Shah had just started his residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago when he stumbled on an established nurse who had been in the Neuro ICU for many years. This lost baby intern was just finding his way around this new life when Ashley (maybe out of pity?) invited him to a work holiday party she was hosting. He acted like it was just another party, but he was VERY excited.
That was the beginning of a great friendship, which became so much more - after multiple failed attempts by Shah trying to win Ashley's heart. Knowing that they were meant to be, he finally told her "I'll never stop trying". And that was all it took!
Shah and Ashley had a big trip to Mexico planned. Thanks to COVID, their passports were conveniently set to arrive 2 weeks after their departure date. So at the last minute, they pivoted to a week-long getaway in Arizona.
Shah had been thinking about the right time to propose, and what better opportunity than a last-minute vacation - she would never suspect anything! So he planned everything out, and they left for Phoenix.
The first few days went great. They spent time with their best friends in Phoenix and relaxed by the pool. Little did Ashley know, that all of these friends already knew the plan for the end of the week! They left for Sedona with 2 days left on the vacation, with the ring never leaving a 3-foot radius of Shah.
Shah had been hinting that his parents really wanted pictures of them while they were in Sedona all week. Very suspicious, but what maniac would propose on the last day of a trip!? This guy (Shah).
They got dressed up for a "nice lunch", and had a resort golfcart drive them up to a scenic spot to take pictures. If it wasn't for the driver talking over his walkie-talkie, "the couple is about to arrive", or Shah's hyperventilation, Ashley wouldn't have suspected a thing!
They were dropped off at a beautiful bluff overlooking the Sedona mountains. Ashley asked if he wanted to take a selfie, and he responded by dropping to one knee. And she said yes!
Shah met Ashley's (very large) family in the best possible way - all at once. They went to Cincinnati for a family gathering, and Shah, in rapid succession, met 2 parents, 4 siblings, 4 in-laws, and 9 nieces and nephews. He did...fine.
Ashley met Shah's (much smaller) family at a nice dinner in Chicago. Ashley had been extraordinarily nervous for a long time and was practicing her small talk topics for hours before. Shah's sister was vital for filling any silences, and the dinner went without a hitch.