Mitali is Hemali’s sister and single-handedly her largest support system! They first met when Hemali was brought home from the hospital and little Mitali thought she gained a new, life-like doll. Mitali has helped to look after her sister ever since. Hemali could not have hand-picked a more inspiring and thoughtful sister to share rhyming names and matching outfits with throughout life. To this day, Mitali still teaches her younger sister what’s “cool” and brings out a more adventurous side in her. Hemali has always admired Mitali’s bravery in paving the way for her and her ability to find the bright side to any situation. She’s the first one Hemali turns to in times of need and in times of celebration. It’s no surprise that Mitali went *above and beyond* to make Hemali and Josh’s court wedding such a memorable day, and Hemali couldn’t feel luckier to have her beautiful and generous sister by her side again!
Hemali could not imagine going through elementary, middle, and high school without her cousin Vijeta! From after-school sports to weekend mall trips, they were practically attached at the hip for most of their teenage years (...& quite literally the time they dominated a three-legged race at a family BBQ). Vijeta always brings a hilarious story to tell and a warm, optimistic energy. Hemali is so excited to have her by her side!
Julianne, or Jewelz as we know her, is about the most clutch friend you could ever ask for. Always down for a good time, Julianne is incredibly reliable and loyal. In fact, she was down for spontaneous plans in Davis Square the night that led to Hemali meeting Josh! Julianne will always show up for you and you can count on her for honest advice. She’s definitely Hemali’s most punctual friend and her make-up skills are unmatched!
We all need a friend whose humor has no filter and can make you laugh until your stomach hurts– and for Hemali, Janelle is that friend. She’s had Hemali’s back since they met in kindergarten. From slumber parties to making up dances to JT’s “Rock Your Body” and Nelly’s “Hot in Herre," they truly grew up together. Janelle’s been a dependable, fun-loving friend and a part of so many of Hemali’s favorite memories.
Hemali and Lindsey can date their friendship back to elementary school! Lindsey is a driven and adventurous spirit, always ready to plan the next vacation or getaway. Hemali admires Lindsey’s innate ability to motivate those around her to try new things and push for growth. Her positive energy and laugh are contagious, making Lindsey one of those friends you always want to be around.
Ever since Hope entered Hemali’s life at Fox Hill Elementary, she’s maintained the same cool, easygoing charm throughout their whole friendship. No matter what you’re doing with Hopey, you’ll have an awesome time because she always exudes good vibes. Hemali feels lucky to have such a compassionate friend who’s driven to help others every single day. Also, Hemali’s willing to bet that no other wedding attendee is a bigger Red Sox fan than Hope (bring on the challenge)!
If you’re looking for a hype girl, look no further than NATASHA SHARMA! Ever since Hemali met Natasha in their first year at Tufts undergrad, she could always count on Natasha to bring the energy to any event! Not one to shy away from attention, Natasha loves fun games and will definitely be a major player in the "shoe stealing" portion of the wedding. Hemali feels blessed to have such a caring friend who constantly finds ways to make those around her feel special.
If you’ve ever seen Neethu and Hemali together in person, you know their inside jokes have each other slapping their knees and cackling. Neethu was Hemali’s first friend in college, meeting during pre-orientation, and she’s always been there whenever Hemali needs a friend to call. They grew closer when they started grad school in the same year and took an unforgettable trip to Austin and New Orleans together. Though they live in different states (both near mountains and great beer), they still manage to talk almost every day!
All hail the queen of wedding planning, Neha Bhatt! The first of Hemali’s friends to get married, Neha has been a savior during the planning process for their whole squad! Hemali was lucky to meet Neha at Tufts University, where they bonded over being dance captains and eventually became housemates. Hemali has always appreciated Neha’s witty sense of humor and talented choreography. You’ll definitely find her crushing it on the dance floor!
When Hemali first met Sneha in college, she was definitely the zen “yin” to Hemali’s wild “yang”. They instantly gravitated toward each other and ended up dancing on the Tufts Garba Team together! Hemali has always been inspired by Sneha’s talent and dedication to her crafts (painting, henna, oral surgery and beyond)! Whenever they meet up, it feels like no time has passed at all.
You’ll quickly learn why Hemali’s given this gem the nickname “Smiley Saachi!” She’s brought such a positive, enthusiastic energy since Hemali first met her in dental school. As part of her survival pack, Saachi was always there for a vent session or study break (usually involving Shake Shack). They also share a love for the same comedy shows, so be sure to mention The Office, Parks & Rec, or Rick & Morty references when around Saach!
