Dhruv and I met in 2011 while studying for a Pharma MBA. We were classmates who quickly became best friends, texting all day even while sitting next to each other in class. Our friendship was very platonic initially; we never imagined being with each other romantically. We'd gossip, get thrown out of lectures for chatting too much, and exchange notes before exams. We were inseparable as best friends, and everyone thought we should date.

But it took us five years to truly get to know each other and eventually fall in love.

When we met, we never imagined we’d be together for life. Our bond was just too pure and platonic to see each other that way. It wasn’t until our fifth year of the course that we started dating. Maybe it took us that long to realise that our wavelengths matched perfectly and we’d never have a dull moment together.

Being in a long-distance relationship was one of the first challenges we faced. I was in the US, and Dhruv was in India. The time difference made it difficult, but we managed to stay strong. Dhruv would stay up late to talk to me, and he even saved enough to visit me. Those two weeks together in the US were magical, and we realised that this is what we wanted for the rest of our lives.

Just when life was starting to fall into place, life had another adventure in store for us! During our honeymoon in Peru, we got stranded due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

All flights were cancelled, and we were stuck in a foreign country for 75 days with no certainty of going back. This time brought us even closer as we found solace in each other, shopping for groceries, cooking, watching movies, and talking about life. We eventually returned on a rescue flight called Vande Bharat.

Our biggest goals in life as a couple have always been to have a small family and work on things we’re passionate about. Today, our 2-year-old dog Theo and our 5-month-old daughter Tara brightened up our home. The transition from friends to lovers to husband and wife was buttery smooth. We’ve always enjoyed each other’s company, finding joy in little things like watching TV shows, going on drives, singing to Tara, or walking Theo. Our marriage feels like a fun sleepover with lots of cuddles, lame jokes, and epic times.

Becoming parents this year to our beautiful daughter Tara has been incredible. Named after her father, she’s a ball of energy who keeps us on our toes. Balancing work, life, and parenthood has been chaotic but fun. I recently returned to work after maternity leave, while Dhruv works from home and occasionally goes for meetings. We are glad to experience this amazing journey together.

We both love to travel, and our favourite trip was the latest one to Masai Mara, in Kenya. As animal lovers, watching the Big 5 in their natural habitat and experiencing the rich culture and heritage of the country was immensely joyful. Another memorable trip was our trek to Tarsar Marsar Lake in Kashmir, where we fell in love with the picturesque beauty of the mountains.

We dream of taking Tara on hikes and trails when she grows up, exploring new places by foot.

Our biggest accomplishments are without a doubt our two wonderful babies, Theo and Tara. They mean everything to us and make our lives complete.