Chai meets Coffee

Our story officially began on May 29, 2023 — when Carmel made Rishad dizzy… through Instagram. What started as an instagram DM (modern romance at its finest) quickly turned into a long-distance summer friendship. And by “friendship,” we mean daily good morning texts and long phone calls that definitely did not feel casual. We’re very grateful to be children of the FaceTime generation — because those San Diego-to-Bay Area miles were bridged by texts, voice notes, spontaneous calls, and the occasional “wait, I miss you already” moment. In a twist that only God could’ve planned, Rishad grew up in San Diego but was living in the Bay. Carmel grew up in the Bay but was living in San Diego. So essentially… we just switched lives. And airports became very familiar. Somewhere between boarding passes and window seats, we realized this wasn’t just convenient — it was intentional. Then came the true compatibility test: hot beverages. Chai 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾 Coffee. Once we discovered our mutual devotion to warm drinks (and to each other), things really took off. But more than that, our relationship deepened through shared faith, long conversations about purpose, love languages, love for our families (especially our nieces), and a mutual appreciation for the ocean — which, coincidentally, is a lot like love: powerful, peaceful, and occasionally humbling. Our adventures have taken us back and forth between SD and the Bay, through Joshua Tree sunsets, the towering giants of Sequoia, Cyprus beauty, and a spiritually grounding trip to Haifa that reminded us what it means to build something rooted in God. Through every mile, every visit, every goodbye-at-the-airport hug, we’ve grown. We’ve learned how to communicate better. How to be patient. How to pray together. How to choose each other daily. Our first walk together was along the Del Mar train tracks on July 3, 2023 — the kind of golden-hour evening that feels like it’s quietly marking something special. We didn’t know then just how meaningful that spot would become. 921 days later, on January 9, 2026, Rishad got down on one knee in that very same place. Same tracks. Same ocean air. Much bigger question. (She said yes.) Over the past year, we’ve both been living in San Diego — finally in the same city, building rhythms that don’t involve departure gates. We’ve found ways to serve together, to blend our lives in everyday moments, and to plant roots intentionally. San Diego isn’t just where we live; it’s where we’re choosing to begin our first chapter as husband and wife — building a home filled with faith, hospitality, and probably an unreasonable number of coffee mugs. Marriage, to us, isn’t just a milestone — it’s an eternal union. It’s friendship. It’s teamwork. It’s building a home where faith leads, laughter is frequent, and love is active. We dream of creating a united family grounded in God, strengthened by community, and open to serving others. And the beautiful part? Our story isn’t just ours. If you’re reading this — yes, you — you are part of it! You’ve shaped us, supported us, prayed for us, and now you get to witness the next chapter. From a DM to “I do,” here we go!