In the era of swipes, clicks, and matches, around September 2020, we were in a world that had just come to a screeching halt because of the COVID pandemic. Rajvi was a go getter finishing up her undergrad studies with no time for a relationship. Kirtan was a laid-back medical student who was perfectly happy with life and hanging out with the “boys”. Bored, separated from the world, and tired of Netflix binge-watching, the two swiped right on each other’s Dil-Mil profiles without a second thought. She liked his charming smile, and he liked her bright brown eyes. That was all, for now. Neither of them had any idea that the other would be more than just another face in a stack of dating app matches. A few months of texting, Facetiming and some light Instagram stalking piqued their curiosity. Finding time to meet eluded them but finally a date was set for them to meet. They met for the first time at a Mexican restaurant in January of 2021 on a particularly cold evening. Nearly two hours flew by over drinks, chips and salsa, and rapid-fire banter. It felt as nothing missed a beat from the internet to reality. Kirtan admired Rajvi’s quick wit, compassion and adventurous nature, while Rajvi was charmed by Kirtan’s sarcastic sense of humor, his nature and genuine kindness. The two found exactly what they had been looking for, a person who could match each others energy and ultimately their best friend. They adopted each other’s interests, hobbies, friends, and families, and quickly became inseparable. In the years following, Kirtan would thrive in medical school and ultimately start his residency, and Rajvi would flourish in her career in the IT world moving up the ladder. As their relationship encountered unique challenges and opportunities, the couple found themselves leaning on each other for support and thinking about each other in every version of their futures. No matter what hurdles life placed in their path, Kirtan and Rajvi discovered that together, nothing was impossible, and it was clear that neither of them could imagine life without the other. Together they traveled to new cities, had wild nights out and quiet nights in, tried out new restaurants (but always ending the nights with Maggi), celebrated milestones and each others achievements.

In April 2023, with the help of their families and closest friends, Kirtan asked Rajvi to be his wife in a flower-filled proposal with the New York skyline setting the scene behind them. Rajvi, overly excited to enter this new chapter with her best friend and shocked with the surprise said “yes” to starting a new chapter in their lives. They spent the evening celebrating with their friends and family eating food and reminiscing about everything that lead up to this moment. The night ended with drinks overlooking the brightly lit New York City skyline with nothing but excitement for what the future would behold.