Before there were apps like Tinder and Coffee Meets Bagel, Rahul and Bella were forced to meet the old-fashioned way: IRL (in real life). It wasn't all that classy though -- Rahul and Bella first met in 2012 at one of their favorite bars in Philadelphia, Morgan's Pier! They danced the night away and shared a few PBRs (again, we didn't say it was classy). Both wanted to get to know more about each other, but sadly the night pulled them apart. Needless to say, they were both really bummed!
Fortunately, fate brought them together again 3 weeks later when they ran into each other at a different bar, Noche, in a completely different part of Philadelphia (can you tell what their hobbies were at 23-years-old?!) Much to Bella's surprise, Rahul remembered everything she had told him about herself. Rahul was shocked that not only did Bella remember every personal detail, she also pronounced his name flawlessly! Rahul finally asked Bella for her number and their first official date happened at Tequilas during Philadelphia Restaurant Week soon after.
When Rahul and Bella met, they were both finishing grad school in Philadelphia. Rahul was beginning his third year of med school at Jefferson and Bella was in grad school studying Education at UPenn. Two years later, Rahul graduated med school and Bella finished her first year of teaching as a middle school reading specialist.
In 2014, Rahul & Bella then moved to Detroit where Rahul completed his ophthalmology residency, and Bella worked as an elementary school academic specialist.
On July 31st 2017, Rahul finally mustered the courage to ask Bella to spend the rest of her life with him. On a trip to Barcelona, they took an evening stroll through Parc de la Ciutadella on their way to dinner. Rahul got down on one knee in front of the largest fountain he could find. Bella said yes, and the rest is history!
After Rahul graduated from residency in 2018, Rahul and Bella moved to Chicago, so that he could pursue a surgical retina fellowship at UChicago for the next 2 years. Naturally, Bella followed him. She is now a High School Dean and is enjoying her first and last 2 years as the household breadwinner.
Unsure of where life will take them next, Rahul and Bella know that as long as they're together, any place is home.