Mehak and Karthik first met at Karthik's parents' 2018 Super Bowl Party. Mehak was a graduate student at UT Southwestern and Karthik was about to leave for Wharton. Mehak and her friend Aarthy were hanging out in Plano and Aarthy's mom not so subtly suggested that Mehak should meet someone. :) Apparently, Karthik missed some major plays while talking to Mehak.
Karthik went off to business school, and Mehak finished her Masters. They stayed in touch, and one sweet memory involves Karthik asking for book recommendations in Psychology, and Mehak recommending Love at Goon Park, a book about the psychology of affection. Who knew that these two goons would some day fall in love?
After reuniting at Aarthy's New Year's party, Mehak asked Karthik to coffee on New Year's Day. Karthik was heading back to Philly soon, but he wanted to see Mehak once before heading off. Their first date was at a coffee shop near the Children's Hospital, and Karthik made the clutch decision to order chocolate cake, which Mehak loved!
Mehak and Karthik made it a priority to see each other frequently, even though they were in different cities. Karthik visited Texas about once a month, and Mehak visited him in California during his internship and in Philadelphia on his birthday. It wasn't the same as being in person together all the time, but the long distance made them both realize how much they missed each other, and how they were both in it for the long haul.
Karthik's original plan to propose in March of 2020 was derailed by COVID; However, thanks to amazing friends and family, he was able to plan a proposal on June 13, 2020, at the pond near his family's house. Friends and family all got together and performed a flash-mob style Bollywood routine, and Mehak said yes!
Karthik and Mehak couldn't wait to start their life together. Surrounded by a small group of friends and family, they committed to a life together on November 6, 2020. Thank you all for celebrating with us on our first anniversary!