Even though Tej and I went to the same college—him in grad school and me in undergrad—we somehow never crossed paths beyond a few mutual friends. Looking back, it feels like we were always orbiting around each other, waiting for the right moment. That moment finally came after COVID hit. Life slowed down, conversations got deeper, and what started as an easy friendship quietly began to grow into something more. Neither of us rushed it; we simply kept showing up for each other, day after day, call after call, moment after moment. Over the years, we’ve walked through job changes, life transitions, and all the uncertainty that comes with growing into the people we’re meant to be. Through every season—challenging, beautiful, and unexpected—we chose to grow together. We learned each other’s strengths, softened each other’s edges, and built something steady, patient, and full of heart. Today, our story feels like a reminder that timing matters, friendship matters, and love often finds you exactly when it’s meant to. And now, we can’t wait to begin the next chapter—side by side, forever.