Our story
The Bride
As a child, I thought love meant frolicking towards one another in a field of flowers, violins playing somewhere in the distance. When I took physiology, I learned that the chemistry of love consists of synergistic neurotransmitters and hormones that work to speed our hearts and flush our faces. As I have gotten to know Raja, however, the definition changed again. True love is sacrifice. When somebody else's happiness becomes so much more important than your own, you realize you would do anything for them. You realize you're in love.
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When I first met Raja, I thought, he's clever. Clearly intelligent. But is he interesting? I shouldn't have asked. Raja took every opportunity to remind me that he met Obama, to send me links to his TEDx talk, and to make sure I knew about his popular science blog. Somewhere around the fifteenth reminder, I was the one that couldn't get enough. His quick-witted comebacks, his strength of character, and his innate intelligence guided my hand through many hurdles. I coveted his counsel, somehow felt incomplete without it. And if you know me, you know I'm not easy to impress.
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When it came time for our first date years later, I worried if this might be the end of our cherished friendship. Instead, it was nothing short of magical. A field of flowers with violins is nothing compared to the depth of warmth and happiness I felt.
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Raja inspires me with his kindness, his intentionality, and his quiet power every day. I know the road ahead will have a myriad ups and downs, but Raja has the unique ability to transform obstacles into opportunities. With him, I'm not just hopeful about our future; I'm eagerly anticipating every moment we'll create, every story we'll write, and every dream we'll pursue side by side.
The Groom
Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman posits that our brain perceives time via two systems of thinking: System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; while System 2 is slow, deliberative, and logical. Our love story burned hot with the spontaneous, instinctive tinder of System 1 and stayed warm with the measure, intentional nurturing of System 2.
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When I met Shruti online one fateful evening, I instantly, unconsciously liked this pretty, intelligent, and sassy girl. I learned early that she was a tough negotiator when I had to promise to mail my college diploma in exchange for her phone number (it’s on the way Shruti, I promise!) Life had other plans, however – we were in different states and our careers set us on different tracks as well.
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Still, we stayed in touch and came to know each other as the individual people we were. Our little spark of attraction grew into a warm hearth of friendship.
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It was therefore inevitable that at our first date in Cafe Intermezzo, I subconsciously knew I was in love with this charismatic, passionate, and divine woman. I couldn’t tell you what we ordered or what I said after I saw her, but I can tell you that my journey to find my partner ended whilst my journey with my soulmate began.