It all began in June 2019. Ankit was deep into his medical school rotations in New Jersey, juggling long hospital hours and the chaos of clinical life. One evening, in the middle of all the stress, fate worked quietly through a dating app called Dil Mil. That’s where Ankit and Ishika’s paths first crossed. Curiosity turned into conversation, and conversation turned into something more. Within days, they decided to meet in person. Their very first date was at a lively Tex-Mex spot called Jose Tejas, where laughter, comfort, and an unexpected ease between them set the stage for everything that was to come. The spark was undeniable, and neither of them wanted to wait too long to see each other again. The very next evening, they went on their second date at a bowling alley. That night brought one of Ishika’s favorite memories: Ankit, with his charming clumsiness, dropped a hot dog right on his white shirt. Instead of embarrassment, he simply smiled—his big, bright smile that would later become her favorite thing—and wiped it off like it was nothing. Ishika couldn’t stop giggling, and in that moment, she saw the lightheartedness in him that she’d come to love. From then on, they started meeting regularly. Their go-to spot? The most infamous food place for every Indian—Taco Bell. Over burritos and tacos, they built a rhythm, turning casual meet-ups into something much deeper. As Ankit wrapped up his rotations in New Jersey and New York, life threw its first challenge their way: long distance. Neither of them had been too keen on the idea, but by then, what they had was too special to let go. They decided to give it a shot. Their love carried them across state lines. Ishika even flew down to Miami, Florida, where Ankit was completing another month of rotations, to be with him. That trip proved that distance couldn’t weaken what they had—it only made their connection stronger. The pattern continued as Ankit matched into his residency program in Georgia. While long distance was never the plan, their commitment to one another turned it into something beautiful. Calls, visits, and the promise of a shared future kept them going. Looking back, it all started with a swipe on Dil Mil, a dinner at Jose Tejas, laughter at a bowling alley, and far too many Taco Bell runs. What grew from those moments was a bond strong enough to withstand distance, time, and the unpredictability of life—a love story that was just getting started.