~ PJ ... ~ Priya’s training is technically political science and business, but her love for cinema and storytelling has always defined her. After years of splitting time between her day job and independent media (including starring in the indie film Arrange to Settle), she took the plunge and founded the Chitra Mitra production house. She now works in both the English- and Kannada-language media markets, including writing and directing the full-length Kannada movies Guttu and e-Preeti (which earned her a multi-page writeup in the Washington Post, check it out!). When not busy with clients, laughing about Prateek’s ridiculous behavior while they catch up on their favorite NPR and Netflix shows keeps her days light and happy. Her favorite hobbies include obsessing with The Young Turks’ politics coverage, campaigning for Progressives, and her new role as Prateek’s designated tech support provider and Kannada coach.

~ PG ... ~ Prateek went to school one morning and just never came back: undergrad, med school, residency, NIH training, rheumatology fellowship... When they ran out of classes for him to take, he started working in a teaching hospital so he’d never have to leave med school again. Years of listening to patients’ complaints have groomed him well for marriage. Prateek should spend most of his free time updating patient notes and working on academic presentations and papers. Instead, he spends it leaving goofy love notes for Priya all around their apartment and playing games on his phone. Despite claiming to be smarter than the average bear, Prateek’s penchant for chasing headstrong wayward females led him to adopt Alysha doggie. Not having learned his lesson, he’s now insisting on cementing another, even bigger rebel (Priya) into his life. Prateek can be found being desperately behind on deadlines, and making up silly songs to sing to Priya (and Alysha).

~ ... and Doogggiiieee ~ Alysha was rescued from her life of juvenile delinquency after she and her co-conspirator were busted in South Carolina (one would distract the store owner while the other stole sausages). And now? Doggie is ecstatic about the promise of getting simultaneous scritchies from these two people she loves. Her hobbies include chasing squirrels and being happy so much that she once sprained her tail from wagging too hard (true story).

Prateek met Priya at the 2016 VSNA convention when she was leading a discussion on applying ancient Hindu Veerashaiva teachings about social justice to our behavior towards the modern struggles around us. Inspired, he struck up a conversation with her afterwards and then worked up the nerve to ask her out a week later: For their first date, what was supposed to be just an afternoon at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival turned into chit-chatting until 4:30am. The next night, their meet-up for a “quick dessert” at Cheesecake Factory ended when they were thrown out two hours after closing time (neither had realized the staff had already closed and cleaned the restaurant around them). Many a phone call and text ensued. The only problem? Priya didn’t realize Prateek and she were dating until a month later, which explains why they both celebrate their anniversary on different dates. Fast forward three years and many an adventure through India, France, and the US together, and here we are, excited to share marking the start of our official lives together with all of you!