It was Fall 2017. I had just moved to Rochester for my graduate education, and thus began the usual university chaos- coursing through potential subjects, looking out for the right advisors, and adjusting to an entirely new environment all at once. Fortunately, I didn't have to make it through all the mess alone- I met Sulabh.

You know how all the grand romances talk about love at first sight? Well, we're not entirely sure that's what happened. I thought I had only come across a guide, or someone who could help me, and yet, the first conversation we had went on for three hours which buzzed by so easily that we both lost track of time. Little did we know that we had just had the first conversation with The One for us!

So, yes, it was a slow realization; I guess it was because we were both pretty much aloof and going on with our lives, meeting each other only over lunches with friends. It was only when he moved to California that it hit both of us- we realized that there was something about each other that we would miss. And yet, none of us confessed. We stayed out of touch for a while, but really, how long do you fight it when you know that you've fallen in love? The restlessness and the yearning to talk made us admit the love we had for each other, and we knew that now there is no going back. So, when he came to visit me in Fall 2018, we decided to spend the day out in Rochester. It was a cloudy morning and it was freezing cold outside- not the most romantic setting, but everything had taken on its own charm now that we were finally with each other. He took me to the riverwalk where we had met almost a year back when he first realized he had feelings for me. Little did I know that this would turn out to be the most memorable walk of my life. I started capturing pictures of the beautiful riverscape when he popped the question- and that's how our happily ever after began!