Story
Our story began thanks to some well-placed matchmaking—Shreya’s cousins and Aditya’s college friends, Sid and Devina. They introduced us over lunch at what would soon become one of our most visited restaurants in Boston: 1947. Between plates of Indian food, mango lassi, and a post-lunch ice cream, something clicked.
At first, it was a meeting of opposites: a calm, logic-over-emotions guy from the Boston suburbs and a quirky, “let’s talk about our feelings” future psychiatrist from California. But even early on, there were little moments that stood out—like Aditya dropping Shreya home after their very first date (a small, chivalrous gesture that gave her a flutter in her heart) or making her laugh with his dance moves over a shared meal of Mexican food. He was quiet, but she could tell there was more beneath the surface—and she was right!
Then came the classic “define the relationship” talk—and to everyone’s surprise (including his own), Aditya was the one ready to make it official. Little did he know, Shreya already had a secret plan in motion. After a casual pho dinner on Boston’s Newbury Street, the two wandered over to the Esplanade for a stroll. On a bench overlooking the twinkling lights of Cambridge, Shreya pulled out a handmade card that read:
"Will you be my boyfriend?" with the options:
(Needless to say, Aditya really didn’t have a choice!) From that night on, the rest was history.
Our love didn’t arrive all at once—it grew slowly. What began with shared interests—local concerts, comedy shows, kitchen dance parties, and pastries and coffee hunts—deepened into something much stronger, built on shared values, curiosity, and mutual respect. Over time, we discovered how much balance we brought into each other’s lives. Shreya felt calmer, more confident, and grounded; Aditya’s goofy side blossomed. Whether it was breaking into terrible accents or inventing questionable dance moves in the kitchen, his lightheartedness became more visible.
Fast forward to the summer of the proposal. After months of secret planning, Aditya surprised Shreya with the most thoughtful setup at a winery overlooking the Bay Area. Shreya didn’t realize what was happening until a familiar voice filled the air—Sahara Moon, an artist we first heard together on our second date in Boston. The song “Everything Will Be Alright” began to play, which felt exactly right because that’s how Shreya feels with Aditya. By the end of the evening, we had gone from boyfriend and girlfriend to fiancé and fiancée.
These days, if you spot us out and about, we’re probably debating which new coffee shop might become our next favorite, heading out for a long walk, or making an excuse to grab bingsu. What excites us most about married life is building new traditions while honoring old ones, blending our cultures, testing new recipes (with Shreya often not following them), binge-watching the next TV show, traveling, and learning when to slow down and when to speed up. Most of all, we’re looking forward to growing together.
Along this journey, one of the greatest joys has been getting to know each other’s families. From the start, both of us felt how important it was that our parents, siblings, and extended families were part of our story too. Some of our favorite memories include Aditya learning how to make BBQ chicken from Shreya’s dad (now a go-to favorite at family events) and Shreya asking for podi from India—a spice mix she somehow finds a way to sprinkle into almost everything. These little exchanges of traditions and flavors remind us that our relationship isn’t just about the two of us but about the families and cultures that have shaped us.
