We connected through a dating app and subsequently had the best first date of our lives in May of 2023. When we met for brunch, we felt a connection and acceptance that we had never experienced before. The brunch date transformed into a full day of adventure that found us enjoying a picnic at a beautiful winery, hoping the day would never end. A few weeks later we took a weekend trip to hike in North Cascades National Park. By the end of the trip, we each realized we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We have been sharing adventures and building a life together ever since.

In February of 2024, we traveled to India to visit Lekha's parents as a couple for the first time. After spending a few days in Mumbai, the whole family travelled together to tour the splendid desert culture and architecture of Jaisalmer. Lekha's family then returned to Mumbai while we continued our adventure through the state of Rajasthan. A couple of days later we drove up the Aravali Range to the stunning "City of Lakes", Udaipur. Our exploration of the city and its palaces led to a boat ride to the island palace of Jag Mandir. Once on the island, we entered the palace garden and walked to the water's edge to enjoy the view across the lake of the City Palace. While Lekha was distracted, Mitch withdrew the ring from a silk pouch in his pocket. He had carried it there throughout the trip, waiting for the perfect moment. He was already on one knee and mid-proposal when Lekha turned around in complete surprise. She answered with an emphatic "Yes!" and dropped to her knees as well to embrace him. We stayed in that embrace for a long time, letting the waves of emotion sweep through us. When we recovered, we had a bystander take photos and proceeded to a euphoric lunch. We sipped expensive champagne as we sat overlooking the water. Despite the amazing view, we could not keep our eyes off of each other and the glittering ring.