years- and looking back, that was probably the best thing that could’ve happened. We didn’t see each other during our chaotic “learning how to be single adults” era after both being in long-term relationships basically since high school. Then came 2021. One random day, I get a call from her friend, and I hear Ashley giggling in the background. Immediately my brain shut down and focused on one thing. I didn’t even hesitate- I asked right there on that phone call, “Girl, are you single?!” She laughed, said yes, and that was it. Plot activated. Ashley didn't even know this part- after that call, I planned a house party a couple of weeks later, specifically checking to make sure she would be able to come. I threw a whole 50-person party… just to recreate the same setting we met in back in 2016. I only needed one person there, but I invited 49 extras to make it look normal. From the second she walked in, I knew exactly what I wanted. I already knew she was an amazing person, I knew we vibed, but now that we were both in a different phase of life, I wasn’t about to let the moment pass. One thing about me? I’m persistent. And I think she secretly admired that, because she said yes to a first date. And just like she said in her version… everything after that was history. But here’s the part she doesn’t brag about: as the days and months went by, I kept realizing she was even more incredible than I ever knew she could be. She is genuinely the sweetest, funniest, prettiest, most caring woman God could have drawn up for me. Ashley is my answered prayer, my biggest blessing, and the best thing that has ever happened to me. I’m beyond grateful for her, her family, and the life we’re building together.