Who knew 2021 would start with the most exciting moment ever? On December 31st, 2020, with a simple swipe, we matched on a dating app, Mirchi, with interesting location settings, bringing us together across the country. Arun lived in sunny LA, and Neehar lived with her parents in San Antonio, TX. Frequent texts and voice notes led to enamoring Facetimes. Soon after, we spent late nights chatting, sharing stories about our lives, and one night diving into a horoscopes app that deemed our compatibility an "Extraordinary Match". This was the night that changed our lives forever!
Weeks passed, and we knew we had to see each other immediately. It was the peak of COVID-19, and Neehar was living at home with her family. To visit Arun in LA, she had to tell her parents that she wanted to go to California to meet a boy she had been talking to for just three weeks. Her parents were supportive and excited for her, and Neehar and her family got vaccinated as soon as it was available. She embarked on a life-changing journey to meet her prince charming in person. Arun and Neehar took off a week and a half to spend all their time together, eating at Neehar's favorite vegan restaurants, meeting Arun's friends, and watching the Twilight saga. As Neehar was leaving to fly back home, she meal-prepped a whole week's worth of delicious home-cooked food for Arun to eat while she was away, and this was when Arun knew he had indeed found the love of his life.
Months passed, and the third time they met in person, they met each other's families. Neehar's sister, Reetika, and her husband, Sumit, celebrated their baby shower in New Jersey, and everyone flew in for the occasion. Arun came over for dinner the night prior, and it was a massive success, despite Neehar's apprehension about Arun's terrible "Scotch and Splenda" jokes. Coincidentally, Arun's family also lived in the greatest state, New Jersey. Next, it was Neehar's turn to meet Arun's family. Arun had warned her that the encounter would be short and extremely chill, but his parents had so much fun. The night was filled with laughs and went almost to midnight, hours past Arun's mom's bedtime. With this incredible trip in the books, Neehar and Arun bid farewell and returned to their "2 States", awaiting their next chance to see each other again.
With over a year and a half of our relationship spent meeting over quick here and their trips, holidays, and Facetimes, it was time to say goodbye to the "long-distance" life and finally move in together. Arun went from having an epic bachelor pad with his boys and silverware consisting of a single fork, knife, and spoon to a home of luscious creams and beiges, where every piece of furniture fit perfectly together (just like us). After a two day drive from Texas to LA, we spent the summer settling in and finally enjoying the end of our long-distance.
As 2022 went by, Arun and Neehar embarked on their first international adventure together, flying to Mexico City for their shared birthdays. This trip was especially significant because this was Neehar's first time out of the USA (aside from India) *cue Arun singing, "I can show you the world...". This trip would be the first of many to come.
On December 31st, 2022, our two year anniversary, we celebrated another relationship milestone with an intimate Rokha at Arun's family home in New Jersey. This ceremony brought our families together with so much joy, sweets, and love. Honestly, the parents were just happy that we finally did something official!
April 21st, 2023, would mark our most exciting moment yet - The Proposal.
Neehar had been eagerly waiting for this extraordinary moment while Arun cooly brushed off any clues about his secret surprise proposal to Neehar. He had been thinking of ways to throw her off at every corner, making it seem like the proposal was months, even years, away!
In due time, with the ring in his pocket and a bewildered Neehar, he drove them down to Temecula to spend a very exciting and memorable weekend together. Arun proposed at Lake Oak Meadows in front of a beautiful lake and flower arrangement after carefully planning to take Neehar's breath away. As he bent his knee, he gave Neehar a speech neither of them remembered and slipped the ring on her hand as she eagerly agreed. A moment later, Neehar ran, grabbed a box she was carefully hiding, and reverse-proposed to Arun with an incredible watch. Neehar was not the only one surprised that day.
It was the most beautifully and meticulously planned weekend, and Arun and Neehar couldn't have even dreamed of something so perfect.
And now, the moment we've all been waiting for - The Wedding!
We are having the most fun planning this beautiful and joyous occasion to share with all of you, our dearest friends and family. We look forward to welcoming you all to Thailand to celebrate what will be the best weekend of our lives.
Let's party!!
#ArunFoundHisPatNee