Divya was the first friend Hemali made at Tufts Dental School during interviews! Divya showed Hemali the "power stance," which they fiercely held in front of the mirror to hype each other up, and she's been part of Hemali's support system ever since! Divya's been a sweet friend who always baked a cake for Hemali's birthday and isn't afraid to break out into some dance moves! Hemali is so lucky to have her as part of her dental tribe.
Growing up, Jeremy was about as stand-up as an older brother could be. From occasionally honoring josh by teaming up against Jenn to taking josh out to lunch and offering his sage advice, Jeremy was the ideal older brother a little dude idolizes growing up. Whether the memories are forgotten or they simply never occurred, it's impossible to recall a bad one with Jeremy. Instead, it's always the good example set, the thoughtful phone call check-in, the cherished visit home or at college or the west coast, and of course the bodily-functions humor a younger brother expects. As the oldest Hufton kid, Jeremy has always paved the way and set the example for josh to follow. And if josh manages to put in twice the effort he'll end up being half the man.
Jenn has increasingly become that perennial reminder that family is everything. But this was a long time coming. If kid josh was told that future josh would adoringly have his sister amongst his groomsmen, kid josh would have laughed future josh out of the room. Today, Jenn represents all that is familiar about home and family. She perhaps unknowingly shoulders tradition, she's a valuable opinion and confidant, and above all: she's a true friend. Returning home and catching up with a big sister is a thing not everyone might know, but it is a thing to enshrine and protect. It's the reminder why family must stick together.
Evan was the creative workhorse of the Odyssey of the Mind team where he and josh met in elementary school. Since then, and since counting this friendship in decades, he's remained among the sharpest people josh has met. Too humble and reserved to ever acknowledge it, Evan's got that secret sauce of creativity, humor, and smarts that's made him a charmer. He's the friend you grow up with that aggressively succeeds without trying. Things like starting schoolwork the morning it's due, scoring perfectly on SATs without studying, or literally never losing at heady games like Tetris Attack or Scrabble. He's the friend that, inevitably, girls liked and dudes respected. And countless poker nights later, too many Wendy’s feasts to count, plus innumerable Tetris battles, seizures of laughter, and heart-to-hearts: Evan remains the friend most closely like a brother and someone josh looks up to.
josh will joke that if all he got out of a master's degree and a pile of debt was a set of solid friends, it would have been entirely worth it. Robbie is that friend. Tirelessly supportive, fun-loving, and bringing that 'kid in a candy store' excitement, Robbie will miss a flight while he enumerates the pleasures of Dungeons and Dragons. It's impossible to not share laughs and feel good around Robbie, especially in the middle of nowhere, on the top of a mountain, playing frisbee golf. Unfortunately, he's from Ohio.
Brian's about the sweetest dude you'll ever meet. It was true back when josh met Brian in grad school, and today it's truer still: Brian's unwavering impulse to lend a hand or help work at a solution is as definitively Brian as it gets. He rivals anybody as far as kindness goes, is down-to-earth, even-keeled, and near impossible to piss off; Brian instinctively accepts both the good with the bad and does so with herculean poise. Brian is the enduring reminder to stay grounded, keep things in perspective, turn all things into a laugh, and face all of life's challenges with lucidity.
When Max enters a room he brings with him a brand of swagger, energy, and humor distinctly his own. josh knows it well. Having met and lived with Max in undergrad, again on a California mountaintop, and a third time down in Florida as josh pursued his master's, Max has consistently shown a ready companionship for adventure. And each step along the way he’s made life richer. Energetic, idiosyncratic, and predictably funny unpredictably, to truly love and appreciate Max is to consider the world without him: it is dull; it is colorless; it is without texture. Max might impress with a well-read knowledge of the world or an encyclopedic one for movies. He might illustrate the notebook always at hand or cook or converse with great fervor. But whatever it is, Max engages with his full self and injects into his subjects a vibrancy a person might never have known they’d been missing.
Anybody that really knows Dylan also knows that he’s the best of us.
In the short term it’s his warmth, charm, and wit that’ll get you, like in casual coffee shop banter where he’d ably pull both espresso shots and smiles (and become the best barista in New York City in the process). Or in the multilingual throes of laughter where he’s self-trained so eloquently that he’s convinced everyone he’s not a native English speaker from Jersey. These interactions and memories with Dylan are common. But in the long term, and the more time you spend with Dylan, the more you see this baseline ambition that outperforms the average. You see it in all aspects of his life, including in his relationships with others. Dylan aspires and then inspires, and he does so with the humility of a person entirely unaware of their own gift. To know Dylan well enough to call him a friend is to redefine the very meaning of the word. His is a friendship that puts all other relationships into focus.