We met on our first day of medical school at Duke University. We became friends by playing frisbee and hacky sack in between medical school classes and study sessions. Bijan always says that he realized he liked Rebecca in March of 2017, but it would take Rebecca a year and a half to realize that she liked him too! In the meantime, we became best friends. We spent many days together studying, cooking, going on hikes, and going to events with the Interfaith Club. Bijan did lots of nice things for Rebecca including learning how to make Irish soda bread, challah, and bringing back special presents for her birthday. Thanks to the help of their matchmaker Collin, in September 2018 Rebecca realized that she liked Bijan too. Bijan planned an amazing picnic in the Duke Forest for our first date and we have been inseparable ever since!

Bijan proposed to Rebecca on October 9th 2021. Rebecca told Bijan that the proposal had to be extravagant and he delivered! Bijan sent Rebecca on a Durham wide scavenger hunt to all of their favorite places in Durham. At each location, Rebecca collected a puzzle piece and connected with a close friend to get a clue for the next destination. Bijan's scavenger hunt took them to Early Bird Donuts, the medical school, Nosh, the Duke Forest, Quickly, Two Roosters. With all the pieces collected, the puzzle formed a heart and formed a sentence that led Rebecca to her final destination - the Duke Gardens. Their friends had set up rose petals in the shape of a heart. Bijan gave Rebecca one final puzzle to solve and when she turned around, Bijan was down on one knee in the middle of the rose petals. Rebecca said yes and their closest friends came jumping out from behind the trees to congratulate them!

Rebecca proposed back to Bijan on February 26th 2022. Rebecca wanted to make Bijan feel just as special as he made her! Rebecca decided that she was going to propose back to Bijan at one of his favorite places - the rock climbing gym. Rebecca and Bijan's family members, closest friends, and even Bijan's college roommates all flew down to North Carolina to surprise Bijan. Bijan went rock climbing with all of his favorite people and at the end of the day Rebecca brought him to the party room where their friends had already decorated and got down on one knee to propose back. Later that night, Rebecca surprised Bijan with a big Persian dinner at their friend's house where she even made one of the dishes! It was a very special day.